Read Online Toxic Treacle by Echo Freer - Free Book Online Page B

something sinister going on and I want to find out what.’
    Monkey thought for a moment - but only for a moment. In fact, it was a no-brainer really: she was clever, athletic, brave - and hot as hell. ‘When shall we go?’ he asked.
    â€˜No time like the present,’ replied Angel.

Into the Rurals
    They had both gone home to eat and collect some food to take with them. Angel fabricated a story of staying over at her friend, Moni Morrison’s, house, while Monkey and Vivian went through their usual evening routine: Vivian banning him from leaving, Monkey swearing at her, Vivian shouting, Grand-mov intervening, Vivian turning on her own nurturer, and Monkey taking the opportunity to walk out.
    As he pulled up his scarf to cover his face, he sighed in relief to be out of the house. Vivian never used to be like this. When he was a bub, she was fine; you never heard her so much as raise her voice. She played with him and Penny; took them places; they laughed more and she would even sit with him on her lap and cuddle him - not that he wanted that now. But some sort of respect would be nice. The last couple of years, she’d turned into psycho-mov. Most nurturers went that way, from what he could see - except Jane. She seemed to be the exception as far as the nurturers in his hood were concerned. In fact, he felt sorry for the younger Mooners like Alex; they didn’t know what they were in for! As for himself, he was just counting the days until all this would be history.
    Then he stopped himself: living in the Breeders’ Zone wouldn’t be the same without Tragic. They’d known each other since alpha-school; grown up together. Tragic might act like an oversensitive wuzzle, but Monkey was nothing without his sidekick. A heaviness descended on him with this realisation. His friend was in danger and he was not going to stop until he found out what was going on.
    He met Angel under the bridge at 19:00. It was already dark but the infrared cameras would still be able to make out their presence, so, once again, they climbed up the embankment out of view.
    â€˜Look,’ Angel said, unfolding the map and frantically winding the handle on the side of her torch until it shone a pinprick beam on to the crumpled paper. ‘I’ve been thinking, this loco line used to go to Mercia and it runs within about a couple of Ks of Combe Magna.’
    â€˜Too exposed,’ Monkey said quickly, knowing immediately what she was going to suggest. ‘The roads’ll be safer.’
    â€˜Well, it would be more direct to go along the line so it would be quicker and there’ll be less chance of being spotted by stealth patrols.’
    Monkey was uneasy. ‘I dunno. What about cameras? If we’re spotted on the track, we’re like sitting ducks.’
    â€˜No, it’s OK. I asked Sally about that...’
    â€˜Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!’ Monkey was shocked. He couldn’t believe she’d discussed this with her nurturer. ‘You talked to Sally about this? What the fegg do you think you were doing?’
    Angel stood up. ‘Hey! I might be dressed like one of your hood but I’m not one of them - OK! So don’t even start with me like that.’ She tossed the map at him. ‘You want to do this on your own, then go ahead.’
    â€˜OK. OK.’ Monkey capitulated. He was beginning to think that, hot or not, she was going to be hard work. ‘I just don’t want any of this getting out.’
    â€˜I’m not stupid, you know.’ Angel sat back down on the bank. Then muttered, just loud enough so that Monkey could hear, ‘I cracked your code easily enough.’ Monkey eyed her but said nothing. Right now, it wasn’t so much that he needed her, although he must admit, he was impressed with the amount of information she’d discovered, but he wanted her company. ‘Anyway,’ she went on, ‘I was asking Sal about her work...subtly,’