What?â
âYeshua. The others. I said it would make enough trouble just coming to the city but no, he said he had to make a big statement and really show people what he was about.â
âAnd what is he about? At first I thought he was a magician, but thenâ¦â Flea protested.
âThatâs just what people call him when they want to put him down. Donât you understand? He hasnât come here to turn water into wine or pull eggs out of childrenâs ears, heâs come to ⦠Whatâs going on now?â
Because the sound was growing even louder. Howls. Screams. And now fighting.
The magicianâs words had obviously hit home with the crowd. They seemed to be determined to rid the Temple of all symbols of money and trade. As Flea watched, a money changer clutching a bag broke free from the crush, but he was chased down and disappeared under a billowing sea of robes. Flea saw a trader trying to sneak toward the western gate with a wicker basket of white doves. He was spotted and started to sprint, holding his tunic up with one hand and the basket with the other. A small mob gave chase and surrounded him. A dove fluttered upward, bloodstained and panicked, and just as it looked as if it might fly free, a hand reached out and dragged it back.
The trumpet blast was harsh and shocking. Jude grabbed Flea. âThe Temple Police! Will your gang have the sense to get out?â
âThe ones that can run will. But the others will be in big troubleâClump and Crutches especially. Theyâre breaking the Laws of Perfection.â
âAnd things will be even worse if the Imps wade in,â Jude said. âHeâs gone and done it this time. Look, get out now! Iâll find your friends and if I donât see you later, see you tomorrow. Outside your shelter!â
And he was gone.
Â
11
Flea huddled in the entrance to the shelter along with Big, Little Big, Crouch, Halo, and Crutches. The woman who lived in the hovel opposite was beating out a rug, and her stuck-up daughter was airing the mattresses and giving them a good beatingâthey crammed their house full of out-of-towners for the feast and lived off the rent for the rest of the year.
Dust flew. The daughter stared at them. Flea made faces at her, but it was pretty clear why she was interested. Big had a split lip, Little Big had a black eye and seemed groggy. Crutches had been knocked over and kicked. Crouch was curled up on his side, his hair still wet from spit and his tunic torn. There was no sign of Snot, the twins, Gaga, Clump, Hole-in-the-Head, or Red.
Halo was sobbing loudly and when Big cuffed him, Flea exploded. âWhat are you doing? You should never have gone into the Temple. You were meant to rob the magician, not join up with him and his washed-up followers.â
âFlea,â Big said. âShut up before I hang you upside down.â
Flea ignored the threat. âWhat happened to âNever trust anyone bigger than yourselfâ? We could have cleaned up. At least I had a go.â
âFlea!â Bigâs tone became more urgent.
âThis is what happens when you suck up to adults ⦠tramps!⦠northerners!⦠con artists!⦠show-offs!â¦â
âFlea!â
âWhat?â Flea screamed back.
Everyone was laughing at him, then looking past him, then at him and laughing some more.
âWhat, you stupid bastards?â
âBehind you, fool.â He turned.
The missing gang members, the magician, and his followers were filling the alleyway. Yesh had his hands on Clumpâs and Gagaâs shoulders, eyebrows raised. The others, with the rest of the Temple Boys, stood behind him.
Everyone seemed amused.
To cover his confusion, Flea decided to carry on where he left off. âSo? So theyâre not dead? Big deal. We meet a magician and he doesnât kill us. Great trick. It was a riot! Halo and Crouch could have gotten stoned
Tim Lebbon, Christopher Golden