BooksBarbecue
Back The Enemy Save as PDF
Chapters (69)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68

“Yes, we have,” said Rachel, bringing a bowl of soup over to Sam. “We look after ’em. We fix ’em up and we feed them and we make sure they’re safe.”

“So where are they all now?”

“Safe,” said Rachel. “Now eat.”

“Why do you stay down here?”

“We just do. We hid out here to start with and just sort of got stuck. That’s enough questions now; you need some food inside you.”

Sam scooped up a spoonful of soup and blew on it. It was thin and brown but smelled good.

“Just vegetables, I’m afraid,” said Rachel, ruffling his hair. “Whatever we can find in cans.”

Sam tasted the soup, which was watery but delicious. His whole body shuddered with the delight of it, and he instantly felt a warm glow in his stomach.

“You don’t look too bad,” said Nick, watching him eat. “You’ve been managing to survive all right?”

As he ate, Sam told them everything that had happened since he’d been captured.

“Shame you got split up,” said Rachel, sitting down next to Nick and taking his hand.

“Is the palace a long way from here?” Sam asked, spooning up the last of the soup.

“Quite a journey,” said Rachel. “All the way across London.”

“When I’ve had a rest,” said Sam, “will you show me the way?”

Rachel laughed. “What are you talking about? A little lad like you can’t go traipsing off across London all on his own.”

“Would you come with me, then?” said Sam. “To the palace?”

“I don’t know about that,” said Nick. “We’re settled here.”

“But they’re growing food and everything,” said Sam. “Adults like you would be really useful.”

“It’s a dangerous journey. I think it’s best you stay here.”

“Oh,” said Sam, “but I can’t stay. I mean, thanks and everything for the food. It’s very nice, but I can’t stay here. My sister—”

“We’ll see.” Rachel cut him off. “Don’t you worry about that for now. You just eat your soup, and then you look like you could do with a nice little snooze. Am I right?”

“Yes,” said Sam. “But I really must find my sister.”

“All in good time,” said Nick, and he got up to collect the soup bowl that Sam had licked clean.

Sam sat there, his stomach gurgling happily. His eyelids dropped down then flickered back up again.

“I’m very sleepy,” he said.

“Why don’t you lie on the bed?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Rachel took him to the bed and settled him down, sitting next to him, stroking his hair. Nick stood behind her, smiling. The cat, Orion, sat nearby, also watching him, with black shining eyes.

“When you wake up,” Nick said, “we’ll have a good old chat, eh? See what’s to be done with you.”

“Mmm ...”

“My brave little soldier,” said Rachel.

Sam was asleep.

30