He half smiled and turned back to the old man. Sorry, Papa. Im all for a quiet life, and it sounds to me as if youre in for quite a party in the near future.
Magellans face crumpled in disappointment and his shoulders sagged. All at once he was an old man again. A very old man. Sure, I understand, son, he said. Its a lot to ask a man.
Maria moved over beside him quickly and slipped a hand round his shoulders. Dont worry, Papa. Well manage. She smiled proudly at Marlowe. My father had no right to ask you, Mr Marlowe. This is our quarrel. We can look after ourselves.
Marlowe forced a smile to hide the quick fury that moved inside him. He was seething with anger, and mostly it was against himself. For the first time in years he felt ashamed. We can look after ourselves, she said. An old man, a young girl. He wondered just how long they would last when OConnors tough boys moved in and really cracked down on them.
He reached for his coat and kept his face steady. Whatever happened he wasnt going to get involved. All he had to do was keep his nose clean and lie low for a couple of weeks and there was a fortune waiting for him. A man would be a fool to risk everything after five years of blood and sweat. And for what? For an old man and a girl hed known for precisely an hour.
He buttoned his coat and said, Maybe Id better be leaving after all.
Before Magellan could reply there was the sound of a truck turning into the yard outside. It halted at the door and the engine died. It must be Bill, Maria said, and there was excitement in her voice. I wonder if hes had any luck?
The outside door rattled and steps dragged along the corridor. A figure appeared in the doorway and stood there, swaying slightly. He was a young man of medium size wearing a leather jacket and corduroy cap. His fleshy, good-natured face was drawn and white with pain. One of his eyes was disfigured by a livid bruise, and his mouth was badly swollen, with blood caking a nasty gash in one cheek.
Bill! Maria said in a horrified voice. What is it? What have they done to you?
Johnson moved forward unsteadily and sank down into a chair while Papa Magellan quickly poured brandy into a glass and handed it to him. Marlowe stood in the background quietly watching.
Who beat you up, boy? Magellan demanded grimly. OConnors men?
Johnson swallowed his brandy and gulped. He appeared to find difficulty in speaking. Finally he said, Yes, it was that big chap, Blackie Monaghan. I went round the shops like you told me, and it worked fine. I got rid of all the stuff for cash. He pulled a bundle of banknotes out of his jacket pocket and tossed them on to the table. One or two people told me they werent interested. I think someone must have tipped OConnor off.
He paused again and closed his eyes as if he was on the point of passing out. Marlowe had been watching him closely. A cynical grin curled the corners of his mouth. Johnson had been slapped around a little, but nothing like as badly as he was trying to make out. He was over-dramatizing the whole thing, and there had to be a reason.
Go on, son, Magellan said sympathetically. Tell us what happened then.
I was having a cup of tea in the transport café just this side of Barford on the Birmingham road. Monaghan came in with a couple of young toughs that hang around with him. They always turn up at the Plaza on Saturday nights after the pubs close, causing trouble. Monaghan followed me outside and picked a fight. Said Id been messing around with his girl at the dance last Saturday night.
Is that true? Magellan asked.
Johnson shook his head. I didnt even know what he was talking about. I tried to argue with him, but he knocked me down. One of his friends kicked me in the face, but Monagan stopped him and said Id had enough. He told me Id stay out of Barford if I knew what was good for me.
Magellan shook his head in bewilderment. Why this? he said. I dont understand?
Marlowe laughed shortly. Its the old tactics, Papa. Officially this has nothing to do with OConnors feud with you. Its just a coincidence that Johnson works for you.
Marias face was white with anger. We must go to the police, she said. He cant get away with this.
Marlowe shrugged. Why not? If Johnson went to the police what good would it do? It wouldnt touch OConnor. Monaghan would be fined a couple of pounds for common assault and that would be that.
I dont want to go to the police, Johnson interrupted, and there was alarm in his voice.
Papa Magellan frowned. Why not, son? You could have the satisfaction of seeing Monaghan in court, at least.
Johnson got up. All at once he seemed capable of standing without swaying. His voice was a little shrill as he said, I dont want any more trouble. I dont want to get mixed up in this any further. I didnt know it was going to be like this. His face was stained with fear, and there was a crack in his voice. Im sorry, Mr Magellan. Youve been pretty good to me, but Ill have to look for another job. He stood there, twisting the cap between his hands. I wont be in tomorrow.
There was a moment of shocked silence, and Maria turned away, stifling a sob. Magellan reached out blindly for support, his whole body sagging so that he looked on the point of collapse.
Marlowe found himself reaching for the old man, supporting him with his strong arms, easing him down into a chair. Dont worry, Papa, he said. Its going to be all right. Everythings going to be fine.
He straightened up and looked at Johnson. Shame was beginning to replace the look of fear on the others face, and then that terrible, uncontrollable anger that he was powerless to control, lifted inside Marlowe. He surged forward and grabbed Johnson by the throat and shook him like a rat. You dirty, yellow little swine, he raged. Ill give you something you really will remember.
He flung Johnson out into the hall with all his force. The man lost his balance and fell to the floor. As Marlowe advanced towards him he scrambled to his feet gibbering with fear, and then Maria grabbed at Marlowes hair, wrenching back his head. She slapped him across the face and screamed, Stop it! Hasnt there been enough of this for one day?
As Marlowe raised an arm to brush her away, Papa Magellan ducked through the door, suddenly active, and clutching Johnson by the shoulder pushed him towards the outside door. Go on, get out of here for Gods sake! he said. Johnson threw one terrified look over his shoulder and scrambled through the door and out into the fog.
There was quiet except for Marlowes heavy breathing. Maria was not crying this time. Her face was flushed and her eyes were flashing. What is wrong with you? she demanded fiercely. Do you want to hang some day? Cant you control yourself? Is your answer to everything violence?
Marlowe stirred and looked down at her. He swallowed hard and said, When I was a kid my father wanted me to be a doctor. He was a wages clerk, so I had to be a doctor. I didnt want to be one, but that didnt make any difference. He beat me all the way through school until one day, when I was seventeen, I discovered I was stronger than he was. I slammed him on the jaw and left home.
He fumbled for a cigarette with shaking hands and continued. There was a Chinese officer in charge of the prisoners at that coal mine they sent me to in Manchuria. Li, they called him. A little name for a little man. He had a complex about his size, so he didnt like me because I was big. I used to work in a low level, up to my knees in freezing water, for twelve hours a day. Sometimes if he didnt think Id worked hard enough, he used to leave me in there all night when the others were brought up. I still get dreams about that. He used to turn up in the middle of the night and call down the shaft to me, his voice echoing along the passage. Other times hed have me strung up and hed beat me with a pick handle.