Doing Time by Jodi Taylor

Author:Jodi Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
Published: 2019-09-27T10:42:28+00:00

19

Actually, locating one single rabbit in the vast continent of Australia turned out to be considerably easier than they expected. Luke and Matthew rounded a corner and there it was, happily nibbling something at the side of the track.

Without a word spoken, they moved apart, the net stretched between them.

‘When I say now,’ breathed Luke.

They approached very slowly and cautiously. Barely an inch at a time.

‘Now.’

The net flew through the air and settled over the rabbit. Who promptly ran off. With the net. Luke lost his balance and fell heavily.

‘Oh f . . .’

‘Fire truck?’ said Matthew, helpfully.

Luke sat up and breathed heavily. ‘So – to recap. We’ve lost the rabbit. But that doesn’t matter because we’ve lost the net. Jane is barely in this world but that doesn’t matter because that’s normal for her. You’re being your usual unhelpful self and, as always, I’m the one holding things together.’

‘If you mean presiding over imminent catastrophe – yes.’

Luke rubbed his elbow. ‘We need to catch it before it kills someone.’

‘I think you’re exaggerating.’

As if arranged by a deity with a sense of humour, somewhere, from a small house off to their right, came a scream of surprise and the sound of breaking crockery.

‘Or perhaps not.’

Luke climbed to his feet. ‘It’s eating someone. Come on.’

They peered cautiously around a corner.

A small slab hut stood some twenty yards away. In the open doorway, a young woman wearing a sun-faded blouse, a long, full skirt and a sun bonnet was holding a sweeping brush in a defensive manner.

‘Shoo. Shoo.’

‘I can’t see it,’ whispered Matthew, peering over Luke’s shoulder.

‘Leave this to me.’

He strolled forwards. ‘Good morning, madam. I don’t suppose you’ve seen our rabbit?’

She looked up angrily. ‘Yours, was it? Then you can pay me for the dish it knocked out of my hands.’

‘I shall be delighted to do so just as soon as we have apprehended the miscreant.’

She stared at him suspiciously. ‘You making a joke?’

‘I can assure you I am not.’

‘Who are you?’

‘Police, madam.’

‘I don’t think they’ve been formed yet,’ whispered Matthew.

Luke rounded on him. ‘What? Why not?’

They were given no time to investigate this unforgiveable lapse on the part of Australia.

‘Are you them thieving tinkers back again?’

‘Er . . .’ said Luke.

She raised her broom threateningly. It would seem the broken dish had not put her in a good mood. They backed away and out of sight.

‘Let’s try down here,’ said Luke. ‘The undergrowth’s so thorny it’ll probably stick to the path.’

They set off at a trot and the first thing they saw was a small child, probably belonging to the house they had just left. The child was struggling to support a net-entangled and very large, fat, white rabbit. So large and fat that it was possible there was more rabbit than child. It hung heavily in her arms, its legs dangling.

Matthew nudged Luke. ‘Go and get it.’

‘Not likely. Suppose it bites me. They’re poisonous, you know.’

‘Rabbits aren’t poisonous.’

‘I meant the kid.’

‘Just get it, will you? Haven’t you ever heard

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.