Before the Storm Read Online Free

machine, for two, have configured!’
    â€˜Leave me, am dying!’ cried BC.
    â€˜Timeslip, in three, detonation, in five!’ replied FoxS3. ‘One, two, three!’
    The scene suddenly changed to the words ’battery low’, then winked out.
    Drained, shaken, unsteady on her feet, and fighting the urge to be sick, Emily added the device to what was bundled in the handkerchief. Next she rushed off to the toilet and vomited up her lunch, the mug of chocolate, and some river water. She was washing her face in a hand basin when the maid arrived.
    â€˜Yer father’s ’ome, Miss Emily, and young Danny’s telling him rare, wild stories ’bout Master Fox an’ the rescue,’ she warned.
    â€˜I shall go to him too, Martha. Now here are Master Fox’s clothes. Wash them quickly, and put them in the drying cabinet.’
    â€˜They’ll be hours dryin’, Miss. Ooh aye! Expensivelookin’ threads, the young master has.’
    â€˜He is a sailor,’ replied Emily, confused by the maid’s opinion.
    â€˜Odd cut about ’em, too. I reckon ’e’s an officer.’ ’He has just recently arrived, on a foreign ship. They must dress like that in, um, Norway.’
    â€˜â€™Ere, there’s no buttons on ’is trousers! Only … well, they looks like little teeth.’
    â€˜Just get along and wash them, Martha!’
    Emily picked up the things wrapped in the handkerchief and made her way to the bathroom. Reaching the door, she hesitated for a moment as something nagged at the back of her mind. She examined the coins again. There were ten shillings in florins, all from the 1890s. An 1897 sixpence looked familiar enough, as did the pennies and halfpennies. She picked out another silver coin, stared at the writing, then very nearly dropped it in surprise. The writing on it declared the monarch to be Charles III. Was Charles the king of Norway? Emily wondered. At that moment there was a clack from the latch of the bathroom door. She dropped the coin back into the handkerchief as Fox emerged. Emily blinked in surprise to see someone else wearing her brother’s clothes.
    â€˜Um, Master Fox, I emptied your pockets before giving your things to the maid to wash!’ she stammered as Fox stopped before her.
    â€˜Thanks, to you, Miss,’ Fox replied softly, as he accepted the little bundle.

    Over dinner, it was Mr Lang’s turn to question Fox about his background.
    â€˜And how did you survive the shipping accident that claimed your family?’ he asked.
    â€˜Can swim,’ Fox reiterated.
    â€˜Ah, quite so, quite so. And now you are alone in the world, as my dear wife and I would have been were it not for you. How do you cope with the sadness?’
    â€˜Training,’ replied Fox simply. ‘Was distraction.’
    â€˜Quite so, sensible attitude. Bit of a jog around the football field does wonders to clear the mind and lift the gloom, what? Do it myself. Now, what about work? I could have a word to old Aitkinson, the grocer. He needs a smart boy to do deliveries. Can you ride a bike?’
    â€˜Norton 750CC, cadet standard, liaison class, all-terrain …’ began Fox, before he suddenly caught himself and forced his face into a blank expression.
    â€˜A bike, lad, a bicycle. Two wheels, you pedal, it moves.’
    â€˜Cycle!’ exclaimed Fox in relief. ‘Yes, cycle, for use, am trained.’
    â€˜Ah, good, good. Now look here, Fox, I think that the best course is for you to work for old Aitkinson for a few weeks, delivering groceries. It will earn you some shillings to get by while you look around for a proper apprenticeship, so that you can better yourself. Where are you staying?’
    â€˜Room, in hostelry.’
    â€˜Ah, splendid, but there is a spare room here, bear that in mind. What profession takes your fancy?’
    â€˜Electricity, is future.’
    â€˜Electricity, eh? Smart lad,