Читать книгу Temple Boys - Jamie Buxton - Страница 11

When Flea got back to the shelter, Big was sorting out jobs for the day.

Big was the tallest and strongest member of the Temple Boys and their only real fighter. He’d been abandoned as a baby because he wasn’t born perfect – a few toes had been missing. Unlike most abandoned babies he’d lived because an elderly couple took pity on him, but when they died he’d taken to the streets. Spots pocked his face and his nose was flat. Flea thought he looked as if he’d run into a wall.

Little Big was his deputy and banker. He had a slight twitch that made his head jerk every few seconds or so, especially when he was talking, but he had a grip like a dog’s jaws, which was useful when he was shaking you down for your takings at the end of the day.

All money was shared. Basically, the rest of the gang paid Big to protect them – mostly from Big himself.

‘Listen up!’ Big said. He was standing on the edge of a cracked stone water trough with Little Big sitting at his feet. ‘We’ll pair up today and work Temple Square. Crouch and Hole-in-the-Head, you two together. Crouch needs a stick, someone.’

Crouch was bent double and it hurt him to lift his head. Hole-in-the-Head had lost an eye and he shaved his head in patches so it looked like he had a skin condition. They always did well because Crouch’s usual expression was heartbreakingly brave and hopeful.

‘I’ve got an idea,’ Flea said, but Big just carried on talking.

‘Halo and Crutches – you two hang out by the washing pools. Halo, you’ve got to cry. Crutches, you’ve got to comfort him, but it’s hard because you’re in such pain yourself. What’s your story?’

‘Can we be from out of town and we’re on our own because our parents haven’t got the money to pay the Temple tax?’ Halo said. He was the pretty one and smaller even than Flea. But, unlike Flea, the rest of the gang were always nice to him.

‘We’ll get nice and dusty and say we walked all the way,’ Crutches said in his odd, deep voice. He was a surprisingly good pickpocket even though he could hardly use his legs.

‘Good,’ Big said. ‘Who’s left? Gaga, Snot, Red, Clump, Smash and Grab.’

‘And me!’ Flea said. ‘But listen. If we head for the Black Valley Bridge and . . .’

Big did not even glance at him. ‘Tell you what. Snot, it should be you teamed up with Crutches and crying. Halo, you and Gaga go to the top of the steps and beg as people are going in. Gaga, make that funny noise, and Halo, just look sad.’

Gaga nodded his head and said, ‘Gagagaga .’ It was the only noise he ever made, hence his name, and he let people know what he thought by nodding, shaking his head or punching them. Snot sniffed marshily and spat out a huge gob of mucus. Gaga punched him.

Big said, ‘Quite right. No gobbing, especially near the Temple. You’ll get the Temple Police after you. Now then. Clump, Red, Smash and Grab: you know those shelters that’ve gone up the other side of the west wall? Can you handle them?’

‘People stare at my scars, so I’ll be the diversion,’ Red said. He was burned down the left side of his body and found it hard to close his left eye.

‘We could have a fight,’ Clump said. ‘I’ll attack you then Smash and Grab can sneak in round the back.’

‘Why can’t we fight?’ Smash and Grab asked, both saying the same thing at the same time.

‘Because I can’t run, can I?’ Clump said. His twisted right foot slowed him up. ‘You two can get in and out faster than us. As soon as we see you leave, we’ll kiss and make up.’

‘Yeah, kiss my scars,’ Red said, and got a laugh.

‘But I . . .’ Flea said.

‘Right, that’s it,’ Big said. ‘Get moving.’

‘It’s not going to work!’ Flea shouted at their backs. ‘All the other gangs will be at the Temple, especially today. But if we head for the Black Valley Bridge we might have a chance!’

No one turned. No one listened. Muttering angrily, he set off behind them.