Return to Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan Read Free Book Online

was an ambulance.
    ‘That fire’s taken hold,’ said Ruskin. ‘If that woman had used a bit of common sense . . .’
    ‘Careful, they’re overtaking. Slow down.’
    ‘That’s not clever, on a roundabout. There they go . . .’
    Ruskin had slowed to crawling-pace and the emergency vehicles – thinking he was trying to let them past – sped either side and away to what was indeed a considerable fire. A mushroom
of black smoke was spreading slowly in the darkness and there was a whole orchestra of sirens. The boys inched round to the exit Flavio had described and Ruskin managed to ease them into it.
    ‘We’re a long way from school,’ said Oli, noticing the sign. ‘Indicator, Jake! You know what Mum says when Dad forgets.’
    ‘Sorry. Now, I’ve got to get this thing into the lay-by – that’s going to need skill. I hope the animals are OK.’
    ‘You’re on the grass.’
    ‘There seems to be way too much play in the steering wheel – I’m wondering . . . oops. I’m just wondering—’
    ‘Careful!’
    ‘. . . if this thing’s been properly serviced. Have I hit something?’
    ‘That was the burger-van.’
    Joe’s burger-van catered for those who couldn’t face or couldn’t afford the Family Roadgrill. Even in the winter it had a few plastic tables and chairs out on the grass, and
from six in the morning till eight in the evening it did a good, friendly, value-for-money trade. Joe had been a trucker himself, so loved to see the lorries roll in. He always felt a little sad
locking up and cycling home to his bungalow on the estate nearby. His wife used to pull his leg by suggesting he slept in the van if he still loved the road that much.
    How lucky he didn’t.
    The corner of Flavio’s trailer ripped into the little thing like a can-opener, stripping out the front and concertinaing it onto the road. Ruskin wrestled the cab to the right and got
round it: the second trailer gave it another hard cuff as he came in to park and spread boxes of burgers all over the grass. The animals were manic now, but in the satisfying exhalation of his
air-brakes, Ruskin didn’t hear them. Handbrake on: engine off. A safe arrival.
    The boys jumped down and there, clambering up the bank, were Flavio, Millie, Sam – and Sushamila, led by a black-and-gold tie.
    The walk had revived Sam, though he was a little unsteady. Without eyebrows, he had a surprised look, which seemed appropriate. Oli and Ruskin embraced him like a soldier back from the war, and
they sat on the kerb as the boy did his best to describe the sensations of being carried in the mouth of a beast four times your size. Flavio put Sushamila in the trailer and did a quick repair of
the damaged floor. Ruskin returned Sam’s cap and Sam smartened himself up as best he could.
    ‘What now?’ said Millie.
    ‘Back to where we stayed,’ said Sam. ‘We’re meeting Captain Routon there. The headmaster said to expect him early.’
    Millie looked at the lights and the smoke.
    ‘I think we should probably avoid that place,’ she said. ‘Do you realise, Oli, you’ve caused a major incident on your first day? In fact, you’ve caused a major
disaster.’
    ‘I’m gonna go,’ said Flavio. ‘There’s a lorry park a couple of miles from here. We make a call from there, OK?’
    Millie said, ‘Did you say you were out of food for the animals?’
    ‘I got no money at all. Every last bit I gave that woman for the room.’
    ‘Give me a hand, Oli. I can see a solution.’
    Twenty minutes later, they were ready to roll. Oli wrote the note and stuck it, with a piece of Millie’s gum, onto the burger-van’s smashed up wall. The animals
were well-fed, and calm.
    Sir,
    We are taking the precaution of not leaving our name and address, because we have done a number of illegal things and are hoping not
     to be caught. But we do not want you to think too badly of us.
    Your excellent burgers have not gone to waste. They have fed hungry animals and hungry people.