Chasing the Valley Read Online Free

wrestling . . .’
    â€˜Oh, for heaven’s sake,’ Clementine says. ‘The last thing we need is another filthy scruffer around. Can we just dispose of this girl and get on with it?’
    I scowl. That’s all we are to the richies: filth and rubbish, things to be dumped in the backstreets and ignored. To be fair, though, she’s got a point about me being dirty. There hasn’t been a decent rainstorm for days, and – even on the nights I snare a bed in a cheap boarding house – I rarely have access to a shower.
    â€˜Why are you part of this, anyway?’ I ask her.
    â€˜Yeah, I was wondering that too,’ says Teddy Nort. In response to my questioning look, he adds, ‘I only got sucked into this suicide mission about twenty minutes ago, so I’m just as confused as you.’
    Radnor scowls at him. ‘Sucked into a suicide mission? You begged me for a spot to save you from that manhunt, Nort. You said it was time for me to cough up and repay my –’ He stops abruptly, as though he’s just remembered that he has an audience. ‘Anyway, you can’t stay in Rourton now.’
    Teddy shrugs, and offers me another cheeky wink. ‘Meh. Sucked into a crew, on the run from the guards, what’s the difference?’
    I roll my eyes. He’s such a ridiculous figure, puffed up with winks and bravado and hands that can nick a richie’s coin purse in seconds. There’s a moment’s pause before I remember my original question and turn back to the richie twins.
    â€˜So,’ I say, ‘why are you two so keen to risk your lives on a refugee crew?’
    The quieter twin opens her mouth, and I half-expect the squeak of a mouse. But to my surprise, there’s a solid ring of determination in her voice. ‘We don’t want to live here any more,’ she says. ‘We want to escape, just like the rest of you.’
    Teddy snorts. ‘Oh, come off it. I bet you eat breakfast off golden platters. What’ve you got to run away from?’
    Clementine turns upon him with a furious sneer. ‘None of your business, scruffer boy. We’re offering a great deal of money for our places on this crew, which is more than I can say for some people.’
    â€˜All right, keep your knickers on,’ says Teddy, holding up his hands. ‘If you’ve got a gold platter phobia, I’m not gonna judge. Never liked gold much myself, you know. It’s bloody heavy to lug around when its previous owner is chasing you down High Street.’
    I feel the corners of my lips twitch, but Radnor doesn’t look too amused.
    â€˜That’s enough, Nort. And you,’ he adds, turning to me, ‘you’re not wanted here. Clear off and find another spot to hide from the king’s firecrackers, won’t you?’
    â€˜No,’ I say firmly. ‘I want to join your crew.’
    Silence.
    Clementine gives a derisive laugh. ‘Oh, you’ve got to be joking.’
    â€˜Why not?’ I say. ‘You’ve only got four people. Everyone knows the best balanced crews are made of five.’
    â€˜We’ve already got a fifth member,’ says Radnor. ‘And you’d better clear off, or he’ll smash your face in for trying to steal his spot.’
    I squint down the tunnel. Have I somehow missed another figure in the dark? No, there’s only the four of them: Teddy, Radnor, Clementine and her quieter twin. I can hear each of them breathing, harsh and hollow, in the stench-thickened air.
    â€˜Who’s your fifth member?’ I say.
    â€˜None of your business.’
    â€˜Look, I can be useful.’ I take a deep breath. ‘My name’s Danika Glynn, and I’m a scruffer like you. My parents died when I was a kid – I know how to live rough on the streets. I’ve got skills. I could be useful.’
    I glance pointedly at the richie girls, hoping Radnor and Teddy will know what I