see the dimple-cheeked face of the little girl Raymond had killed. Bristling with rage, he used one hand to clamp Raymonde neck to the mattress and pulled back his arm, intending to smash Raymonde jaw.
Thate enough,?Dave shouted.
James realised het overdone it and let Dave pull him away. They had to step over Stanley, who was sprawled out on the floor in a daze.
Torry,?James gasped.
One of the Latinos shouted a warning. On the rail.?
James looked up to see a hack stepping on to the metal gantry that ran the length of the cell above the beds on Abee side of the room.
Ttanding count,?the guard shouted.
James and Dave didnt know what this meant, but the others all scrambled. They switched off their TVs and radios and stood at the foot of their beds, ready to be counted. Once they twigged, James and Dave did the same.
Stanley Duff managed to drag himself into position, but Raymond remained on Abee bed, holding his hands over his face and sobbing in pain. The hack leaned over the balcony, inspecting Raymonde face.
Ill keep still,?the hack shouted. Inyone who moves or opens their smart mouth gets two nights in the hole.?
The hack moved briskly to the end of the rail and grabbed a telephone. If the threat of the tiny pitch-black cell known as the hole wasnt enough to keep the inmates in line, there was a rack at the end of the metal gantry, containing stun grenades and guns that could fire tear-gas cartridges, or plastic baton rounds.
The boys stood to attention for a quarter of an hour, waiting for two trustee inmates from the prison hospital. When theyt rolled Raymond on to a stretcher and taken him away, the hack gave the order to stand down.
People started moving around and the radios and TVs got switched back on. James looked at the smears of blood on his hands, then at Dave, expecting some kind of rebuke.
Lell,?Dave said, as he raised a single eyebrow. i guess everyone knows wete arrived.?
15. TACTICS
Going to the bathroom meant taking a trip into Latino territory. James and Dave walked down the aisle between the beds, stepping over a dice game and respectfully asking people to move aside.
A scrawny fourteen-year-old Latino boy kept the bathroom spotless. Everyone called him BAM, which was short for bucket and mop. In return for his cleaning duties, BAM got looked after by the toughest Latinos, who slept close to the bathroom entrance and didnt want to be troubled by nasty smells.
After James had used the urinal and washed his hands, face and arms, he realised he ought to clean the blood off his T-shirt as well. He tugged it over his head, while BAM fussed over a few splashes on the floor around the urinals. James didnt have his bar of soap, so all he could do was give the shirt a soaking and rub out as much blood as he could, before quickly wringing out the water and heading for the exit.
Le like our toilet clean,?one of the Latinos said.
Cesar was a big shot, dressed in a black Fila tracksuit with a gold chain around his neck. He had his hairy palm against the wall, blocking the exit of the bathroom.
Hou respect our toilet, yeah??Cesar said. Then we?? respect you.?
Dave nodded. Lete got no problem with that.?
Ind you,?Cesar said, putting his hand on James?bare shoulder and giving it a friendly squeeze, Hou messed up that baby killer. Good for you. Give your shirt to BAM and he?? wash it properly. We have soap powder. He puts it up near the fans and makes it dry for you by morning.?
James handed his soggy T-shirt to BAM and nodded his appreciation to Cesar, who took his hand off the wall to allow them out of the bathroom.
Cesar looked at one of his lieutenants. Nave we still got the lemon soft??
The lieutenant reached under his bed and produced two plump yellow rolls of toilet tissue for James and Dave.
Thank you, Cesar,?Dave said.
The prison issue is brutal,?Cesar grinned. Hou need anything else??
Dave shook his head. Lete cool.?
Houte two tough guys,?Cesar said. Is long as you leave my people alone, you and I have no problems.?
Hou havent got any food going, have you??James interrupted. i?? replace it when I get my commissary order.?
Dave gave James a stern look, as if to say dont push your luck; but Cesar laughed noisily and grabbed a melted Snickers bar and a small can of sour-cream Pringles out of his locker.
Beauty,?James grinned.
James ripped