Ondine by Ebony McKenna Read Free Book Online Page A

‘you’re talking pish’. Keep track of these; there’ll be a test later on.

Chapter Five

    A huge crowd gathered that morning at the railway station, bringing a carnival atmosphere to something that was normally, well, pedestrian. The smell of fried onions and sausages at the fund-raising stalls filled the air, making Ondine’s stomach rumble. Buskers entertained the crowds and played violins and accordions. Women dressed as fairies did a roaring trade painting children’s faces in lurid colours.
    â€˜I’m off to get me some sausage.’ Shambles leapt off Ondine’s shoulder and disappeared into the milling crowd in a blur of black.
    â€˜No, Shambles, wait!’
    Too late, the ferret was gone.
Damn that impetuous bampot
, she thought, borrowing one of his words to suit her means.
    â€˜Right then, let’s get a good position so we can see the Duke cut the ribbon,’ Da said, holding Ondine by the hand. This only served to take her further from where she last saw Shambles.
    â€˜Hang on, Da, Shambles has run off. I need to find him,’ she said, trying to tamp down the rising sense of panic in her gut.
    â€˜He’ll be fine. Come on.’ Squeezing through the crowd, Da found them a good vantage spot, where they could see the Duke standing at the podium, a pair of scissors in his hands. Standing beside him was a woman of indeterminate age. She had that caught-in-a-wind-tunnel look about her, with arched eyebrows that looked like they were trying to run away from her. Sunlight sparkled off the tiara that sat on her blonde head. Under her arm, she held a furry white dog.
    â€˜Is that the Duchess?’ Ondine asked.
    Da laughed out loud. ‘She wishes! No love, that’s the Infanta, the Duke’s oldest sister.’
    â€˜She looks so fancy!’ Ondine saw more sparkles of sunlight – even the little dog had jewels in its collar. The thought of the small animal having such a fancycollar made her wonder about Shambles, and whether he might look quite handsome with sparkles around his neck.
    Another chuckle from her father. ‘Fancy is one way to put it. A bit overdone perhaps. She might have been Duchess if her little brother wasn’t born.’
    The crowd milled about them and someone stepped on Ondine’s foot. A ripple of worry rippled through her. Shambles could easily be trampled in the crush.
    â€˜Da, we need to find Shambles.’
    â€˜He’ll be wherever the food is. Now hush, let’s listen to what the Duke –’
    Shots rang out. Real gunshots that were so loud you’d swear someone had smacked you on the inside of your head with a brick.
    People screamed.
    â€˜Get down!’ Da yelled. With a jolt he pulled Ondine to the ground, shielding her body with his.
    Confusion and turmoil took hold. Everyone around them crouched down, huddling in fear. Noise and screaming filled the sky. Police officers blew theirwhistles. From a gap under her father’s arm, Ondine saw a man running away down the street.
    People say that when a big, scary event happens, it takes place in slow motion. In this case, nothing could be further from the truth as it all took place at lightning speed. The police closed in, chased down the culprit for half a block, then tackled him into submission.
    â€˜They got him!’ Ondine said with relief.
    The Duke must have taken their warning seriously. He must have organised more police. Ready to pounce at the slightest provocation.
    For the next few minutes everyone stayed low to the ground as the police rounded up another two suspects. With her heartbeat hammering in her ears, Ondine heard her father say something. She couldn’t make out the exact words because her ears were still ringing from the gunshots.
    â€˜I said, “They’ve given the all-clear,”’ Josef said even louder this time.
    But still nobody moved. Well, why would they? Only moments ago shots had rung out