No Going Back by Jack Slater

Author:Jack Slater [Slater, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. R. Slatcher
Published: 2018-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

‘Thomas James Gale.’ Llewellyn looked up at him from behind the manager’s desk. ‘What happened to your face?’

‘Ran into something.’ Tommy shrugged. ‘Not paying enough attention, I suppose.’

‘And whose “something” would that have been?’

‘Eh?’

‘Whose bony little something did you run into so carelessly?’

Tommy frowned. ’Don’t know what you mean, guv.’

‘Of course.’ The Welshman nodded. ‘Not wanting to be known as a grass is as old as mankind. It’s perfectly understandable in some ways. Completely illogical in others,’ he shrugged. ‘I thought you were brighter than that, though, to be fair.’

‘Eh?’ Tommy repeated.

‘Well, you’re only here for a few more days. What do you care what the other kids think of you?’

‘I don’t.’

‘Exactly. So why protect them? They clearly don’t deserve it.’

Tommy didn’t respond except a quick grimace.

‘Show me your hands.’

Tommy frowned at the sudden change of tack but held up his hands, palms up.

Llewellyn’s head tipped to one side. ‘The other sides.’

Tommy paused just for the sake of it then turned his hands over.

‘Knuckles are a bit swollen there. Was that the same something you ran into or another one?’

‘I suppose you put your hands up automatically when that sort of thing happens, don’t you? Self-defence.’

Llewellyn smiled briefly at his use of the term. ‘Yes. I thought it might be. So, you know nothing about five boys including Sam Lockhart getting into a fight a little while ago?’

‘I know Lockhart’s a bit inclined that way. But you know that already. I wouldn’t be stood here else. You also know I haven’t got five friends in this place who’d get into a scrap for me.’

The Welshman nodded deeply. ‘Touché, Thomas. I was told you were a bright one. Oh, well. If you’re determined to stand alone there’s not a lot I can do about it. Except to say that, whatever the odds, any permanent damage will be paid for. Do you understand, boyo?’

‘I don’t see a problem. All I want’s to be left alone.’

‘But, being small, people see an easy target, right?’

Tommy grunted agreement.

Llewellyn leaned back in his chair, relaxed, fingers interlaced across his stomach. ‘Well, much as I can’t prove it - this time - I suspect that won’t be the case here anymore. But five?’

Tommy shook his head, suspicious of a possible trap. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about.’

‘Don’t play dumb, Gayle. I know you’re not. I’m just wondering how one small boy can take on five larger ones and win, that’s all.’

‘I thought you said they fought amongst themselves.’

‘Ah. Good thinking.’ He nodded, sitting forward again, hands on the desk. ‘I didn’t say that and you know it. Doesn’t explain your knuckles or that black eye that’s coming up either, does it?’ He stood up, leaning over the desk as his face darkened abruptly. ‘One thing I will not tolerate is being lied to, Gayle, however cleverly. And you are lying to me. The proof is there on your face. And your hand. So, for that, you’ll have another day’s isolation. No interaction. No visitors. And all privileges revoked.

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