Part 7 (2/2)
”Yeah, no problem. Okay, first of all, let's see if we can work out where we are. Come on, which way, left or right, it doesn't matter, you choose.”
”Oh, erm, okay left, let's go left.”
It was cold, wet and inhospitable. They were on the outskirts of a city, they a.s.sumed it to be Liverpool but as yet had no real proof. It was a main road of shops and garages. There was a glow in the sky, the promise of bigger things a few miles distant. Here there were a couple of small supermarkets still open and the ubiquitous kebab shops and pizza places. The electric colours spilled out to s.h.i.+mmer in kaleidoscopes on flagstones soaked by the continual downpour. Wet litter s.h.i.+fted in the cold wind and they had to jump back from the kerb as cars sped through the lying water sending great fountains across the pavement.
Samuel stopped outside a snack bar.
”Are you hungry?”
”No, I'm not hungry, I could use a drink, just some water or juice but I don't want to eat anything.”
”Hang on then.”
He went into a small convenience store, came out with cartons of juice and a bottle of water. He had bought some chocolate and broke a piece from the bar and fed it to her.
”You have to keep your sugar levels up. It's cold and we might have to walk for a bit.”
As he spoke they saw, up ahead, a bus stop with a small queue of people huddling under the meagre shelter. Samuel spoke to a couple standing with arms wrapped around each other, locked together, s.p.a.cey looking.
”Excuse me mate, can we get a bus here for the town centre do you know.”
”Yeah, number thirty-six takes you in. Where're you going?”
”We just need to get into town, find somewhere to stay. We were supposed to be going away.” He hefted the bag as evidence of the trip, ”But we had some trouble, my mate was taken ill now we just need a place for tonight.”
”Well if you get the number thirty-six it'll take you in, but you could stay at the place up the road if you only need somewhere to sleep.” He pointed towards a building, a large house, a few hundred yards away from where they stood. There was an illuminated sign on a post in the almost empty front garden which had been tarmacked over to form a car park.
”Oh, right. We didn't see that, do you know if it's okay.”
”Yeah, my mate's mum runs it. It's not dear and you get a brilliant fry up for breakfast. Tell em, Stano sent yer.”
Samuel stretched out his hand and the youth simply knocked at it with the back of his knuckles.
”Thanks Stano.”
”No problem.”
With the dismissive comment he turned his attention back to the spliff his girlfriend had been holding out to him.
The hotel was small, old-fas.h.i.+oned and warm. It smelled of dust and cooking but it was clean. The middle-aged woman who opened the door had a friendly smile, a spare room and a nod when they mentioned Stano.
”Mates rates then for you.”
She grinned as she said it and they all acknowledged the emptiness of the statement. She pushed the register across the top of a small wooden counter positioned in the corner of the hallway.
Without a moment of hesitation Samuel signed them in as Mr and Mrs S Percy.
”'Ave you some i.d?”
”We lost some of our bags, is it going to be a problem?” Sylvie stood silent at his side, afraid to speak in case she spoilt the confident act.
”Well, normally I've to keep to the rules, but seein' as you know Stano. Again she grinned. ”Are yer payin' with a card? cos if yer are I need to take it now.”
”Cash okay?”
She nodded.
”Just one night?”
”I think so, if it changes is that okay?”
”'Course, let me know before twelve tha.s.s all. Double room, fifty for cash.”
She grinned at him as the tax man was denied his cut, Samuel winked at her, unzipped the bag top and bending low to block her view he slid out some notes handing them over in a crumpled bunch. She stroked at them, easing out the creases, a questioning look on her face.
”It's not hot this is it?”
”No, we haven't got cards, we had to go bankrupt, b.l.o.o.d.y bankers.”
The story was familiar and she accepted it with a nod.
”b.l.o.o.d.y bankers, soddin' government, sod the lot of em I say. Well, you guys 'ave a good sleep, breakfast from seven-thirty to nine-thirty and you 'ave the room till twelve, less you tell me otherwise. Okay.”
”Thanks.”
The key was attached to a large wooden fob painted with a number eight.
”Second floor, 'ave you just the one bag?”
”Yes, thanks, it's fine we can manage. Can we get a cup of tea.”
”Kettle and stuff in the room love. Do you want a sandwich or somethin'?”
Samuel glanced at Sylvie, she simply shook her head. Her mind was already full with thoughts of a hot shower, clean sheets and stretching out beside Samuel. It felt like years since they laid together in the little room in the Lake District.
Chapter 32.
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