The Hunted (The Enemy Book 6) (Enemy 6) by Charlie Higson

Author:Charlie Higson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780141967950
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-09-03T23:00:00+00:00

31

Ed recognized the red-haired boy, Ollie, but the other three he hadn’t got to know yet. There was a round-faced black kid; a dozy-looking guy with an Afro, who was wearing what looked like bits of samurai armour and carrying a katana; and a younger, pale-faced girl, who had a haunted look about her. When they arrived, she stared at Ed with scared, black-rimmed eyes, her lips pressed tight together. He noticed she was carrying a big leather-bound book under her arm and was keeping close to Ollie, who put a protective arm across her shoulders.

‘What’s up?’ Ed asked, trying not to sound aggressive. ‘You come to wave me off or join up?’

‘I would come with you,’ said Ollie. ‘But I’ve promised to look after Lettis.’

He gave the pale-faced girl a squeeze. Ed realized who she was now. He’d heard about how she’d been left abandoned in a church and all her friends had been killed. Ollie had saved her and now it looked like she wouldn’t leave his side.

‘No way she’s ever going back out there,’ said Ollie. ‘Not after what she’s been through. But Ebenezer here, he’s good. He wants to come.’

‘I don’t like it here,’ said Ebenezer, the round-faced kid. He had a strong African accent. ‘Too many dead things in glass boxes. And those Twisted Kids. I don’t like them being here. They are not right. They are not in God’s image. They are not right.’

Ed had to admit that the kids Blue had brought back with him from the last expedition out of London made him a little uncomfortable as well.

‘The disease did something to them in the womb,’ said Ollie. ‘It’s not their fault.’

‘They are mutations,’ said Ebenezer.

‘They’re kids,’ said Ollie.

‘You were on Blue’s expedition, Ebenezer?’ Ed wanted to change the subject.

‘Yes. I will go again. It does not scare me. I have seen what is on the road.’

‘Ebenezer’s good with a javelin,’ said Ollie. ‘And he knows Ella well from Holloway days.’

Ed looked to the last member of the group, who seemed to be half asleep.

‘What about you?’ he asked and the boy lazily opened his eyes just enough to give Ed a once-over.

‘Lewis,’ he said and scratched his bushy Afro. ‘I’m in, dude. I got to know that little girl on the way over here. She’s brave as they come. I liked her. I’ll do it for her and the boy. Small Sam. He done well an’ all. Staying alive. Is all cool. I’ll come.’

Ed smiled and they bumped fists. Lewis might be dozy-looking, but several people had told Ed what a good fighter he was.

‘So that’s six of us then.’ Ed counted on his fingers. ‘Including my lot. Not exactly an army, but the car only seats seven anyway. You ready to leave now?’

Ebenezer nodded and Lewis shrugged.

‘I’d really hoped we could persuade Achilleus. He seems like a pain in the arse, but he’d be really useful from all I hear.’

‘Akkie definitely won’t go with you,’ said Ollie.

‘You know that?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I thought nothing fazed him.

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