Read The Boy in the Field for Free Online

the week where they learned to read and write and do sums.
Your reading wasn’t very good – you could recognise the words on jars in the
shops and markets, but Ethan and Noah had books. Suddenly, they weren’t just
city boys – they were superheroes.
    You put your plan into action the next day, setting out into
town early in the morning after doing your chores to look for ways to earn more
money. While the boys were at school, you delivered newssheets and fetched
groceries for elderly people. Once a week you would help a man to sweep the
streets clean of the market’s litter and even cleared the roads of therin
droppings. In the afternoons, you bought yourself some dinner and then went to
visit the brothers, staying at their house until Adina said it was time to
leave.
    It worked for a few months, until you were walking home with
the brothers late one night. Your father was in the town square, shouting at
another man. The boys saw him too, hesitating as he turned to look at you.
    The two boys moved in front of you, but it was too late; he had
seen you. He stood, his interest in the other man lost.
    “Oi! Come ‘ere!”
    “Let’s go,” you hissed, moving quickly to get away from the
square.
    “Don’ walk away when I’m talkin’ to ya! Get back here.” He
began to follow you, swaying with each step. “You two oughta get home. It’s too
late for little boys.”
    Ethan stopped and turned to face him. “Who are you calling
little, drunkard?”
    His eyebrows rose and he bared his teeth. “ Vasa . You’re
either brave or stupid and you’re going to regret that!” He took another step
towards Ethan.
    Choice: 25. Intervene or 26. Take Father Home

23.     LEAVE THE SCENE
    “I think I killed him,” you replied. “I think he’s dead.”
    “Come on. We’ll go back to mine. Ma will know what to do.”
    You nodded, but didn’t move. Noah held out his hand.
    “Where are your coat and shoes?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Never mind. Let’s just go.”
    He took hold of your hand and led you down the stairs and out
of the front door. The wet grass was cold between your toes as he took you
towards the therin field. He helped you onto the back of a therin and held you
between its horns the same way you had done for him when you first met.
    The creature started to move as Noah kicked it in the side, its
pace too fast and its path erratic under Noah’s rookie control. Its hooves
clipped the fence as it jumped, jolting you to attention. Taking hold of the
therin’s horns, you tried to calm the creature, relieving Noah of control. You
rode together in silence, not even speaking when you reached Noah’s house.
    Adina opened the door, her smile quickly disappearing from her
face when she looked at you.
    “What happened?” she asked, helping you both from the therin’s
back. “Who did this?”
    “Her father,” Noah said. “He hit her and then she tried to stop
him hurting me and he fell and there was blood…” He helped you inside. “I’ll
get the kit.”
    As Noah disappeared up the stairs, Adina guided you into the
kitchen, turning your head to look at the mark where he hit you. Noah returned
with a small wooden box. Two perfect stone spheres sat inside, pale and
pearlescent, one green, the other pink. Adina took out the pink one and wrapped
it in a towel before pushing the back of her hand against your skin. As soon as
she touched you, the pain began to dampen.
    “What happened?” she asked, closing her eyes and breathing
deeply.
    “I hit him with a jug and he’s on my floor. We just… We left
him.” You stared into your lap. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for anyone to get
hurt.”
    “Where’s your mother?”
    You shrugged. “Ain’t got one.”
    She opened her eyes and turned to look at Noah. In the light of
the kitchen, you could make out the shadowy outline of a hand cast in bruised
grey around his throat. Adina’s nostrils flared as she examined him. She calmed
as she put the towel to