Normal Family by Don Trowden

Author:Don Trowden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2012-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Recruits, the Crabart and Mrs. Jones’s Trap

“Where’ve you been, girl?” I noticed that Schwartz wasn’t using my name anymore, though I suspected the wrecker never trusted anyone for more than an hour or two, including himself. “I know where you’ve been, so don’t lie to me.”

I paled and thought of the Leap of Faith. When I walked into the courtyard Schwartz had been standing outside the entrance to his house watching the distant storm intensify as it threatened to sweep in from the sea. I knew he was also keeping track of who walked in and out of the courtyard gate and why. I bunched my fists and got ready to fight as best I could or if necessary run like crazy.

“You’ve been moping around,” Schwartz said before I could answer, “because your little friend turned chicken and ran. She did, didn’t she?” I nodded, a bit annoyed that my well-crafted story was reduced to a single nod. “I thought so. Well don’t!” The man’s voice rose to a growl. “Remember that I use you and not the other way round.”

For one awful moment I thought Schwartz must have had me followed.

“Sorry, sir,” I said looking downcast, “I was looking forward to tonight so after I took Neets, I mean Unita, part of the way back to Port Eynon I finished in the stables then snuck out and walked to Rhossili to look at the Crabart.”

“And what did you see, girl?”

“Dead calm it was. The sea was right out and like a millpond. All the rocks on the causeway looked shiny with their seaweed and not a bit dangerous.”

Schwartz nodded as he scanned the heavy storm clouds building up. “That’s how I like people to think of my little bit of coastline, then they get careless. But tonight, now the storm’s rising, there’ll be murder, mayhem and profit for us all.” Schwartz could be very persuasive. “You’ll be part of it, girl, and you’ll play your part well, or you’ll take the Leap.”

“Yes, sir.” I decided I’d said enough and shut up.

“Come inside, Tertia.” Schwartz was becoming friendly again, at least for him, and my heart sank, because I liked him more as a villainous thug. I followed him into what would normally have been the sitting room, except it had no chairs and was full of miscellaneous plunder. Schwartz rubbed the glass of the main window and looked out. The storm clouds were racing in from the sea and within the hour would bring stinging rain in the howling wind when darkness had fallen. “Look out there, Tertia. The waves will be viciously unforgiving when they crash onto the coastline and in a couple of hours the Crabart causeway will be ready to smash any ship I entice there.” The smile on his face at the destruction he was going to cause was sickening. Then his face clouded and seething anger replaced the smile. “Tonight will make up for all the trouble caused by Gawain both in Camelot and since I arrived in Port Eynon.

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