Page 6 of The Rat

“What’s so bad about Teddy?” Olliewhispered.

Captain shrugged. “I don’t know, but I get theimpression they won’t cross him. Being in his cell, he’s prettymuch your unappointed bodyguard. They call it claiming inhere.”

Ollie shuddered.“I’ve beenclaimed? I suddenly feel like I’ve got the short straw.”

“You’ll be all right,” Rory said.

“And you know that forsure, do you?”

Rory didn’t reply.

“Exactly,” Ollie hissed.

“Stick with me, and you’ll befine,”Captain muttered.

“What about atnight?”

Captain shrugged.“You’re onyour own.”

“Bloody great,” Olliehuffed, shoving histray away.

“You better becareful,too,” Captain mumbled.

Rory nodded. He wasn’t lookingforward to his first night alone with Sebastian. He knew basicmartial arts, but againsta guy as strong as Sebastian, it was stupid to tryit.

“Pauly’s got you on hisradar.”

“Who?”

“The guy behind me.” He shiftedto the side slightly so Rory could take a proper look. Pauly was older, hisbrown hair had receded, and his wrinkles cut deep into his skin. Hestabbed at his eggs, and ripped bites out of his toast.

“Jesus.”

Captain nodded. “Exactly, so I’mproposing a training regime.”

“Training regime?” Rorymumbled.

“There’s a gym, I’ll help you twowork out, toughen you up, teach you how todefend yourselves.”

“What do you want in return?” Ollieasked.

“Nothing,”Captain mumbled, he looked downat the table, then lifted his head. “I’ve trained many young menfor battle. They come to me like you, and I toughen them up. Thistime ahead is going to be a war, and I’m only gonna be with you fora few years of it. The quicker I toughen you up, the longer you’llsurvive in here.”

“I take itback,” Ollieblurted.

“What?” Rorysaid.

“I bloody wish he was mycellmate.”

****

They’d spent the daysussing out theprison routine and the inmates. Rory avoided Pauly’s glances, butcouldn’t stop seeking out Sebastian. He spent most of his timeprowling the top landing, watching the inmates below.

A fight broke out over pool, asmall scruff that ended as soon as Sebastian yelled. The two quarrellingmen backed away from each other, and calm was temporarilyrestored.

“Lock up.”

The guards waved them to theirfeet. Rory exchanged a nervous look with Ollie, then they both wentto their respective cells.Ollie on the bottom, Captain on the first, and himon the second.

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