Running

by S. Bryce

  ‘You’re running,’ he whispered. He shudders. ‘You’re leaving.’

  ‘We’re leaving.’ Does he really think I would go without him?

  He lowers his head again. His hair tumbles down over his face. ‘You’ve got nowhere to go.’

  He’s not listening. I’ll shake him by the shoulders if I have to, or take my hand and whack him over his straggly head. Anything to wipe that pitiful look of surrender off his face. I twist my fingers together in agitation and try again. ‘I don’t want us to leave, but until we can figure out a way to get rid of the Wolf-’

  His head snaps up. He blinks uncertainly. ‘The Wolf?’

  ‘I mean Rick.’

  A long period of silence follows in which I avoid all eye contact with him. I stare at the boxes on the floor and then at Tosh, murmuring in his own sleepy hell. A pang of anxiety bordering on guilt shoots through me.

  ‘Where will you go?’ he asks eventually.

  He’s not coming. Of course, he won’t come. He’s been here for years and years.

  Saul offers up a vacant expression. The same expression he had on his face the day I showed him Mannis’s book. Then quite unexpectedly, he smiles. It’s not a happy smile; it’s a knowing bittersweet smile. He’s had this happen to him before. People who he cared for have left him and he couldn’t follow. In the end, it boils down to one thing: blind fear. Fear of being rejected, fear of finding nothing better on the other side, fear of not being able to cope. Fear of the unknown.

  ‘I don’t want you to go,’ he says suddenly, his voice rising higher than usual.

  ‘And I don’t want to go without you.’

  ‘Then don’t go.’ He drops his hat and envelopes me in his arms, nuzzling his head briefly against the base of my neck. ‘Please.’ He unwinds the scarf from around his neck and drapes it over my shoulders.

  ‘There’s a cabin in woods,’ I say in earnest. ‘It belongs to this woodcutter named Alden. We could go there. Alden will know what to do.’

  He backs away from me, his body rigid, his face grave. ‘Mannis told you not to go into the woods. Stay away from the woods, that’s what he said.’

  ‘Well I didn’t stay away from them.’

  Saul shakes his head. ‘I’ve never been in the woods before, not until tonight. I looked around for ages. I didn’t see any cabin.’

  The Angry Heat surges through my veins. I take hold of the scarf at both ends and pull it tight, feeling the fabric chafe my neck. Our lives are in danger and Saul’s arguing with me over a cabin in the woods.

  ‘There is a cabin. Tosh will tell you and Mannis, I reckon he knows about it too!’

  Saul’s lips tighten. He picks his hat up from the floor and pushes it inside his pocket. He studies me for a while. His face has lost none of its seriousness. ‘It won’t make any difference.’

  ‘What do you mean, it won’t make any difference?’

  Before Saul can reply, the door crashes open and a man dressed in black bursts into the room waving a gun.

  ‘Move. All of you,’ he says.

  * * *

  Chapter 55

  Intruder

  Battling fear and exhaustion, I wake Tosh. His eyelids are so swollen from crying he can’t see well enough to know what’s really happening. Every time I try to help him up, he slips back onto the bed covers.

  I worry that the intruder is going to lose patience with us. However, his leathery pox-marked face gives a hint of something different: panic. His eyes keep shifting sideways. It’s as if he wants to turn his head to check no one’s sneaking up on him, but he doesn’t trust us enough to take the risk.

  Saul stuffs his hat in the pocket of his leather jacket and comes to my aid. He attempts to carry Tosh in his own arms and fails. He stumbles and falls, his face reddening with shame as he realises he hasn’t the strength to pick him up. We end up carrying Tosh between us, holding him tightly under each arm.

  We gather in the hall.

  Exhaustion wins over fear, hands down. No contest. I can feel myself swaying on sore legs. The thought of running anywhere seems laughable. I long for a wall to support my back or my head, to give me the Big Prop Up. Perhaps the intruder will put me out of my misery by making me up a bloody-bed on the floor. I shudder at the thought.

  ‘Where’s Rick?’ the intruder asks, raising the gun higher.

  His black woolly hat fits snugly on his head giving the impression he hasn’t much, if any, hair underneath it. I can see the broad muscles of his chest beneath his sweat stained t-shirt. He walks on legs as thin and brittle as twigs. He’s chinless and his mouth isn’t much bigger than a ten pence piece. He holds Saul’s torch limply in his other hand. His eyes keep flitting towards Tosh with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

  ‘We-we don’t know anyone called Rick,’ Saul replies.

  The intruder lets out a little chuckle. ‘I’ve seen you before, ain’t I?’ he says, aiming the gun at Saul’s chest.

  ‘I-I dunno,’ Saul replies to the gun and the gun alone.

  ‘The lock up.’ The intruder’s eyes spark in recognition. ‘You were there with Rick. He had you wait in the car. And the other day when I was here, I saw you again, ain’t it?’

  Saul nods feebly at the gun.

  ‘So where is he then? Is he out looking for me?’ he asks.

  He looks at us in turn, his gaze settling on Tosh once more. Tosh clutches at my waist in a frenzy of terror. I use one arm to steer him behind me, out of the intruder’s sight.

  The intruder watches impassively.

  ‘Yeah. He’s out looking for you,’ Saul replies. His long arms hang awkwardly by his sides. He flexes his fingers out of frustration of not being able to put his hands in his pockets. He would have to be a fool to try with a loaded gun at his chest.

  ‘What sort of place is this?’ the intruder asks. Screwing up his face, he raises the torch to a spot of peeling plaster on the wall behind us.

  I don't say anything. My tongue seems to have swollen inside my mouth. I’ve no choice but to let Saul do the talking.

  ‘A bungalow,’ Saul says flatly.

  The intruder eyes shrink with suspicion and his small mouth tightens. ‘I’ll wait here for him. Sit your bums down. Arms out in front of ya.’

  Tosh drops to his knees. He fidgets, changing from one seated position to the other before finally tucking his legs under him. He stretches his arms out in front of him, the tips of his fingers quivering.

  I feel the weight of the torch in my pocket and a foolish thought enters my head. I could whip out the torch and aim the glaring beam at the intruder’s eyes, momentarily blinding him. I could then smash into him like a charging bull in a ring. The gun would fall from his fingers. Saul could reach for it—

  No, it won’t come to that. This man doesn’t want to hurt us, all he wants is the Wolf.

  The intruder backs against the wall, his movements languid. He lowers the gun. I think the gun belongs to the Wolf. Firstly, because it appears puny in the man’s large hand and secondly because its finish is as glossy as the coat of a well groomed horse.

  I gather some saliva and run my tongue around the inside of my mouth for a bit before finally speaking. ‘Are you a friend of Rick’s?’ I ask, knowing full well that he is no friend at all.

  The intruder stifles a yawn. ‘Shut up.’ He tilts his head from side to side. A bone in his neck makes a low cracking sound. He jolts his head back in surprise.

  The Wolf could be gone for ages and the intruder’s already bored. It won’t take much for him to tire and fall asleep, and then we can escape. I ask another question, I have no business asking, in the hope of boring him further. ‘Have you come far?’

  He ignores me and raises his two bushy black eyebrows at my little brother who stares up at him with eyes like two giant eggs. ‘That your son?’ he asks.

  Tosh lowers his arms and buries his head in my shoulder. I put my arm around him. ‘No, he’s my brother.’

  ‘Hmm,’ he drawls i
n his bored tone.

  Tosh lifts his head with a shudder. ‘Are you going to kill us?’

  The intruder rolls his dark eyes. ‘Nah.’

  He shines the torch at the ceiling, and then lowers the beam so it rests on his feet.

  I steal a glance at Saul. He raises his knee and hugs it to his chest like a teddy bear. He has a kind of zoned-out expression on his face. I’m certain no thoughts of bravado are going on in his head. He’s emptied his mind. I don’t know how he’s done it, but he has.

  My mind feels like it’s going to implode. All my emotions are congealing in my head. I’m angry, frustrated, scared - tense. The beginnings of some irrational get-us-out-of-here-plan gather like clouds in a storm and then break apart the moment I try to piece it together.

  Several minutes pass in silence. The intruder plays with the torch, his gun forgotten. The beam of light bounces like a rubber ball, from the ceiling to the floor. I go squinty-eyed from watching it, and yet I can’t help but watch. The light’s moving too fast to make me go into a trance. I come as close to zoning-out as I’m ever likely to get.

  The kitchen door crashes open and the beam of light momentarily freezes along with my mind.

  The intruder’s head snaps upright. He stands to attention like an officer on parade. ‘Get up!’ he hisses, raising the gun once more.

  We get to our feet, our movements laboured. I stumble backwards on cramped legs, convinced I’m going to fall until a small hand comes to rest on my back holding me steady. I sling my arm over Tosh’s shoulder and draw Saul closer to me. The three of us stand together like welded bronze statues.

  The Wolf stalks into the hall, red-faced and wearing a snarl. His coat’s splattered with mud and leaves. Tendrils of his sweat-drenched hair stick to his forehead. The black stubble on his chin and neck glow with beads of sweat. He has a rectangular patterned gash on his cheek. He holds his gun high in his bruised, swollen right hand.

  Mannis walks directly behind him carrying a torch. He shuffles forward, peering over the Wolf’s shoulder like a frightened child.

  ‘You!’ the Wolf growls at the intruder.

  Mannis squints. Catching us in the glare of his torch, his eyes grow wider as they adjust to the light and take in the presence of the man in black.

  ‘What’s this?’ Mannis asks, moving his bulky mass from behind Rick. Frowning, he swipes his hand across his upper lip to stem the flow of sweat pouring down the bridge of his nose. ‘Who are you? What you doing in my house?’

  The intruder casts a hurried glance at Mannis before turning his attention back to the Wolf. ‘Put the gun down.’

  ‘No Jack,’ the Wolf says coldly. ‘You put the gun down or I swear-’

  ‘Or you’ll swear what?’ asks the intruder, taking another step towards us.

  The gun hovers dangerously close to Tosh’s head, until it’s almost touching his caterpillar brows. Tosh’s nostrils flare and his chest heaves as the fear in him begins to swell.

  My fingers instinctively curl into a fist, and Saul sensing my intention, grips my hand.

  ‘Let’s go talk in the kitchen, erm…Jack is it?’ Mannis says, shakily raising his two fat palms.

  ‘Yes, let’s do that,’ the Wolf says with a sneer.

  Jack snaps his head in Mannis’s direction. With one eyebrow raised, and a jaw set like concrete, he gives him a short nod of agreement.

  The Wolf starts to retreat towards the kitchen, his gun trained on Jack. Mannis waddles backwards, alongside him, the corners of his mouth twitching with the effort of forcing a smile.

  ‘This way,’ says the Wolf his eyes fixed on Jack.

  ‘You kids go first,’ Jack says. He motions us forward, his gun arm steady.

  We walk to the kitchen with the gun at our backs.

  * * *

  Chapter 56

  Loot

  We huddle near the door at the end of the kitchen table. Tosh violently shakes. I clap my hands to his head to make him stop. He then starts muttering to himself. None of what he says makes any sense.

  ‘Brave boy,’ I whisper in his ear. I give him a kiss and gather him up in my arms. I gasp in sudden pain as he digs his fingers hard into my sides.

  ‘Please let my brother go,’ I plead with Jack. ‘He won’t run away. I promise.’

  Not a tremor of emotion shows on Jack’s face.

  We’re as insignificant to him as the patches of damp on our peeling walls. I hope we’ve served our purpose and he’ll let us go.

  ‘No,’ he says. ‘We all stay here in this room.’

  Mannis hurls his torch on the draining board and rushes to light a cigarette. The first short puff brings a phlegm-cough from his lungs. Mannis curses. His face purpling as he tries to get his coughing fit under control.

  Jack clicks his tongue loudly in irritation. He only has eyes for the Wolf.

  The two gunmen stand facing each other. Jack with his back against the wall, Rick posing in front of the stove.

  Jack bends his knees slightly and lets the torch he’s carrying slip through his fingers. It lands on the floor with a dull thud.

  ‘You took my money,’ the Wolf snarls at him. He grips the gun hard with both hands, his knuckles turning white.

  ‘Nah I didn’t. I took your gun. Very nice it is too,’ Jack says, lightly patting the gun barrel. ‘And I took that worthless-piece-of-shit-compass, and now I want my cut, of your money.’

  The Wolf’s eyes bore into Jack’s own. His face flushes in anger.

  ‘Your cut? The money’s mine, you know that,’ the Wolf speaks through gritted teeth. ‘The rest of the stuff’s not ready to offload. You can wait for it like everyone else.’

  ‘I’ve had the police crawling all over my house as you damn well know. I ain’t waiting around for nothing. I helped do the job. Now I want my cut.’

  The Wolf hesitates. Two creases appear in his forehead. His grip slackens on the gun ever so slightly. The colour floods back into his knuckles. ‘You trying to stitch me up Bill?’

  He points the gun at Mannis’s chest. Mannis backs into the kitchen sink, his pupils shrinking in terror. He puts his hands up defensively. His blubbery lips move silently for a moment before he finally musters the courage to speak. ‘Com-come on Rick,’ he says. ‘I’ve told you. I don’t know anything about this.’

  ‘What about Gav and Alan? They come to collect too?’ demands the Wolf. He swings the gun back in Jack’s direction.

  ‘Given the chance, you’d have ‘em shoot me, wouldn’t ya?’ Jack replies. ‘Stop messing Rick. I’ve got plans. Plans that won’t wait. I want my share of the loot. I’ll take it in cash.’

  ‘And if I say no?’ the Wolf asks. A smile graces his lips.

  ‘I’ll shoot one of these kids,’ he says, jabbing his thumb at Tosh and I.

  ‘So shoot one then. This lot are nothing to me. Of course you could shoot me, but if you do that, you won’t see a penny.’

  Tosh buries his head in my gut. He feels like a lump of lead in my arms. I stroke the back of his head with a stiff hand, wishing my own legs didn’t feel so heavy. I stare uneasily at the three men in turn.

  ‘Don’t make me do this Rick,’ Jack mutters. He shakes his head and winces as if he’s got something sharp and poisonous caught between his teeth.

  The Wolf flashes Jack a sly grin.

  And that’s when Jack loses it. His face tightening with rage, he takes aim at the Wolf’s head and fires.

  * * *

  Chapter 57

  Follow Me

  My heart stops in my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut and my head pounds to a resounding a click, but the gun doesn’t go off.

  My eyes snap open. The Wolf cocks his head to one side and winks at me.

  No bullets. The Wolf didn’t put any bullets in the gun.

  Jack’s eyebrows knit together. Confused, he presses the trigger again.

  CLICK-CLICK-CLICKETY-CLICK it goes.

  He brings the gun up to his nose as if he’s going to sni
ff it, catches the Wolf’s gaze, and without taking his eyes from him, hurls the gun to the floor.

  The Wolf responds with a howl of laughter that echoes through the hall.

  Go now, my Strong Will prompts me. This is your one chance. Take it.

  I tighten my arm around Tosh and I take one small step towards the door. I steal a quick glance at Saul. He gives me a subtle nod of approval, and easing his hand out of his pocket, reaches for the door.

  As his fingers touch the iron handle, Jack grabs him by the collar of his jacket and, with one mighty thrust, shoves him into the Wolf. The Wolf thrashes his arms about, fighting to control his balance. Keeping hold of his gun, he gives Saul one brutal push to get clear of him.

  CRACK!

  For a spilt-second, I think the gun has gone off.

  Then I see Saul laying there, in his corner, his head resting awkwardly against the stove’s cold iron surface and a steely chill slices through my heart.

  Tosh lets out a muffled scream, rises up on his tiptoes and squeezes me with what little strength he has left in his tiny body.

  The Wolf lunges at Jack in a flash it seems. Mannis shouts something and dives in between the two of them.

  All I can see is Saul lying there with blood trickling down his forehead, his green eyes staring up at me unblinking.

  He’s lying quietly that’s all. He’s only pretending to be hurt.

  I find myself moving towards him. Tosh screams and tries to run to the door. I seize his wrist and haul him back. Then skirting around the brawling men in the centre of the room, I make my way over to Saul.

  ‘Kate, Tosh!’ Mannis shouts. ‘Get out of here!’

  I ignore him. All I can think about is shortening the distance between Saul and I. And when I get there, and I do get there, in spite of all the obstacles set before me, my trembling hand reaches out to touch Saul’s pale cheek. Then, like a storm-tide going out, my hand is roughly pulled away. Mannis grips my shoulders and spins me round to face him. I’m vaguely aware of Tosh squealing at the top of his voice and clawing at my elbow.