Read Online Midnight's Choice by Kate Thompson - Free Book Online

bloodless look on the woman’s face and by the way her hands and arms trembled as though the effort of carrying the tray upstairs had been too much for her.
    â€˜Everybody happy?’ she said.
    â€˜Yes, thanks,’ said Tess.
    â€˜You can pour, I suppose?’
    â€˜Of course I can,’ said Tess.
    Martin’s mother turned to leave, but before she did so, Tess thought she caught an expression of gratitude on her face.
    â€˜Why is she so pale?’ she asked Martin, after a safe length of time had passed.
    Martin shrugged, and a queer little smirk crossed his mouth. ‘The doctor says she’s anaemic. He doesn’t know why.’
    â€˜Why don’t you help her? You could have made that tea yourself, you know.’
    Again Martin shrugged. ‘Mothers,’ he said. ‘You know what they’re like. They don’t want you to grow up because then they have to let you go.’
    Tess felt an intense irritation towards the slovenly boy, lying in bed waiting to be spoon-fed. She wanted to tell him to pour his own tea or go without it, but her nerve failed her. If she got on the wrong side of him he might refuse to help her, and she didn’t believe that she could liberate Kevin on her own. Suppressing her anger, she filled two cups and handed one across. Martin took it without thanking her.
    â€˜Do you want to watch a video?’ he asked. ‘My mother will go and get one if you do.’
    Tess noticed for the first time that there was a TV and video recorder in the corner of the room beside the window, placed so that Martin could watch from the bed.
    â€˜No, thanks,’ she said, struggling now with her still-rising anger. ‘And if I did want to watch one I’d get it myself.’
    Infuriatingly, Martin giggled. Tess sipped her tea and looked at her feet. However weak he was, she needed him. She would have to get help from him even if she had to beg for it.
    â€˜Will you help me?’ she asked.
    â€˜I might.’ He thought for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. ‘I’ll tell you what. I’ll consider helping you to get your friend out on one condition.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜Well. You’ve told me about your adventures, and what you’ve learnt to do with your powers. I’d like you to know what I’ve learnt as well. How does that sound?’
    â€˜Sounds great.’
    â€˜Good. Only I’d prefer to show you than tell you. Does that make any sense?’
    â€˜I suppose it does.’
    â€˜Right. Come here tonight, then, and we can do the rounds together, OK?’
    â€˜This evening?’
    â€˜Tonight would be better. When dear mother is asleep. Say, one o’clock?’
    Tess groaned inwardly. Another sleepless night. Another night of worry about leaving the house and getting back in time. But it had to be worth it.
    â€˜It might be a bit later,’ she said, ‘but I’ll be there.’

CHAPTER NINE
    T HAT NIGHT, SOON AFTER midnight, two figures walked quietly down a street in Phibsboro. A heavy frost was beginning to spangle the grass in the gardens they passed, and their breath curled billows of steam around them as they walked.
    â€˜Warm enough?’ said Martin, as they turned the corner of the street where he lived.
    â€˜Just about,’ said Tess, pulling her scarf up over her mouth and nose. ‘You must be freezing, though.’
    â€˜I am,’ he said, ‘but I won’t be for long.’
    They crossed the street and walked past an off-licence with padlocked aluminium shutters over all the windows, then turned on to the main road which ran from the outskirts of Dublin in towards the city centre.
    â€˜Where are we going?’ asked Tess.
    â€˜Nowhere in particular. Just walking.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜You’ll see.’
    Tess stuffed her hands deeper into her pockets, feeling irritated by Martin’s secretiveness. What could be