Terror Kid Read Online Free Page A

where the students and their supporters had gathered. After some speeches and a lecture from the stewards on how to behave, they began walking towards the city centre. After an hour Rico was beginning to wish that he had brought something to eat. He was getting hungrier and hungrier, but they kept marching on, and the more they marched the louder they became. Rico started to get tired, but he was encouraged by the demonstrators chanting, the drummers drumming out rhythms to match their chants, people blowing whistles, and onlookers shouting words of support. But he was still hungry.
    The sun began to get brighter and hotter, and by the time they reached Colmore Circus their numbers had swelled and spirits were high. The crowd gathered in front of a large stage to hear speeches from student leaders, trade unionists and poets. As he stood listening to a student reading her poem, Rico heard someone call his name.
    â€˜Rico.’
    The voice came from close behind him, so close he thought it might have been in his head. Then he heard it again.
    â€˜Rico. How’s it going, mate?’
    This time Rico looked behind him and saw a tall man smiling at him. Rico ignored him; if this wasn’t the man who had called his name, Rico didn’t want to embarrass himself. After all, the man smiling could just be smiling because he was happy, or because he liked the poem. Rico just wasn’t sure, so he turned back and continued listening to the poet.
    â€˜Rico. I’m your man,’ the voice said again.
    This time when Rico turned around, the man spoke to him directly.
    â€˜Good to see you.’
    The man moved so that he was directly in front of Rico.
    â€˜It’s a good turnout.’
    â€˜It’s all right,’ replied Rico.
    The man was in his late thirties, clean-shaven and smartly dressed in pressed trousers, white shirt and black waistcoat. Despite his well-ironed image there was something edgy about him. He had two small earrings in each ear, and a tattoo of a lion’s head on his neck. He continued to look ahead as he spoke.
    â€˜Students love to demonstrate – they always have done – but what happens when they grow up?’
    â€˜So what are you saying?’ said Rico. ‘Don’t you support them?’
    â€˜Yeah, of course I support them, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I just wonder where it’s leading, what it changes.’
    â€˜So do I,’ Rico said. ‘But it’s better than doing nothing. Who are you, anyway, and how do you know my name?’
    â€˜You just don’t know who to trust nowadays.’
    â€˜What does that mean?’
    The man looked at Rico, and then he looked into the distance.
    â€˜I support the students, but I came here to see you. Can we go somewhere to talk?’
    â€˜I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t know you from Adam.’
    â€˜You didn’t know me, but you do now,’ the man said, smiling. ‘My name’s Speech.’
    â€˜What kind of a name is that? And just knowing your name is not knowing you.’
    â€˜Put it like this, everyone calls me Speech.’
    Rico frowned. ‘How do you know my name, anyway?’
    â€˜I make it my business to know stuff, and we have a friend in common. Don’t worry, it’s all cool.’
    Rico was beginning to get angry.
    â€˜Stop talking rubbish, man, and tell me about this friend and tell me what you want.’
    Speech dropped his voice in an attempt to sound friendlier.
    â€˜Come on, let’s go for a walk.’
    Rico’s anger heightened.
    â€˜What’s wrong with you, guy? I told you, I’m not going anywhere with you, I don’t know you, man.’
    â€˜It’s all cool,’ said Speech. ‘Just give me a few minutes for a quick chat. I want to put some work your way.’
    â€˜If you want to put work my way you come to the shop. I’m there every Saturday. If not, just leave your computer and the