The Fear by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141338835
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2011-08-03T04:00:00+00:00

36

Just as DogNut and his crew were heading off back to the museum, another group of kids were setting off on their own expedition, a mile away to the east at Buckingham Palace.

The mood in the two parties could not have been more different. DogNut’s gang was in high spirits, coasting on a wave of bloodlust and sweet victory. They laughed and shouted as they re-enacted the death of the Collector. It was true that one or two of them, Courtney included, weren’t joining in, but most of them were behaving like conquering heroes returning home after a war.

In contrast, Jester’s group was quiet and miserable and fearful. They had no idea what might be waiting for them out there. They hadn’t met their monsters yet.

Jester himself was furious. As he walked out through the palace gates, he was ranting to Shadowman and waving his hands in the air.

‘Three!’ he protested, showing three fingers. ‘Three kids! What does David think I can do with three kids?’

‘We’ll be all right,’ Shadowman tried to reassure him.

‘No, seriously, Shadowman, what the hell does he think I’m gonna do with three bloody kids?’

‘What did he say exactly?’

‘Just a load of bullshit basically. As usual. Said he couldn’t spare anyone else, that he didn’t want to leave the palace undefended. The bastard couldn’t even spare me any of his bloody guards. I’d feel a lot happier with a couple of red blazers armed with rifles in my squad.’

Shadowman checked them out. Jester’s little group was armed with spears and knives. All except for Jester, who didn’t seem to have a weapon of any kind. Unless he had a knife in the leather satchel he’d slung over his shoulder.

‘It’s always the same with David,’ Jester went on. ‘He makes all these big promises, then when it comes to it he doesn’t give you half what you expected.’

‘He doesn’t like to risk putting his precious red guards in any danger, Jester,’ said Shadowman. ‘You should know that.’

‘What’s the point in having a trained army if you never let them fight in case you lose any of them? I don’t get it. Instead of sending his soldiers into battle he sends bloody civilians.’

‘Are they that bad?’

Jester lowered his voice and looked round to make sure that the three kids who were moping along behind them couldn’t hear any of their conversation.

‘He asked for volunteers. That’s all we got. Well, there were five of them originally, but two dropped out overnight. This lot weren’t exactly keen this morning, either. I begged David to give me some more, but he claimed he didn’t want to force anyone. They’re not completely useless, but they’re nothing like the best fighters at the palace. We should have had Pod and his toughest rugby players, not those three dopes.’

The three dopes in question – an older boy and girl, and another boy who looked about thirteen – were lagging further and further behind, dragging their feet and complaining to each other.

‘What are their names?’ asked Shadowman.

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