I often walked all day
by Miriam Silver
I often walked all day through the burning noon and the arid afternoon, and the dusty evening, and
came back with moonrise exhausted only to throw myself down, anywhere. The pain and the thud
woke me, I'd fallen out of bed onto the stone floor, again.
I've been here, in witness protection, waiting for the trial when I have to give evidence. They, the
police, said the judge would consider my sentence if I grassed on my mates. I'd never done that in a
lifetime of in and out of criminal stuff.
I'd only been the look- out for the robbery, they said I'd get my cut if I kept my mouth shut. The job
had been planned for weeks, the safe deposit building. I was the oldest of the gang, couldn't do
heavy work like wot was needed for the drilling an all that. They got away with thousands, probably
millions. When I found my stash, it was short, seems I'm taking the blame, them being inside and
me out.
I'd gone to all the planning meetings and learnt the details by heart. I got there early, walked from
the bus to the pub, had a drink, came out at the appointed time and kept watch by the white van
which was parked across the road. Thing was, I wasn't used to being out so late and I fell asleep and
some interfering local spotted me and was able to identify me when the pigs went door to door.
I've been here, in this god forsaken place for 6 weeks, boiling hot, can't get to the beach, can only
watch telly, play games, don't think I can stand it much longer, this is getting me down. I can see
the sea, I'm going to take a chance, a swim and pick up some cold beer on the way back.
"Gotcha!" was all I heard as I opened the door,
"What the..." was all I could manage as what felt like an iron fist hit me.
"Are you gonna tell us where it is"?
"Tell you what?" I gasped, "what do you want?" as if I didn't know, “you've got the wrong man."
"Where they've hidden it?” the one who'd hit me growled.
"Come on fellas, I'm here to keep out of the way until I get to court, I keep telling them I don't know
anything," I explained, trying to sound sincere. "I'm Rog, yer know, not Roger, he's the one you
want, I was never inside. The pigs are due any minute, very unreliable they are, honest I don't know
nuffin, anyway how'd you get here?"
An explanation, must sound as if I could help.
"Yer know you're wasting your time, s'notme yer want. It's the two who got away, Fred and Jack,
they've got it well hidden, they're probably gone, won't be back, gawd knows when, well settled
somewhere like Argentina by now"
That rattled 'em, very amateurish try, gave me time to pick myself up and go to the window,
"Quiet, think I can see...." that was enough for them, they were gone, out the back. I settled down
with my cold beer, to have a rethink. Time’s running out. Must hit the road soon, get away from the
sea, I'll wait until it's cooler no good in this heat.
Fooled 'em all, quite good considering my age. I know more than they'll ever get out of me and
must get a good nights sleep, get rid of that rotten dream. Let's see what the weather forecast is for
tomorrow. Pity they've kept my bus pass.