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bright above and shed enough light so I could see across the dark surface. It was flat and broad, bordered with a knee-high parapet and studded with vents and pipes. Something large and bulky occluded the sky, and when I worked my way close to it I heard the dripping of water. The water tank, fine, now what was visible below?
    To the front I looked downinto the well-lit courtyard, guarded and secure. But what was the back like?
    Far more interesting I assure you. There was a straight drop of five storeys to a rear yard, which was feebly illuminated by a single bulb. There were waste bins there, and barrels, and a heavy gate in the outer wall. Locked, undoubtedly. But whatman had locked man could unlock. Or rather I could. This was the way out.

    Of course there was five-storey drop, but something could be worked there. Or perhaps I could find another way into the back yard. Plenty of time to run through the permutations of escape; six days yet. My feet were getting cold and I yawned and shivered. I had done enough for one night. My hard prison bunk seemed very attractive at this moment.
    Carefully and silently I retraced my steps. Easedthe trapdoor shut above me, checked to see that it was locked, went down the ladder and the stairs to my floor …
    And heard the voices ahead. Loud and clear. The loudest of all being my cellmate Willy. I took one horrified look at the open door of my cell, at the heavy boots of the guards there, then pulled myself back and ran up the stairs again. With Willy’s words ringing like a tocsin of doomin my ears.
    ‘I woke and he was gone! I was alone! Monsters ate him or something! That’s when I started shouting. Save me, please! Whatever got him came right through the locked door. It’s gonna get me next!’

CHAPTER FOUR

    Anger at my cretinous cellmate warmed me; the imminence of my capture instantly chilled me again. I fled unthinkingly, away from the voices and commotion. Back up the stairs, one flight, another –
    Then all the lights came on and the sirens began to wail. The prisoners stirred and called out to one another. In a few moments they would be at the cell doors, would see me, would cryout, guards would appear. There was no escape. I knew this, yet all I could do was run. To the top floor – then past the cells there. All of which were now brightly lit. I would be seen by the prisoners as I went by them, and I knew for certain that I would be ratted on by whichever juvenile delinquent spotted me. It was all over.
    Head high, I walked past the first cell and glanced in as I passed.

    It was empty. As were all of the other cells on this floor. I still had a chance! Like a demented ape I swarmed up the iron rungs and fumbled my lockpick into the lock. There were voices below me, getting louder, and footsteps as well as two of the guards ascended the stairs which faced away from me. But all that one of them had to do was turn his head. And when they reached the floor I wouldbe seen at once.
    The lock clicked open and I pushed and swarmed up through the opening. Flat on the roof I eased the door down. Seeing two fat guards through the opening just turning my way as it shut.
    Had they seen it closing? My heart thudded like an insane drum and I gasped for air and waited for the shouts of alarm.
    They did not come. I was still free.
    Some freedom! Depression instantlyclutched and shook me. Free to lie on the roof, to shiver violently as the perspiration began to dry, free to huddle up here until I was found.
    So I huddled and shivered and generally felt sorry for myself for about a minute. Then I stood and shook myself like a dog and felt the anger begin to rise.
    ‘Big criminal,’ I whispered aloud, just to make sure that I heard. ‘Life of crime. And on yourfirst big job you let yourself be trapped by a knife-wielding moron. You’ve learned a lesson, Jim. May you some day be free to put it into practice. Always guard your flanks and your rear. Consider all the