Read Online Graveyard Shift by Chris Westwood - Free Book Online Page A

there.”
    â€œNothing damaged. No harm done.”
    He flipped the sunglasses up to his forehead, studying me with deep brown eyes. As he did, a peal of thunder sounded far away across the city. Something cool and moist brushed the back of my neck, the tip of a branch poking over the wall beside us.
    As soon as I saw his face, I realized I knew him from somewhere. But I couldn’t place where. The dark eyes glinted with good humor and the thin lips smiled. He seemed amused by a private joke.
    â€œWell, I’d better go,” I said. “Looks like we’re about to get soaked.”
    â€œIs that what you think?”
    â€œYeah, just look at it.”
    â€œDon’t think so,” he said. “Brighter spells later, the forecast says.”
    As he spoke, a mass of dark cloud peeled back from the sun and warm sunlight drenched the pavement where we stood. The rain was now only a faint prickle on my skin.
    â€œTold you,” he said. “Sometimes the forecasters get it right, sometimes they don’t. And sometimes big changes come right out of the blue.”
    A tree’s skeletal shadow played over his face, making his features appear to quiver and twist. When his thin smile broadened into a Cheshire-cat grin, I suddenly knew where I’d seen him before.
    Doctor or lawyer or banker or whatever he might be, there was no mistaking him. This was one of the faces he’d shown me on Lamb Lane.
    â€œMr. October?”
    â€œGot it in one,” he said through a laugh that sounded like wind groaning through eaves in the night. “Sorry if I startled you, son. I’m just back from an important meeting and I haven’t had time to . . . change. It’s been a heck of a day.”
    â€œI thought I’d seen the last of you,” I said.
    â€œAh. Sounds like you’ve had a rough week too. Well, the good news I’m bringing will give you a boost. Apologies for taking so long, but I’ve been meeting myself coming and going all week. One of my assistants had to be suspended after misfiling a vital document. Big disappointment. It’s hard to find good help these days, and now my workload has doubled. But that won’t be for long — assuming you’re interested in the job I’m offering you.”
    â€œYou want me to take his place?”
    â€œEventually, but not until you’re ready, and not until you’ve seen the nature of our work and decided it’s what you want.”
    I thought it over a moment. Whatever it was, it sounded important. “What would I have to do?”
    â€œWe begin tonight,” he said. “So your first task will be to leave your home without being noticed. Do you think you can do that?”
    â€œYeah, I think so.”
    â€œGood. I’ll be waiting. There’s some traveling to do. I’ll take care of the details.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I’m right for the job?” I said. “I mean, you hardly know me.”
    â€œI could give you a million reasons,” he said. “But here are just three: because it’s in your nature to help. And because you can see what others can’t, like the three souls you saw in your classroom.”
    â€œYou know about that?”
    â€œOf course.”
    I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised.
    â€œAnd the third reason?”
    â€œI can’t afford to be mistaken. There’s no room for error — none at all. I’ve made a case for you to the Overseers, and I don’t expect you to let me down.” He paused there, watching me with a critical eye. “So, young man, what do you say? Are we set?”
    â€œYeah, I think . . . I mean, yeah, we are.”
    â€œVery good. Then welcome to the Ministry of Pandemonium, subdepartments of registration and salvage. You’ll soon see for yourself what an honor that is.”
    â€œPandemonium.” The word stuck in my throat. “Like the message on the