Read Online Blood Donors by Steve Tasane - Free Book Online

minutes of Britain Got Talent.
    Sis one of them families in The Finger that never have any money but always has everythin’ they need. Big Auntie clever like that. I need Internet to find out ’zackly what we up against. Sis got it all on her BlackBerry.
    First off, Sis demandin’ to know what’s been kickin’ off. I spill all in a mad rush. She be laughin’ first up. But I can tell it nervous laughter. Sis know me long and deep enough that I ain’t drug-crazed or bent in the head. But she saw everything kickin’ off outside Sleepy Lady’s flat.
    Marsh, you ain’t been on the same gear as Soft Stuart been?
    I throw her disgust. I know she jokin’, but she know me better than to even try that sort of wit. Bad enough Mum stressin’ about such nonsense.
    Listen, boy, I ain
’
t doubtin’ what you think you saw, I swear I ain’t, but you talkin’ a tale of giant bloodsuckin’ monsters, yeah? You ain’t gettin’ nowhere without no proof
.
    Do you need proof, Sis?
    Listen, Marshy. This girl needs proof of everythin’. You ain’t survivin’ nothin’ in this life if you jus’ accept everythin’ that thrown at you. Some days I need proof I’m even here. I believe you believe what you seen, but until I see anythin
’
with eyes of my own, I ain’t believin’ nothin’, get me?
    Sis always been the smartest person I know. Teachers hated her at school ’cos she used to sit and say
Show me the proof
. Teachers would draw her the pictures, she say J
ust a picture, man. How do I know you ain’t just made it up? Come on, show me the proof. Show me the proof
.
    Imagine bein’ a teacher havin’ to stand that all day long. They called her out for bein’ a wind-up, but thing with Sis is, she’s a hundred per cent genuine. I’m good with that.
    I say
You seen the bodies gettin’ carried out, yeah?
    Sure. Soft Stuart. Man was a walkin’ pharmacy. Now he a lyin’-down pharmacy
.
    What about the other one, taken out early this evenin’. Him too? And what about Mr Bush?
    What about him?
    Me and Mustaph seen the bugs movin’ around in his flat. And I seen ’em crawlin’ round on the outside walls
.
    Didn’t realize until this minute how desperate I am to be believed.
    Sis smile, ain’t risin’ to it.
I gotta see proof of my own, is all. Listen, bro, if it helps, I reckoned I saw somethin’ scurryin’ around Soft Stuart’s. I was thinkin’ it must be a nasty ol’ rat. But, you know, rats … bugs…
    Yes! Thank you.
    Well, Sis, what we goin’ to do?
    She folds her arms. Y
our mum already classin’ you Fool of The Finger. What do you think Big Auntie goin’ to think?
    I already tried to catch one of them bugs, all it did was make Mum sore at me
.
    Sis give me her sweet smile.
You gonna have to try a bit harder, ain’t you?
    I need your assistance, Sis. I need to think like the Big Game Hunter, get me? Need to understand my foe
.
    That my boy. What’s your plan?
    I shrug. She already on her phone, searchin’ for bedbugs so we can arm ourselves with info.
    Believe, this info is ten out of ten on the Scare-o-meter.
    First up
Sis reads out,
both male and female bedbugs feed on human blood. Right. They use our blood to shed their baby shells and grow nice new shiny ones
.
    I’m peerin’ down at the phone. Can’t believe how many websites there are for bedbugs.
    We know that true
I say.
We got the bite marks remindin’ us
.
    Sis goes on.
They breed at a phenomenal rate. Lay up to twelve eggs per day. Eggs coated with sticky substance so they adhere to the surface. Eggs hatch around ten days. Nymphs immediately begin to feed
.
    Hold up right there
I say.
What’s a nymph?
    She smile at me.
A little one. A baby. Says here they require a blood meal in order to moult and develop into the next stage
.
    Right about now me and Sis lookin’ at each other with widescreen eyes. Twelve eggs a day and them little baby nymphs feastin’ on our flesh rightaways. I itch jus’ hearin’ it.
    There’s more.
Adults