Devil's Rock - Chris Speyer [90]
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Anusha became a frequent visitor to the Luxtons’ house and one day when she, Michael and Zaki returned home after school, they found Grandad’s car parked outside and something very like a party going on, laughter erupting from the kitchen.
‘You’re just in time for the celebrations!’ Zaki’s mother called as they came in.
‘Why? What’s happened?’ asked Michael.
‘I’ve just sold the Queen of the Dart, that’s what’s ’appened, boy! And I’ve sold ’er for an awful lot of money!’ boasted Grandad.
‘You never!’ said Michael.
‘I ’ave. And guess what we’re going to do with all that money?’
Michael shrugged. ‘No idea, Grandad.’
‘We’re going to build another boat.’
‘What sort of boat?’ asked Zaki.
‘Do you remember this one?’ asked their father. And Zaki saw that the old plans were once more spread out on the kitchen table.
‘Do you want to sail round the world?’ asked their mum.
Zaki and Michael looked at each other.
‘Not if I have to share a cabin with him!’ said Michael.
‘Who’d want to share a smelly cabin with you?’ mocked Zaki in return.
‘Just have to go without you, then,’ their mother laughed.
‘Can I come?’ asked Anusha. All turned to look at Anusha who said, ‘Well? I mean it!’ – rather defiantly.
‘Better ask your parents, this time,’ said Grandad.
There followed an hour of heated argument over what the new boat should be called – which might have gone on all night if hunger hadn’t forced them to go out for fish and chips.
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Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Berlin, New York and Sydney
First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY
Text copyright © Chris Speyer 2009
The moral right of the author has been asserted
This electronic edition published in January 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 4088 1828 2
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