Read Online Tiger Thief by Michaela Clarke - Free Book Online Page B

“I’ve had her since I was a baby.”
    Manu frowned. “What makes you think you’ll find her inside Shergarh?” he asked.
    “She disappeared last night, while we were performing for the Emperor,” explained Sharat. “That’s why I wanted to talk to him. I need his help. I think she’s been stolen.”
    Manu gave a short laugh. “There’s no use talking to the Emperor,” he said. “He doesn’t have any power. All he cares about is hunting.”
    Sharat felt a crash of disappointment.
    “Surely there must be someone who can help me,” he said.
    Manu shook his head. “
Nothing
gets out of Shergarh alive,” he said. “I’ve heard they do experiments on the animals they round up from the forest in there.”He shivered.
    Terror clutched Sharat’s heart. “What am I going to do?” he cried.
    “I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with me,” said Manu firmly.
    Sharat stared at him in dismay. “You’re not still going to arrest me, are you?”
    Manu glanced around. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t let you go now. There are spies everywhere in this city.”
    “But I haven’t done anything wrong!” Sharat protested.
    Manu sighed. “Don’t blame me,” he said. “I never wanted to be a soldier. I wanted to be a farmer. When they first started clearing the forests I thought I might even get my own place, but since the trees were cut down it’s stopped raining and now nothing grows. That’s why I had to join the army. It’s the only way to make a living.”
    Sharat felt a glimmer of hope. If the guard was unwilling, perhaps he could be bribed. He fumbled in his pack to find the treasure Lemo had given him. With a chink of metal, he lifted the bag.
    “Here, take my gold,” he said. “You could run away then. Stop being a soldier.”
    Manu hesitated. “Is that gold from Shergarh?” he asked.
    Sharat nodded. “Yes,” he said. “We were paid to perform for the Emperor.”
    The guard shook his head. “I don’t want the Emperor’s gold,” he said. “It’s too easy to trace.” His eyes lingered on the jewel at Sharat’s throat. “Give me the diamondinstead,” he offered. “Then I’ll let you go.”
    Sharat’s heart sank. He put his free hand up to touch the amulet.
    “Hurry up!” Manu told him. “The longer we wait, the more likely it is that we’ll be seen.”
    “All right! All right!” said Sharat. “I’ve just got to get it off.”
    Playing for time, he reached back to fiddle with the cord at the back of his neck. After a moment he gave up.
    “I can’t get it undone,” he said, exasperated.
    Manu was getting impatient. “Hold still!” he said, letting go of Sharat’s arm. “I’ll do it.”
    With a frown he bent over to peer at the knot.
    It was the chance Sharat was waiting for. Without hesitation, he elbowed the soldier in the gut and began to run.
    “Hey!” Manu stumbled back in surprise as Sharat slipped out of his grip. For a moment he caught his breath. Then with a cry of fury, he set off in pursuit.
    Without looking back, Sharat sped over the dried mud paths between the crumbling huts and ditches of this unknown neighbourhood. All along he was dimly aware of Manu right behind him. Soon he reached the main road. His heart pounding, he darted between horses and carts, past buffalo wagons and through groups of scrawny cows that were scavenging from the piles of rubbish that smouldered at each crossroads.
    He had no idea where he was going. All he knew was that he had to get away. Gasping, he ducked through a tinygap into a twisting alleyway and threw himself behind a ruined hut to catch his breath.
    His beating heart felt like it would split his ribs, and his lungs were burning, but there was no sign of pursuit. He’d lost the guard.
    Catching his breath, the first thing he did was check the amulet. To his relief it was still there, but as he touched it the knot at the back of his neck came undone and it dropped into his hand. He folded it safely into