Free Breakdown by Sarah Mussi Page B

Careem leans insolently on the arm of the carved chair.
    The General seems to mull over Careem’s usefulness. He strokes his chin, runs his thumb along his upper lip.
    â€˜You need a good dog in them wilder places,’ Careem adds.
    â€˜All right, twice the usual. Take half now. But I want her delivered here on Friday after those bruises have faded.’ He points at my neck. ‘I don’t want spoiled goods. I don’t like to touch anything marked. I like to see my own handiwork. I thought you knew that.’
    â€˜Mistake,’ says Careem. ‘One of my boys got too keen – her being a looker and all that.’
    The General nods. ‘Bring her back spotless and intact,’ he says. ‘I think you understand.’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ smiles Careem. ‘On Friday, she’s all yours.’

15

    I’m back in Games City. I can’t sleep. I sit and hug my knees. I should have escaped while I was out. No way. No chance.
Think. Come on. You’ve got to be able to outthink them. What can you do? Who can you work on? You must get out. If you can get out, you can go home. You can hide
.
The General doesn’t know where you live. Careem doesn’t know where you live. They don’t know where you live. London’s big.
    I hang on to that.
    London’s very big. I’ve heard gangers at night. But I’ve never seen them during the day. They’ve never seen me before.
Get out then. Hide. Get away
.
They won’t find you. They’ll never see you again.
I look at the walls of the room and sigh. I notice that the stench isn’t so overpowering any more. Has it gone away or do I stink like them now?
    Think.
Come on. They want stuff: food, fuel, weapons. They’re trading you for stuff. Can you tell them of some other boat that’s coming in from the north? A boat loaded with guns? It’d be a lie.
Lie through your teeth.
Would it work? When they find out it’s a lie – I don’t want to think about that.
    But I think anyway.
    You’d be long gone. You can lie as much as you like as long as you’re long gone by the time the truth settles.
    Remember what Nan said about lying. ‘If you’re gonna lie, make it a good one. Do it upfront and bold. Don’t be shy. Lie your heart out. Make it work for you. But make sure there’s only one thing in the story that’s a falsehood. Sandwiched by the truth a lie will work. Then get as far away as possible.’
    Who can I lie to? I try to think of all the faces I’ve seen. Not Careem. He’s too smart. He’s a born liar. He’d know. And he doesn’t care about anything except his hold on Games City.
    Tarquin.
    He tried to help even before they brought me here. He told me to run. I should have run. I would have. If I could wind back time, I’d run. I’d rather the dogs got me than the General.
    I could hardly sit up, let alone run.
    Tarquin’s got a heart, though. He’s on my side. He’s been on my side all along. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the way he looks after Lenny.
    Of course. So obvious. Lenny.
    That’s the way forward. Work on Lenny. He’s Tarquin’s weak point. That’s what’ll force Tarquin to help me.
    What is it Lenny wants?
    I lie back and stare at the ceiling of the locker room. Not much of a ceiling to look at. It’s all falling in and covered in black mould.
    And as I’m lying there the door unlocks. And Tarquin stands there. He’s holding his side. He looks tired.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ he says.
    â€˜You’re sorry.’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜I suppose I should thank you.’
    â€˜You don’t need to.’
    â€˜For trying to save me from Careem.’
    â€˜I didn’t do it for you.’
    â€˜I know.’
    I go quiet.
    Lenny slips in past him. He’s carrying his book. He tries to settle himself down in my lap.
    â€˜Let’s look at my book,’