The Future's Mine Read Online Free Page B

The wolf was at the door.
    ‘Matt, this is perfect,’ I said. ‘It’s for the Metropolites, it’s got to be. No-one else eats venison.’
    ‘So they’re going to have a feast,’ said Matthias, nodding, weighing up the options.
    ‘It’s perfect. We’ll break into the pantries when the Parrots are busy cooking the feast in the kitchens. They won’t know what hit them, they’ll be too busy. Think of how much food is stored down there right now.’
    Matthias laughed and said, ‘Don’t get carried away just yet. We don’t even know for sure that the Metropolites are coming.’
    ‘The Metropolites,’ I scoffed. ‘Oh, that would be too good. The honourable guests right in the thick of it. We can’t let them miss out on any of the fun. We could snatch food right off their plates, Matt. The Mayor would be humiliated . A security breach on his watch! Maybe the Metropole will fire him …’
    ‘All right now, you’re getting way ahead of yourself, we’ve not got a shred of solid information. I’m doing nothing until I’ve scouted out their soft spot,’ retorted Matthias, always ready to deflate my plans. I gave a snort of defiance.
    He sighed like a weary mentor and pressed his fingertips to his forehead, as though I had a lot to learn from him. ‘You’re always after a sledgehammer approach. Taking advantage of an enemy’s weakness is not a sign of your weakness. It’s a sign of your strength.’ He tapped the side of his head. ‘Use your brains to make a strategy first. So just bloody well calm down and let us figure out how best to get the food out without being seen.’
    I fell silent and sullenly picked at the laces on my leather boots. I had worn them every day since I bartered for them on the black market a few years ago; they were almost worn through, like everything else I owned. I poked at a hole in the leather whilst I let the idea unfurl in my brain. Without being seen.  
    ‘… Maybe I want to be seen … maybe I want to show them that we’re not all mice in Brigadus.’
    ‘No you’re definitely not, you’re as stubborn as a mule,’ he sniggered at his lame joke.
    I threw a handful of wet leaves at his face. ‘S uch a comedian, my sides are splitting.’
    He suddenly turned serious and picked the leaves from his hair. His eyes fixed on mine. ‘Maida, listen to me. If we are going to pull this off, you need to be cautious. I mean it. No heroics, no taunting the Parrots. Just get in, grab as much food as you can, and get out again. Otherwise you’ll put us both in danger.’
    ‘But we’re in danger every day!’ I protested. ‘Every day we’re in danger of starving. Every day we’re in danger of being charged with treason for trying to stay alive. Every bloody day we’re in danger of becoming nothing more than frightened dogs, cowering before our owners!’
    ‘Oh, here we go again! Ok fine, you go and save the world, Little Miss Martyr. But whilst you’re doing that, I’ll look after Edie and Aiden, shall I? I’ll make sure they don’t starve whilst you sacrifice the only member of their family they have left.’
    That hit home. ‘That’s a low blow and you know it. I’m trying to make their lives better so that they won’t starve ever again.’
    ‘One step at a time, Maida. Little steps first,’ he placated me, and put a strong arm around my shoulder, pinning me in place. I was still feeling mutinous but I let his condescending tone slide.
    As I attempted to rearrange my features into something less petulant, I studied his profile. Dark hair framing a strong chin. Onyx eyes. Shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of the world. Typical Brigadus features, made for blending in with the dirt and the grime of our island. A body made for hard labour and few rewards.
    I shrugged his heavy arm from my shoulders and emitted a dramatic, pointed sigh to demonstrate my dissatisfaction with his pared-back plan.
    ‘Sort your face out, Maida; it’s enough to curdle