My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons

Author:David Solomons [David Solomons]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857634795
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2015-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

21

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE

When Zack failed to appear for breakfast the following morning, Mum and Dad immediately knew that something was wrong. Zack and his Cheerios were never separated willingly. Mum knocked on his door and when there was no answering teenage groan she went in to find that his bed hadn’t been slept in. I felt bad keeping what I knew from my parents, but it’s not as if hearing the truth would have made them feel any better. As I’d predicted, following a round of increasingly frantic phone calls to Zack’s friends, Dad called the police.

In no time at all a policeman and policewoman showed up on our doorstep, removing their caps and speaking in soft voices. First they took statements from Mum and Dad, and then it was my turn. I knew it was bad when they sat me down on the sofa with a can of Fanta and a plate of Jaffa cakes, neither of which I’m usually allowed near unless I’ve first eaten my own bodyweight in salad. I answered their questions as best I could. Had Zack met anyone unusual recently? Yes, a trans-dimensional being sent by the High Council, oh, and a supervillain called Nemesis. Had he been behaving oddly? Well, he’s been running into burning buildings, holding up collapsing bridges and generally saving people. So no, not odd at all – for a superhero. Of course, I didn’t say any of that out loud. I gave them bland answers that wouldn’t freak them out – or get me locked up in an institution for mad younger brothers.

When the interview was over I told Mum and Dad that I wanted to go to school. They seemed surprised. Was I sure? If, under the circumstances, I wanted to take the day off they’d understand. I nodded my head firmly. I was sure – I had important business to take care of. Both of them insisted on driving me right up to the school gates. Mum would have held my hand and walked me in to class if I hadn’t stopped her. I gave them each a hug and said I was sure Zack would be home before we knew it. Which he would, if I had anything to do with it.

After that, Zack was officially a missing child, which seemed strange to me. The police had ticked the wrong box on their paperwork. He was a missing superhero. But only I knew that.

Correction. I knew and Lara Lee knew. And before the day was out, I would have to let one more person in on the secret.

Children milled about the playground, blissfully unaware that as sporty boys kicked footballs and big kids kicked little kids, the meeting that was taking place on the far side of the netball court could well decide the fate of two universes. The time was half-past eleven, or Zero Bark Thirty as we called it, owing to the springer spaniel that lived in one of the houses opposite

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