Vengeance Child by Simon Clark Read Free Book Online

helped divide the party into smaller groups so they could be taken to their new homes for the week. A boy with such striking brown eyes that Victor had to look twice stepped off the ferry. His elfin face seemed to radiate an uncanny glow in the dying light of the sun. ‘Here, let me help you with that holdall.’
    â€˜I’ll see to that.’ A carer he didn’t recognize spoke sharply enough to suggest he keep his distance from the boy. She had blonde hair, and a face that, while being extremely attractive, had the drawn appearance of someone living on their last reserves of nervous energy.
    â€˜No problem.’ He shrugged. ‘Is there any more luggage on board?’
    â€˜No, we’ve got it.’ She seemed on edge.
    â€˜My name’s Victor Brodman, the island ranger. I’ll be helping out generally and will be your guide while you’re here.’ Despite his burden of half a dozen holdalls he freed a hand, then held it out to her.
    For a second she eyed him suspiciously, then extended her own hand. ‘Nurse Laura Parris.’ The woman flinched as if not liking the steely sound. Softening it, she gave a tired smile. ‘Call me Laura. I’m in charge. Thanks, by the way. You’ve got everything organized.’
    â€˜We’re well rehearsed now,’ Victor said. ‘We’ve been taking parties from Badsworth Lodge for years.’
    â€˜Ever since it was known as Badsworth Orphanage, no doubt?’
    Is she always this prickly? He nodded. ‘We enjoy having you. The whole island prides itself on making sure the children have a good time.’ She appeared not to be listening but was scanning the crowd of faces instead. ‘So, Laura, I’ve still got to learn some of new children’s names. This will be . . .’ He nodded to the fragile-looking boy with the elfin face. When she didn’t make the introduction he did it himself. He held out his hand to the boy. ‘My name is Victor. Pleased to meet you.’
    Laura quickly drew the boy away. Guiding him to a gangling boy of eleven or so, she said, ‘Billy, Jay is your holiday buddy. He’ll be staying with you at Mrs Miller’s house.’
    Billy immediately let fly with a howl of protest. ‘No damn way! I’m not stopping with that little witch.’
    â€˜Billy—’
    â€˜What if he starts saying my name? I’m not going like Maureen and Tod. I’m bloody well not!’
    Lou stepped forward. ‘Let’s not wage a war about this.’
    Billy trembled. ‘You can’t make me. I’m not staying with Jay. I’m not, I’m not, I’m—’
    â€˜OK. We’ll shuffle the deck,’ Lou told him. ‘Calum, if you swap places with Billy, then—’
    A freckled boy reacted exactly as Billy. Flinching back, he yelled, ‘Not with Jay! I’m not being anywhere near him. Never!’
    The other children retreated from the elfin-faced boy as if he’d burst into flame and burn them to cinders. All clamoured that they wouldn’t stay with him; that it wasn’t fair. What struck Victor so forcefully was that they weren’t being merely stroppy, they were absolutely terrified of Jay.
    Mayor Wilkes had been overseeing the arrival of the party in his usual manner – hands behind his back, pointedly announcing that his status was far too elevated to actually help with the mounds of luggage. He scanned the adults from the Lodge.
    â€˜Who’s actually in charge?’
    Laura Parris turned to him. ‘That would actually be me.’
    â€˜You can find that boy another child to stay with?’
    â€˜Don’t worry. I’ll work something out.’
    â€˜That’s how the system operates for your party. They stay in groups of two with carefully selected local residents. We can’t have children chopping and changing.’
    Laura glared. ‘The children are worn out. We can deal