"Anthony Wall - The Eden Mission (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wall Anthony)

they'd been friends for only three years, it often seemed they could read each
other's minds.
Casually, so as not to draw attention to themselves, they turned sideways and
observed their fellow passengers ... to find that they themselves were being
scrutinised. An attractive girl in expensive leisure clothes peeked back at
Gary. Vanessa--he remembered the name from their brief meeting earlier.
Sixteen years old; blonde, like Susan.

Her hair's dyed, I bet, Susan thought. She had already nicknamed the older
girl Vainessa and decided she was a flirt. Gary nodded, a little
self-consciously, but Vanessa was now studying the passing port scene--as
though the ships hooting farewell were paying tribute to her.

Susan's eyes flitted rapidly over the other teenagers. All boys. Yves, good
looking, half-French; Norman, solemn and bespectacled; and Darren, with the
discontented face. Beyond them the three teachers talked earnestly. Planning
lessons, guessed Susan.

Soon after, the passengers went below, leaving Gary and Susan alone on deck.

"They seem quite a nice lot," said Gary cheerfully.

Susan made no comment, then: "S'pose you've gone soft on that
girl--what's-her-name--Vanessa? I saw you ogling her."

Gary laughed. "Rubbish. And you're a fine one to talk--don't pretend you
aren't keen on Yves."

Susan stuck out her tongue. "Anyway, what do you care? You're not my
guardian."

He shrugged good-naturedly.

Susan was beginning to feel ashamed of her mean thoughts, and changed the
subject. The Eden Mission, that's what really mattered. They both knew it. And
if she hadn't won an ecology essay competition and a prize of places for two
aboard Sea Shepherd, neither of them would be here.

She rested her hand on Gary's shoulder and looked at him cheekily. "You may be
a pain in the neck sometimes, but I'm glad you're coming with me."

As Southampton slid astern, Sea Shepherd nosed into the thumping waters of the
English Channel. At that moment the sun squinted through a crack in the cloud.
On the horizon the sky's grey paint was peeling, revealing blue. A good omen?

Gary followed Susan down the companionway. "See you at dinner," he said,
before entering the cabin he shared with Norman. As one of the girls, Susan
had Vanessa for a room-mate. Next door were Yves and Darren.

Susan hesitated outside her cabin, fiddled with her cardigan, ran a comb