Ben Horton - Monster Republic

MONSTERREPUBLIC

Ben Horton

illustrations by Christian Scheurer

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Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9781409096115

www.randomhouse.co.uk

MONSTER REPUBLIC A CORGI BOOK 978 0 552 56057 3

Published in Great Britain by Corgi Books, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books A Random House Group Company

This edition published 2010

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Copyright Hothouse Fiction Ltd, 2010 Produced by Hothouse Fiction www.hothousefiction.com

Illustrations by Christian Scheurer, copyright Random House Childrens Books 2010

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Set in Century Old Style

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About the author

When not writing books, Ben Horton loves directing and acting in plays. His dream is to star in a big-budget Hollywood version of Monster Republic. He is a long-time fan of superhero, science fiction and action movies and lives and works in London. This is his debut novel.

Even though it was well past midnight when the phone call came, Dr Lazarus Fry answered it before the second ring.

Hello.

Is that you, Fry?

Yes, it is.

Dr Fry didnt need to ask who the other voice belonged to. Only one person knew the number for the special hotline from London.

Is it true?

Dr Fry suppressed the urge to sigh. Like most scientists, he despised guessing games.

Is what true, Prime Minister?

What Ive just heard about the Divinity Project. That youve been spending government money on some sort of animal experiments. The Prime Ministers voice was brimming with anger. His hatred of animal cruelty was well known. One of your lab technicians claims that youve been doing something with dogs.

Dr Frys narrow mouth twitched angrily.

Who has been telling you this?

Some chap called Quinn. He says what youre doing down there in Broad Harbour is unethical. Illegal even.

Prime Minister, said Dr Fry smoothly, let me assure you that everything that goes on in this laboratory is entirely within the law.

And have you got anything to do with these reports from the Broad Harbour police about strange creatures in the storm drains?

Dr Fry laughed. Like the alligators in the New York sewers? Rumour and fantasy, Prime Minister. There is nothing amiss in Broad Harbour.

The Prime Ministers voice sharpened.

Im afraid I dont share your opinion on that. You are to suspend work on the Divinity Project at once. Im going to arrange for a team of independent investigators to come down next month and check out whats happening. If they find any evidence of wrongdoing, you will have me to answer to. Good night.

With a sharp click, the line went dead.

Dr Fry sat quite still for a moment. Then he reached for another phone.

Hardiman? I think we need to put the special contingency plan into operation. Oh, and Hardiman pay Jason Quinn a visit, would you? Someones been telling tales to the Prime Minister.

Replacing the handset, Dr Fry picked up his scalpel and looked down into a pair of wide, terrified eyes.

Now, where were we ?

The school trip was a disaster waiting to happen. Cameron Reilly just had no idea how big.

Race you! he shouted as he leaped off the coach. The journey from school hadnt been a long one but Cameron hated being cooped up, even for a few minutes.

Stretching his long, athletic legs, he sprinted off across the car park. His best friend, Darren, gave chase, but he had no chance of catching up. Although he was only fourteen, Cameron was already school football captain and could run the 100 metres in 12.5 seconds. He skidded to a stop at a set of automatic doors. A few seconds later, Darren arrived, puffing and blowing. Cameron was barely out of breath.

Youre going to have to do better than that if you want to make the team this season! Cameron grinned, his blue eyes twinkling.

Darren took a moment to recover his breath then punched Camerons arm. Yeah, well, not all of us are pretty-boy wingers, he retorted.

Cameron laughed. Who are you calling pretty-boy?

Dont pretend you didnt see Jane Chapman making eyes at you on the coach. Reckon she fancies you, mate.

Well, she cant have him, interrupted a third voice. Hes mine!

The boys turned to see a tall, long-haired figure standing watching them.

Oh, hi, babe, said Cameron, slipping his arm around her slender waist.

Everyone agreed that Marie Lyons was the fittest girl in their class, and Cameron counted himself the luckiest guy in the school to have her for his girlfriend. Theyd only been going out for a few months, but that was long enough for him to know that she was funny and smart as well as pretty. She hadnt even complained when he was late for their second and third dates because football practice had overrun. Cameron couldnt think of many girls who were so chilled about stuff like that.

Mr Reilly!

The sneering voice could only belong to Mr Hackford, the science master; an oily little man with a ratty moustache who took pleasure in trying to make his pupils feel as small as he was. He was the worst kind of teacher the sort who always make really sarcastic jokes that nobody else finds funny.

I thought I had made it clear that this is a physics field trip, not a biology lesson. So kindly take your greasy paws off Miss Lyons and join the queue.

Yes, sir, said Cameron obediently, dropping Maries hand as they slipped into the line of students stretching back from the entrance to an ugly concrete building marked VISITOR CENTRE . Just ahead of them, a burly, shaven-headed boy used Mr Hackfords temporary distraction as an opportunity to barge in at the front of the queue, shoving a small kid sprawling to the ground and sending his glasses flying.

Mr Hackford spun round. Now, now! Settle down there!

Eyes brimming, the boy got to his feet, rubbing a bleeding knee. Cameron vaguely recognized him from his computer science class. Nigel something.