Read Online Mutant City by Steve Feasey - Free Book Online

coming back to tell the giant anything . He turned his attention back to the hole.
    ‘What’s your name?’ he asked. ‘You can come out now. They’ve all gone.’
    A pause in the mantra, then the instructions were repeated in full one last time before they stopped al­together. Rush was about to say something else when that rumbling bass voice came from the hole again.
    ‘Brick.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Brick. Sounds like “stick”, but with a b .’ The big man sounded out the letter: ‘ Buh .’ He paused, a frown momentarily creasing his brow. ‘And a ruh . Buh , ruh , ick .’
    Rush frowned. Despite his size, Brick clearly wasn’t very bright. When Rush spoke again, he did so as if he were talking to somebody much younger in years.
    ‘Why don’t you come out of there? The bad people have gone now.’
    ‘Not allowed to. Not safe.’ Brick shifted a little, but remained huddled over his knees, hands still firmly clamped to the front of his face. ‘Is it dark?’ he asked.
    ‘Of course it is. It’s night-time.’
    A long, low moan drifted up out of the hole. ‘The dark. The bad people came with it. Ma knows Brick hates the dark, but she still put him in the hole. “For safety,” she said. Brick gonna stay here till the dark gone. Then Ma will come back.’
    Rush was about to say something else when another long, ululating howl drifted out of the night. This one seemed closer. He stood perfectly still, scanning the shadows out in the distance. The werf that had called wouldn’t be alone. The creatures hunted in packs and loved to attack at night, when their keen eyesight and sense of smell helped them to locate their prey. They were being drawn to this place by the smell of the blood, just as the voltores and clagbats had been, but unlike the winged beasts, the werfen would attack the living too, especially if their prey were few in number. Dotty also stiffened and stared out into the shadows.
    ‘You can’t stay there,’ Rush said, looking down into the hole again, his anxiety levels rising.
    ‘Not safe in the dark!’
    Rush looked at the little plastic light in his hand. Tink’s generosity had astounded Rush. The light, like the spyglass the trader had left him, was an antique. He hated the idea that it might get damaged or broken, but it was the only thing he could think of that might help right now. He gave the little handle on the side a few more twists and the bulb glowed brighter in response. ‘Here, Brick. I have something for you.’ He jumped down into the pit and pushed the device next to the man’s head, bathing it in light. The giant turned round to look directly into the bulb, gratefully grasping the torch with both hands. He made a soft mewling sound. Rush guessed Brick to be about twenty years of age, maybe a little more. Despite this, he doubted the big guy could look after himself if left out here alone.
    ‘That’s better, isn’t it? Light whenever you want it.’
    The werf’s call was answered. This time the sound was definitely nearer. The animals were surrounding the place, preparing to attack from all sides. Rush straightened up and peered over the top of the hole. Despite his weariness, he knew he had to get away. He’d have one last go at getting Brick out, and if that didn’t work he’d have no choice but to abandon him. He’d have to lie to the gentle giant.
    ‘Ma’s not coming back, Brick.’ That much at least was true. ‘She had to go away with the bad people. She didn’t want to go, and before she was taken away she said to tell you that you had to come out of there. She told me to let you know that it was OK to leave the hole now. She said to tell you that you’re a good boy and that she loves you and that she’s sorry she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.’
    He stopped and waited, hoping his choice of words might ring true in some way.
    ‘It’s Maw, not Ma.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘You said Ma. It’s Maw. Sounds like four, but spelt with a muh