Page 58 (1/2)

‘This is all business,’ Tehol assured him ‘You’re safe here Isn’t he, Shand?’

‘Of course,’ she uard for our bodyguard’

‘Maybe Ublala has a brother’

Tehol gestured for Bugg to follow as he headed for the door ‘I suppose s like this are useful Every now and then’

‘No doubt,’ Bugg replied

They e Shops stayed open late in the sue of the season’s frenzy Heat made for restlessness, which made for a certain insatiability Later in the season, when the temperatures became unbearable, there would be enervation, and debt

Tehol and Bugg left the high street fronting the canal andthe spending crowds behind and finding the the destitute Voices called out from shadows Dishevelled children followed the two rubby hands to pluck at Tehol’s skirt before running away laughing Before long, they too were gone, and the way ahead was ehbourhood,’ Tehol said as they walked towards their house ‘It’s the headlong rush that always troubles ’

‘Is this your conte asked

‘It was Now over, thankfully’

They entered and Tehol strode straight for the ladder ‘Clean the place up to’

‘Reht’

‘Not just in my dreams?’

Tehol clambered onto the roof He closed the hatch then stood and studied the stars overhead until she eed from the darkness to one side and spoke ‘You’re late’

‘No, I’ht Still a quarter off’

‘Is it? Oh’

‘And how’s life, Shurq? Sorry, I couldn’t resist’

‘And I’ve never heard that particular quip before It’s a ht One step in front of the other, on and on to nowhere in particular’

‘And being dead has changed all that?’

‘Don’t h You want to offer me a contract To do what?’