The Chaos Code by Justin Richards Read Free Book Online

her eyes were a startling, unexpected blue.
    â€˜You must be Matt,’ she said. ‘Jane said you were coming. Why don’t you join me?’
    She talked like a grown-up, but she didn’t look any older than Matt. ‘Nice to be famous,’ he said, sitting down further along the bench. It was cold and damp and clammy through his trousers.
    â€˜Jane asked Father for a couple of hours off to meet you. I overheard.’
    â€˜Father?’
    She had a strange half-smile. In anyone else, Matt might have found it mocking, but somehow he got the impression it was just how she was – amused and yet cynical; optimistic but not naïve.
    â€˜Jane works for my father.’
    â€˜Julius Venture. I didn’t know he had a family.’
    â€˜Just me.’ She tilted her head to one side as if appraising him, then held out her hand.
    It was a strange gesture, not quite the offer of a handshake and more like she expected him to kiss the back of her hand like in olden times. But Matt took her hand and made an effort at shaking it. She held his hand tight.
    â€˜You’re cold,’ she said.
    He tugged his hand free, unsettled. ‘I didn’t catch your name.’
    â€˜I didn’t tell you my name.’
    Matt waited, but she didn’t add anything, so he said slightly nervously: ‘So, will you? Tell me your name, I mean?’
    She was still half-smiling and her blue eyes seemed to deepen with amusement. ‘Robin,’ she said. ‘Robin Venture. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Matt Stribling.’
    â€˜Thanks.’ Now they’d introduced themselves he felt even more awkward. But Robin did not seem the least bit unsettled. Well, Matt thought, she lives here. I’m just a visitor. A joke, probably.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ Robin said, ‘I’m not laughing at you, you know.’
    â€˜I didn’t think you were,’ he said quickly.
    She turned back to the view. ‘Yes you did. You still do. And I’m not, I promise.’
    â€˜All right.’
    â€˜It’s nice to have some company. Someone young about the place.’ She turned back to face him. ‘How old are you, anyway? Sixteen?’
    â€˜Fifteen,’ he said automatically.
    â€˜Not that –’
    â€˜Not that it’s any of my business, I know. Just curious, that’s all.’
    â€˜So, how old are you? Fifteen?’
    She laughed. It was a musical, light sound in the gloom of the wood. Her hair glistened as she threw herhead back. ‘Ladies don’t tell their age,’ she said. ‘But you’re welcome to guess.’
    He said nothing for a while. Then he admitted, ‘I am cold, actually.’
    â€˜It’s a cold day,’ she pointed out.
    â€˜It’s the wind, I think. It sort of cuts through you, doesn’t it? Especially the ears. And it’s weird.’
    â€˜Weird? What is?’
    â€˜The wind.’
    She was frowning now, forehead creased and eyes flint-hard. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked, sounding surprisingly stern.
    â€˜Nothing. Just the way it blows the leaves round and everything. Like little pockets of air, mini-cyclones. I noticed it in the churchyard. It was the same back at Dad’s – before I came here.’
    She watched him intently for a long time, saying nothing. Then she stood up abruptly. ‘It’s time I went. I’m late for luncheon.’
    â€˜Luncheon?’ The archaic word amused him.
    â€˜Lunch,’ she corrected herself. The half-smile was back. ‘We’re a bit old-fashioned here, I’m afraid. Jane will tell you. Here she comes.’
    As soon as the girl said her name, Aunt Jane appeared at the edge of the wood. Matt had not seen her coming down the drive, but he supposed that Robin must have a better view from where she was standing in front of the bench.
    The girl turned to meet Aunt Jane as Matt stood up and pulled at his damp trousers to separate