The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Author:Stef Penney [Penney, Stef]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2010-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

The morning the others are due to leave, Jacob walks in and stands by the bed. He speaks to Francis but looks at the wall.

‘I don’t suppose you’re going anywhere, but if you do, I’ll come after you and break the other leg. Do you understand?’

Francis nods, thinking of the knife scar Donald showed him.

‘So I don’t need to sit in here all day.’

Francis shakes his head.

So he is surprised when Jacob comes back. Jacob has found a piece of wood in the store; it is straight and strong–the trunk of a young birch, and will be just the right length. He strips off the bark and whittles away any irregularities, and rounds off the forked top into a smooth Y. Francis watches his hands with reluctant fascination; it is amazing how fast the tree takes on the qualities associated with a crutch. Jacob pads the top with strips of old blanket, which he winds round the wood like a bandage.

‘I should do this with leather, or it will get wet.’

‘During my escape, you mean.’

At first, when Francis said reckless or stupid things, not caring what he thought of him, Jacob didn’t seem sure whether Francis was joking or not; he would glance doubtfully at him, his face impassive. This time, though, he smiles. Francis thinks, he’s not much older than I am.

*

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