Sins of the Father by Mitchel Scanlon

Author:Mitchel Scanlon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Abaddon Books

It was morning. The beginning of a brand new day.

It had been a long night. First, they had killed the man called Jimmy Nayles. Then, there had been all the hurry and bustle at the warehouse as the news spread that Jimmy Nayles was dead. In the space of barely an hour everything inside the warehouse had been packed up and put into vans to be taken away. Now, Leonard and Daniel sat in the back of a hover van with the other mutant workers as Freddie Binns drove them down towards City Bottom. But though Leonard was tired, and looked forward to sleep, Daniel did not seem ready yet to let go of his vengeance.

Remember your promise, Daniel said as they sat in the back of the hover van. You said you'd help me with the bad men. We should punish another one today, before you go to sleep. I don't want to have to wait until tonight.

The next one doesn't live far away, Daniel said, after another moment, continuing the theme. We could go there and be back within the hour. We should go there now. I shouldn't have to wait until tonight.

The windows in the back of the van were tinted so people outside couldn't see inside them, but one glance at the lightening sky in the distance told Leonard that daylight was fast approaching.

"But it's nearly dawn," he said to Daniel. "And I'm really tired."

He felt a vague current of unease pass through the van. Looking about him, Leonard saw the other mutants shift in their seats as they tried to pull further away from him without his noticing. Abruptly, he realised his mistake. He had spoken to Daniel out loud. To the other mutants, unaware of the boy's invisible presence, it no doubt seemed he was talking to himself. They probably thought he was crazy.

It's going to be daylight soon, he told Daniel, careful this time to think the words in his head the way the little boy had taught him, instead of saying them aloud. A guard sat in the front of the van next to Freddie, and as Leonard continued his conversation with Daniel he saw the man gaze at him in suspicion. In response, Leonard tried to keep his face emotionless, concentrating on stopping his lips from moving as he spoke to Daniel. You know I shouldn't go about in daylight. People might see me.

But we can go through the sewers, Daniel said. The boy's voice was insistent. It'll be just like last time. Nobody will see you, Leonard. And it will only take an hour. Remember what you promised me.

As he spoke, Daniel's face was set in an uncompromising line. It was an expression Leonard had seen often enough in the past to know there would be no use in arguing. Once Daniel had an idea in his head, he refused to give it up. He would go on and on about it, until Leonard finally gave in.

All right, Leonard said at last.

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