Free Temple Boys by Jamie Buxton Page B

sheep?” Flea asked.
    â€œHa-ha.” The man’s smile did not quite reach his eyes. “Very good. We love laughter and you have a great sense of humor, I can see. Have your friends been telling you about the dinner tonight?”
    â€œNo.” Flea looked innocently curious. “I think they couldn’t have quite gotten around to it.”
    â€œEr, Flea’s no longer with us,” Big said uncomfortably.
    â€œNonsense. The Master wants him to come. Most insistent. He’ll never let anyone go, not without a fight.” The man’s very white teeth looked as thick as tombstones and, above his smile, his blue eyes stayed watchful. “Well?” he urged.
    â€œTell the Master that … I’m all right with that,” Flea said.
    â€œGood. He’ll be pleased. Come on, all of you. No time to waste.”
    All going according to plan, Flea thought.

 
    17
    The streets that led to the Upper City were drenched red by the evening sun. It felt odd to walk with a group of adults and even odder to be noticed without anyone throwing something rotten at you. Old people, young people, middle-aged people came to doorways and windows to watch. Some called out. Some offered water or bread or whatever they had. Others held up babies, pointed the magician out to children, or begged him to come inside. When a man called out, “Show us a trick!” Yesh smiled, clapped his hands, and looked up at the heavens as if he were expecting them to open. When nothing happened he shrugged and said, “Doesn’t always work.” He walked on, leaving laughter behind him.
    Jude fell in step beside Flea.
    â€œIt worked.” Flea spoke from the corner of his mouth.
    â€œWatch and learn. I expect that will be a new experience for you,” Jude said.
    Flea decided to ignore that. “So, what’s happening?”
    â€œWe’re on the way to the house of Yesh’s uncle, Yusuf of Ramathain, also known as Yusuf the Merchant, also known as one of the richest men in the city. Something’s going on.”
    â€œAnd you said Yesh was planning…”
    â€œExactly, and I’m guessing they’re in it together, which makes it all the more important to keep your eyes and ears open. Wine will be flowing like water, but don’t touch it—understand? I don’t want you reeling around and I want you in a fit state to report anything odd that you see or notice. Now, do you need to know the names of the other followers?”
    Jude went through the followers’ names, with Flea trying to commit them to memory. He’d met two at the Healing Pool: Tauma was the man at the gate, Shim was the creep with the fake smile. Then there were Yak and Yohan, who were always by Yesh’s side wherever he went. Yak was Yesh’s older brother. He had wild hair and an untrimmed beard, but once you knew they were brothers you could see the resemblance, though Yak was taller and broader across the shoulders. Yohan was young, with dreamy eyes, smooth skin, and a wispy beard. Mat was small and plump as a bee and always busy. If anyone had a problem, they went to him. The two biggest men were twins, but before Jude could tell Flea their names he was called away by Yesh, and Flea was left on his own.
    Trailing behind them, Flea almost managed to convince himself that all was well. Halo was sitting on Shim’s shoulders, pretending to beat him like a donkey. The tall twins had taken Crutches’s hands and were swinging him along like a child. Clump was practically dancing, and even Red was walking along with a great big grin on his face.
    In the Upper City, the houses hid behind high walls. Flea caught glimpses of pillars, open porches, fountains, and clean, empty spaces he had never even imagined, they were so far from his everyday life. The crowd trailing them was quieter now and fell totally silent when they stopped at a high metal-studded door. Pitchy torches