what? What was it Jude had told him to do? Save the gang and follow Shim? He couldnât do both. Why couldnât Jude have been clearer?
Little Big noticed him. âOh look, itâs the wimp.â
âYeah, where were you just when things started getting really good?â
Flea thought quickly. âOh, I passed out. You know.â
âWhen?â Big asked.
âDonât know. Too drunk to remember. Hah.â
âWas that before or after you followed your boyfriend out of the hall?â Big sneered. âOh, Jude, Jude, where are you, Jude?â His snigger was echoed around the gang.
âWhat do you mean?â Flea tried to sound outraged but there was not enough force in his voice.
âI donât like it here with all these big, rough men,â Big whined. âListen, what are you even doing back here? We kicked you out of the gang, remember?â
âBut Yesh ⦠I just thoughtââ
âHe just thought. Well, I just thought I might have to punish you. What did I say Iâd do if you carried on hanging around?â
âI donât know.â
âI said Iâd shove you down the rat hole!â
âYou canât. You wouldnâtâ¦â
The twins grabbed Fleaâs arms and Little Big and Red each grabbed a leg and hung him over the rat hole at the end of the alleyway. They started chanting, âSacrifice the Flea! Sacrifice the Flea! Sacrifice the Flea!â
Flipped upside down, Flea was helpless. He closed his eyes, clamped his mouth tight shut, and held his breath. This time, he wasnât going to scream.
âCome on, rats!â Big shouted. âWeâve got breakfast for you!â
They bumped Flea up and down, jerking the breath from his lungs so he had to suck in the thick, musty, rat-stinking air. He could hear rustling, opened his eyes, and thought he could see the dark writhing of bodies and the glimmer of little yellow teeth. Forgetting his promise not to scream, he had just begun to bellow when someone shouted, âPut that child down!â
Flea turned his head and saw an upside-down Yesh floating in the street outside the alleyway. Flea was dropped. Big started to stammer an explanation, but Yesh cut him short.
âIf you charming little thugs want to make yourselves useful, come with us now. If not, try to treat that poor creature how youâd like to be treated yourselves.â
Shocked because they had never heard Yesh speak angrily before, the gang trailed out of the alleyway and joined the slow river of men, women, and children jostling sluggishly as they tried to avoid makeshift stalls that blocked the street. Everyone seemed to be going in the direction of the Temple today, the last chance before the feast for people to pay their taxes and make a sacrifice.
Jude dropped back until he fell into step beside Flea.
âWell?â he said. âAre you all right?â Flea shook his head.
âLook, I knowââ
âNo, you donât. You donât know anything. Theyâre having a go at me forâ¦â
âWhat?â
âYouâre always hanging around me and theyâre ⦠saying things,â Flea said. âIf you left me alone so I could just try to make things betterâ¦â
âEven though youâre earning good money?â
âShh! Theyâll steal it,â Flea whispered urgently.
âNice friends.â
âYou can talk,â Flea snapped back.
âI walked into that one,â Jude said. âHere. I bought you some dried fruit. Should help keep you going. Youâve got a busy day today, remember?â
It came to Flea at last. âIâve got to stick to Shim, and if he goes to a room, remember where it is and tell you.â
âGood. And as I thought, one of Yusufâs people is trailing us. Think you can slip away without him noticing?â
Flea glanced behind and saw the water carrier heâd seen
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