Earthquake (12 page)
Authors: Kathleen Duey
“You have anything to say for yourself, boy?”
Brendan heard the officer's question and turned to face him. The soldier saluted his superior, then stepped back, the rifle still raised and ready.
Brendan squared his shoulders. “I have a dollar. If St. Mary's is still standing, I have more than that. I would be glad to pay anyone for the oranges.”
Sergeant Grant glanced past him at the soldier. “He had a box of oranges, sir. Was practically
running with them,” the soldier barked out.
Brendan hung his head. It was true. The soldier lifted his rifle again and said, “Look a man in the eye when you're talking, boy.”
Brendan raised his head to meet Sergeant Grant's steady gaze. “I was just hungry.”
“You wouldn't have gone on down the block, looking for jewelry or some poor woman's silver tea service?” Sergeant Grant asked.
Brendan shook his head. “No, sir, I would not.” He looked directly into the officer's eyes. “I work. I've supported myself since I was nine and my father died. I never took a dime I didn't earn.”
“If you need a character witness to confirm that, I'll be honored.” Brendan turned at the familiar and welcome sound of Mr. Malloy's voice.
Sergeant Grant cleared his throat. “You know this boy, Mr. Malloy?”
“Everyone on Market Street knows this boy and thinks well of him,” Mr. Malloy said.
“Good enough for me,” Sergeant Grant responded. “But I can't just release a boy his age back onto the streets. Does he have a family? A guardian?”
“Only me.” Brendan watched as Miss Toland
stepped out of the crowd, her head held high. Dai Yue was standing next to her.
“Are you his guardian?” the officer asked.
“I am Miss Agatha Toland, officer. You have heard of my family, haven't you?”
Sergeant Grant smiled. “Yes, ma'am, I sure have.”
“Then you wouldn't question my intent, would you?”
The officer shook his head. “Of course not, Miss Toland.” He looked at Brendan. “All right,” he said finally. “But if I see you again before order is restored, it won't end this way.”
The officer turned on his heel and Brendan watched him walk away. The soldier lowered the gun, his face expressionless as he followed Sergeant Grant.
“Thank you, sir,” Brendan said to Mr. Malloy.
“I'm just glad I was here, boy. With any luck General Funston can figure out how to feed this city before the soldiers shoot half the populace.”
Brendan dragged in a deep breath. “I've been thinking about that job, sir, if you meant what you said.”
“I meant it,” Mr. Malloy assured him. “Just stay with Miss Toland. She's a fine lady. When the city
quiets down, you come find me.”
Brendan nodded. “I will, sir. And thank you again.” Mr. Malloy tipped his hat, then strode away, heading toward the crowds in Lafayette Square, clipboard in hand.
“The first thing we have to do is to get you two some breakfast,” Miss Toland was saying. “If we hurry we won't have to stand in line more than an hour or so. With luck, by tonight, we'll all be back in my house.” She gestured at the wagon. “Caruso likes sleeping outside, but I don't.”
Brendan grinned at her. He didn't mind standing in line. Right now, he didn't mind anything. He looked up at the sky. The smoke had thinned to the west. He could see tiny patches of blue sky. It was going to be a beautiful day. He held out his hand and Dai Yue took it, smiling.
KATHLEEN DUEY
's works include the middle-grade series American Diaries and the well-reviewed chapter book series The Unicorn's Secret, with a companion series, The Faeries' Promise. She is also the author of the National Book Award finalist
Skin Hunger
. She lives in Fallbrook, California.
KAREN A. BALE
grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Riverside. She has written seventeen historical romances and has done freelance work, including helping to write two nonfiction books. Karen still resides in Southern California, ten miles from the Pacific Ocean.
ALADDIN
Simon & Schuster, New York
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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This Aladdin hardcover edition July 2014
Text copyright © 1998 by Kathleen Duey and Karen A. Bale
Jacket illustration copyright © 2014 by David Palumbo
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Jacket designed by Jeanine Henderson
Jacket illustration copyright © 2014 by David Palumbo
Interior designed by Tom Daly
The text of this book was set in Berling LT Std.
Library of Congress Control Number 97-3578
ISBN 978-1-4814-0080-0 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0079-4 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0081-7 (eBook)