Read Online The Grasshopper's Child by Gwyneth Jones - Free Book Online

is.’
    â€˜Defeat and helpless disgust,’ said Old Wreck. ‘As so often in life. You had turned up the radiators again. I have restored the setting I prefer. Leave them alone.’
    Heidi made one mug of tea, preserving the teabag (she was running outof tea bags too). She was tempted to ask some questions, since Old Wreck seemed unusually sane. Where should she start? Did you know there’s been a stray cat living on the roof?
    Old Wreck gave a hollow groan, sipped her tea and groaned again.
    Nah, better leave her in peace. Heidi recommenced making the porridge. A rant could not be far off, she knew the signs. But she’d noticed the rants usually ended up telling you something, even if it was only how Roger liked his eggs. You just had to let her swoosh over you, raging but harmless, like a knee-high wave on the beach.
    There’s something gone very wrong with you, she thought, but you’re okay, really. And not as crazy as you look. Maybe I can be your knight in shining armour —
    â€˜Would you mind if I got some Slug Bait?’ There was the shop in the village, though she didn’t know what she’d use for money.
    Old Wreck drew herself up, with a hiss of horrified indrawn breath, and glared in pop-eyed disbelief, as if Heidi had suggested boiling a baby.
    â€˜NO! I FORBID YOU! The poison gets into the food chain, it kills songbirds! ’
    â€˜Not nowadays. The only kind you can buy doesn’t hurt wildlife, honestly—’
    â€˜ SLUG BAIT!’ shrieked Old Wreck, shooting to her feet. ‘SLUUUG BAIT! MY GOD! MY GOD. YOU INSOLENT YOB! HOW DARE YOU—!’
    Heidi, stirring the porridge and letting Tallis swoosh, heard a key grate. Somebody was at the back door, which they opened, letting in a gust of icy cold. Who was it? Before Heidi could turn to look, Old Wreck’s tea went flying. The rant ended in a wordless howl, and Tallis, in a mad terror scarier than any shrieking, threw her towel over her head and fled—
    Heidi looked round, cautiously. The flesh-eating zombie was a woman in wellies and dungarees, snow in her curly brown hair: clutching keys, a loaf wrapped in paper and two bottles of milk; and smiling awkwardly.
    â€˜You must be Heidi. I’m Rose, Rose Healey, Brooklyn’s mum.’ She eyed the door through which Old Wreck had departed, looking guilty. ‘I should have knocked. Tallis is so nervous. I didn’t expect her to be in here. I’ll bring the rest.’
    She set the milk and bread down, and fetched the vegetable box.
    â€˜ So sorry I didn’t make it on Thursday. My round takes forever when the lanes ice up. And the milk order’s short today I’m afraid. It’s the same for everyone. I ought to say welcome to Mehilhoc. You’re getting on all right? Well, I can imagine. I suppose we just had a sample. I am so sorry for what’s happened to you, Heidi. I’m running late, but shall I sit down for a moment, and explain a few things?’
    â€˜Please. I’ll make fresh tea.’
    Heidi wiped up Tallis’s tea, collected the mug-fragments and filled two more mugs.
    â€˜What weather,’ said Mrs Healey, looking around. ‘You’ve been working hard, I can see. And just when we thought that awful winter was over. When are we ever going to have a normal Spring again, do you think? You must want to know lots of things. Fire away.’
    â€˜How do I pay for stuff, the vegetables and everything?’ said Heidi at once. ‘I’m new to this. Am I supposed to ask them for housekeeping?’
    Mrs Healey looked shocked. ‘Goodness, no! You don’t pay . We do things differently in Mehilhoc, we don’t use money. The Carron-Knowells are splendid, and we just share and share alike, everyone mucks in. Oh, but I don’t mean you . I mean, I hope you’ll consider coming along to the vegetable sorting at Knowells Farm, to meet everyone, but you’re not