Dream London

Dream London Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Dream London Read Online Free PDF
Author: Tony Ballantyne
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Urban
passed them by; they had that blank, half present stare that musicians adopt when they’re concentrating. I don’t know what it was they were playing: something vaguely Eastern European, something in a strange mode and time signature. It put me in mind of vampires and people dancing under the stars. The accordionists were standing with their boots planted wide, pumping the bellows as they sent a stream of music to fill the garden and to entrance me.
    I felt my pace slow, and I realised that I hadn’t walked into a space of music, but rather into a web. It was a trap, and one into which I had been successfully lured.
    I shook my head in annoyance. Of course it was a trap! Why else would I have walked towards a sound that I hated?
    The music softened and I heard footsteps coming towards me. A slow, deliberate pace. Someone was coming closer and closer.
    Something metal pricked my back.
    “That’s a knife, Captain Wedderburn.”
    “I can feel it.”
    “The music will stop in a moment. I don’t want you making any sudden moves. Really, I don’t.”
    “I won’t.”
    The voice was hesitant. This was a half-hearted threat, if I ever heard of one.
    “What do you want?” I said.
    “Me? I don’t like to say. But this isn’t about what I want. I was sent by the Daddio.”
    “Who?”
    The voice sounded a little surprised.
    “You haven’t heard of Daddio Clarke and the Macon Wailers?” it said.
    Now I understood. “Right. The Daddio from the East End. I’ve heard stories. I’m not sure that I believe most of what I’ve heard.”
    “Really? I’m not sure I would admit to that.”
    At that moment the accordionists’ bellows sighed to a halt. The music lingered in the air for a little longer before fading into the night. I heard the clicking of buttons, the snapping of catches as the accordions were placed in their cases and lifted, the receding footsteps of the players. Now my mysterious assailant and I were left alone.
    My voice was calm. No sense in panicking a man holding a knife to your kidneys.
    “Listen,” I said, “I’m not sure why you’re here, but you can tell the Daddio that Captain Jim Wedderburn sends his compliments and wishes him well. Beyond that, as far as I’m concerned, we have no other business with each other at present.”
    “I think you misunderstand me. The Daddio isn’t unhappy with you. Quite the opposite!”
    “Then why are you holding a knife to me?”
    There was a pause whilst my assailant thought of his answer.
    “To ensure I have your attention,” he said, eventually.
    “You have it.”
    “Good! Then let me tell you that the Daddio also wanted you to know that he admires you, Captain Wedderburn. He wants you to know that a man of your calibre could do well in his organisation. He’d like to offer you a job.”
    Two jobs in one night. Why had Captain Jim Wedderburn suddenly become so popular? I played for time.
    “Why does the Daddio think I’d be interested in a job?” I asked.
    “Why do you think you have a choice?” The voice seemed genuinely mystified.
    We seemed to be having trouble communicating. One of us had to break the impasse.
    “Listen,” I said. “I can’t think like this. I’m going to step away now.”
    After a moment’s hesitation, the pressure of the knife withdrew. I stepped forward, out of range, and then turned to face my captor.
    Any thought of fighting died right there and then.
    He was a man, but only just. He was much taller than me, and much, much wider. His arms were as thick as my legs, his legs as thick as my body. He wore what might once have been regular clothes, but if they were the seams had been unpicked and extra panels sewn in so they would fit. There was something slightly grotesque about his body, but that was nothing compared to his head. It was twice as big as it should be. His eyes were narrow and bright, his mouth a wide slit like something cut into pumpkin. But worse than all of that was what lay inside his
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