Titanic 2020 t2-1 by Colin Bateman Read Free Book Online Page A

up.'
    Jimmy went to move past her. He kept his right shoulder down, meaning to give her a good shove on the way. But just as he leaned into her, Claire grabbed his arm, twisted it up, brought it down over her own shoulder, put her entire weight under him and heaved up. Jimmy was lifted off his feet and thrown. He landed in a heap in the corner, and for good measure banged his head on the
Star Wars
game.
    He looked at her somewhat groggily. Then he shook himself. 'Lucky,' he said.
    'I don't think so.'
    Jimmy got to his feet. She was certainly stronger than she looked. But she was a girl, and he was a rough, tough product of the back streets of Belfast. He wasn't going to hurt her, but he was going to teach her a lesson she wouldn't forget.
    Ten seconds later Jimmy lay in another heap. Claire stood over him, bouncing from left to right. 'Do you want some more? Do you? Not copying me now, are you? Are you?'
    'What do you want,' Jimmy snapped, 'a
Blue Peter
badge? So you know a few tricks. I bet
Daddy
paid for judo lessons.'
    'So
what?'
    'Well we aren't even then, are we? So Daddy's little rich girl has a black belt. Big deal. I bet you have a pony as well.'
    Claire folded her arms and gave him a disdainful look. 'You can say whatever you like. Makes no difference. You're my prisoner.'
    Jimmy looked quickly around him. There were two exits within striking distance. She might be good at judo, but he was fast on his feet. There was no shame in running away. Surviving was more important.
    As if she could hear what he was thinking she said, 'And don't even think about running for it. I'm a sprinter. I have medals for it; I've represented my school at national level.'
    ' Oooooooooooooh,'
said Jimmy, 'aren't we great?'
    'Just get up. I'm taking you to the Captain.'
    Jimmy got to his feet. 'What about a fair fight?'
    'That
was
fair. You're just a pathetic fighter.'
    'I mean, using something in here, something neither of us has had any training on. That would be fair. Like the air hockey.'
    Claire looked at the table. 'I can beat you at anything,' she said.
    'If I win, you let me go.'
    'And what if I win?'
    'You won't, but if by some miracle you do, I'm your prisoner, I'll go quietly, and as a bonus I'll never again repeat what you say.'
    'Is that a promise?'
    'Is
that a promise?'
    She almost laughed. She managed to turn it into a grunt and nodded at the table. 'You're on,' she said.
    Claire might have had a rich father and judo lessons from an expensive coach, but Jimmy was an amusement arcade veteran. When he wasn't in school he virtually lived in one. He rarely had money to play the machines, but he hustled it by challenging other kids. He rarely lost. There was no official competition or title, but if you asked anyone in Jimmy's school, they would have confirmed that he deserved to be crowned the Air Hockey Champion of East Belfast.
    They agreed it would be best of five games. He let her win the first one, just to see the cocky, condescending look on her face. He let her win the second, and he loved the way she gloated over every victorious stroke.
    And then he let her have it.
    He whipped her ass.
    Her face coloured up, sweat rolled down her brow, her mouth tightened in anger and as the final, winning goal shot in she let out a yell of frustration.
    'That's not fair!' she shouted.
    'That's not fair!'
mimicked Jimmy.
    'You've played this before!'
    'You've played this before!'
    Jimmy raised his hands in mock apology.
    'You — you — you — you . . .'
    'Won,' said Jimmy. 'And now I'm off — free as a bird.' He gave a little bird whistle as he sauntered past. But then he stopped and extended his hand. 'Listen, no hard feelings, eh?'
    It was an unexpectedly civilized thing to do, and much more in keeping with the circles Claire usually moved in. She might have been spoiled, but she was well brought up. So, albeit reluctantly, she clasped his hand.
    Jimmy smiled in a friendly manner, then suddenly twisted her arm and spun her round