Page 38 of The Rat

“You screamed at the thought oftouchingamaggot the other day.”

“I know, they make me feelsick, but for Teddy, I’ll get some.”

“Not tomention,going through rotting food isn’t exactly hygienic.”

“You gonna help me, orwhat?”

Rory stared, hoping Ollie was onlyjoking with him.

“Fine,” Olliehissed, getting up.

“Wait, wait.” Rory said.“Okay, I’ll stand watch.”

The guards had their eyes fixedon the soccer match. Ollie and Rory trudged across the yard, tryingto look casual, but Rory imagined they had failed miserably.

Rory stood in front ofthe barrels,and Ollie ducked behind him.

“Hurry up.” Rorymuttered.

“What do you think I’mgonna do, search at a leisurely pace.”

Rory laughed, then grabbed his side.“Ouch.”

“Laughing hurts?”

“Yeah, it does.”

He heard arustle and glanced back to seeOllie putting a plastic bag over his hand. “I doubt that’llhelp.”

As soon as Ollie opened thefirst barrel, the smell intensified. Rory pressed his hand to hismouth, and mumbled, “Oh, my god.”

His eyes burned at the smell, and heblinked back tears.

“I’m gonna be sick,” Ollie calledout.

“Don’t be, you’ll just haveto wade through that as well.”

Ollie groaned, and spluttered, thenthe lid of the bin crashed down.

“I can’t do it,please,Rory—”

“No way inhell!”

He turnedaround and looked down at Ollie.He was on his knees, head resting against the bin. The sound of hissob hit Rory straight in the chest.

“I don’t want him to hateme.”

“He won’t, Ipromise you.”

“He will.”

Rory threw his head back and growled at thesky. “Fine, move out of the way.”

Ollie shot him a grateful look, then rushedto stand up. “Thanks, Rory—”

“Don’t, justdon’t.”

Rory prepared himself to openthebin, butcouldn’t do it. He looked down at the ground, then frowned at thegrey wire. Not a wire, he realized, but a tail.

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