The Secret of Excalibur by Andy McDermott Read Free Book Online

teenager, there are a million other things she’d rather be doing. It’s hard enough to get her to pay attention to what’s actually important without you giving her toys !’
    ‘Jesus Christ, Lizzie. What is this, some kind of overcompensation thing?’
    Elizabeth’s eyes flashed with fury. ‘No, it’s an irresponsibility thing.’
    ‘Eh?’ Chase looked at her, confused. ‘When did I say you were irresponsible?’
    ‘I meant you’re being irresponsible, Eddie!’ She was barely able to keep her voice down. ‘You have no idea how hard it is to be a parent - Holly’s fifteen, for Christ’s sake, so right now to her I’m like bloody Hitler always on her back about everything. And then you come along, being Cool Uncle Eddie the hero, running around playing bloody Indiana Jones and encouraging her to be just like you!’
    Chase angrily held up his left arm, exposing part of the scar. ‘Yeah, this was playing . Never mind that I saved thousands of lives, huh?’ He pulled the sleeve back up, voice taunting. ‘This isn’t about me at all, is it? It’s about you being jealous. Must be killing you, mustn’t it? Your useless little brother’s actually accomplished something worthwhile, but the one who got into Oxford’s stuck selling insurance. Sorry, Lizzie, but that’s not my fucking fault.’
    ‘We both know exactly whose fault it is, Eddie,’ Elizabeth said coldly.
    ‘Well, what the fuck ever.’ He turned away, walking around the gondola as the balloon began its descent, steel cables pulling it back to earth.
    ‘Oh, same old story,’ said Elizabeth, this time loudly enough for everybody to hear. ‘Whenever things go bad, Eddie Chase just turns his back and walks away !’ She flung her hands out theatrically, striding after him. ‘Well, where are you going, Eddie? You’re in a balloon! Can’t just walk out on me here.’
    ‘ Mum! ’ Holly through gritted teeth, cheeks bright red. Nina shared her embarrassment.
    ‘Well, that was a lovely ride,’ Nan piped up, turning away from the view to face Chase and Elizabeth. ‘It’s so nice to see things from a new perspective.’ For a moment Nina couldn’t believe she’d missed Elizabeth’s rant, but the briefest of exchanged glances told her that she’d heard it perfectly - and probably not for the first time. She pinched Chase’s cheek again. ‘So good to see you again, my little lambchop! I wonder, could you do me a favour? You said you’d hired a car. You wouldn’t mind taking me to the supermarket so I can do a big shop, would you?’
    ‘No problem at all, Nan,’ said Chase. ‘The car’s at the hotel - it’s not far. Although Nina’s meeting a friend soon, so she won’t be able to come.’ Nina looked at her watch, realising she’d completely forgotten about Rust - it was already after two thirty.
    ‘Oh, that’s a shame. Well, hopefully I’ll see you again later, Nina - I can tell you what Edward was like when he was little. I’ve got photos.’
    Now it was Chase’s turn to look embarrassed. ‘Aw, Nan!’
    ‘ “Little lambchop”?’ Nina whispered to Chase as the balloon touched down. ‘That’s so sweet !’
    ‘Yeah, yeah . . .’
    ‘I’ll show you his medals, as well,’ said Nan. ‘He gave them to me after he left the army, even his Victoria Cross. He got that from the Queen, you know!’
    Nina looked at Chase, open-mouthed. ‘Now you know where the box is,’ he told her, smiling slightly. The attendants secured the gondola and opened its gate, and the passengers stepped out. ‘Okay, you go and meet this bloke and I’ll take Nan on her supermarket sweep.’ He hugged Holly.
    ‘Thanks for the phone, Uncle Eddie,’ she said.
    ‘Glad you like it. Just don’t spend too much time on it, okay? Wouldn’t want to distract you from your schoolwork.’
    Holly tutted. ‘God, now you sound like Mum!’
    ‘I hope not.’ Chase shot Elizabeth a cutting look, then kissed Holly on the cheek and joined Nina and Nan.