Chapter 9: Luke Brown again

Zachary was annoyed. Yes, he was annoyed. First, he had a massive migraine, causing him to lose several hours of study. Then, his brother came down with food poisoning, so he had to look after him. Next, his other brother bullied his sister, and he had to comfort her too. On top of that, he had been ordered to take a walk under pain of death (or something like that, anyway). His schedule was upset (if that wasn't bad enough) and he had to take his younger siblings who were hyped up and ready to go on a walk.

At first, it wasn't that bad. It had seemed like a good idea at that time. But now…the twins were bugging him and he was beginning to lose his temper.

"Can you be quiet for just a moment?" he ground out through clenched teeth. His migraine was getting worse, if possible. "Be patient! I've got to change." In the safety of his room, he downed two painkillers and sighed, leaning back against the door. Staring wistfully at the mountain of books lying on his table, he turned and left, resisting the lure of studying.

"Where are we going?" asked Randall excitedly, once they were on the road. "Can we go out of Peterswood?" Zac smiled faintly.

"If you want to. We had better take our bikes though, or you'll be tired out in no time." Walking back to the garage, he wheeled out 3 bicycles and they pedalled away swiftly.

The wind sang in their ears as they covered ground, promising a good time. Zac began to stop worrying his disrupted schedule. He shook the hair out of his eyes impatiently, and together with the twins, cycled out of Peterswood and to the next town. Zac always had a stubborn bit of hair falling over his face and covering half his left eye. He found it very annoying, but his mother insisted that it made him look good and refused to let him cut it. So it was left there, bothering him at the most improper of times.

As they stopped at a roadside shop for some refreshments, Zac saw a boy about his own age holding a small bag. The boy's clothes were filthy but he did not seem to notice it, catching Zac's eye and grinning. He had a rather wide mouth and very white teeth, and his gaze was so friendly that Zac could not help but to return it. He leaned his bicycle against a nearby wall and stretched out his hand.

"Hello. My name is Zachary, and these are my twin siblings, Rachel and Randall." The boy smiled and shook Zac's hand enthusiastically.

"Howdy. I'm Luke. Luke Brown. Where do you live?"

"We stay in Peterswood. How about you?"

"Everywhere," replied Luke blithely. "I wander about, see? My stepdad died 'bout two years ago, so I have nowhere to live." Zac processed this information slowly. How unusual.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. You don't seem to look too upset, however." Luke laughed.

"Upset? Nah. We were never close. Besides, I feel much freer now." He began to speak more animatedly. "I earn my keep by polishing people's shoes, and can go wherever I want. It's quite a nice way to live. It's not so bad once you're used to it… By the way, do you know someone called Frederick Trotteville?" His listeners blinked in surprise.

"How did you know him?" cut in Randall, going red with excitement. Golly! Luke was a most surprising boy.

"You know him, then?" asked Luke curiously.

"Of course we do!" squealed Rachel. "He's my big brother. We are all Trottevilles." Luke suddenly clutched Zac's arm tightly.

"Then take me to him," he begged in desperation. Zac looked down at the boy latched onto his arm in surprise. He didn't know what to do!

"Whatever is the matter?" he questioned. "Alright, we'll take you to see him! I'm fine with that. Have you got a bike?" Luke shook his head ruefully.

"I can borrow one, though." Zac nodded and turned to the twins.

"We will have to cancel the trip," he apologised. "You both don't mind, do you?"

"Nope," chirped Rachel, while Randall bobbed his head up and down in agreement beside her. "But you've got to promise us you'll take us out another day during the hols."

"Very well, I promise. I don't think mother would want me to stay indoors, anyway."

"Are you sure?" Randall looked sceptical. "We're quite certain you'll lock yourself up in your room."

"I won't. Mother is not one to be messed about with." It was, apparently, a shared joke in the family and the siblings laughed quietly. They turned to see Luke wheeling a bicycle out from nowhere. It looked brand-new.

"Where did you get that from?" gasped Rachel incredulously. "I didn't think anyone here owned a bike!"

Luke grinned mysteriously, showing off rows of pearly-white teeth. He refused to answer.

"Let's go," shrugged Zac, turning his bicycle around.

On the way home, the twins chatted lightly behind them while Zac and Luke engaged in casual talk. Questions from "How old are you?" to "What is your favourite colour?" were exchanged. Finally, Zac asked the important question he was dying to know.

"How did you meet Frederick, Luke?"

"Well, I used to work for Lady Candling," the boy began. "She lived right beside little Bets and Pip. And then one day…" Luke began to describe how the Find-Outers solved the mystery of the disappearing cat, and cleared his name as the thief.

When he finished his story, Zac had developed a new layer of respect for Frederick and his friends. They were at the gates of the 'White House', the Trottevilles' home, and Mrs Trotteville happened to be outside tending to some new shoots. She straightened up when she saw Zac coming back with the twins and wait-- was that Luke? In tow.

"Back so soon? I thought you were going to the next town."

"I was," her son responded, "but we happened to bump into Luke here, who wanted to be taken to Fred. I expect you know him. Mother, Luke Brown. Luke, this is our mother." Luke beamed and shook hands with a rather astonished Mrs Trotteville.

"Hello, Luke. It's nice to see you again. How's your stepfather doing?" Mrs Trotteville asked, by means of enquiry.

"He died of cancer two years back," replied Luke. "The house was given to someone else, but I snuck some of the furniture out to a cave in Marlow. I live there in rainy days."

Mrs Trotteville nodded, and Zac brought Luke up to Fatty's room. Rachel went back to hers, as she did not wish to see Frank as of yet.

"Frederick's down with food poisoning," Zac warned. "Don't make too much of a stir, will you?" And before Luke could protest, the boy knocked and pushed the door open.

Frans turned and looked at him. "I thought you were supposed to go out?"

"I was, but happened to meet a friend of Fred's. He wanted to see the Find-Outers." With that, Zac left, leaving Luke at the mercy of 5 very excited children, 2 'strangers', and one mad dog.

The Find-Outers stared at the dirty boy for a moment, unable to make out who he was. But the moment he smiled, showing the white teeth any dentist would be proud of; Bets gave a shriek and ran to hug him.

"Oh, it's Luke, it's Luke!" And the children crowded around the boy and began to question him eagerly.

"How are you Luke?"

"Good old Luke!"

"Where have you been Luke?"

"Have you been frit at all Luke? "

Luke looked delighted to see his friends again. He had missed them. Zac, who had been nearing his beloved books, jumped a few doorways away. Whatever was that din? He did a double take. 'Oh dear! I hope they don't tire Fred out too much.' On second thoughts, he should check up on him.

He neared the triplets' room and braced himself for the sudden onslaught of noise. Nudging the door open, he peered around the doorway cautiously, craning his neck to catch sight of Frederick. Ah! There he is. He looked at Fatty, who looked happy, but tired out.

Zac went over to him and felt his forehead for a fever. Fatty was hot, quite hot in fact.

"How are you feeling?" he asked his brother.

"I've got a stomach ache. I think I should have missed my breakfast. I feel very nauseous but I can't seem to throw up."

"Do you want to?"

"I think I might feel a little better if I did." Zac didn't know what to do. He had this nauseous feeling many a time because of his headaches and he knew what it felt like. He was quite sure it would be worse with a stomachache instead.

"How long have you been feeling like that?"

"It came shortly after breakfast." Fatty whispered. He looked quite pale now, and the noise was beginning to give him a headache. "I think it's getting worse. I feel very sick."

"Perhaps that might help you vomit. Stay still and don't move about too much," Zac ordered. "Throw up on the floor if must. Just don't get out of bed." He then slipped a thermometer into Fatty's mouth and turned to Luke, who was still being surrounded by the others. Frank and Frans didn't know Luke, so they just stood aside and watched the excitement.

Zac swiftly made his way to the children. "Luke, I think you could do with a new set of clothes," he announced. "Yours looks like it might come to pieces if a strong wind blows! I can spare you a set. Come on." Luke followed Zac to his room. The others beamed round at each other.

"He's still the same old Luke," voiced Larry. "As grinny as ever. Good old Luke!" Suddenly, Fatty made a gagging sound struggled to stand up. Frans hastily went over to him and took out the thermometer. Gracious! Fatty's temperature was getting higher by the minute. He took out a brown paper bag from Fatty's drawer and thrust it under his nose. Fatty bent his head forward and finally threw up. When there was nothing left, he sat back and took a few deep breaths. Frank handed him a glass of water to wash away the revolting taste. Fatty took it gratefully. He wasn't feeling any better at all. He had thought he would. He slowly lay back down on his bed with his left hand encircling his stomach protectively. Bets ran over to him.

"Are you alright Fatty? You look very pale." Fatty groaned. No, he certainly was not all right. He shut his eyes, hoping fervently that the pain and Bet's chatter would go away. If only he had not eaten that bit of toast… Fatty was feeling very unwell indeed.