Fucking dickie.
Ray stepped away from the corner and he leant against the wall. He brought out his cigarettes and passed one to each of the other two, flicked his lighter. When they were smoking he said, It’s a bastard. Anybody could come walking out and they’d see us a mile away. Even if they just looked out the fucking window.
Lecky frowned. He said, D’you mean ye didni know there was a nightshift on at all?
Ray glanced at him then glanced away.
And John replied, Naw Lecky, that’s what he’s saying.
Wh! Lecky shook his head: No knowing they were working a nightshift man that’s mental.
Ray turned sharply to John: What’s up with your mate, has he got a problem?
John sniffed, he started chewing on his left thumbnail.
Fucking mental, said Lecky.
Ray looked at him: D’ye think I’d brought yous if I’d fucking knew? Eh? Do us a favour.
Lecky didnt reply. John now walked to the corner, the cigarette cupped in his left hand. He stood peering round for a while, then he looked back and said quietly, We can still go in. Come here. .
Both Ray and Lecky went to the corner.
There’s nobody came out since we’ve been here, he said.
Aye but, Ray was shaking his head, Christ sake John that’s no even five minutes.
Five minutes — fuck sake man that’s all it takes.
I dont know.
It’s all it takes.
Ray was still shaking his head.
What do you think Lecky?
I dont know.
We can definitely do it. . John turned from the corner to inhale on his cigarette, he blew the smoke away before peering back at the one-storey building. Eh. .?
Eventually Ray whispered, Fucking chancy.
John continued to stare in the direction of the low building, and at the old tenement facing it. Lecky took a last drag on his fag before nipping it and sticking it into his jerkin pocket. Some more drops of water landed on his face and he squinted upwards. Fucking raining, he said.
John was frowning at Ray: Listen man I’ve been going about sweating for days cause of this; fucking wife and weans man they’re feart to come near me.
I’m just saying it’s chancy, that’s aw.
Chancy! I know it’s fucking chancy. John shook his head, cleared his throat and spat the spittle to the gutter. I know it’s fucking chancy.
Aye well that’s all I’m saying.
John looked at him, and then he was walking out from the corner and down the street across from the one-storey building. And Ray followed immediately, the pair keeping close in to the shadows at the side of the old tenement wall. A moment later and Lecky set off at the rear, aware of a funny feeling in his legs. The other two had gone about ten yards beyond the doorway of the shop they were entering and when Lecky reached them they both waved him on to where he was to position himself, down by the corner of the street and the main road. Immediately he arrived he struck a match against the wall and got one of his nips burning, sucking the smoke deep into his lungs and trapping it there, staring to the right and to the left, and back to the right, and nothing was coming thank fuck, nothing. John was staring at him. He signalled it was okay: moments later he could hear the chinks of the steel bars, and then a really loud racket of a noise, a rattling it was, really really loud, a really really loud rattling noise. It was coming from down the way and across and he pressed himself back against the wall, sidled round the corner to the pavement on the main road; he tossed the fag into a puddle then peered back round the corner. It was actually a mechanical gate, it was getting hoisted up across in the place where the nightshift was working. A chain seemed to be hoisting the fucking thing. A big wide entrance. Inside a big lorry was getting loaded up. A couple of men doing it. They were talking away about something, their voices carrying. And the driver was in the lorry and switched on the starter, the engine revving up, the headlight beams. And then other headlight beams away in the distance of something coming on the main road, a motor car, travelling fast. Lecky kept tight into the wall. After it passed he peered round the corner again, seeing the lorry now being guided out by a big skinny guy in dungarees and specs, and if he was just to walk another twenty yards or something he would be right into the shop doorway and they wouldnt be able to hide from him. Lecky stepped back out of sight, his eyes closing but opening almost immediately — it was the last thing to do — he glanced round the corner. The lorry had turned now and the driver’s head was at the window, he was exchanging words with the big skinny guy Lecky stepped into the shadowiest bit of the wall. Soon the lorry appeared at the corner, the driver turning the wheel hand over fist, and breaking a moment to shift gear; and it was out onto the main road, picking up speed. Lecky stared after it until the red tail-lights were no longer visible. Another motor car was coming. He stayed where he was until it too had gone. When he peered back round he saw John away along at the far corner, beckoning to him. Across at the nightshift building the entrance gaped open but the workers had disappeared. Lecky stood a moment; again John beckoned: this time he went quickly, not running but trotting as quietly as he could.
Okay Lecky. .?
Aye — fuck. Lecky grinned: Close, eh?
Aye.
Fucking close alright, muttered Ray. Fucking lucky.
Aye.
John winked at Lecky. We’re aye fucking lucky, int we?
Aye.
John was smoking. He exhaled and jerked his thumb at Ray: He wants to wrap it.
Fucking right I want to wrap it, said Ray.
How come? Lecky asked.
Cause it’s fucking wild.
Lecky glanced at John, and John handed him the fag. Lecky took a couple of drags on it.
Ray shook his head. Fucking wild, he said to John.
John took the fag back from Lecky before replying: Away hame then.
Ray brushed the tip of his nose with his right thumb, he sniffed, spat out the chewing gum he had in his mouth. John started rubbing his hands together and he hunched his shoulders up and down. He said to Lecky: What about you man ye into it?
Lecky shrugged.
Eh?
I dont know.
Ye want to do it?
I dont know man.
Eh?
Lecky shrugged.
It’s fucking wild, muttered Ray. He turned sideways and stared along the street; he turned back: Look John there’s always fucking the morrow know what I mean. . Why take risks.
I need the fucking dough, it’ll no be there the morrow.
Ray gazed at him.
Lecky? said John.
Lecky shrugged. I’m easy.
Fuck sake. .
Well what d’ye want me to say?
What do I want ye to say I want ye to say if you’ll fucking do it, that’s what I want ye to say!
Lecky looked at him.
Just fucking say it, if ye want to fucking do it, if ye dont fucking dont, dont fucking say it, ye just fucking do what ye want.
Lecky said nothing.
I mean ye make up your own fucking mind, it’s your own fucking opinion, that’s what fucking counts Lecky.
Lecky frowned.
Innit?
Lecky stared at him.
John shrugged. Just do what ye fucking want to do.
Lecky’s mouth was dry, he swallowed saliva. I’ll do it, he said.
Dont do it for me.
I’m no. .
Ray peeled another stick of chewing gum; he gestured with it at the other two but they didnt respond. When he took out his cigarettes Lecky glanced at him and he gave him one. Ray was looking at John.
The three of them waited another few minutes but nothing arrived and nothing departed; the entrance still gaped open. Ray led the way, Lecky continuing on to his position at the corner of the main road. When he reached it and looked back the other two were out of sight. From somewhere he could hear a vague whining sound like the engine of a bus revving and straining in too low a gear, then it had died into silence.