The Amphiblets by Helen Oghenegweke

people and started talking to them, you might have discovered the truth of what he’d been hiding from you for the last eight years.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘Your father isn’t who you think he is,’ said Peter, carefully watching Will’s expression.
    ‘I still don’t understand.’
    ‘I would rather explain everything to you a little later after a bite to eat,’ said Peter.
    ‘I don’t want anything to eat!’ snapped Will, who hated riddles.
    ‘Okay.’ Peter raised his hands in defence and slowly lowered them. ‘Professor Snipes is a talented scientist and very shrewd.’
    ‘I already know he’s a scientist,’ said Will, relaxing.
    ‘He has used different surnames in the past, such as Brandwell and Heatherton.’
    Will made a face. ‘How come?’
    ‘I have my suspicions. I cannot say any more at present. I need more proof.’
    ‘Has he done something wrong?’ asked Will.
    ‘Yes, he has,’ said Peter, quietly.
    ‘What?’
    ‘I can not say any more at the present time.’
    ‘Where are my brothers?’
    ‘Back home with the Professor.’ Peter took his eyes from Will and stared across the garden.
    ‘Why am I here without them? And how did I get here?’ Will was overwhelmed by a flood of questions. ‘You know my father, don’t you? I saw a picture of you two together on the mantelpiece in the room that Shank chased me into.’
    ‘I know the picture you are referring to. It’s not me but a drawing of my great-great-great grandfather. It was drawn over 200 years ago,’ Peter explained.
    ‘So that man in the picture wasn’t Dad,’ commented Will, wide-eyed. ‘But they’re identical.’
    ‘They are related,’ said Peter gently.
    ‘Why am I here?’ asked Will earnestly.
    ‘What would you say if I told you that your father had sold you to me,’ asked Peter.
    Will narrowed his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t believe you!’
    ‘No, of course you wouldn’t. The idea is too absurd. And if I told you that your father thought it would be nice if you came to stay with me for a while … would that be more believable?’
    ‘Yeah,’ said Will. ‘But why couldn’t my brothers come with me?’
    ‘Perhaps he thought it would be a pleasant change for you to come here on your own. A chance for you to discover who you are.’ Peter knew he was putting off telling the truth but he hadn’t the heart at this stage to tell Will everything. The child was only eight years old. The idea of being sold was too diabolical for him to understand.
    ‘I think I’ll have some breakfast now,’ said Will, seeing Robert waving to them from the kitchen door. He was wearing a white apron over his dark suit.
    ‘That sounds like a very good idea,’ said Peter.
    Together they walked towards the house.
    When they entered the kitchen, Will saw that Shanks had been tied up in another room out of his way. Robert had prepared a delicious cheese omelette for them both and Will ate everything, leaving his plate almost as clean as when Robert had first taken it from the cupboard.
    After breakfast, Will and Peter spent the rest of the day exploring the eight-bedroom house together and selecting a bedroom for Will to sleep in during his visit. They had a game of hide-and-seek.
    Then, after a sandwich and an apple for lunch, they visited the grounds: strolling through the garden and watering the plants. They had time to play on a gigantic swing suspended over an immense pond, which made Will’s stomach turn upside down. They finished at the stables.
    ‘You didn’t tell me you had horses!’ gasped Will. ‘I’ve only ever seen horses from a distance before. They’re massive when you’re standing next to them.’
    ‘I have three horses here. The black one is mine. I named him Pedlar. I bought the white one for Robert. She’s called Yepsin. And the chestnut brown one only came here a few days ago, especially for you. Meet Hans, your new horse.’
    ‘You bought this horse for me?’ gasped Will, stroking the white spot