Free Novel - The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer Page B

bridge and quickly relieved the struggling lawyers of their rapelling rigs and weapons. The Supernaturalists were on a budget, and this equipment was too good to pass up. In seconds, the Bartoli baby was back with the rest.
    “I thought you were out of gas,” Cosmo said accusingly.
    Ditto shrugged. “Out of gas? Me? I did say that, didn’t I? Well, you learned, didn’t you? And nobody got killed.”
    The Supernaturalists packed up, stowing bridges and holstering their lightning rods. Cosmo followed suit, his heart somewhere between his stomach and throat. The others seemed completely calm, oblivious to the insanity of their nighttime pursuits. Maybe they had been hunting the Parasites for so long that this was a normal night for them. Or maybe, and much more likely, they were all crazy.
    Cosmo tightened the belt on his backpack, following Ditto through the roof-box door.
    That meant he was crazy, too.

CHAPTER 4
The Big Pig
    The Supernaturalists stumbled back to the warehouse at five A.M. The panic button on Journey Avenue had been a false alarm. Some old guy had stuck his hand in the microwave while it was still on, setting off his personal alarm. Many citizens carried personal alarms that could be activated in the event of danger or illness, summoning a protection or medical team. It was expensive, but private teams arrived on average two minutes ahead of the city police. And that two minutes could mean the difference between life and death.
    On the way back from Journey, the warehouse computer had notified them of a shootout outside a bank on the expensive end of Journey. The Supernaturalists camped on a rooftop and took potshots at Parasites that flocked to the scene.
    The sun was poking through rainbow smog when they finally arrived home. Even Ditto was too tired for jokes, his small face drawn, his kid’s trousers spattered with the blood of those he’d tended to.
    They sat around the table, chewing on processed dinners from flash-food packs. Cosmo pulled the tab on his food pack, waiting ten seconds for the heat to spread through his rations.
    “I thought we did okay tonight,” he said. “No one got hurt, and we blasted a hundred of those creatures.”
    Stefan threw down his army-issue spoon. “And tomorrow night there’ll be two hundred to take their place.”
    Cosmo finished his food in silence, chewing slowly. “You know what I think?”
    Stefan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His body language should have told Cosmo to shut up. “No, Cosmo— what do you think?”
    Mona shot Cosmo a warning look, but he forged on.
    “I think that if we could find out where they lived, then we could do some real damage.”
    Stefan laughed sharply, rubbing his face with both hands. “For nearly three years I’ve been doing this, and I never thought of that. Wow, you must be some kind of genius, Cosmo. Find out where they live. Amazing.”
    Cosmo’s new knee suddenly began to itch. “I just thought . . .”
    Stefan stood abruptly, his chair sliding across the floor. He reined his temper in, but it was an effort. “I know what you thought, Cosmo. I’ve thought about it too. Find the nest, and take them all out at the same time. It’s a perfectly good idea, except for one thing. We can’t find it.
    “Suddenly I’m not hungry,” he finished. “I’m going to bed.” The tall boy dragged his feet into his cubicle, pulling the curtain behind him.
    Ditto managed a chuckle. “Well done on the sucking up to the boss, new boy.”
    “Leave him alone, Ditto,” said Mona. “Or I’ll make you stand in the corner.”
    Ditto laughed, raising his tiny fists. “I know I’m a pacifist, Mona, but I’ll make an exception for you.”
    Cosmo pushed his own food away. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
    Mona scooped the unfinished meals into her own carton. “It’s not your fault, Cosmo. This is Stefan’s whole life. Awake and asleep. It’s what he lives for. And every night he has to face the fact that we’re