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    Young Escapers
    Young Escapers
    Young Escapers
    Ebook161 pages2 hours

    Young Escapers

    By Michael Faunce-Brown

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Twelve year-olds Jerry and Darren witness a burglary and pick up a priceless ring before running from their eccentric foster mum,and are chased by the burglars, taking refuge with gipsies, a woman who delivers them to a slave children's factory, a rich woman who wants to adopt them, a mad woman on a remote mountain farm, hypnotists who exploit them and more: a mad chase with many funny escapes.
    Natural leader Jerry is surprised by slower Darren's talents.
    Its fast pace will also appeal to reluctant readers.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMichael Faunce-Brown
    Release dateApr 16, 2011
    ISBN9781458051448
    Young Escapers
    Author

    Michael Faunce-Brown

    Ex soldier, farmer and teacher of English and Maths. Writer and Producer of Fight Back, teen action movie, 82 minutes on DVD with Echelon.com Writer & Producer of 12+ Young Escapers Episode 1 (pilot) for TV producers to decide whether they want to make all 7 episodes. Playing in two musical duos. Written full feature film scripts in Action, Children's Action, Thriller, War and Horror genres. Produced several documentaries. Travelled to 40 countries so far.

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      Book preview

      Young Escapers - Michael Faunce-Brown

      Young Escapers

      by

      Michael Faunce-Brown

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      ****

      PUBLISHED BY:

      Michael Faunce-Brown on Smashwords.

      Copyright ©2010 by Michael Faunce-Brown

      Smashwords Edition Licence Notes

      This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

      Dedicated to my Family and to

      Hali and Kaelin for their cool picture

      and to Michael, their dad for his hot trumpet music.

      Chapter 1.Burglars!

      A shaft of moonlight cutting between the curtains disturbed twelve year old Jerry from his sleep. For a moment he lay there listening, wondering what had woken him; he had no idea what time of the night it was but there was no sound of traffic about so it must have been after midnight.

      If he had had any clue of the adventures and dangers his next action would lead to, Jerry would have snuggled back under the blanket and gone off to sleep, knowing that the devil we know is better than the one lurking just round the corner!

      As he shook off the waves of his slumbers, he noticed the moonbeam and stretched himself before drifting across to the window to close the offending curtain. He was tempted to tickle Darren`s toes, which were popping out from under his sheet on a warm summer night and just asking for it, but his attention was suddenly drawn to a movement outside. He looked further, the curtain drawn back ready for a sharp tug to close it, and was surprised to see two figures crossing the wide lawn of the large house opposite.

      Both men were carrying heavy bags and as Jerry watched from above, one stopped to re-adjust his grip. In doing so, a powerful torch was accidentally switched on, pointing directly at Jerry. He was suddenly aware of being spotlighted from below, as clearly as in the theatre, and of the men looking up at him. With collar length dark hair, and clear cut good looks, he would be easy for them to remember, even if they could not see his unusual blue eyes. Dazzled at first, he could not distinguish their expressions but switching off the torch, the larger of the two pointed at Jerry, making him certain that he had been seen, and drew his hand across his throat in an unmistakable gesture. Then they changed direction and appeared to be making quickly for a gate in the high wall of the garden, not far from Jerry`s foster parents` end of terrace house.

      For a moment Jerry froze, terrified. He had no doubt as to what the burglar intended and that it would not take long for two determined men to get into the house, an end of terrace building with cheap glass window doors.

      Their foster dad, Don Dawkins, small, and probably still sleeping off the effects of heavy drinking, would be in no shape to repel villains. In any case, he would be glad to see the last of the boys, always getting up me nostrils. Mrs Dawkins only kept them for the heavy cheque she received for their upkeep from the local welfare. Although she had a soft spot for Darren, who was a little slow and thus easy to manage, the frequent battles she had with sharp-witted Jerry would make her glad to collect a fresh couple of twelve year olds to foster to keep her budget right.

      Jerry tried to stop trembling and kick-start himself into action. He could not just stay there and await the course of events. He had to get out of the house and Darren had better come too, or the robbers might think he was the boy they had seen and do whatever dangerous thing they had in mind to him.

      He shook Darren and then again harder as he just blinked and then tried to roll over and back to sleep.

      What`s on? said Darren. Leave me alone.... a fire? as he gradually came to his senses.

      There`s been a burglary.

      Well tell Ma Dawkins.

      No time and she couldn`t stop them. They`re coming here.

      Jerry`s stomach was twisting in knots.

      Ring the Bill. I`m sl.....

      Get up, said Jerry, urgently, shaking Darren some more. They saw me watching them and they`ll bury me. He stood there trembling, unable to control himself.

      Then go and hide somewhere. He yawned. Why did Jerry have to over-react?

      They might bury you too, if you`re still here and I`ve gone, said Jerry, wondering frantically what it would take to move Darren.

      After what seemed an age, and twice as long as it had taken Jerry, Darren slowly emerged from his sheet like a reluctant Egyptian mummy and slipped on a T-shirt and jeans. He hopped around like a stork, both legs down one side of his jeans. Then he remembered his socks and trainers.

      By this time, Jerry had opened the window and was judging the distance down to the flower bed below. At least it was not concrete. Then he made his decision and easing himself through, he dangled by his hands and jumped. He landed safely and turned to face Darren, who was emerging rather like a tortoise from his shell and likely to retreat, not liking what he saw.

      Hurry up, said Jerry as loud as he dare. The last thing he wanted was for the burglars to come round to the rear of the house and bag the two of them. He could just imagine being in the large sack, with the neck tied up and slung over the big man`s back, hauled off to some horrific fate.

      A light came on in Mrs Dawkins` room and Jerry shouted more urgently. There was little time to lose if they were both to escape.

      Get on with it. The old bag`s coming. You`ll be for it if she catches you.

      Darren gingerly eased himself out of the window and was soon dangling by his hands.

      Great! Now jump!

      It`s too far. I`ll break something. I`ll pull myself back up.

      You won`t, you nerd! I did it. Come on, said Jerry frantically.

      Mrs Dawkins` face appeared at the window, framed by curlers and looking a right fright in the light of the street lamp.

      Just what do you think you`re playing at, she asked, as if she were in The Bill. Get back in here this instant, Darren....As for you Jerry, I`ll....

      Jump! shouted Jerry. She`ll get you, if the burglars don`t.

      Darren fell and rolled onto his knees, before rising to his feet and trying out his legs in turn, surprised that they were in one piece.

      Let`s go, said Jerry as Mrs Dawkins started to yell as if the house was on fire. Moo, you old cow!

      Both boys were spluttering with laughter as they turned the corner and sprinted down the street.

      As they slowed to a walk, their chests heaving, the humour of the moment suddenly left them. Their predicament hit them like a sledge hammer... alone, penniless.

      Darren`s fair skin made his face even paler in the lamp light, his short cropped hair younger than his twelve years. Both boys were slim and athletic, which should have allowed them to have the legs of the robbers even if they had discovered their escape....They were going to need their speed!

      What now, Jerry? asked Darren.

      Jerry was usually the one to take decisions quickly.

      In here, quick, said Jerry, leaping off the pavement and behind some bushes as a police car approached fast, its siren going. Keep down. Hide your face.

      The car roared by, its siren stopping as it turned the corner

      She`s not wasted time, said Darren.

      More like the robbery`s been found out, said Jerry. "Don`t suppose she`s in any hurry to have us back. Always calls me Trouble!"

      Aren`t you? Darren laughed and even more as Jerry thumped him softly.

      They scrambled out from behind the bushes and turned the first corner just as the burglars reached their van, old, beat up, with a distinctive red stripe down its side. The boys froze. It was only about ten metres distant. Silver had opened the rear door and was placing his sack inside when a stream of small trinkets poured out of a hole in its bottom onto the street. One rolled towards the boys and stopped almost at Jerry`s feet, as he watched too agonized to move. The burglar swore and started to pick them up when suddenly Blade noticed Jerry and Darren.

      Cripes! It`s that kid again! exclaimed Blade, almost dropping his sack in shock.

      Reacting quickly, Jerry scooped up the ring and put it in his pocket.

      Get that ring. It`s worth five grand, said Silver, hurriedly bundling his booty into the van and scooping up the last of the trinkets.

      Blade threw his treasures into the van with a clink and started after the boys, who took to their heels down the street. Blade`s weight was against him and he slowly fell behind, while Jerry and Darren darted down street after street, cutting through gardens and down alleys, to shake off their pursuer. Silver`s limp was against such a race and he quickly shut the van`s door before getting in and driving rapidly in the approximate direction he had seen Blade disappear. Unfortunately for him, the boys having circled round and out of his sight, were now running in the opposite direction, while Blade was hopelessly lost.

      Eventually Silver caught up with Blade, both in the filthiest of moods.

      Keep looking for `em, Silver? asked Blade, the taller of the two.

      His curious nickname had arrived from the unpleasant use of his razor sharp knife he habitually carried, while Silver was named after Long John, because of his limp, which he had earned when leaping from a moving van while being transferred between prisons. He always wore a rather unpleasant smile. Silver was the planner of the two and had to control the impetuous Blade, who often did more than he meant to.

      No, leave `em. We can catch up with them two later. There`re only three roads out of town, said Silver.

      Blade looked up and down the empty street and hesitated: Why bover?

      Coz they saw us, didn`t they? And if the old bird dies, they`ll be the only witnesses. Silver was not fussy whom he eliminated although he had not stooped to children before. You didn`t have to push her so hard, did you?

      I didn`t. She walked onto me `and. Not my fault if the old crone snuffs it. Shouldn`t `ve been so blinkin` ostile. What you going to do wiv `em when we catch `em?

      I`ve got ideas. Very creative, I am! Silver smiled evilly. And I do want my ring back!

      Chapter 2 Freedom?

      Hey! I sure am hungry, said Darren, as they left the speed restriction sign behind them.

      Aren`t you always! exclaimed Jerry. Good for you to lose some of that fat on you.

      What fat? asked Darren, lifting his T-shirt to reveal skinny ribs.

      Shut it, a minute. Let`s try this one, said Jerry, as another car approached from behind. He tried sticking out his thumb but it simply accelerated past them making him feel dispirited.

      Where shall we go? said Darren, already sounding worried. Why had he followed Jerry? Bed sounded like Heaven in the chill of the early morning mist.

      Got to get as far away from here as we can, said Jerry. Don`t want to be put back into Care and we need to find somewhere where the burglars won`t follow us.

      What`ll we do for money? We`ve got to eat!

      Have to get us a job, won`t we. Paper boys or something like that.

      Go up to London?.

      No thanks. I`m not going to end up in a cardboard box.

      Could end up in a wooden one, if we don`t eat! said Darren, only half joking.

      Better strike out for Wales. I`ve got an auntie living there.

      Great! If she`ll have us, said Darren doubtfully.

      "We can play

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