The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else Read Free Book Online Page B

older soldiers hadn’t shaved for several days.
    Panting and limping, he caught up with the Queen. “Your Majesty,” he began.
    â€œPlease,” she said, “use my name. I’ll use yours. Hodie.”
    â€œEr. Sibilla.” He nearly choked on it. “You see, this is the situation.”
    â€œWhat is?” she asked.
    â€œWell,” said Hodie, “I know you used to day-dream when you should have been listening to your tutors.”
    Her jaw firmed as if she might whack him, but she didn’t stop walking.
    â€œThe thing is,” he continued softly, “we should be quiet.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked.
    â€œThere are things around …”
    â€œYes, rocks,” she said. “And more rocks. Look over there, stones and rubble.”
    He had to keep his temper. “No – I’ve heard there are rabbits that aren’t the soft and cuddly sort.”
    â€œWhere?” she asked.
    â€œIn the Stones,” he said.
    â€œI mean, where did you hear about them?” She was hobbling, and it was clear she felt impatient.
    This could be awkward. “I listened underneath your schoolroom window.”
    She stared at him. “You got free lessons?”
    In the circumstances, what was wrong with that? “You can see it as payment for the odd jobs.”
    She blushed. “I’m also helping you get back whatever the Um’Binnians took from your hut.”
    He settled his satchel on the other shoulder. “Look, it was just some old stuff of my mother’s. And Murgott’s poetry, by accident.”
    â€œWhat! Why?” She nearly tripped over the metal bird having one of its rests.
    â€œBecause I shouted at the Emperor, I think. When … you know … the squirrel …” He glanced at her warily.
    Sibilla’s eyes filled with tears. She cleared her throat. She had that look that meant someone’s going to try changing the subject. “I remember your father, and the elephant. He let me ride on it when I was small. Then he was very good at all the odd jobs. I’m sorry he didn’t get paid.”
    â€œThank you,” said Hodie.
    There was a moment when she didn’t say anything. Then –
    â€œYour mother’s stuff. No wonder you want it back.”
    He shrugged, clenched his jaw and hiked on.
    â€œWhat was she like?” Sibilla asked.
    He’d never been asked before. It came as a shock. He stopped walking. “I don’t remember.”
    â€œNothing? What about the colour of her hair?”
    He had no idea. Even if he could have said – his throat choked again.
    The sun was hidden by low clouds that streamed in the wind. Here and there were signs of travellers: a horseshoe, a mangled glove, a few bones. Hodie hoped they were only lunch bones left by humans. The metal bird still circled over the Queen’s head, squawking now and then. “Ho-ome. Quee-een, ho-ome!”
    The further they walked, the more upset Hodie felt and the more he actually missed Dardy.
    The sides of the canyon grew steeper. As they struggled past a small crater, whispery crackles sounded from an oily puddle in its depths. The path kept on rising. Hodie looked up and saw grey fuzzy movement – with luck, it was only bushes in the wind. Then the canyon seemed to end in a tumble of rocks.
    â€œThis is it,” Hodie said. “Wrong turning. We have to go back.”
    â€œFor goodness’ sake, you give up easily.” The little Queen started to clamber over.
    â€œCome back!” But it was no good. She was scrambling on, and he had to follow.
    Around a huge boulder, a steep slope of pebbles led down to a shallow valley. Deep canyons rayed out in all directions. Dust spiralled and ghosted. In the middle of the valley was a long low building – the Depot. The Um’Binnian crest blazed on its side: a yellow sunburst with a purple coronet. At one end of a wooden platform were pulleys and