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"Big Al's probably preventing anyone in the next three cells from sleeping," said Nick.
"I was just thinkin' that since I signed up for education, I've told you a lot about me, but I still know almost nothin' about you."
"I was just thinking, and while I know almost nothing about you. You're still dropping the g."
"Thinking. Nothing," said Da
"What do you want to know?" asked Nick.
"For a start, how did someone like you end up in prison?" Nick didn't immediately respond. "Don't tell me if you don't want to," Da
"I was court-martialed while my regiment was serving with the NATO forces in Kosovo."
"Did you kill someone?"
"No, but an Albanian died and another was injured because of an error of judgment on my part." It was Da
"So you didn't kill anyone?" said Da
"No. But I was the officer in charge."
"And you got eight years for that?" Nick didn't comment. "I once thought about going into the army," said Da
"You'd have made a damn good soldier."
"But Beth was against it." Nick smiled. "Said she didn't like the idea of my being overseas half the time when she'd be worrying herself sick about my safety. Ironic really."
"Good use of the word ironic," said Nick.
"How come you don't get no letters?"
"Any letters. I don't receive any letters."
"Why don't you receive any letters?" repeated Da
"How do you spell receive?"
"R-E-C-I-E-V-E."
"No," said Nick. "Try to remember, i before e except after c-R-E-C-E-I-V-E. There are some exceptions to that rule, but I won't bother you with them tonight." There was another long silence, before Nick eventually replied to Da
"Even your mum and dad?" said Da
"My mother died giving birth to me."
"I'm sorry. Is your father still alive?"
"As far as I know, yes, but he was colonel of the same regiment I served in. He hasn't spoken to me since the court martial."
"That's a bit rough."
"Not really. The regiment is his whole life. I was meant to follow in his footsteps and end up as the commanding officer, not being court-martialed."
"Any brothers or sisters?"
"No."
"Aunts and uncles?"
"One uncle, two aunts. My father's younger brother and his wife, who live in Scotland, and another aunt in Canada, but I've never met her."
"No other relations?"
"Relatives is a better word. Relations has a double meaning."
"Relatives."
"No. The only person I've ever really cared for was my grandfather, but he died a few years ago."
"And was your grandfather an army officer, too?"
"No," said Nick, laughing. "He was a pirate."
Da
"He sold armaments to the Americans during the Second World War; made a fortune-enough to retire on, buy a large estate in Scotland and set himself up as a laird."
"A laird?"
"Clan leader, master of all he surveys."
"Does that mean you're rich?"
"Unfortunately not," Nick replied. "My father somehow managed to squander most of his inheritance while he was colonel of the regiment-'Must keep up appearances, old boy,' he used to say. Whatever was left over went on the upkeep of the estate."
"So you're pe
"No," said Nick, "I'm not like you. You're more like my grandfather. And you wouldn't have made the same mistake as I did."
"But I ended up in 'ere with a twenty-two-year sentence."
"In here. Don't drop the h."
"In here," repeated Da
"But unlike me, you shouldn't be in here," said Nick quietly.
"Do you believe that?" said Da
"I didn't until I read Beth's letter, and clearly Mr. Redmayne also thinks the jury made the wrong decision."
"What's hanging from the chain round your neck?" asked Da
Big Al woke with a start, grunted, climbed out of bed, pulled down his boxer shorts and plonked himself on the lavatory. Once he'd pulled the flush, Da
Beth was on a bus when she first felt the pains. The baby wasn't due for another three weeks, but she knew at once that she would have to get to the nearest hospital somehow if she didn't want her first child to be born on the number 25.
"Help," she moaned when the next wave of pain hit her. She tried to stand when the bus came to a halt at a traffic light. Two older women seated in front of her turned around. "Is that what I think it is?" said the first one.
"No doubt about it," said the second. "You ring the bell, and I'll get her off the bus."
Nick handed Louis ten cigarettes after he'd finished brushing off the hair from his shoulders.
"Thank you, Louis," said Nick, as if he were addressing his regular barber at Trumper's in Curzon Street.
"Always a pleasure, squire," said Louis as he threw a sheet around his next customer. "So what's your pleasure, young man?" he asked, ru
"You can cut that out for a start," said Da
"Suit yourself," said Louis, picking up his clippers and studying Da
Eight minutes later Louis put down his scissors and held up a mirror so Da
"Not bad," Da
Da
"So what's it to be then, guv? Short back and sides?" Da
"Don't get lippy with me, Cartwright. Back to your cell, and be smart about it or you might just find yourself on report." Mr. Hagen placed the scissors, razor, clippers, brush and an assortment of combs into a box, which he then locked and took away.
"See you in a month's time," said Louis as Da