Some women in the doorways blew out the red smoke as they passed. Mara tried not to breathe any in. He didn’t want to end up like Peter. Sometimes it seemed like Peter didn’t even know Mara was there.
The man walked up some steps and passed a woman in the doorway.
“Meow, ain’t you a little cutie?” The woman touched Mara’s cheek with her sticky fingers.
Mara flinched away and hurried after the man upstairs and into a room.
“This is my bed, I catch you in it, and I’ll break your face, understand?” The man pointed at the floor. “You sleep there. I’m off out, don’t touch anything, and don’t answer the door if anyone knocks.”
The door slammed as the man left, and Mara stared at it, listening to the key turn in the lock. He looked around the small room. The bed, a table with a candle on, chair, cupboard, and bucket. His back, legs, and feet ached. He wanted nothing more than to lie on the bed, but he slid down the wall to his spot on the floor and tucked his knees to his chest.
He didn’t like it here, and he didn’t like the man. He wanted a bed again. Even the Shadow Castle was better than this. He lay down, using his arm as a pillow. Maybe it will be better tomorrow. Maybe Silas will come.
Mara woke to the sound of coughing outside the door. Something scratched the door for a while, then the lock clunked, and the door squeaked open. Yellow candlelight briefly filled the room as the man stumbled in, then slammed the door behind him. The man thudded onto the bed, then coughed and mumbled for a while. It wasn’t long before he snored.
The snoring continued for hours. Mara held his hands over his ears, even wrapped his shirt around his head, but could still hear it. After building up the courage, he walked over and prodded him. “Shut up.”
Stinking of booze, the man mumbled, then lay quiet.
At last. Mara returned to his spot on the floor. He didn’t lock the door when he came in. I could run away. He’ll be asleep for ages. By the time he wakes up I’ll be far away. Mara got up and crept to the door. He jumped when the man started snoring again. Stupid man.
He felt for the handle, found it, and eased open the door. The high-pitched squeal of its opening made Mara stop and close his eyes. Please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up. The man carried on snoring. Mara opened the door slightly more and slipped through the gap. He was free.
Mara turned to see a man in a brown hooded cloak sat on a chair in the corridor, looking straight at him.
The man smiled and pointed his knife at the door. “You better get back in there before he wakes up, or you’re fucked. Not literally, I wouldn’t have thought, but you never can tell with him.”
Mara stared at the man’s crooked smile, then the gleaming blade. “I need a piss.”
“Don’t talk bollocks now, boy. I know there’s a bucket in there. Now you slide back through that door and I won’t tell Favian. It’ll be our little secret on account of you being new here and all. Go on.” The man flicked the knife toward the door a couple times.
Mara returned and lay listening to the snoring. I’m stuck here. He looked in the man’s direction. I hate you, Favian.
10
Mara and Favian sat on the edge of a roof overlooking the docks. Mara couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The ships were amazing. He’d only ever seen little boats on a river before. These huge wooden ships were one hundred times the size and had tall poles with different coloured flags on top.
Bells rang. People shouted. Men and women rushed around carrying sacks and wooden boxes, while horses pulled carts full of fish. The fishy smell was strong, even up on the roof. It must stink down there.
Big, hook beaked, white and red birds flew overhead, stood on the ships, and some even walked among the people. A couple of times, one stole a fish from a cart, then a gang of others made horrible high-pitched screams as they fought for it. None of the people down there looked like they were bothered by them.
Small children picked pockets as they passed through the crowds, just like he used to. He smiled. I like it here.
The sour smoke from Favian’s roll-up blew across Mara’s face. The horrible smell quickly reminded him he didn’t actually like it here at all. Even the amazing ships wouldn’t stop him from hating Favian.
“There she is.” Favian flicked his smoke off the roof. “Come on.”
Who’s she? Mara, only just able to keep up, followed Favian across the roofs – he moved fast for an old man. They stopped at the edge of another roof and lay on their bellies. Below was a big wooden building on the edge of the dock.
“See him?” Favian pointed toward a man leant against the door of the building. “That’s who you gotta tell you’re in trouble. Don’t take no for an answer, you understand? Make sure he lets you in. There will be another bloke on the other side of that door. As soon as it shuts behind you, you kill him and open the door for me. Questions?”
“What about the man outside?”
“You just worry about the one inside.” Favian pointed to the end of the roof. “Climb down over there.”
Mara stood.
“Stay low, you idiot. Don’t you fuck this up. We got one chance at this.”