Read Online The Lightning Catcher by Anne Cameron - Free Book Online Page B

him, making him jump.
    Angus turned around to find the boy in the large earmuffs smiling at him warily. His face was round and friendly, his deep green eyes hidden behind a pair of small glasses. His hair was jet black and had obviously been cut quite recently, with the aid of a mixing bowl and a pair of blunt scissors. Angus liked him instantly.
    â€œYou weren’t on the tour yesterday with everyone else, were you?” the boy said.
    â€œUm, no, I . . . got here a bit late,” Angus explained, hoping the boy wouldn’t ask him why.
    The boy turned faintly pink and grinned. “I’m Dougal Dewsnap.”
    â€œAngus . . . Doomsbury,” Angus said, wondering if he’d ever get used to his new name.
    â€œIt’s a bit different here, isn’t it?” said Dougal. “My dad sent me because he says I need some gumption. I wanted to go to school on the mainland, but he wouldn’t let me.” Dougal grinned sheepishly. “What about you? Why are here?”
    Angus hesitated. “Um, dealing with the weather sort of runs in our family,” he eventually said.
    Dougal nodded as if he understood this completely. “Which part of the island do you come from, anyway?”
    â€œActually, I live with my uncle in Devon.”
    â€œReally? You mean you’re a mainlander?” Dougal looked deeply impressed.
    Angus shrugged. “I . . . yeah, I suppose I am.”
    â€œWow! I’ve read all about the mainland, of course, but I’ve never actually been off the island before. Dad says he’ll take me on a holiday when I’m old enough, but I’ve been pestering him about Stonehenge and the Tower of London for ages now.” Dougal grinned. “Nigel Ridgely says he comes from Yorkshire,” he added, pointing to a pale, freckle-faced boy to their left. “Georgina Fox was born in Birmingham. But Millicent Nichols and Violet Quinn come from Little Frog’s Bottom.” He indicated a gaggle of girls who were standing together. “Do you know anyone else here yet?”
    â€œOnly Edmund Croxley and Principal Dark-Angel—”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t go around bragging about it, Doomsbury.” A voice interrupted them from behind.
    Angus spun round to see two of the tallest lightning cubs, who had been standing on the far side of the group, turning toward them; both had the same thuggish features, thick eyebrows, and hairy, gorilla-like arms, and up close, it was obvious that they were twins.
    â€œJust because dribbling old Dark-Angel invited you up to her office for a little chat, that doesn’t make you special,” the first twin spat, stopping only inches from Angus. “She probably thought you’d been sent to sweep her floor or something, so I wouldn’t go getting all big-headed about it.”
    â€œI wasn’t,” Angus said, taking a step back. “How did you know I’d been up to her office anyway?”
    â€œOur dad’s one of the senior lightning catchers here, so we hear about everything important that happens,” the second twin sneered, dark eyes gleaming. “Everything that’s worth knowing about, anyway, which is why no one’s ever mentioned your name before, Dewsnap.”
    Dougal bristled. “Yeah, well, at least no one’s going around calling me pea brain behind my back.”
    â€œStop trying to be funny, Dewsnap, it doesn’t suit you,” the first twin said. “And just to teach you a lesson, you can clean my boots when we get to the end of the weather tunnel. I’d rather not get my hands dirty.”
    â€œIn your dreams!” Dougal said, crossing his arms defiantly. “I’m not touching anything that’s had your stinking feet inside it. Clean your own boots.”
    â€œYou’ll do what I say, Dewsnap.” The first twin made a sudden lunge and shoved Dougal hard with one hand. Dougal stumbled backward and