Free Judgement (The Twelve) by Jeff Ashcroft Page A

joined in a line to six iron pillars that ran across the width of the floor every twenty feet or so. The area was subdivided into twelve bedrooms with on suite bathrooms. Anvils private security company took care of the construction many years ago . This included the kitchen area and drainage. The kitchen and bedrooms were all raised up on false floors to allow for drainage pipes and electric cabling etc.
     
    “Chris , come on tell us again what you did to Ghost?”
     
    The person belonging to the question stood with his head buried inside the open double doors of a very large grey American fridge/freezer, over in the kitchen area at the southern end of the floor. Stepping back with a plate of spicy cold cooked chicken wings and a tin of coke in his hands, Priest looked expectantly towards Chris who was seated (as usual) next to Patch on one of the settees, together with Huntress and Slash.
     
    Chris hadn’t been paying attention. It had been three weeks since they’d moved here. He’d helped with un loading the old battered van , but only managed to get in Rages way.  He’d never seen someone carry a large double settee on each shoulder before. He used the big old fas hioned service lift , to ride up to the forth floor with strict instructions not to get off at any of the others . Bulls Eye had smiled when Chris asked why and had simply mimicked a large explosion.
     
      Chris had insisted on a television. A nice forty inch flat screen with Free sat included. It stood in a corner near the kitchen area, with a large rug in front of it, surrounded on either side with two large bookcase s , filled with very old hard backed books. It appeared the rest of team liked to read instead of watch ing TV. But right now he was sitting next to Patch on a three setter settee in front of the TV watching an old film starring Gary Copper. Patch was a d miring his new leather outfit. Although he was staring at the film, Chris was remembering meeting the tailors who’d supplied his clothes.
     
    Anvil had been right, the man did, in this case, maketh the clothes. His visit to Alina and Alfredo Fashion Suppliers of fine Leather had been an experience.  The shop was in a fashionable high street full of designer shops. There’s had stood out with its black painted window frames and front door. The front window was filled with hats, belts, boots and jackets, all made from leather and covered in studs.
     
    Anvil had taken him along and once at the door step, dropped them both back into real time. The front door had an old fashioned brass bell over the door on the inside. It jingled gently as they stepped over the threshold. Alina and Alfredo stood behind the counter, side by side , s trange middle aged men. Strange because both had black short curly hair, slightly pointed ears, huge walrus moustaches, bulbous wide noses, double chins, chubby bellies hidden behind black leather waistcoats engraved with spun gold . Strange because upon seeing Anvil , both smiled huge wide grins, revealing several gold teeth.
     
    But the real surprise was, as each turned away in the opposite direction to each other and started to walk towards the ends of the counter, they started to get smaller and smaller until only the tops of there heads showed! Finally both appeared from behind the counter, dwarfs!
     
    One had on brown leather trousers and the other black leather trousers. Both wore red shoes. It turned out brown legs was Alina and black legs; was Alfredo. They greeted Anvil warmly and to Chris’s surprise completely ignored his weapon.
     
    “Mister Anvil so good to see you again , y ou look as young as ever.” Alfredo stated politely in a deep granite bedrock sort of voice, which startled Chris.
     
    “Young er , ” Echoed Alina , in an equally deep rock hard voice.
     
    Anvil leaned down and shook hands warmly, “Nice to see you pair of old rascals again, Hope you haven’t been overcharging your customers.”
     
    Both dwarfs thought this