Wanted (Flick Carter Book 1) (8 page)

Flick hadn’t considered this. ‘We don’t have slaves round here. At least, I’ve never seen one,’ she said. ‘But they’d be easy to spot with their tattooed faces.’

Shea nodded. ‘Well, they’ve gone now. So either they found who they’re looking for, or they’re looking somewhere else.’

‘So, are you a Scav?’ This is it, Flick thought, moment of truth…

Shea was silent for a moment, looking at Flick intently. ‘Does it matter?’

She flushed. Does it matter? What sort of an answer was that? He didn’t deny it. If he wasn’t a Scav he would have said no, surely.

‘Do you want to come back?’ Flick asked all of a sudden.
Where did that come from?
‘The housekeeper is dying to meet you.’
Worse!

‘You have a housekeeper?’

Flick felt flustered. This wasn’t helping and now she was sounding like an idiot. ‘No. The
inn
has a housekeeper, and I run the inn with my dad. You could stay.’
Better
.

‘And the housekeeper is dying to meet me? How many people know I’m here?’

Aargh!
I’ve really dug a hole for myself here
.

‘Just Maggie–the housekeeper. We’ve been friends since forever and she can keep a secret.’

‘And I’d be staying there as a guest? I’ve got no money.’

Flick nodded. She was wondering now how she could sneak him in. Obviously she’d have to go home and get the trailer for her bike, and then sneak him past the guards on the gate and into the inn without being seen. And then she’d have to explain to her dad why the guest in room five didn’t seem to be paying his bill… Why did she never think of these things
before
opening her mouth?

‘Thank you for your most generous offer, but I’m okay here,’ Shea said. I’ve got a comfortable bed and a warm fire and a roof–well, nearly a roof, and a nice girl bringing me food. What more could I possibly want? And you don’t want any unnecessary complications.’

‘Complications?’

‘I’ve met one or two dads in my time,’ Shea said, ‘and there’s always complications. It seems that me and “welcome” don’t get along too well. Now I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I’m sore and I’m tired and I’d like to rest now if you don’t mind.’

‘No, not at all,’ Flick said, and hurried quickly out.

She found herself back outside the cottage wondering what she’d done wrong. Was it the mention of Maggie? Or the Kingsmen, or suggesting he came back to Faringdon? Or maybe she should take him at face value and he was just tired. Perhaps she was just a silly idiot.

On the way back to town she spotted a few rabbits still in the fields, and bagged them almost without thinking. At least dinner was sorted out.

Shea shivered on his makeshift bed. Sometime during the night the fire had gone out and the clear sky had made it cold enough for a frost to form outside. Now he was regretting turning down Flick’s offer of a warm bed in the town, even though the woollen lining of his flying overalls kept the worst of the cold out.

He got the fire going again, striking his hunting knife against Flick’s stone knife for a spark, and warmed himself against the flames while heating up some water. He’d need to go out and find more wood. And while he was out, he’d keep searching for that damned radio. The chances of rescue without it were considerably less, especially while he was lying on his back inside the cottage; he needed to be outside scanning the sky for any sign of another aircraft. Another reason to keep the fire going: the smoke would act like a beacon and the rescuers would be sure to check it out. Somebody was bound to be looking for him by now.

He started on his morning fitness regime; just some gentle calisthenics and stretches. He was too bruised for a full workout and still couldn’t put his full weight on his sprained ankle, but he did what he could. He carefully undid the top of his overalls and examined the bruises on his arms and torso; they were going a nice shade of purple. He noticed the small tribal tattoo on his upper arm and smiled. This was what Flick had wanted to see. He’d need to update it when he got home, extending it with a new design reflecting this experience and part of his life.

Once his exercise was complete, he buttoned up his overalls, grabbed his crutches and headed out to the meadow to continue the search for his radio. He still hadn’t found it when he heard something in the direction of the cottage. That was probably Flick, so he crutched his way back.

He was right; her bike was leaning against the wall, meaning she’d probably gone inside. As he went in, he bumped into her coming out of one of the rooms.

 
‘Oh there you are, I was looking for you,’ she said.

Think of something plausible!

‘Had to take a dump,’ Shea said, matter-of-factly.

‘Yeah, well I’m glad you didn’t do that in here!’ Flick replied. ‘Place smells bad enough as it is!’ They laughed. ‘I’ve got some snares in the back of my bike, we can set them if you feel up to it?’

‘Sure,’ Shea replied, ‘and when we’re done I’ve managed to brew up some tea. It’s only nettle, and I haven’t exactly got cups, but it’s almost civilised!’

Flick got the snares from her bike, and the pair went back out to the field. She pointed out the rabbit runs and set the snares, showing Shea how to reset them once they’d been sprung. ‘Check them a couple of times a day. If there’s foxes or dogs about, chances are you’d just be catching food for them else.’

Shea nodded. It was basic woodcraft, but he’d never had to do it himself before, so he was glad of the lesson. And anyway Flick was kind of cute and he enjoyed having her around.

Back at the cottage, Flick stoked up the fire, and Shea started making his nettle brew in the cooking pot. The tea was soon made and they sat down and waited for it to cool. Shea shuffled about uncomfortably, trying to find that position of least pain. Eventually he decided he was as comfortable as he was going to get.

‘Look, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable yesterday,’ she blurted out at last.

‘You didn’t,’ Shea said.

‘I’m sure it was all just a coincidence, you being here and the Kingsmen turning up.’ Flick said.

‘Yup.’ Shea nodded.

‘You never did properly explain how you got into that field.’

‘Did too. Crashed,’ said Shea.

Flick thumped him on the arm. ‘There you go again!’

‘Owww! What was that for?’ Shea clutched his arm with his other hand. She hadn’t hit him that hard, but he was playing for sympathy.

‘I’m sorry,’ Flick touched his sleeve and looked him in the eye. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

‘You didn’t,’ he said.

She smiled.

His heart skipped a beat. Something about her smile turned his insides to jelly. The air between them was expectant, charged, thrilling. Shea reached for her with both hands and he went over, hitting the ground with a screech.

‘Now that really did hurt!’ He propped himself up slowly and carefully, and sat, his eyes closed and brow furrowed. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes. ‘How’s that tea coming?’ he asked quietly. Sweat glistened on his forehead.
 

Flick touched the side of the billy can, checking that it was cool enough to pick up. She blew on it and sipped at the steaming green-brown liquid and winced and sputtered.

 
‘Gah! That’s some interesting brew! Go on, you try it.’
 

She passed the billy to Shea. The tips of his fingers touched hers as he took it in both hands, and he felt the brief tingle of electricity. The world shrank. Their hands parted as Shea put the billy to his lips, and drank. Fire burned in his throat and his tastebuds exploded in a cacophony of alarm signals and warnings until he coughed and spat it back out. The billy went flying, spraying the hot liquid across the room.

‘I know I made it but that was the worst thing ever!’ He laughed.

Flick laughed too. ‘That was so funny,’ she said between convulsions, ‘you should have seen your face! It was so…’

She stopped. There was a strange radiance in her eyes.

‘Mmmm?’ he said. His eyes met hers. He saw her lips, that curved up smile and his heart quickened as they parted slightly. He searched her face and his eyes met hers, questioning. She moved closer and he held her gaze. He leaned in towards her.

Don’t stop!

They were so close he could feel her warm breath. His hand reached towards her face and she closed her eyes in anticipation.
 

No I can’t. This is so stupid!

He pulled away, then flicked at a lock of her hair. ‘Spider! I hate those things,’ he said, realising it was a dumb, stupid thing to say as soon as he’d said it.

Damn!

He turned away, grabbing the billy can and sipping at the foul tasting liquid. It tasted as bad as he felt.

ADAM STALKED TO his room at the top of the inn and flopped down onto his bed.
Don’t tell anybody about this room, or our little chat
. The conversation with that woman at the museum had played on his mind ever since he’d got out of there. Who was she?
It would be a real shame if, for any reason, you didn’t get into the Watch this summer.
Did she really have the power to stop him getting in? She was a Kingsman, and they could do anything. The threat was unmistakable, and frankly the prospect of not getting in terrified him.

And what was that business with all that
stuff
? He’d never been much into mechanical things; that was more Dad’s thing, and he didn’t scavenge, so where would he ever find things like that? Then a thought occurred to him. Flick liked hunting, maybe she was a scavenger too? Perhaps she’d found some of this stuff? But how could he find out without saying something? She’d be suspicious and he’d have to tell, and that would be the end of his career in the Watch. No, he’d have to be careful and keep an eye on her without her noticing. Then if she knew anything, she’d lead him to it and he could go and tell the Kingsman lady.

And that was another thing.
If you do see it, or something similar, I want you to come and find me, and tell me about it.
But where was she? How would he find her? What was her name! Oh, this was so horrible!

Then there was a knock on the door. ‘Adam? Is everything all right? Can I come in?’ It was his dad.

Adam reluctantly heaved himself up off the bed and opened the door. Then without waiting, he flopped back down.

‘Mind if I sit down?’ Adam said nothing, so his father sat anyway. ‘Is everything all right? We’re worried about you.’

Adam shrugged; they’d been here before.

‘Is it school? Have you been in trouble again?’

He shook his head.
Don’t tell anybody.
If he admitted to being in trouble, he’d have to explain how he was sent to the headmaster, then he’d have to explain how he was singled, out and sent to that room, and all that stuff, and the Kingsman, and he’d never be in the Watch, and then what? No, he couldn’t admit to anything. He shook his head again.

His father changed tack. ‘Rosie’s going to be Queen of the May this year, isn’t that good?’

No, it’s a disaster! It’s supposed to be my big day, MY day, when I’m inducted into the Watch, and now my little sister is stealing it from me, just like she and Flick steal everything from me.

‘Guess so.’

‘Flick’s offered to make her dress, although unless we want it made from animal skins, I think we’d better buy it in!’ He laughed, ‘Bless her, at least her heart’s in the right place. Sometimes though, I think I’ve got two boys and one girl!’

Ouch
.

His father was right though, Flick was certainly a bit of a tomboy.

‘Are you still excited about joining the Watch?’ his father asked, changing the subject.

Adam hesitated. He wanted to be excited, but he was more terrified that she would stop him.

His father picked up on the hesitation. ‘Something’s happened, hasn’t it? Look, I don’t know if it’s something you’ve done, or what it is, but I want you to know I’m your dad; I believe in you. It’s my job to protect you, at least as far as I can.’ He reached out and took Adam’s hand, clasping it in his.

Adam nodded, ‘Yeah,’ and hoped his father was right. But how could his father protect him against a Kingsman?

Flick had spent a sleepless night thinking about Shea. Why didn’t he kiss her? Did he not like her? She thought he did, and she’d wanted to kiss him. But she’d let him wimp out. That moment played over and over in her mind. It was silly, like being a schoolgirl again. It was one thing saving a stranger’s life, not even the Kingsmen would arrest her for that. But to go all gooey over him too? No, it was a good thing she didn’t kiss him… he didn’t kiss her. Next time she definitely wouldn’t kiss him. Definitely. And she was determined to get back out to the cottage and make sure she didn’t kiss him as quickly as she could.
 

‘I’ve got to go, I’ll be back before curfew,’ Flick announced. It was after breakfast and she was in the kitchen. Maggie bustled about in the pantry, and Flick wished she would get a move on so she could fill up a basket to take with her.

‘I know what you’re doing,’ Maggie said.

‘What’s that then?’ Flick said, innocently.

‘You’re taking food–our food–to that boy, when you know there are shortages. Then you’re staying out all day doing goodness knows what, and when you come back, have you got anything fresh for the pot? No you have not.’

Flick was dumbfounded. ‘Look… I… It’s only…’ She couldn’t think what to say, and eventually settled on a rather lame, ‘Anyway it’s not your food.’

‘No it isn’t,’ Maggie snapped back. ‘But I have to prepare and cook it. And the guests are paying for it, and we’ve got a full house tonight, I shouldn’t have to remind you. It’ll be busy enough without you disappearing all day.’

‘You sound like my dad,’ Rosie said from the table. ‘And anyway, what boy?’ She looked around eagerly.

‘Shut up,’ Maggie and Flick chorused in unison.

‘He’d be right though.’ Maggie emerged from the pantry. ‘Look, Flick, I know you think you like him, but I’m sure he’ll survive a day without you, and we really do need you here. Or at least go to the market and bring back more food.’