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.‘Nearly six o’clock,’ he said.They were all used to going to sleep and waking up at different hours these days, tuned to the rhythm of light and dark.So six o’clock didn’t seem as barbaric as it once would have.Jack looked out of the windows.They were parked in the middle of the road on a faceless backstreet.What a miserable day.Rain was dripping off everything and splashing into the puddles that ran along the side of the pavement.There was no one to unblock the drains any more.The water just lay there.‘What are you going to do, Ed?’ he asked.‘How d’you mean?’‘You going to Islington with everyone else?’‘Suppose so.Best to stick together.Aren’t you?’Jack tapped on the window.‘We’re in south London, Ed.Haven’t got across the river yet.Now’s my chance.Clapham’s just a few miles west of here.Wouldn’t take me long to walk it.’‘But you can’t go there by yourself,’ said Ed.‘I thought after what happened …’‘I haven’t changed my mind.’ Jack sounded very sure of himself.‘But I don’t have to go it alone.You could come with me, you and Bam.Why’s it going to be any different in north London? You’ve just got it into your head that it’s safe on the coach and you don’t want to get off it.’‘I know …’ Ed ran his fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp.‘I suppose I hadn’t really thought beyond trying to stay as a gang.You really are a stubborn git, aren’t you?’‘Quite frankly,’ said Jack, lowering his voice and leaning in towards Ed, ‘the sooner I get away from Lord Greg Almighty the better.’‘I know what you mean.’‘So, come with me, eh?’‘I thought you didn’t want me around, Jack.You reckon I can’t fight.You think I’m a coward.Why would you want me along?’‘Look, I said some stupid things yesterday, Ed.I was tired.You know what it’s like.The thing is, I do want you around.You’re my mate.’‘But I’m not any good in a fight,’ said Ed.‘I’m just not.’Jack stood up.‘You’ll learn,’ he said.‘I’ll need to talk to Bam,’ said Ed.‘We’ll be OK, Ed.’ Jack squeezed past Ed.‘The three of us.We won’t have the smaller kids and the nerds to look after.’‘What about Piers? He won’t get far with that head injury, and I don’t think Bam would leave him behind.’Jack stopped.Swore.‘I forgot about him.Maybe the girls could look after him?’Ed laughed.‘I don’t think so.’‘Well, sort it out with Bam.Make a decision of some sort.I’m going to go and talk to his lordship up front.’Jack yawned and made his way to the front of the coach.He had to step over Liam who was lying in the aisle wrapped in a blanket, Greg’s jacket under his head for a pillow.Greg was sitting in the driver’s seat with his shotgun in his lap, staring straight ahead through the rain-streaked windscreen.He was still as a statue, but as Jack got close he suddenly burst into a wild coughing fit that ended with him spitting into the stairwell.Jack stopped and took a deep breath.It wasn’t good when an adult coughed like that.It usually meant only one thing.He let his breath out slowly and stepped closer.‘Do you know exactly where we are?’ he asked, hoping for the best.Greg ignored him.Just sat there.‘Is this, like, Borough, or somewhere?’ Jack pressed on.Nothing.‘Greg?’Just the rain, tapping on the roof.‘Are you all right?’There was a sound somewhere between a shriek and a sob.Jack turned round.Zohra was with Liam, trying to wake him.‘There’s something the matter with him,’ she said.‘He won’t wake up.’‘What?’ Jack felt very cold suddenly.‘What’s happened to him? Why won’t he wake up?’‘Get some water, splash his face maybe.’‘He won’t move.’‘Put him in the recovery position.’‘LEAVE HIM ALONE!’Greg’s voice sounded uncomfortably loud in the cramped confines of the bus.Everyone fell silent.Still Greg wouldn’t turn round.Jack went over to Liam and knelt down.He shook him.He felt frozen.Jack lifted his face.His lips were blue, his eyes wide open and staring, slightly bulging.There were red marks and bruising round his neck.‘He’s dead,’ he said to nobody in particular.‘I said leave him alone!’ Greg snarled.‘Don’t touch him.Don’t go anywhere near him.I’m looking after him.You’re none of you fit to be anywhere near him.’‘He’s dead,’ Jack repeated.‘He’s all right.’‘What happened?’‘Nothing happened.’‘You were with him last night,’ said Jack accusingly.‘What happened to him?’‘HE’S ALL RIGHT!’At last Greg turned round and stood up.His face was greasy with sweat, his eyes and nostrils red-rimmed.There were white spots around his mouth.But the thing Jack found most disturbing was that he was wearing Liam’s wire-rimmed glasses.‘Why are you wearing them?’ he asked.Greg put his hand to his face.‘The sun was too bright,’ he said, blinking.‘I needed to put me dark glasses on.’Jack was gripped by a cold, hard fury.‘You’re sick,’ he said accusingly.‘You’ve got the disease.You’re just like all the rest.’‘I ain’t sick.I’m fine.’‘Look at yourself, Greg.Look in the mirror.You’ve got the disease.’ Now Jack pointed to Liam’s lifeless body.He was shaking with rage, his finger waving.He knew Greg was dangerous.He knew he should be careful, be clever like Ed, but he couldn’t stop himself.‘Did you do this?’ he asked.‘To Liam? Did you?’‘I was protecting him,’ Greg croaked.‘So nobody can ever hurt him.If I ain’t around to look after him what was he gonna do? He was always gentle, my little Liam, never a tough nut like me.Couldn’t look after himself.He would have got hurt.He was the sweetest, kindest boy.And now he always will be.’‘Greg …’‘Shut up! Sit down and shut up.I said I was going to get us all to Islington and I will.I’m taking Liam home.’He aimed his shotgun at Jack, who backed into a seat, shaking worse than ever.‘That’s better,’ said Greg, showing both barrels to everyone on the bus.‘Now, all of you, stay where you are, sitting down.Don’t talk to the driver when the bus is in motion, or the driver will shoot you.Got that?’Greg returned to his seat and started the engine [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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