“Boys and girls come out to play.”

“What’s he chatting about?”

It’s Mud. He’s pulling my eyelids open so far think they might fall out of me bonce.

Then he gives me a slap for good measure. I’m up on my feet. Bit dizzy but walking.

The boys hurry me off, down by Blackwall, on a scrap of wasteland behind some big old bins, out of sight.

This is borderland. I can see the electric fence from here, running down the Blackwall Road, keeping Greenwich safe from Riverside scum. On the East Side it’s the A205, splitting Woolich into the bad side and the good side.

In the South they patrol Shooter’s Hill road. Cause we’re the traitors here. Not the Republicans, even though they killed a king. Riversiders picked the wrong side in the civil war. That’s what the old one’s say.

Any case, River Rats don’t like getting too far from the water.

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Head count. We’re all here. Cept Manleb.

Chips is holding onto Ninja. Ninja in bad way.

Nikair waves something in my face. Shoes.

“You can trust us, Skelly! Keep you right!”

I’m grinning. Pull on the busted up old creepers. Not too many holes. Not too big.

“Ninja got stomped.”

He’s shivering, eyes all milky and weird. Bruises coming up. Lumpy face.

“We got wind of something. Big crowd in the Valley tonight. Everybody listening to some old psycho giving a big speech. A rally they says.”

“You done good. Manleb will be most proud.”

“What about you?” Chips says.

“No joy. Got busted on the rob.”

Suddenly, we’re all very tired. I know we got to keep moving. I seen people with the fever just lie there for days. Not caring.

“Alright here’s the play. Me and Nikair go play orphans in the big crowd. See if we catch loot. You boys get down the Golf. Can you make it down there?”

We have a spot, old busted up crazy golf place. Building there with all the windows smashed in. Neutral turf. About as safe as it gets in Riverside, a bit too far away from the main action. Few refugees camp there. But they don’t bother river rats.

“We’ll come find you there. Bring treats.”

I’m worried about Ninja. Worried about Manleb.

I’m worried about Bleeder too of course. Out there on the Barge alone.

We could be stuck on shore days with Ninja recovering. Anyone could make a play for our barge. Can’t think about that. Where are you Manleb?