Red Rain

34

Samuel closed the guesthouse door behind him, making sure it clicked shut. The two boys strode into their room. Each climbed onto one of the low twin beds, one against each wall. They stood up and bounced on the beds for a few moments, a gleeful trampoline act.

Bright lights set up by the police officers in the driveway broke the darkness outside their curtained window. The light swooped across the flowered wallpaper and caught the two boys as they leaped and bounced.

“Smoked meat,” Daniel said when they finally slumped to their beds.

“Smoked meat,” Samuel repeated. “There was Daniel being Daniel again.”

Daniel stuck his chin out defiantly. “Smoked meat. Smoked meat. Smoked meat.”

Samuel sighed. “Yes, the man was smoked meat. But-”

“This will keep Pa busy for a while.”

“I know, Daniel. But, we just got here. Perhaps we need to go slow.”

Daniel giggled. “You loved it, too, laddy. I saw your eyes shine. You wanted a taste of that smoked meat.”

Samuel bounced lightly on the bed. “Don’t be making a joke, Daniel. We don’t eat smoked meat anymore-remember?”

Daniel giggled again. “Did you put the blowtorch back where we got it?”

Samuel nodded. “Sure, I did. But I don’t really understand why we needed it, boyo.”

“To keep Pa busy. To give the coppers something to puzzle about, don’t you know.”

Samuel’s expression changed. He stood up and crossed to his brother. He put his hands on Daniel’s shoulders and peered down at him. “I know you like a bit of fun-”

“You too.”

“But if we get caught, it’s all off. All. Off. And why did we adopt the new mum? Remember?”

Daniel grinned up at him. “To rule the school?”

“Yes. To rule the school. But if we go too fast. .”

Daniel removed his twin’s hands from his shoulders. His eyes flashed. Samuel knew that expression. Thoughtful. Devilishly thoughtful.

“Pa doesn’t want us. He doesn’t like us. So we have to keep him busy. Out of our hair, don’t you know. And then, Sammy. . And then. . who will help us rule the school? Do you know? Can you guess? Who will be the first to help us?”

Samuel stuck out his jaw. “I can’t read your mind now, can I? Especially not your mind.”

“The bruvver and sister,” Daniel said.

Samuel stared at him. “Who?”

“The bruvver and sister,” his twin repeated. “You know. Ira and Elena.”

“The two of them? Help us?”

Daniel nodded enthusiastically, eyes aglow. “The bruvver and sister know people, Sammy. They have friends, right? They know things. They will help us rule the school. They’ll join us. And then more. And more.”

Daniel jumped to his feet and pumped his fists above his head. “More and more and more. And when we own all the kids, we own the town. It will all be ours. All. And what does it take, Sammy? You know the answer. Teamwork, boyo. Teamwork wins the day.”

“Daniel, listen to me. What if Ira and Elena don’t want to join us? What if they tell Mum and Pa?”

Daniel giggled. His grin made his dimples flare. “We’ll convince the bruvver and sister.”

Samuel stared at him. “Convince them? Okay. But no smoked meat, Daniel. Okay? No smoked meat?”

Daniel nodded. “Total domination, Sammy. You’ll see. Total domination.”

A hard knock on the door ended the discussion. The door swung open, and Roz edged into the room, carrying a round tray with a bowl and glasses. “You boys didn’t get much dinner, what with the police and all. I brought you some Cokes and a big bowl of popcorn.”

Sweet smiles on both boys. “Oh, me goodness. Thank you, Aunty Roz,” said Samuel.

Daniel’s eyes lit up with glee, and his dimples flashed. “Thank you, Aunty. Who loves the popcorn? We do! Pop pop pop.”