Читать книгу One Beastly Beast: Two aliens, three inventors, four fantastic tales - Гарт Никс, Garth Nix - Страница 5

Chapter One

“Take these videos back to the shop, please,” said Peter’s mum. She took two DVDs out of her shopping bag and handed them to her son. “They have to be back by two o’clock or they cost extra.”

“OK,” said Peter. Anything to get away from the boredom of following his mother around. “Which video shop, Mum?”

“VideoPleaseMe,” said Mum as she locked the car. “Right over there. Then come straight over to the supermarket.”

“Yes, Mum,” said Peter, rolling his eyes. Anyone would think he was still a little kid.

“And no, you can’t have any money to rent games for your Play Station,” added Mum as Peter opened his mouth.

“Yes, Mum,” said Peter.

Peter trudged over to the shop, pretending that he was slow-marching in a procession. He held the two DVDs out in front of him like some sort of ceremonial regalia. The sacred DVDs of the king, he thought, and laughed.

“Make way for the king’s DVDs,” he said in a mock-regal voice to no one in particular as he crossed the car park.

“King’s DVDs!” said a voice from somewhere ahead of him and somehow down below.

Peter stopped pretending to be the king and tried to see who was talking. But there was no one around. Just one lady getting into her car. Besides, the voice sounded low and gruff. It couldn’t have come from her.

“Down here, matey!”

It was louder now. A deep and somehow slightly nasty voice that made Peter think of running away. But he took a quick, deep breath instead… and looked down.