Unhooking the Moon

by Gregory Hughes

  I was so jittery I couldn’t close my eyes. But the thought that we made it home soothed me. After a while my nerves settled and my eyes closed. And then, after a dozen nervous twitches, I slept.

  I was woken by the rain tickling my face. I turned over hoping it would stop but it didn’t, it got heavier and the wind picked up. The Rat stayed asleep, nothing ever woke her, but the rain splashed on her face and caused her to cough. Lightning cracked and thunder rocked around the sky. I saw puddles forming around our base. We had good sleeping bags, but they weren’t waterproof. Then the wind tore at the trees. I heard a cracking sound and somewhere close by a branch fell to the ground.

  Then, when the lightning flashed again, I saw a sight that froze my heart! A hooded figure was standing in the bushes. He must have come back! ‘Oh God, no!’ I searched for a brick or a branch, or for the small penknife we had brought with us. It went dark. Then there was another loud crack and the sky lit up. He was standing right in front of me. The Rat coughed and he looked her way. I jumped between him and my sister. My legs were trembling. My fists were clenched. We looked at each other through the pouring rain. Then he pulled the hood from his head.

  ‘Get your stuff and come with me!’ he shouted.

  It was Ice. I was so relieved I could have cried! Lifting the Rat from her sleeping bag, he held her in his arms.

  ‘Come on, son. Let’s get you indoors.’

  Ice had come for us. Maybe the Rat was right. Maybe he was an angel. Leastways, he was to us that night. And as far as I’m concerned, he always will be.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘Are you kids up?’ shouted Ice.

  I opened the bedroom door and saw Ice behind a breakfast bar. I felt shy as I walked out. ‘I’m glad you put us up, Ice. We got chased last night.’

  But Ice concentrated on the cooking. He was shuffling the frying pans frantically and there was a lot of sizzling and smoke.

  ‘You want some help, Ice?’ I said. ‘I’m pretty good in the kitchen.’

  ‘What, you think I can’t cook? Take a seat, the Iceman has everything under control.’

  Just then he hit his head on the overhead pans and so I looked away like I hadn’t noticed. A widescreen TV took up one corner of the room, while a music system, which could have cost as much as a car, took up another. There were chunky brown sofas and Turkish-looking rugs, and there were puffed-up pillows for sitting on. And there was a glass case containing two silver handguns. They were the Berettas Ice used in his videos.

  When I looked back at him he was still struggling. I think cooking was a new experience for Ice and there’s nothing worse than having someone watch you when you’re starting out. And so I took a seat on one of the sofas and looked at the city walled in glass.

  ‘Morning, Ice!’ The Rat came in wearing her Armani dress. ‘Lucky you come for us, Ice! We got chased by a lunatic!’

  ‘Well, you shouldn’t be getting chased!’ said Ice in a grouchy tone.

  ‘You want some help, Ice?’

  ‘No, I don’t!’

  But then he dropped the eggs on the floor and knocked over the orange juice. Then he started swearing like he was on stage. Even the Rat looked shocked.

  ‘You shouldn’t swear, Ice. You should beep like they do on TV.’

  But Ice grumbled away like he hadn’t heard her.

  ‘Ice, there’s smoke coming out the oven!’

  Ice grabbed a dishcloth and opened the oven door.

  ‘Use mitts, Ice!’

  ‘AAAAAAH!’ He smashed a burning tray of hash browns on to the breakfast bar. Then he started cursing and swearing like you wouldn’t believe.

  ‘Beep instead, Ice! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!’ said the Rat beeping out the bad language.

  That blew Ice away and he laughed like a big kid. I laughed as well; it was funny.

  ‘Come and sit down, Ice,’ said the Rat. ‘Bob, you take care of breakfast.’ She sat Ice at a dining table by the window and fetched some ice for his hand. ‘That pan must have been really hot!’

  ‘It was!’

  ‘But you never dropped it, Ice. You were so brave.’

  What a creep. I wouldn’t have dropped it either, but I said nothing. Ice had napalmed most of the bacon and so I fried some eggs and salvaged what I could from the hash browns. I served it to them with fresh toast and then, filling up a plate, I joined them.

  ‘Tastes good, Bob. Where you learn to cook?’

  ‘The Old Man, I suppose. He liked to cook.’

  ‘My mom too. I ate everything she gave me. Never did learn myself,’ said Ice, drinking his coffee. ‘So you kids sleep well? Sleeping in the goddamn park. What am I going to do with you?’

  ‘I don’t know, Ice,’ said the Rat. ‘But thanks for coming to get us.’

  ‘Yeah well, don’t get too comfortable!’

  ‘We won’t,’ said the Rat. ‘We’re not the sort of kids to take advantage.’

  ‘Good. Because I wouldn’t let you take advantage of me. And Mia’s home tomorrow. I don’t need any more problems.’

  ‘Are you going to marry Mia? Mia Moore the Magnificent. “I don’t so much do the catwalk as the black walk,” said Mia when speaking to the Parisian press. Will Mia and Ice become America’s hottest black couple? Mia said, and I quote, “My world would fall apart if Ice were not in it. He lights up my life.”’

  ‘Is that what she said? Sounds like she swallowed a lonely hearts column. And you’ve been reading too much trash.’

  ‘Do you love her, Ice?’

  ‘Stop prying!’ I told her.

  ‘I don’t know, I really don’t. But I do know the car will be here in five minutes.’

  ‘We have to be going, anyway,’ I said, ‘We have to look for our uncle. His name’s Jerome DeBillier. You know him, Ice?’

  The Rat showed Ice the photograph.

  ‘Can’t say I do. But he looks like an Italian gangster.’

  ‘He’s a drug dealer, actually,’ said the Rat. ‘But we’re hoping he’s a nice drug dealer.’

  ‘Sure, I’ve met some really nice drug dealers, great guys! And killers with character, and thieves who can tell you a great story. They’re a barrel of laughs at a party. But they still sell drugs to children, murder people, and steal from the poor! Remember that, Marie Claire!’ Ice shook his head. ‘Why would anyone want to bring kids into this world?’

  Ice looked sad then, and so I gave the Rat a nod to let her know we should go.

  ‘Well, Ice. It’s been a pleasure,’ said the Rat standing up. ‘Let’s do lunch sometime.’

  ‘So, you kids are going back to the park?’ Ice had a think. ‘I’m gonna be busy today. But if you wanna tag along I can get someone to look after you.’

  The Rat’s eyes widened. ‘Can we, Ice? We wouldn’t get in the way! We could go for things or fetch you coffee!’

  ‘I don’t want you fetching me anything. I just don’t want you roaming around by yourselves. Besides, I don’t know who I can trust these days. I need someone to watch my back. Can you do that?’

  ‘We will, Ice!’ said the Rat. ‘We won’t let anyone sneak up on you!’

  ‘Thanks, Ice,’ I said.

  ‘Yeah well,’ he said looking kind of bashful. ‘Come on then, let’s go.’

  We went down in the elevator and walked out towards a waiting limousine. A large white chauffeur with a bald head and a black moustache opened the door for us. He looked like a bad guy from the movies.

  ‘Morning, Karl.’

  ‘Morning, Ice. Morning, kids.’

  Me and the Rat were buzzing as we lay back in the limo.

  ‘Where are we going, Ice?’ I asked

  ‘We’re going to the Marriott Marquis on Broadway. I have to do at least thirty interviews to promote the new CD.’ Then he looked at us, puzzled. ‘Who am I going to say you are?’

  ‘Tell them we’re your godchildren,’ said the Rat. ‘Because that’s what you’re like, Ice. You’re like our fairy godfath
er.’

  ‘Sounds good, but let’s drop the fairy part.’

  We drove inside the hotel forecourt and pulled up by a group of people who hovered around the revolving doors. I didn’t realize they were media people until Karl opened the door. I stepped out of the limo and, like a real amateur, walked straight into the hotel lobby. Ice and the Rat were a little more professional. They donned dark sunglasses and, stepping slowly from the limousine, they bathed in the flashing lights.

  ‘Ice! Look this way!’

  ‘Ice, over here!’

  Ice posed for the paparazzi, signed some autographs, and strolled into the hotel. The Rat followed him, sashaying like she was showing off the latest fashion.

  Once inside the hotel Ice introduced us to Barry, his big-bearded manager, a PA named Stephanie, and a couple of reps from his record company. We crowded into a round glass elevator and made small talk while we ascended through several ceilings in succession. We switched to another elevator that took us higher. And then we stepped out into a lot of commotion, camera crews, and guys shouting down cellphones.

  ‘I’ll get someone to take care of you,’ said Ice. And then he walked off with his people.

  ‘We’ve crossed Canada on a freight train, sneaked across the border, and we’ve been sleeping rough in Central Park, and now we need looking after.’

  ‘I want someone to look after me,’ said the Rat. ‘To cater to my every whim.’

  Then this stylish young guy in a pink shirt shouted at us. ‘Marie Claire! Robert!’ He waved as he came towards us. He looked happy and energetic and he had lots of streaks in his spiky blond hair. ‘Hi! I’m Julian and I’m going to be looking after you. I’ve found you a room, if you’d like to follow me.’

  ‘We’d love to follow you, Julian,’ said the Rat.

  We followed him to a room that had no beds, only couches, and there we plonked ourselves down.

  ‘Can I get you something from room service?’

  ‘We’d like a mocha,’ said the Rat. ‘And we’d like to try some New York cheesecake, if it’s no trouble.’

  ‘No trouble at all, Marie Claire!’ Julian left to order room service while the Rat relaxed on the couch.

  ‘This is beeping brilliant, Bob! And did you see the paparazzi taking my picture? I suppose I’ll have to get used to that when I’m an actress. Come on, Bob. Let’s be difficult. It’s more fun if you’re being difficult. If that cheesecake isn’t here in ten minutes, I’m taking a tantrum.’

  The celebrity life style was having its effect on the Rat. She was definitely going over to the Dark Side.

  It was night when we got back into the limo.

  ‘You kids have a good day?’

  ‘We had a great day Ice! Julian took us to lunch and we were interviewed by journalists. But I never told them anything, Ice. I promise. And a man from your record company gave us iPods. Even the paparazzi were nice to us. It must be great being a celebrity.’

  ‘Believe me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. But I’m glad you had a nice day, Marie Claire.’ Ice looked tired.

  ‘You OK, Ice?’

  ‘Yeah, Bob. Thanks for asking. I’m just … hungry. You kids hungry? Karl, take us to that French place that sells lobster. What do you kids say to lobster?’

  ‘We say yes,’ said the Rat. But I don’t think we’d ever had it.

  We pulled up outside a ground-floor restaurant on the West Side. It had large windows and we could see people sitting around candlelit tables. And didn’t they all look over to see who was getting out of the limo. Karl held an umbrella over us, because the rain had come back, and, making our way inside, we were greeted by a grey-haired guy who snapped his fingers for the servers to come to attention. ‘A table by the window for Monsieur Ice!’

  A buzz ran around the restaurant as we were led to our table. Some of the diners smiled at Ice while others looked at him wondering who he was. As we sat at our table the busboys busied themselves around us, snapping napkins and positioning plates, while the grey-haired guy looked on for any mistakes. Then a waiter appeared.

  ‘Hey man, just bring us three lobsters,’ said Ice handing him back the menus. ‘We’ll think about dessert when we’re done.’

  ‘Ice, what’s your first name?’ asked the Rat.

  ‘No one’s asked me that in years. Thanks, Marie Claire. It’s Michael.’

  ‘Michael, that’s so divine! I knew it would be something like that.’

  When Ice laughed, the Rat took the opportunity to ask him about his life. Nothing personal, of course: ‘Did you really shoot a man when you were sixteen? Were you really a gang-banger? Do women really send you their underpants in the post?’

  I would have stopped her, but for a man who’d answered questions all day, Ice didn’t seem to mind. He even seemed to enjoy it.

  Three giant lobsters were brought to the table. They were served with fresh bread rolls and a crispy salad. My lobster looked like it could do battle. But I picked up the nutcrackers and snapped off a claw. Well, I fell in love with lobster from the first bite. It was like a delicious cross between crab and duck and I couldn’t crack it open fast enough. When the lobster was finished, we moved on to dessert. We opted for the chocolate cherry cake, spiced with orange brandy, and caked in a thick chocolate sauce. It was as close to chocolate heaven as you get.

  When we were done, Ice and the Rat started joking around. But I was content to watch the rain lash against the windows.

  ‘Coffee, sir?’ asked the waiter.

  I looked up to make sure he was talking to me. ‘Sure,’ I said. I needed coffee. I was feeling a little light-headed after the brandy in the cake. But then I sat bolt upright! Who stopped in front of the window? None other than Tommy, the hustler, Mattolla.

  Of all the windows he could have stopped in front of, he stopped in front of ours! He’s got his suit collar up around his neck and his hands are clutched around it. He looked down the street as if wondering whether to continue. Then he turned and looked in the restaurant. I froze. The rain’s running down his face pretty good. I don’t think he could see us. He looked around a bit and then he turned to go.

  Go on, I’m thinking, keep going!

  If I hadn’t been staring at him the way I was, he would have carried on going. But that hustler instinct must have kicked in because he stopped and looked at me. Then his eyebrows rose, he had me. Then he saw the Rat, he had her. He looked around the restaurant, puzzled, as though wondering how we could afford to eat there, and then he turned his attention to Ice. A few seconds passed before his eyes widened and then he disappeared from the window.

  I could already see him dripping in front of us, shaking hands with Ice and ordering a drink he couldn’t pay for. But it never happened. All I heard was some commotion coming from the reception and then I heard nothing. They hadn’t let him in. I watched the window waiting for him to reappear, but he didn’t.

  ‘Come on then, kids. Let’s go.’ Ice put some bills on the table and we headed out of the restaurant.

  I was even more surprised not to see Tommy outside. I was relieved in a way. I mean, I liked Tommy, he was fun to be around. But I knew he’d embarrass us in front of Ice. Still, I felt a little guilty as we drove away. But as we came alongside Central Park, the Rat’s face reddened.

  ‘Stop the car!’ she screamed.

  ‘What is it, Marie Claire?’

  The limo pulled up and the Rat jumped out. She was nearly knocked down as she ran across the road. Ice jumped out and I followed. Then I saw what she saw. A group of guys had Tommy on the ground. They were kicking him.

  ‘Get away from him!’ screamed the Rat. She threw herself between the men and Tommy. One of the guys pushed her and she fell to the ground.

  ‘Hey!’ I shouted.

  Ice never shouted anything. He dropped that guy with a solid right hook. ‘Touch her again and I’ll kill you!’ Suddenly one of the guys swung at Ice, but Ice ducked and dropped him with a body shot. Then this really big gu
y threw a wide right hook. Ice ducked again, but a follow-up punch caught him on the chin. Ice staggered but he didn’t go down. Then all the guys came at him. But Ice was on fire. He stood his ground and threw a drum-roll of clubbing left and right hooks. One guy went flat out, one fell on his butt, while another bounced off a tree. But then this slim sneaky-looking guy jumped on Ice’s back. He couldn’t move. Another man started punching Ice in the stomach. Then I heard a battle-cry and Karl charged forward. He smashed into three of the guys forcing them to the ground. Ice threw the guy off his back and it turned into one big brawl. ‘Come on, Ice!’ shouted the Rat. There were punches and kicks and people being thrown in all directions. There were snarls and shouts, cries and groans, and the sound of Ice’s suit jacket ripping up his back. I was just about to get involved but the battle turned in our favour. Ice dropped two guys with a left-right combination. And Karl slugged the biggest guy putting him flat out. The remaining guys backed off.

  ‘Hey, we don’t want no trouble!’ said one of the men. ‘But that creep was bothering us!’

  ‘I’ll bother you if you don’t go away!’ said Ice.

  And of course the Rat was there to back him up. ‘Go on, you big bullies, before Ice really loses his temper!’

  The guys helped their friends to their feet while me and Ice pulled Tommy from the ground. There was a cut over his right eye, but he wasn’t too bad.

  ‘You OK, Tommy?’ asked the Rat. ‘Ice is here! He won’t let them hit you no more!’

  ‘I’ve been beat-up worse than that! You call that a beating?’ shouted Tommy to the retreating men.

  ‘I’ll get the car,’ said Karl.

  Tommy cringed with pain, but realizing what the Rat had said he sneaked a side-glance at Ice. Then he stepped right back into character. ‘Marie Claire! Bob! Where have you kids been? I’ve been worried out of my mind!’

  ‘Oh shewer, Tommy,’ said the Rat doing the same.

  Tommy looked at Ice with this dramatic look in his eyes. ‘And who’s this gentleman? How can I ever repay you, good sir?’

  ‘You know who this is, Tommy!’ said the Rat.