‘Fine.’
Jack heard Ethel step down from the bunk. He watched her shadow on the wall as she stood there for a moment, watching him. Finally, she turned and left him alone. He felt a little bit guilty – Ethel had been trying really hard to befriend Jack. He wasn’t usually so dismissive
~
Jack was scheduled for guard duty at the front gate at five o’clock in the morning, with a man called Hester. He’d relieve the current guards from their duty and stand at his post for the next eight hours, being bored out of his mind. Jack only hoped that there were no protests or riots scheduled for today. So far, he’d been lucky in avoiding such things, though he’d heard some rather nasty stories from the permanent guards.
At a quarter to five, Jack pulled on his uniform, listening to Ethel’s gentle snores issuing from the bottom bunk. Sleepily, he stepped into his boots and staggered out of the door. When he arrived at his post, he found that Hester was already there. Jack had never spoken to the man, but had heard his name around the base.
‘Morning,’ Jack yawned, stepping into position in front of the gate. The baton he’d been given was fastened to his belt, but Jack refused to use such a thing on any living being.
Hester did not respond. He stood there, unmoving and unblinking.
‘Nice night for it,’ tried Jack, rolling onto the balls of his feet and swinging his arms like pendulums.
Still, Hester ignored him.
This is going to be a long shift, Jack thought irritably. The only conversation he’d get would be with the patrol guard, who would walk the perimeter of the headquarters every half an hour. Even then, he wasn’t sure if the officer on duty was someone he liked.
Perhaps a visit from a protest group would be nice – at least he’d have something to do.
The morning passed without incident. Hester did not utter a single syllable to Jack, and the officer on patrol was someone Jack didn’t know. However, by the time the sun had risen the patrol guard had clocked off, so Jack was surprised to see Ethel marching along the outskirts of the gate.
‘Patrol duty, eh?’ said Jack as she walked past his post for the first time.
Ethel nodded. ‘Swap you?’
Jack snorted. ‘Not bloody likely. My legs are still aching from yesterday.’
‘What about you, Hester? Fancy a stroll?’
‘I wouldn’t bother trying,’ said Jack, jerking a thumb in Hester’s direction. ‘He hasn’t spoken all morning.’
But as Jack said those words, Hester left his post and offered Ethel his place at the gate.
‘Thanks, Hester,’ said Ethel with a radiant smile. Hester tipped his hat and resumed the walk around the perimeter. Ethel sighed and leaned against the wall, rubbing her legs.
‘Ooh, that’s better,’ she sighed.
‘How did you do that?’ asked Jack, putting his hands on his hips. ‘I’ve been trying to talk to Hester all morning.’
‘Well, I’m not surprised he didn’t talk to you,’ said Ethel, straightening up.
‘Why is that?’
‘Well, he hasn’t got a tongue,’ said Ethel.
‘He what?’ said Jack, shocked.
Ethel shrugged. ‘He’s never had a tongue, as long as I’ve known him.’
‘How – how did he lose it?’
‘He didn’t lose it, Jack. It was stolen from him,’ said Ethel, crossing her arms.
Jack rolled his eyes. ‘All right then, who stole it?’
‘Who do you think?’ asked Ethel. ‘Ten years ago, a human attacked Hester with a blade, and cut his tongue out.’
Jack felt sick. ‘Oh … what was he doing to enrage a human like that?’
Ethel looked at Jack curiously. ‘What do you mean? Humans are savages. They don’t need a reason to be violent.’
‘Well … I mean … whose human was it?’
‘It was Hester’s slave, of course. It got loose and went mad.’
Jack bit down on his own tongue to stop himself from retorting. In his opinion, Hester deserved the disfigurement for owning a slave in the first place. That kind of statement would definitely get him in the Realm’s bad books.
‘So how do you know that?’ asked Jack.
‘Hester is a friend of the family,’ said Ethel. ‘I’ve known him since I was a little girl.’
Silence fell upon the two of them. It was a warm morning, and birds could be heard singing. Jack wished he didn’t have to wear the full uniform – it was very thick, so it wasn’t long before he was sweating. But he liked it; the warmth reminded him of Avalon.
‘So, what was it you were saying last night?’ asked Jack, breaking the silence between them. ‘About not knowing who you are?’
‘Huh? Oh, it was nothing.’
‘No, it was something. What was it?’ he pressed.
Ethel waved a hand. ‘I was just messing with you.’