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BOOK TWO. Prison
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"WELCOME BACK, CARTWRIGHT." Da
"Thanks, Mr. Jenkins," Da
"Now you're no longer on remand," said Jenkins, "you're not entitled to a single cell." He opened a file, which he studied for some time. Nothing moves quickly in prison. He ran his finger down a long column of names, stopping at an empty box. "I'm going to put you in block three, cell number one-two-nine." He checked the names of the present occupants. "They should make interesting company," he added without explanation, before nodding to the young officer standing behind him.
"Look sharp, Cartwright, and follow me," said the officer Da
Da
The officer accompanied Da
"Right, Cartwright," said his new minder casually, "this is going to be your home for at least the next eight years, so you'd better settle down and get used to it. If you don't give us any trouble, we won't give you any. Understood?"
"Understood, guv," repeated Da
As Da
Yet another key was selected from yet another ring, this time one heavy enough to open the lock of a two-inch-thick iron door. Da
A heavily built man was lying half-asleep on a single bed, facing the wall. He didn't even glance up at the new arrival. The other man was seated at the small table, writing. He put down his pen, rose from his place and thrust out a hand, which took Da
"Nick Moncrieff," he said, sounding more like an officer than an inmate. "Welcome to your new abode," he added with a smile.
"Da
"As you're last in, you get the top bunk," said Moncrieff. "You'll have the bottom one in two years' time. By the way," he said, pointing to the giant who lay on the other bed, "that's Big Al." Da
Da
"Follow me, Cartwright," said a voice. Da
"CK4802 Cartwright," said the officer, checking his charge sheet.
"Strip off," said the stores manager. "You won't be wearing any of those clothes again"-he looked down at the charge sheet-"until 2022." He laughed at a joke he cracked about five times a day. Only the year changed.
Once Da
The stores manager gathered up all of Da
"You report back to the stores every Thursday afternoon between three and five," said the stores manager, "when you'll be given a change of clothes. Any damage and you'll have the requisite sum deducted from your weekly wage. And I decide how much that will be," he added before slamming the doors closed.
Da
Da
Da
Once he'd made the bed, Da