Page 51 of Mercury Rising

CHAPTER TWELVE

Brighton would be heaving but Mercury had a plan. So, he, Nick and Cath had corralled five excitable teenagers onto a train at London Bridge station. After an hour of incessant chattering from most of their gang, Mercury was ready for fresh air.

“Will we really be able to see it?” Eddie asked as they walked down the platform.

“Don’t worry,” Mercury replied. “It’s everywhere. Stay close.”

“Yes, Mercury,” Eddie replied.

Mercury cast him a scowl. “Cheeky.”

Outside the station they found the taxi rank.

“Everyone stay here,” Mercury said.

He dashed over to the front cab.

“Where can I take you?”

“To the best view of the sea, please. We have a young man with us who’s never seen it.”

The cabbie’s mouth dropped. “What?”

“I know. Don’t make a thing of it.”

“You got it,” the cabbie said. “You get in with me and tell my mate behind to follow us.”

Mercury returned to the group. “Brooke, Eddie, Hassan and Cath with me. Nick, can you take Anna and Olena in the second one?”

Nick flinched. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss why Mercury had shut down the kissing, which Mercury was glad about. His thoughts remained far too jumbled to give them voice. Knowing him, he would say exactly the wrong thing and screw things up royally.

“I’ve always wanted to say follow that cab,” Nick said weakly.

“Now’s your chance.”

He didn’t know what else to say. Nick’s bewilderment was evident.

“Come on, you two,” Hassan shouted, jumping up and down.

They scrambled into the cab. Mercury rummaged in his pocket and produced a sleep mask he’d got from his last flight.

“What’s that?” Eddie asked.

“For you. It’s your birthday.”

“I ain’t wearing that.”

“Go on,” Brooke urged.

“Please, Eddie,” Hassan added. “It’s your birthday surprise.”

Eddie sighed and grabbed the mask. “If you leave me somewhere, I’ll tell the police.”

He put it on. Mercury caught sight of the cabbie in the rear-view mirror. To his astonishment, the man’s eyes were filled with tears.

The taxi turned left on the sea front, past the pier. Hassan was about to say something when Mercury shook his head. It would be unfair to tease Eddie.

They drove for a short while until the cab stopped. The pebble beach across the road was a lot quieter than those stretches near to the town.