Read Online The Remarkables (The Remarkable Owen Johnson, part 1) by A. D. Elliott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. D. Elliott
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running commentary of the poor quality and quantity of food available.
Ken walked over to a window on the opposite side of the barge, and reached behind the curtain to open the glass, letting in enough light so that Owen could see the rest of the barge more clearly. Past where he had walked he saw that the front of some of the cabinets were glass, in which stood what looked like shelf upon shelf of vinyl records stacked vertically.
Next to the cupboards was an expensive looking music system from which the music was still playing, and against its side rested a stack of old cassette tapes. Further along the barge was a hammock, adorned with red and gold blankets. Ken sat down on one of the chests in a sideways position, with one arm hanging out of sight outside of the window. He grinned at Owen.
Three things then happened almost simultaneously. Firstly, Owen heard water gushing from somewhere beyond the window behind where Ken was grinning back at him. It was so loud it reminded Owen of water being fired from a fireman’s hose. Then he felt a growing tingling sensation in his hands, identical to what he had experienced on several occasions earlier in the day. Lastly Mrs Argyle smashed some crockery in the kitchen and came storming into the living area of the barge.
“Enough!” she shouted.
“Hmmm?” Ken enquired, still grinning but now focusing his attention on his sister.
“Stop that! It’s broad daylight outside!”
“Oh there’s no one about,” Ken said dismissively, batting away his sister’s concerns with the hand that was inside the barge. “You should’ve told me how strong he’s grown up to be.” Owen wasn’t sure in what way Ken considered that he was strong, as he had always thought of himself as being a tad on the skinny side.
“You don’t know the half of it, but now is not the time for showing off .” Mrs Argyle gestured toward the open window.
Ken pulled his arm back through the window and both the sound of water and the tingling sen sation in Owen’s hands vanished. “So why are you here then, dear Sis, if not to show off your new protégé?”
“There’s been …” From the look on Mrs Argyle’s face she was considering her words very carefully. “There’s been an incident; like back in the old days.”
“What kind of…incident?” The use of the word incident clearly had a lot more significance beyond the bizarre scuffle that Owen had witnessed this morning.
“An attack, from one like us.” Mrs Argyle gestured with her arms to signify that 'us' included all three occupants of the barge.
“You weren’t hurt I hope?” Ken seemed genuinely concerned for his sister’s well-being.
“No, but he was strong, w hoever he was. He followed us as far as the station.”
“You led him here?!” Ken stood up, now looking both anxious and angry.
“ Relax. No, the station at Northampton. He didn’t follow us onto the train, and I doubt he knew where we disembarked. Although your little fountain display just then would no doubt tip him off.”
“Fair point ,” Ken said. Owen was unsure what the fountain related to, although it was probably the source of the sound of water earlier. “Radio silence from now on”.
“That would be wise ,” Mrs Argyle agreed.
“How long do you need t o stay? What’s the plan?” Ken seemed more animated now.
“Overnight at least. We’ll need to get in touch with the others, find out if they can shed any light on our attacker.”
“ What form did the attack take?”
“ Let’s just say Owen had a frosty reception in his home.”
Ke n frowned and cocked his head. “Frosty? As in-?”
Mrs Argyle quickly interrupted him, cutting him off mid-sentence. “As in it was cold.” Owen had the feeling that Mrs Argyle was trying to prevent her brother from revealing information that she didn’t want Owen to be privy to.
“I se e,” said Ken, glancing at Owen, “and the young man’s father?”
“You know my dad?” Owen asked,
Ken walked over to a window on the opposite side of the barge, and reached behind the curtain to open the glass, letting in enough light so that Owen could see the rest of the barge more clearly. Past where he had walked he saw that the front of some of the cabinets were glass, in which stood what looked like shelf upon shelf of vinyl records stacked vertically.
Next to the cupboards was an expensive looking music system from which the music was still playing, and against its side rested a stack of old cassette tapes. Further along the barge was a hammock, adorned with red and gold blankets. Ken sat down on one of the chests in a sideways position, with one arm hanging out of sight outside of the window. He grinned at Owen.
Three things then happened almost simultaneously. Firstly, Owen heard water gushing from somewhere beyond the window behind where Ken was grinning back at him. It was so loud it reminded Owen of water being fired from a fireman’s hose. Then he felt a growing tingling sensation in his hands, identical to what he had experienced on several occasions earlier in the day. Lastly Mrs Argyle smashed some crockery in the kitchen and came storming into the living area of the barge.
“Enough!” she shouted.
“Hmmm?” Ken enquired, still grinning but now focusing his attention on his sister.
“Stop that! It’s broad daylight outside!”
“Oh there’s no one about,” Ken said dismissively, batting away his sister’s concerns with the hand that was inside the barge. “You should’ve told me how strong he’s grown up to be.” Owen wasn’t sure in what way Ken considered that he was strong, as he had always thought of himself as being a tad on the skinny side.
“You don’t know the half of it, but now is not the time for showing off .” Mrs Argyle gestured toward the open window.
Ken pulled his arm back through the window and both the sound of water and the tingling sen sation in Owen’s hands vanished. “So why are you here then, dear Sis, if not to show off your new protégé?”
“There’s been …” From the look on Mrs Argyle’s face she was considering her words very carefully. “There’s been an incident; like back in the old days.”
“What kind of…incident?” The use of the word incident clearly had a lot more significance beyond the bizarre scuffle that Owen had witnessed this morning.
“An attack, from one like us.” Mrs Argyle gestured with her arms to signify that 'us' included all three occupants of the barge.
“You weren’t hurt I hope?” Ken seemed genuinely concerned for his sister’s well-being.
“No, but he was strong, w hoever he was. He followed us as far as the station.”
“You led him here?!” Ken stood up, now looking both anxious and angry.
“ Relax. No, the station at Northampton. He didn’t follow us onto the train, and I doubt he knew where we disembarked. Although your little fountain display just then would no doubt tip him off.”
“Fair point ,” Ken said. Owen was unsure what the fountain related to, although it was probably the source of the sound of water earlier. “Radio silence from now on”.
“That would be wise ,” Mrs Argyle agreed.
“How long do you need t o stay? What’s the plan?” Ken seemed more animated now.
“Overnight at least. We’ll need to get in touch with the others, find out if they can shed any light on our attacker.”
“ What form did the attack take?”
“ Let’s just say Owen had a frosty reception in his home.”
Ke n frowned and cocked his head. “Frosty? As in-?”
Mrs Argyle quickly interrupted him, cutting him off mid-sentence. “As in it was cold.” Owen had the feeling that Mrs Argyle was trying to prevent her brother from revealing information that she didn’t want Owen to be privy to.
“I se e,” said Ken, glancing at Owen, “and the young man’s father?”
“You know my dad?” Owen asked,
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