that she is no true friend of the chickens. We know that she seeks their downfall, although they will never be defeated.”
That was interesting to know. Shorty’s faith in thechickens seemed dependent on them being unbeatable. If Glen really did have a way to beat the chickens then this lot would collapse as well. I filed that away for later use and focused back on the issue at hand.
“I did not know this,” I replied. “But what does it matter what she thinks? The chickens are unbeatable. Everyone knows that.”
“Everyone but her, apparently. And this is an insult to the chickens. We must give her up to them. Though,” and this last bit was obviously said grudgingly, “you seem to have merit, Stranger.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I remembered Rayna saying that some kids gave people to the chickens. She had almost been caught herself because of it. It certainly explained why she was scared of Union Street. But, more importantly, I could probably get out of this. I would just need to sacrifice Rayna to do it.
“Does she need to be given up? I believe that she can be saved. After all, she did bring me here. Surely that can be counted in her favour? I believe that she needs to be given another chance.”
Shorty sneered at me. “Do you indeed? Well you still know little of our ways. So you must make this choice. Do you go with her or do you renounce her and stay?”
I flickered my eyes to the side again but shifted them back when Rayna tried to catch my eyes. Time. I needed more time.
“Well Stranger? What say you?”
“I will give you my answer tomorrow,” I said, as loudly and as confidently as I could. “When the rooster gives his call you will know what is on my mind, for that is the proper time for such things.”
“Very well.” Shorty turned and swept off. I was slightly impressed. I knew it was harder to do a propersweep than it appears. “Until tomorrow.”
Maybe he was expecting his followers to go with him. Some of them did, but most stayed, staring at me. I knew I’d probably never have this opportunity again as long as I lived so I gave them a great big beaming smile.
“Hey,” I said to them. “Want to hear some jokes?”
Chapter 7
I managed to keep them entertained for ages. It wasn’t easy. There are a lot of chicken jokes in the world but I had to be careful not to say anything that wasn’t chicken friendly. To begin with they just stared at me. Eventually, though, one or two of them sniggered then they began to laugh at each one. I tried hard not to show it but it freaked me out a bit. A lot of those jokes weren’t even funny.
As hosts they weren’t that bad. I mean, we were kept strapped to the chairs for the entire day, which became very uncomfortable very quickly, but we were fed at about lunchtime and again at teatime. They had corn on the cob. I have no idea where they managed to find it, but that’s what they gave us. They wouldn’t unbind us but they were good enough to hold it so that we could eat. I think they liked me because there was a small argument over who got to feed me. I’m not going to lie, it felt good to be liked. We even got some butter on the corn. I don’t know where they got that either.
Eventually night fell and we were left alone. My muscles were all stiff and I really needed to go to the toilet, but at least we were still alive and hadn’t been given to the chickens. Rayna hadn’t said anything during the whole day, even when they’d taken her gag off so that she could eat. She’d just flexed her mouth one or twice as if trying to work the taste of the gag out of it and taken bites of food. They hadn’t replacedit afterwards and she hadn’t given them reason to. I think she’d fallen asleep.
“Rayna,” I hissed. “Wake up.”
“I am awake,” she said opening her eyes and straightening her head. “What do you want?”
I frowned at the tone in her voice.
“What is it?” I asked.
She didn’t reply for a time and
That was interesting to know. Shorty’s faith in thechickens seemed dependent on them being unbeatable. If Glen really did have a way to beat the chickens then this lot would collapse as well. I filed that away for later use and focused back on the issue at hand.
“I did not know this,” I replied. “But what does it matter what she thinks? The chickens are unbeatable. Everyone knows that.”
“Everyone but her, apparently. And this is an insult to the chickens. We must give her up to them. Though,” and this last bit was obviously said grudgingly, “you seem to have merit, Stranger.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I remembered Rayna saying that some kids gave people to the chickens. She had almost been caught herself because of it. It certainly explained why she was scared of Union Street. But, more importantly, I could probably get out of this. I would just need to sacrifice Rayna to do it.
“Does she need to be given up? I believe that she can be saved. After all, she did bring me here. Surely that can be counted in her favour? I believe that she needs to be given another chance.”
Shorty sneered at me. “Do you indeed? Well you still know little of our ways. So you must make this choice. Do you go with her or do you renounce her and stay?”
I flickered my eyes to the side again but shifted them back when Rayna tried to catch my eyes. Time. I needed more time.
“Well Stranger? What say you?”
“I will give you my answer tomorrow,” I said, as loudly and as confidently as I could. “When the rooster gives his call you will know what is on my mind, for that is the proper time for such things.”
“Very well.” Shorty turned and swept off. I was slightly impressed. I knew it was harder to do a propersweep than it appears. “Until tomorrow.”
Maybe he was expecting his followers to go with him. Some of them did, but most stayed, staring at me. I knew I’d probably never have this opportunity again as long as I lived so I gave them a great big beaming smile.
“Hey,” I said to them. “Want to hear some jokes?”
Chapter 7
I managed to keep them entertained for ages. It wasn’t easy. There are a lot of chicken jokes in the world but I had to be careful not to say anything that wasn’t chicken friendly. To begin with they just stared at me. Eventually, though, one or two of them sniggered then they began to laugh at each one. I tried hard not to show it but it freaked me out a bit. A lot of those jokes weren’t even funny.
As hosts they weren’t that bad. I mean, we were kept strapped to the chairs for the entire day, which became very uncomfortable very quickly, but we were fed at about lunchtime and again at teatime. They had corn on the cob. I have no idea where they managed to find it, but that’s what they gave us. They wouldn’t unbind us but they were good enough to hold it so that we could eat. I think they liked me because there was a small argument over who got to feed me. I’m not going to lie, it felt good to be liked. We even got some butter on the corn. I don’t know where they got that either.
Eventually night fell and we were left alone. My muscles were all stiff and I really needed to go to the toilet, but at least we were still alive and hadn’t been given to the chickens. Rayna hadn’t said anything during the whole day, even when they’d taken her gag off so that she could eat. She’d just flexed her mouth one or twice as if trying to work the taste of the gag out of it and taken bites of food. They hadn’t replacedit afterwards and she hadn’t given them reason to. I think she’d fallen asleep.
“Rayna,” I hissed. “Wake up.”
“I am awake,” she said opening her eyes and straightening her head. “What do you want?”
I frowned at the tone in her voice.
“What is it?” I asked.
She didn’t reply for a time and
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