The Book of Doom - By Barry Hutchison Page 0,51

weren’t too concerned about the lack of toilet facilities.

Later, the river appeared in Christian tales. According to these stories, sinners would be drowned in its murky waters prior to being sent into Hell itself, like a small starter portion of suffering before the main course of eternal damnation.

And on and on the waters flowed, through other tales of other underworlds from countless other faiths.

Although flowed probably wasn’t the right way to describe the river’s movement. It oozed like treacle through the desolate landscape. The water – for want of a better word – clung to the sides of the boat, making progress slow and steering sluggish. Zac watched the surface closely, but the constant bubbling made it difficult to detect any movement beneath the waves.

“Hey, look, people.”

Zac looked in the direction Angelo was pointing and saw a crowd lining the shore. They stood like zombies, their mouths hanging open, their arms drooping limply by their sides. They gazed at the boat and through it as it crawled along.

“Coo-ee!” yelled Angelo, giving the figures on the shore a wave. They didn’t wave back, just watched with mournful eyes and groaned with mournful mouths until they were swallowed by the gloom.

“Well, they weren’t very friendly, were they?” Angelo said as the boat continued down the river.

Zac grunted. “Can’t imagine why.”

“It’s all right, this, isn’t it?” said Angelo.

There was a moment of stunned disbelief from Zac. “Well, I’ve had better days.”

“Yeah, but right now. It’s all right. Just hanging out on a boat. I’ve never been on a boat before.” Angelo reached for the rudder. “Can I drive?”

“No, you can’t. Sit down,” Zac told him.

Angelo deflated with a sigh, then slumped back on to the bench. “I wish Herya was here,” he said. “I liked her. Did you like her?”

Zac stayed tight-lipped and focused on the river ahead.

“I liked her,” said Angelo again. “I know she wasn’t a proper angel, but she was nicer than a lot of the ones I know.” His face went pale. “I shouldn’t say that, should I? I could get into trouble.”

“We’re already going to Hell,” Zac said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

They chugged along for a few metres until Zac finally added, “And yes, she was OK.”

“Do you think we’ll see her again?”

“I don’t know if we’ll see anyone again,” Zac said.

Angelo considered this. “That would be a shame. For you, I mean. People would miss you. I don’t know if anyone would miss me. Not even my mum.”

He didn’t say it like he was looking for sympathy – just like it was a matter of fact.

“What about your dad?” asked Zac, trying to be as tactful as possible. “Have you ever met him?”

Angelo shook his head. “He’ll be well dead by now. Humans don’t live very long. Um... no offence.”

“Right, right... humans,” Zac said. “But don’t you know anything about him? Anything at all?”

There was a pause before Angelo replied. “No one’s told me anything about him, but sometimes... Sometimes it’s like I can feel him. Like I can sort of sense him somehow, and it’s like I do know him then, and he’s... nice. And I can imagine him sitting with me, down at the end of my bed, reading comics to me while I fall asleep.”

He coughed softly, then blushed. “Pretty stupid, huh?”

“Well... who knows?” said Zac, noncommittal.

Angelo took a deep breath, then blew it all out in one go. He turned away so he could wipe his eyes on the cardigan sleeves. Zac pretended not to notice.

“Do you think we’ll find the book?” asked Angelo, changing the subject.

“I think we’re supposed to,” Zac said. “I have a feeling finding it isn’t going to be a problem. Argus said Haures wants us to come.”

“Why would he want that?”

“I don’t know, but all I can think is that it sounds like a trap.”

“So... why are you doing it?” Angelo asked.

“Because it might not be. And because I don’t have any choice.”

“I suppose. You can’t save the world without making some sacrifices,” Angelo said. “You know where I learned that?”

“Jesus?” Zac guessed.

“Well, I was going to say Superman II, actually, but Jesus as well, I suppose.”

Zac laughed. This made Angelo smile. “Look, sorry if I’ve been hard on you,” Zac said hesitantly. “I’m not really a people person.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Angelo said. “So are we friends now?”

“Let’s just do what we’re here to do,” Zac said. “And we’ll see what happens.”

“So that’s like a date to become friends,” Angelo beamed. “That’s like us making a