***
All of them were to do more but they were not to know then until six months later when a call came in the early hours of the morning. Rox sat up immediately the minute she recognized the voice at the other end of the line. It was Jeff’s, agitated, fearful.
‘Rox, Rox, please come quickly.’
‘What’s up, boy?’ There was that hateful sinking feeling in Rox again.
‘It’s Jam and Su. They are fighting. Jam hit Su. He hit Su hard.’ Rox registered shock and confusion in Jeff’s voice. It was obvious that this last had never happened before. Probably this was what prompted the call. The leadership had been challenged and now the followers were at a loss and hence needed her advice.
‘What happened?’ Rox asked.
‘It was Jam. Lately he started smoking. He would pick up discarded cigarette stubs and smoked them at night. He’s got a small pile of them. Su hates it. She says it makes Bebe cough. Tonight Jam did it again. When he would not listen to Su, she snatched the stub from his mouth and threw it away. That’s when he hit her.’ Rox swallowed hard as she pondered what to do.
‘Now Jeff, get a hold of yourself. Tell me where you are.’
In his distress, he babbled something quite incoherent to Rox. In desperation, she stopped him in mid stride. ‘Jeff, Jeff, I still can’t get what you are saying. Have I seen this place before?’
‘Yes,’ came the tearful reply. ‘Remember the lane where I slung pebbles at you? We’re….They’re at the big abandoned house at the end of the lane.’
I knew it, Rox thought. They had to have a secret hideaway somewhere. So that was why Jeff had slung stones at them. Rox and company had been too near to their hideout.
Rox shook herself out of her reverie. ‘Jeff, go back to the mansion. Wait outside till I come. Is anyone with you?’
‘Tan,’ was the subdued reply.
‘Alright, keep him with you. Remember, stay outside until I arrive. I may need your help.’
Then the phone went dead. Hurriedly Rox rang San and told her briefly what had happened. ‘Get Ben and meet me at the mansion.’
‘Don’t you think we should all go together?’ asked an anxious San.
‘I don’t foresee much trouble. After all, it’s just children quarrelling. I’m more concerned about Jeff and Tan being outside at this hour. The sooner someone reaches them, the better.’
Last Stroke of the Brush Page 6