The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond

Author:David Almond [Almond, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781406341218
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2012-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

Dostoyevsky’s delighted with the fish. He says they’re a glorious collection. He catches his breath as he says it. “Did ye hear what I said?” he marvels. “A glorious collection! Ye wouldn’t’ve heard Dostoyevsky sayin’ such a thing about a bunch of fish a few short days ago. Would ye, Stan?”

Stan shrugs. “No,” he admits.

“Ye’re a strange one,” says Dostoyevsky, peering into Stan’s face.

“Me?” says Stan.

“Aye, ye. Ye’re havin’ quite an influence on me, young Stan.” He snaps open a bottle of beer and swigs from it.

The sky glows like a blazing furnace then it darkens, darkens. Dostoyevsky says that stalls like hook-a-duck don’t do too well once darkness falls. They’re too tame for the night, he says. People want the bright lights and the excitement of the waltzer. They want to scream and howl on the roller coaster. They want to be horrified in the haunted house and terrified in the Wall of Death. They want to spin and twist and plummet and soar. They want to binge on greasy burgers and spicy sauces.

Dostoyevsky sits on the step of the caravan. Stan sits with him as the moon appears above the fair, and the lights and music and voices start to fill the night.

Stan tells him about seeing Pancho Pirelli.

“So it’s true,” murmurs Dostoyevsky. “He’s come again.”

“What is his act?” Stan asks, but Dostoyevsky shakes his head.

“Best to see it for yourself, Stan. You can go tomorrow.”

“He talked to me, Mr Dostoyevsky.”

“You’re honoured, Stan.”

“He said he’d been waiting for me.”

“Did he?” Dostoyevsky reaches out and tousles Stan’s hair. “I had the same kind of feeling.”

“About what?”

“About you, Stan. From the moment I seen you cleaning them ducks then savin’ the fish with the river water. Like you’d been sent to me that day. Like you was special.” He grins. “Or mebbe I’m jus’ goin’ daft, eh?” He grins again. “But like I said,” he continues, “ye’re a strange one.”

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