Read Online Run To Earth (Power of Four) by S Mazhar - Free Book Online

asked.
    “To the artillery.” She gave him a look. “The Stove, of course. I’ve got breakfast to prepare.” She led the way past the gate.
    “Breakfast?” Aaron glanced down at his basket with at least fifty eggs.
    “Yeah, you know that thing you have when you wake up in the morning and fill your stomach with food?” she replied.
    “I know what breakfast is,” Aaron defended.
    “Good for you.” She winked at him, flashing a toothy smile. “I’m just playing, don’t mind me.”
    They’d started walking when Aaron spotted his dad. Drake Logan was by his side and both seemed deep in conversation, brows lined with tension. When they looked up and saw him, though, they smiled, still whispering to each other from the corner of their mouths – no doubt saying they would talk later. Aaron pretended he didn’t notice.
    “Hey.” Chris came to stand before him. “Having fun, I see.” He nodded at the basket.
    “Hello.” The women greeted him with a smile. “Haven’t had the pleasure yet.” She balanced the basket on her hip and held out a hand. “Mary Collins.”
    With a smile, Chris took her hand. “Christopher Adams.”
    The smile fell from her face and she stood, shell-shocked, her hand still in Chris’s. Aaron couldn’t help but smile a little at her gob-smacked expression.
    “A-Adams?” She looked from Chris to Aaron, before finally staring at Drake.
    “It’s really him,” Drake confirmed, slapping a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “The Adams are back.”
    Mary came out of her shock and quickly dropped his hand. “Oh, I-I thought...” Her gaze darted to Aaron and she tilted her head to one side. “I’m sorry, I thought the others had put you up to... Oh, never mind. I’m really sorry.”
    “It’s okay.” Aaron didn’t expect her to be so apologetic. It wasn’t a big deal. “No harm done.”
    She smiled at him, before her eyes widened at the basket in his hands. “Oh! Drake!” she snapped at the man. “Quick, take the basket from him!”
    Drake moved forward a step before Chris held out a hand to stop him.
    “It’s fine,” he said. “Aaron doesn’t mind helping, do you, Aaron?”
    “No,” Aaron replied.
    “But…but it isn’t right,” Mary said, looking rather flustered. A pink tinge started up her neck and seeped into her cheeks.
    “No, it is right,” Chris replied. “Treating people differently, that’s what’s not right.” He looked to Aaron. “My son is no different to the other residents of Salvador. Please treat him as such.”
    Mary looked between Chris and Aaron, but she gave a little nod. “As you wish.” She turned to Aaron. “Come on, we better get a move on.”
    Perplexed, Aaron followed behind her, shooting his father a confused glance, but he only nodded and winked in return.
    ***
    The Stove, as Mary referred to it, turned out to be one of the tall sandstone buildings opposite the cottages. Upon entering, Aaron found himself in a vast room with a high ceiling. The roof caught Aaron’s attention; it was a circular sunroof, which was currently in the process of sliding open. The sunlight lit every corner of the room. Lined along all three walls were worktops of gleaming, rich brown granite. But where ordinary kitchens had cupboards above the worktops, this one had only shelves lined over and underneath the heavy counter tops. Stacked on the shelves were normal cups, plates and glassware, along with giant-sized pots and pans, and possibly every cooking utensil invented.
    But the thing that caught Aaron’s attention was the monster appliance in the middle of the room. A stove, but one Aaron had never seen the likes of before. It was a square, metallic beast, wider than most cooking appliances. Fifty burners, all different sizes, were grouped in ten sets of five on the surface. Thick, black metal doors with an ornately carved design were closed over the oven. The stove dominated the room, gleaming in the spotlight cast by the sunroof. Aaron couldn’t