Behind her a boy stood staring, he held something clutched to his mouth, a toy or something. Then John was there: Give us a minute, he said, showing Lecky into the kitchen.
I thought I was going to be late.
Nah you’re okay.
John’s wife was sitting on one side of the settee holding a teacup against her cheek. A baby lay beside her not wearing anything except a big cotton nappy, a dummy tit in its mouth. But it was awake and its eyes were taking note of what was happening. Lecky shifted his stance a little so that he was facing the television.
Minutes passed. John’s wife reached up to the mantelpiece and extracted a cigarette from the packet there. A comedy show was on and something happened which got her smiling. She said to Lecky, Do you ever watch this?
Aye, sometimes.
It can be quite funny.
He nodded. He put his hands into his jerkin pockets. The door opened while she was replacing the box of matches onto the mantelpiece. John peered in. Then he came to the fireplace and got himself a cigarette. He stood smoking for a time gazing at the television. When he moved to leave his wife said, Will you be late?
Nah, doubt it.
Lecky walked ahead of him down to the front door. The two children came out of the bedroom to watch. Time yous were in bed, said John.
The two of them stared at Lecky. He opened the door and stepped onto the landing. John paused a moment behind, he closed over the door; I’ll no be a minute, he said.
Lecky nodded, leaned his elbows on the banister, gazing down to the next landing.
There were two other doors on this top storey; one was boarded up and without a nameplate. Smudges of paint and whitewash covered the walls; a lot of initials had been scratched or pencilled in. Lecky was deciphering some when the door opened and John reappeared. Needed a slash, he said. He winked and jerked his thumb at the boarded-up door: You and your woman no looking for a pad yet?
Eh. . Lecky grinned, scratched the side of his head.
John laughed. Aye well you dont want that yin man the roof’s liable to cave in any moment. He slapped Lecky on the shoulder as they walked downstairs, gestured back up at the other door. That yin’s empty as well but. Get in and squat!
Lecky chuckled.
They continued down. At the foot of the close John told him to wait while he went through and out the back.
There was a terrible smell of cats’ piss about the place. Lecky strolled to the front close and poked his head out. It still wasnt raining.
Then John’s footsteps. Heh Lecky. . John winked and tugged back the right sleeve of his anorak; he was holding two circular steel bars about half-an-inch in diameter; their ends nestled inside the palm of his right hand. I’ve had them planked in the fucking didgie all week, he said, fucking midden men — I was worried in case they found them.
Lecky grinned.
Did you mind the busfare?
Aye, the auld man.
For me and all?
Aye, I knew you’d be skint — as usual! Lecky laughed and dodged off when John tried to land a punch on his chin. As they started walking he turned the collar of his jerkin up and gave an exaggerated shiver: Fucking freezing!
It’s your nerves!
My nerves. .!
Aye your nerves ya cunt ye.
So? Lecky grinned after a moment. Doesni mean I’m no cauld. What about you? Trying to say you’ve no got any!
Who me? Ye kidding? I’ve just been for a shite twelve times since I ate my supper.
Lecky laughed but it sounded too abrupt. He shivered again, rubbed his hands together with a smack, his shoulders hunching. They crossed over the brow of the hill and turned the corner, and could see the lights of a double-decker bus stationed away below at the terminus. John yelled: Ya bastard! And they raced off down the slope.
The guy they were meeting was waiting in a pub near the Saltmarket. He was older than John, he looked nearly thirty, he had a moustache drooping at the corners. The two of them used to work in the same bottling factory a while back. His name was Ray. He had an almost-full pint of lager sitting in front of him. John made the introductions then started in on a yarn about this bloke who drove a forklift and smoked dope all the time. But Ray interrupted him by gesturing at Lecky: Did you fill the boy in?
John paused. Aye, he said.
Ye sure?
John frowned.
I’ve got to fucking ask, muttered Ray.
John nodded. He said to Lecky, Did I fill ye in?
Aye.
Ye know what you’re doing then? asked Ray.
Aye.
Ray nodded after a moment.
Run over the details with him if ye want to fucking check, said John.
Ray frowned at him. Aw aye, in here — that would be a good idea.
John said nothing, his right hand was in his pocket. He raised his left hand to his mouth and he chewed at his thumbnail. He looked at Lecky who looked back at him, then he looked at Ray. Ray shook his head slightly and said, I just mean there’s aye some cunt with big ears John, that’s all I mean. . He sniffed: Did ye mind the equipment?
John grinned suddenly at Lecky and he nodded at the nearby walclass="underline" Nice decor in this place innit!
Lecky smiled.
Soon Ray was swallowing down the rest of his lager and was leading the way through the bar to the exit. Down the street he stopped off at a shop and bought a packet of chewing gum, unwrapped a stick and shoved it into his mouth. Then he ripped the cellophane off a ten packet of cigarettes and withdrew one, shut the packet.
Thanks mate, said John.
Ray opened it again and gave him one, and he gave one to Lecky without a word.
No chewing gum? said John.
Ray sighed and brought the packet back out.
They walked steadily, Ray always a stride or two ahead of the other pair. The place was way along east, not far from the river, a sort of minor industrial estate which had been created mainly by renovating old warehouses and other disused buildings, but there were also newer buildings, long one-storey structures. The area itself was old, the streets still part-cobbled; most of it now in total darkness.
Lecky wasnt sure what the time was; the last he had seen was the clock on the mantelpiece in John’s kitchen. By now it had to be getting on for eleven o’clock, maybe after. Turning down a wee side street they continued along parallel to the main road. Three blocks on Ray halted before another corner and carried on alone. Lecky glanced at John but John stared after Ray, not making any comment. Ray stood in from the corner, gazing round it; then he waved them on, whispering just loudly enough for them both to hear: Come here and see this. .
He was pointing to one of the one-storey structures across the other side of the street. All its lights seemed to be switched on inside. Plus there was the sound of machinery coming from it, a dull throbbing noise. It’s a fucking nightshift, he whispered.
They stared across at it for several moments. Ray was shaking his head. A fucking nightshift, he muttered. Then he pointed out the building facing it, on the same side as they were now standing. It was an older building and looked like an ordinary three-storey tenement. That’s our gaff there, he said, down in the basement. We’re supposed to go in from the front shop above. Look, it’s right across from that main entrance.
John said, Jesus Christ.
Fucking unbelievable.
Did your mate no tell ye like?
Naw Christ, he couldni have known.
Surely he could’ve fucking found out?
He probably didni even think about it John.