Inconsolable Read Online Free PDF Page B

decision to make. But this had never happened before. Before Foley, if anyone came over the ledge it was daylight and they were tourists. They wanted stories and pictures. They wanted him to be something special, novel, entertainment. He disappointed them. He didn’t speak to them and they went away. If they didn’t go, he did. It was simple. No one got hurt. But this, this wasn’t so simple. Someone could be hurt and it would be his fault again. They wouldn’t have come here except for the light. He had to stay. Get them to leave. He took a seat at the table.
    â€œCan he talk? Maybe he can’t talk?” That was the chatterbox on the ground again.
    The leader stalked around him. “I think he can talk. I don’t think he likes us. What have you got here, got money?” He signalled to the kid. “Get off your arse and go check.”
    Drum watched the one at the edge, rocking back and forward on his feet. He’d discovered the edge of the world and he might fall over it.
    â€œLook at this view. A million dollars. A billion dollars,” he said, arms thrown out. He was one of those guys who, when confronted with a gap, tried to fill it whether it needed to be filled or not.
    All most people saw when they were in trouble was the money. When they realised it couldn’t fix everything, that’s when their anger burned them up.
    â€œAsk your friend to step back.”
    â€œOooh he talks,” said the kid.
    The leader said. “Robbo, set us up.” He made sure it was a new instruction, not the one Drum had given him.
    The man called Robbo stepped away from the edge, his eyes full of stars and planets. He had a bag and he took their gear from it, spread it out on the table. Foil, a lighter, a knife. A straw. Packets of white powder with a Superman stamp on them. “Is he just gonna sit there and watch us or what?”
    The leader laughed. “He ain’t sharing.” He leaned into Drum, heavy, smelling of pizza and beer. “Piss off, you fucking weirdo.”
    Drum stood and moved away. The kid had tipped his bed over, scattered his clothes from the suitcase and was flipping through his books. He moved into the shadows where he could watch and not disturb them.
    â€œYou.” The leader was loud with his weakness; weak with his aggressive pointing. “I said piss off.”
    â€œHe’s got nothin’. Leave him, Jonesy. If he’s a bit simple, he’s all right then.”
    Drum could see all three of them from where he stood. He wanted to keep it that way.
    â€œI think he should just fuck the fuck off,” said Robbo. “He’s spookin’ me out.”
    The kid came over, checked him out up close, as if he was a game and had buttons you could press. “Why’dja live here, dude? Good view but no net.” He laughed. He had good strong white teeth and his clothes were new. He didn’t need to be this way. “Where’d you get your porn from then? Get it, no net.”
    The leader was taking his poison. Drum saw his chance. He kept his voice low. “Why are you with them?”
    â€œMe?” The kid seemed shocked Drum had addressed him. He had a tribal tattoo marking on his neck, but he was soft. He could be saved. “What’d you care?”
    â€œYou’re better than them.”
    â€œYeah, right. You live on a rock, what would you know? You have to be gone in the head.”
    â€œThey’re not your mates.”
    â€œThey are my best fucking mates.”
    â€œLook at your mates, taking your share.”
    The kid spun around. The leader and Robbo were both on the ground now, laughing and pointing at the sky. Drum caught the kid’s arm, stopped him going to the table. “This is a bad place to get high. Men sometimes think they have wings.”
    The kid reefed his arm away, but he was still sober enough, young enough, uncertain enough to listen. He walked between the table, where