Free The Serpent in the Glass (The Tale of Thomas Farrell) by D.M. Andrews Page A

Thomas doubted she saw at all. ‘My name’s Jessica, Jessica Westhrop, and this is my brother, Thomas Farrell.’
    Thomas saw the slight frown momentarily cross the other’s brow. He didn’t voice his question, though there really was no need to as Jessica began to fill him in anyway.
    ‘He’s adopted, that’s why he’s got a different surname.’
    Ideally this was something Thomas liked to explain, but many years of experience had taught him that Jessica’s gregarious nature was as unstoppable as a steamroller with no brakes going down a perilously steep hill in very icy conditions.
    Penders nodded, still looking a little confused though daring not to interrupt as Jessica continued.
    ‘We’re from Hertfordshire, from Holten Layme. It’s a nice enough village I guess, but there’s not many shops —’
    ‘And,’ Thomas broke in, ‘where do you come from, Penders?’
    ‘Oh,’ Penders turned to Thomas and seemed to become more at ease for some reason. ‘I live just north of here, in east Lincolnshire, but we only moved a couple of years ago. I was born in London.’
    Jessica’s ears pricked up. ‘I hear they’ve got big shopping centres in London, and big shops that sell everything you could imagine.’
    Thomas knew where this was leading. The conversation was heading back toward shopping. ‘Are you excited about the new school?’
    ‘Oh, yeah,’ Penders replied. ‘I can’t wait to see what it looks like!’
    ‘You didn’t visit with your parents first?’ Thomas asked.
    Penders shook his head. ‘Nope, my dad said a boarding school would be good for me and that was that.’
    Thomas nodded.
    ‘D’you know who your real parents are?’ Penders asked Thomas tentatively.
    Thomas recovered from the unexpected question surprisingly quickly. ‘They’re both dead. I never knew them.’
    ‘I’m sorry. That’s harsh. I lost my mum when I was four. I guess I don’t remember her much. Dad’s remarried now, but his new wife doesn’t like me much. It’s been difficult for Dad, looking after me an’ all. I guess that’s why I’m going to a boarding school. It’d give him more time to get on with his research too.’
    ‘Research? Is he a scientist?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘No.’ Penders turned to Jessica. ‘He’s in sales. He does market research.’
    Thomas wondered what researching markets involved. Counting how many fruit-and-veg stalls there were in a given town? Perhaps finding out how much cod was sold on Wednesdays or asking customers why they preferred street markets to normal, warm shops? Thomas suddenly realized that the subject was getting dangerously near to shopping again. He glanced at Jessica and was relieved to see that particular glint absent from her eyes.
    Thomas grabbed for the first question that entered his head. ‘So, what’s your gift?’
    ‘Gift?’ Penders asked.
    ‘Yes, Darkledun Manor’s a school for gifted children,’ explained Jessica enthusiastically.
    ‘It is? Well, the only gift I’ve got is for getting into trouble.’ Penders grinned. ‘What about you two?’
    Jessica stared back blankly and then shook her head, perhaps all too aware that her attendance at the Manor hadn’t been by invitation.
    Thomas shrugged. ‘Do you think they made a mistake?’
    ‘I guess we’ll find out.’ Penders grinned again, then leant back on his seat. Mr Clear was looking at them all with what Thomas thought a twinkle in his grey eyes.
    ‘Where are you from, Mr Clear?’ Thomas asked. The other two children looked at Thomas and then at Mr Clear.
    ‘I be from the ol’ Manor, Master Farrell,’ he said in such a way as to make Thomas think it a stupid question.
    Jessica frowned. ‘Your accent doesn’t sound Scottish.’
    ‘No, I didn’t say I grew up in Scotland,’ Mr Clear added, though he didn’t see fit to add where he had grown up — despite a considerable and intentional pause by Jessica.
    ‘And what do you teach, Mr Clear?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Teach?’ the