Read Online Vengeance Child by Simon Clark - Free Book Online Page A

did it feel like you were losing your grip and you could feel yourself slipping into some big, dark hole in the ground? Because that’s how it feels to me. ’ He shuddered. That’s exactly what it felt like to him. A huge, dark pit of nothingness opening beneath his feet.

Nine
    â€˜Adventure.’ Archer stood on a tree stump. ‘Red alert! I want adventure now!’ In his mind’s eye he was no longer eight but a man. A tall man with muscles bulging in his arms, a pistol strapped to his belt. Something about the island excited this boy with a face that was more like that of a world-worn adult. An urge gripped him to be reckless. He eyed the trees beyond the fence. Climb one of those, then yell in a voice as loud as thunder, ‘ I am Archer! ’ This wasn’t like Archer at all. Back at Badsworth Lodge he was one of the timid boys. He avoided climbing frames. Swings made him nauseous. But now he was on this island . . . damn . . . damn! Excitement buzzed through him. He wanted to climb trees, then yell swear words.
    He surveyed the island, pretending it was all his. The other kids had gone into the barn for fruit juice. But he was too wired to waste time sucking at stupid cartons. There was the river. What had Victor said? A goddess lived in it. Waves ran across its surface. In his mind’s eye, he saw a beautiful woman swimming underwater with long hair wafting back, her kicking legs would make those waves. Maybe the goddess fought monsters in that wide stretch of water?
    Archer studied the field. Nothing here to do. Nothing exciting anyway. Over the fence were massive trees. Wasn’t it time he climbed one? He felt his biceps. There was a bulge of muscle, he was sure of it. He remembered his father’s big, hard muscles. His father used to have a gym at home. There he’d work out with weights until it felt hot as a furnace. Sweat would drip down his dad’s face as he hoisted those big metal dumb-bells up and down. ‘ Archer . . . get your skinny body down here with some water. Make sure it’s cold. Archer. I’ll give you to the count of ten  . . .’ His father had an argument with his friends. They had killed him. The grave in the cemetery had been like a big oblong mouth that had swallowed the black coffin . . .
    â€˜Adventure! Damn to danger, damn to danger!’ Whooping, Archer jumped down from the stump and raced across the field to the fence. He glanced back. No one about. No one to stop him! Archer climbed through the fence rails. Rotten trees. They’d be tricky to climb. No branches lower down to use like ladder rungs. But surely there’d be one that he could climb. Almost straightaway he saw it. One of those funny creatures with the blue eyes. Saban Deer. He grinned. Knowing the name of the animal pleased him. Getting smart as well as strong. The moment the deer caught sight of him it slipped away into some bushes.
    Great! The hunt is on! He grabbed a stick from the ground. This would serve as a spear. The hunter’s spear! He rubbed his thumb along the rough bark. The other kids would be amazed when he caught the animal and brought it back. Laughing with sheer excitement, Archer plunged into the bushes, gripping the stick like a huntsman handling a weapon. When he spied the deer again he’d zoom the stick right at the animal. Then – pow! Knock the animal out. He smiled as he imagined the way the kids would be impressed. That’s great, Archer. Will you show us how to hunt? Can I hold the spear? Blood thudded in the boy’s ears. If he could have seen his face he’d have been startled by the wild expression. He was drunk on the thrill of the chase. The branches smacking into his chest didn’t faze him as he sped deeper into the wood.
    Soon the afternoon sunlight vanished as the tree canopy grew dense, shutting out the sun’s rays. Within minutes he ran in