After buying some tea, too much, in Will’s estimation,
the three made their way one street over to the Inn, a small and cramped
building.
“For such large islands everything here is rather
small.” Will complained as they made their way into the wooden doorway one at a
time.
“Complaining solves nothing young man!” The General said
breezily.
“I agree. It seems to have done little regarding the
tea…” William muttered as they made their way to a corner table.
Shortly a rather large man came over, his head nearly
hit the ceiling and he seemed to take up about half of the inn’s barroom.
“What you gentlemen have?” he said in a rough cockney
accent.
“Are you the owner sir?” The general asked.
The man straightened up. “ Yessir, I am.”
“You’re far from home I am guessing?” The general said
with a chuckle.
“So’s yourself.”
“Yes, well, we’re not here long dear fellow, just here
to pick up a few supplies…?”
There was silence.
“Um, yes, Lilly said you might be able to help us!” Moto
chimed in. “Said you owed her a tenner?”
“Oh yes, quite right!” The General laughed. The large
man’s smile faltered.
“She did, did she?” The man’s tone was business like to
a fault now. “Well, I happen to have some lovely tenner in the back. You can come
back, only one of ya! And take a look…”
“I’ll go, I know what we need…” said Will.
“Take Moto with you lad, Moto knows a thing or two as
well.”
“I said only one” The large man reminded them.
“Oh I am sure Moto won’t be any trouble, and we do so
want to avoid any trouble, right sir?”
“Suit yerself.”
The large man strode away quickly with Will and Moto
trying to keep up.
He led them behind the bar through a backroom into a
small shed in the back of the building.
“Right, gentlemen – now before I show you the…”Tenners”
I need to know what yer looking for, exactly.”
“Something small, but accurate.” Will said.
“Like an American gun, a Colt or Browning.” Moto said
quietly.
“Well, there’s the rub, American guns are always in
demand, hard to get. But I do have something you might like, it’s a Browning
alright, but made in Spain. Easily enough to get and quality stuff.”
He unlocked a cabinet on the wall and pulled out a
drawer. From the drawer he removed a small box and placed it on a table in the
shed.
“FNM 1903 model…”
“I thought you said it was Spanish?” Moto said.
“It is made there yes, but I see you know your stuff- it
from Belgium originally, but this is Spanish made…”
“Is Spanish good Moto, I thought American would be
best…”
“It’s fine. Better than the Webly’s we had… easier to
clean. Do you have bullets for the Browning?”
“Of course…”
“We need two.” Will said quickly.
“Two bullets?”
“No, two of these” Will said pointing to the small black
gun metal handgun.
“I got this one new and a slightly older one used, all I
have in Browning, unless you want some Japanese guns…”
“No, that’s fine.” Moto said.
“Now, here’s the tricky part iddinit? The price.”
“Pounds sterling ok?” Moto said.
“Naturally, now normally these would cost you-“
“Eight pounds, for the both plus three boxes of
bullets.” Moto said calmly.
The large man sputtered for a moment. Even Will could
not suppress an arched eyebrow. That was more than he earned in two months.
The large man smiled and then seemed to recover.
“Two boxes.”
“Fine, thrown in a spare bottle of oil and a few
cleaners and we’ll be done here.” Moto said impassively.
The three men left the Inn and met up with the boy and
his cart. Moto carefully put the package on the top of the cart, then thought
better of it and tucked it under his arms.
“Eight pounds!” Will hissed, careful not to let the boy
pulling the cart hear.
“It was prudent” Moto said “He may have asked for only 7
pounds, but we needed to be done and clear. Plus, at eight he’ll likely keep
quiet about it.”
“Will, my dear lad, do not worry yourself. I trust Moto
completely on these matters, besides which, I will cover the cost, of course.
Now speaking of buying, I also fancy a decent lunch. We should fine ourselves a
pleasant place.”
“Well, that I can agree on sir.” Will said.
They briefly considered dining at the inn, but Will
thought it prudent to be as far away from the place as possible. They ended up
at a small place near the edge of town. They sat down and a short busty older
woman came out. In pained English she explained the menu. In the end all the
men just ordered “the especial!” and Will managed to get an extra chunk of
bread for the boy with the cart.
A moment later the woman reappeared with some wine and
the bread.
“Ahhh, the Colonel will be sorry he missed this fine
sweet Portuguese wine.”
“Yes, well, enjoy for a moment, if you excuse me I will
take the bread and some water to the boy now.” Will said and got up from the table.
Will headed down the front steps of the restaurant over
the where the boy was sitting on the ground next to the cart. He handed the
bread and a small jug of water to the boy who accepted them with a broad smile.
Will looked around at the low lying buildings and up the
rolling green hill. Off in the far distant he could just make out the basket
and the large deflated balloon spread out next to it.
He looked down the road and saw two men walking up it.
He squinted… they looked somehow…
The two men had stopped
and were now turned looking up the hill as well. One stuck his arm out and
pointed at the balloon and began to talk animatedly to his companion. Suddenly
Will recognized one of the men from his internment with the Ingellsdins. He
felt his heard leap into his throat.
“Up lad! Up! Get the
cart ready, we have to run now, run up the hill. I will back with the other two
gentlemen, ok?”
“Ay!”
Will tore back to the restaurant and bounded up the stairs.
“General, sir, Moto! We must go back now! We’ve been spotted!”
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