Scavengers: August Read Online Free PDF

insisted his mother who came in with the boy’s
nanny.
    “Dieee!”
shouted Henry, getting into one of the armchairs.
    James sighed
and stood up. “Now, now darling,” he smiled at his wife, “let him
play a bit. I was thinking of going for a walk anyway,” he
said.
    “Oh,” Katherine
said, straightening her back. She was truly beautiful, even in a
simple day dress. “Well... it’s a shame you couldn't go with
us.”
    “Maybe next
time,” he said, patting the boy on the back and picking up his gas
mask from the desk. “I won’t be long.”
    His wife
sighed, shifting nervously. “Do you need company, darling?” she
asked, her hazel eyes following his every move.
    “No, thank
you,” he smiled, “it’s just a few business matters.” They all went
to the corridor, where James donned his elegant dark coat.
    Henry started
to cry and his nanny immediately carried him away, so as not to
disrupt his parents’ peace. Katherine studied him in meaningful
silence.
    “I’m sorry
darling. I promise I’ll be back soon,” James said, looking into her
eyes. “Did I do something?”
    “I don’t know
James,” she answered in a calm, clear voice, “did you?”
    “I certainly
hope I didn’t!” he laughed, but cringed a bit on the inside. He
hated lying to her and avoided it as much as he could.
    Katherine was
silent for a long few seconds and asked: “Do you like working with
that woman, Lady Shelley?”
    “Lady S...” He
furrowed his brows in surprise. Now he understood what his wife
could have meant. She must have been worried that he had had an
affair with Lady Shelley. “Oh Katherine! No! I avoid her as much as
I can. She’s boring, annoying and I can never really have a decent
conversation with her.” He leaned in to kiss Katherine’s cheek, but
she moved a step back.
    And then, with
a sigh and a relieved smile she looked away. “I’m glad. Enjoy your
walk, darling.”
     
    *

     
    The only thing
James knew was that Ira lived in the dock area, which had a
reputation of being far from safe. He deduced that the least
dangerous would be the way by the Thames. He walked past the drunks
lying on the sides of the passageway. Groups of men who studied him
from head to toe as if he were a walking purse and prostitutes who
looked even worse than those from Soho. Naturally, he wondered what
the more secluded streets looked like. This area at least had the
advantage of free access to light and air. It was not popular among
the wealthy due to the smell of fish and constant noise of modern,
steam-powered cranes. And certainly, the river was no fresh
mountain spring.
    The buildings
were mostly huge granaries or freehouses, which were popular among
sailors visiting the city. When he passed a large pub he suddenly
heard screams when a bottle of gin broke right beside his face.
Only then did he realize that two men had gotten into a fight and
were too drunk and angry to mind the passer-bys. Something like
this would never happen in any of the better districts. He hurried
along the street, passing singing men, beggars as well as people
selling food, snacks in wooden boxes, ready to eat. Unfortunately,
he didn't know anything about Ira’s exact whereabouts. He knew, he
would have to eventually ask someone. Then, walking along the
river, lost in unpleasant thoughts, he almost bumped into a large
sailor who emerged from a narrow street, arm in arm with a tall
prostitute.
    “Thanks, love,”
he he said to his companion with a smile, letting his gaze loom all
over James. The harlot chuckled, patting the man’s bottom.
    James
momentarily took a step to the side, but from behind his mask,
looked at the sailor nervously. Maybe he would know. “Excuse me,
sir?” he said in a voice more meek than he would have wished
for.
    Both the sailor
and his companion looked at him attentively. “Yeah?” asked the
former, after another gliding look at James.
    “You see sir, I
am looking for a man of the name ‘Ira Russell’. You