Читать книгу Temple Boys - Jamie Buxton - Страница 13

As soon as they were out of sight of the other gang, Big grabbed Flea and pinned him against the wall.

‘What was that about?’ he demanded. His breath coated Flea’s face like a sour mask.

‘I got you out of trouble, didn’t I?’

‘You made me look like a prat. I’m not scared of the Butcher Boys.’

‘Maybe not you, but the rest of us wouldn’t stand a chance. And anyway, if the Butcher Boys are in the Square, the rest of the gangs will be there as well: the Water Gang, the Mad Dogs, the Holy Rollers . . . They’ll squeeze us out wherever we go. There won’t be a decent pitch left.’

Flea knew he was talking sense, but also knew that might not save him. He should have kept his mouth shut.

Silence, then: ‘I had it sorted,’ Big said. ‘Don’t you forget it.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Flea said. ‘Really sorry.’

He felt Big’s grip on his tunic loosen.

‘And what was that crap you were on about? About a magician?’ Big looked suspicious.

Flea opened his eyes and tried to look honest and sincere. ‘It’s true. I swear it. The best magician in the world is coming to town by the Black Valley Bridge.’

‘How come we haven’t heard?’

‘He’s coming from up north, from Gilgad or somewhere. A merchant told the Grinderman and the Grinderman told me. I just thought, what with the crowds and them all being tourists, there’ll be rich pickings.’

Big dropped Flea. ‘Rich pickings, you reckon? Robbing tourists?’

Flea nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. They’ll all be gawping at the magician.’

Big almost cracked a smile. ‘And that’s why you’re an insect and will always be an insect. We’re not going to waste our time stealing pennies off out-of-towners. This magician’s from Gilgad, right, the other side of the back end of beyond. He’ll be clueless. What does he do after he performs all his tricks? Well?’

Crouch was the quickest to catch on.

‘He’ll take a collection.’

‘Exactly. He’ll empty everyone’s pockets, and then what do we do? I’ll tell you. We’ll empty his. We’re the Temple Boys. We know how to handle a conjuror. We’ll give him a welcome to the City he’ll never forget.’

Big went through the plan. Red was lookout again. Crouch and Halo were to get the magician’s attention by asking a lot of stupid questions; he and Little Big would work out who was carrying the purse. Clump, Snot, Hole-in-the-Head, Gaga and Crutches would surround them, then Grab would cut the purse free and Smash would leg it. They’d all rendezvous back at the shelter at noon.

‘What about me?’ Flea asked.

‘What about you?’ Big answered. ‘You can just . . . hop off.’

He looked around the rest of the gang until he got a couple of sniggers. Then they set off for the Black Valley Bridge.