Free Wanted (Flick Carter Book 1) by Tim Arnot Page A

his insides to jelly. The air between them was expectant, charged, thrilling. Shea reached for her with both hands and he went over, hitting the ground with a screech.
    ‘Now that really did hurt!’ He propped himself up slowly and carefully, and sat, his eyes closed and brow furrowed. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes. ‘How’s that tea coming?’ he asked quietly. Sweat glistened on his forehead.  
    Flick touched the side of the billy can, checking that it was cool enough to pick up. She blew on it and sipped at the steaming green-brown liquid and winced and sputtered.
      ‘Gah! That’s some interesting brew! Go on, you try it.’  
    She passed the billy to Shea. The tips of his fingers touched hers as he took it in both hands, and he felt the brief tingle of electricity. The world shrank. Their hands parted as Shea put the billy to his lips, and drank. Fire burned in his throat and his tastebuds exploded in a cacophony of alarm signals and warnings until he coughed and spat it back out. The billy went flying, spraying the hot liquid across the room.
    ‘I know I made it but that was the worst thing ever!’ He laughed.
    Flick laughed too. ‘That was so funny,’ she said between convulsions, ‘you should have seen your face! It was so…’
    She stopped. There was a strange radiance in her eyes.
    ‘Mmmm?’ he said. His eyes met hers. He saw her lips, that curved up smile and his heart quickened as they parted slightly. He searched her face and his eyes met hers, questioning. She moved closer and he held her gaze. He leaned in towards her.
    Don’t stop!
    They were so close he could feel her warm breath. His hand reached towards her face and she closed her eyes in anticipation.  
    No I can’t. This is so stupid!
    He pulled away, then flicked at a lock of her hair. ‘Spider! I hate those things,’ he said, realising it was a dumb, stupid thing to say as soon as he’d said it.
    Damn!
    He turned away, grabbing the billy can and sipping at the foul tasting liquid. It tasted as bad as he felt.

8
Smoke!

    ADAM STALKED TO his room at the top of the inn and flopped down onto his bed. Don’t tell anybody about this room, or our little chat . The conversation with that woman at the museum had played on his mind ever since he’d got out of there. Who was she? It would be a real shame if, for any reason, you didn’t get into the Watch this summer. Did she really have the power to stop him getting in? She was a Kingsman, and they could do anything. The threat was unmistakable, and frankly the prospect of not getting in terrified him.
    And what was that business with all that stuff ? He’d never been much into mechanical things; that was more Dad’s thing, and he didn’t scavenge, so where would he ever find things like that? Then a thought occurred to him. Flick liked hunting, maybe she was a scavenger too? Perhaps she’d found some of this stuff? But how could he find out without saying something? She’d be suspicious and he’d have to tell, and that would be the end of his career in the Watch. No, he’d have to be careful and keep an eye on her without her noticing. Then if she knew anything, she’d lead him to it and he could go and tell the Kingsman lady.
    And that was another thing. If you do see it, or something similar, I want you to come and find me, and tell me about it. But where was she? How would he find her? What was her name! Oh, this was so horrible!
    Then there was a knock on the door. ‘Adam? Is everything all right? Can I come in?’ It was his dad.
    Adam reluctantly heaved himself up off the bed and opened the door. Then without waiting, he flopped back down.
    ‘Mind if I sit down?’ Adam said nothing, so his father sat anyway. ‘Is everything all right? We’re worried about you.’
    Adam shrugged; they’d been here before.
    ‘Is it school? Have you been in trouble again?’
    He shook his head. Don’t tell anybody. If he admitted to being in trouble, he’d have to explain