Page 64 - My Home on the Earth

carriageway; he could have been killed. This route, from the harbour to the underpass is much easier. It takes you straight to the heath.’
‘Um. Unless you don’t know your way around,’ replied Pete, shutting the car boot. ‘Newcomers tend to go around in circles but we know the shortcuts and narrow lanes; it shortens the journey. Maybe the boy saw the carriageway as his only way out of town.’
From their vantage point at the seafront, Kay spotted the yacht club through the binoculars. In the distance sat block upon block of new flats which appeared to have been dropped from the sky onto a barren landscape all looking the same. Kay felt sorry for the occupants.
Leaving the harbour, they drove along Quay Road, turned left through the underpass and slowly along Heath Road. Three lads, coming towards them, ran into the middle of the road to annoy Pete. Kay gasped and bent over double.
‘Kay! What are you doing?’ shouted Pete. ‘Get up! They’re just a bunch of idiots. Yeah! And the same to you,’ he mouthed to one.
‘Don’t stop, Pete. Keep driving until we get out of sight.’
He pulled up behind an advertising hoarding and turned off the engine. Kay straightened up and leaned back in her seat. ‘I saw him. He was with them. No! don’t go back. Let them go.’
‘Are you sure it was him?’
‘Oh, yes. As sure as I will ever be and he’s wearing the
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