He was crying again, but it was quieter now, just a steady whimper. Haran flicked through the book, picking out the simpler words. There was a few things he didn’t understand, but he got the gist. Looked like fat boy had been telling the truth, though how and why he had no idea.

Books were funny like that, he’d never trusted them, and now he knew why. Why the hell would he want to know the future? Would reading through twenty years of sitting in a cell make any difference?

He sniffed and shoved it under the mattress. Other people would want it though, people who didn’t get how plain stupid it was to know what was gonna happen next. This was something, fat boy had been right. He could make serious cash with this, and when you had cash to make, you went to the people who carried.

 

The lunch hall was rammed, as always, overcrowded and sweaty. He found his table, nodding to the others, then scanned the room. The bankers were in their normal spot, but the one he wanted wasn’t there. He came in at the last minute, grabbing a tray and the crappy remains of the lunch, then scampered over to his mates, face red. Haran gave him a minute to get comfortable, then sauntered over, exchanging more nods on the way. Lots of people attentive today, they must know he got himself a new bitch. There were lots of ways he was gonna make in the next few weeks.

“Hello, Thomas, how are you?”

He sat on the bench, ignoring the creak as his weight strained the bolts that held it to the floor. The tiny man sat next to him nodded quickly, shoving food into his mouth before they were kicked out.

“I have a proposition for you. You exercising this arvo?”

Another nod.

“I’ll see you then.”

He sauntered away, figuring out the pitch.

 

It was sunny and the yard was lazy, the normal shouts muted, the aggression stifled by the warmth. He fell into step next to Thomas, making tiny mincy steps just to stay slow enough.

“Can’t you walk any faster?”

“Can’t you get shorter legs?”

He whistled, but kept walking. He liked Thomas, that was why he could get away with the mouth. That and he had his fingers in every pie in the prison, including the guards’.

“I’ve got something.”

The little man pricked his ears up, glancing toward him, then back at his feet.

“Yes?”

“Yeah. I might be a hard sell, but it’s worth it.”

He paused.

“The piggy brought something with him. A book. Turns out, my entire life is in it, including the bits that haven’t happened yet.”

Thomas stopped walking, just for a second, then caught himself and jogged to get back into step. He glanced up again, his eyes lingering on Haran’s face. Then he dropped them again.

“OK, why does anyone want to read about your life?”

Haran shook his head.

“Nah, it’s not like that. Once you own the book, it changes, it’s your life then.”

He could hear the cogs turning. Thomas was a smart man, way smarter than he was, and he’d seen the world, if the stories were to be believed. He might buy the idea, he might not, but the silence was about how he could call Haran a liar, without getting a knife in the back. The big man sucked his teeth, then decided to make it easy for the little man.

“Don’t worry, Thomas, I know you wanna call me a bullshitter, don’t blame you. I’ll let you have a look, how about that?”

Thomas nodded, slowly.

“Yeah, ok, that would help.”

Another hesitation, then he chattered quickly.

“So, if the book works, and I’m not saying it doesn’t, what are you thinking?”

“Auction?”

Another nod

“Yes, that could work. They get excited though, bid what they haven’t got…”

“Then we cut through the bidders ‘til we find one who can. You’d be amazed how quick some people can find cash when their pinkies are on the block.”

He grinned as Thomas shuddered next to him.

“I’ll bring it to dinner, we’ll have us a look, then you can set up the auction, OK?”

The bell rang and they trooped indoors. He could already smell the cash, and feel it between his fingers.

 

Next Installment, Saturday 27th July