Cat's Cradle by Julia Golding Read Free Book Online Page B

jumped out of bed and ran to the window. In the street stood seven men, none of whom appeared to be in a good humour. It was still too dark to see them well, but my imagination supplied the blackened eyes and bruised ribs. Behind me, Bridgit had tumbled out of the blankets and was rapidly dressing. There was a whistle further up the street and Syd and the boys appeared at the corner.
    â€˜Oh, no!’ I groaned.
    Mr Fletcher opened the window next to us and shouted, ‘Get away from ’ere, you Irish devils. She’ll come ’ome in the mornin’ like decent folk do.’
    â€˜What have you done with my sister?’ roared the biggest of the bunch.
    Mrs Fletcher decided to add her tuppenny worth. ‘She’s sleepin’, so scat!’ There was a splash as she upended the contents of a basin of water over them – at least I hope it was water.
    Bridgit’s brothers did not appreciate being dismissed like a pack of stray dogs. Enraged by their dousing, the thumping on the door became more violent. Syd and his gang were running now, rushing to the defence of their territory.
    And it had seemed such a good idea to offer Bridgit shelter.
    My new friend was having similar misgivings. ‘I’d better go. Thank you for everything, Cat.’ She started out of the door but I caught the back of her skirt.
    â€˜Wait a moment. Oh, this is all my fault! Look, I’ll explain to your brothers and Syd that I invited you in.’ I tugged an old round over my nightdress.
    As we rushed to the shop door, we could see silhouettes of people grappling with each otheroutside and hear the grunts of yet another fight. You would have thought they’d had their fill of that tonight. I threw the door open and Bridgit dashed into the fray.
    â€˜Stop! Corny, Ody, Christy, you stop it this minute, you hear me!’
    The O’Rileys were outnumbered, backed up against the wall by the Butcher’s Boys. Syd had the big one caught in a headlock.
    â€˜Syd, let him go now,’ I called out. ‘They’re not attacking the shop – they just came for their sister.’
    Syd released his captive and pushed him towards his brothers. His blood was up: his normally friendly face looked positively menacing as he wiped away the sweat of battle. ‘What’s she doin’ ’ere?’
    Poor Bridgit stood wringing her hands, separated from her brothers by the ranks of the Butcher’s Boys. She was staring at Syd, clearly terrified of him. I suppose he did look a mite formidable in his fighting mood; I tend to forget how he would appear to a stranger.
    I moved between them. ‘She’s taking refugewith me after a bunch of buffle-headed trouble-makers ruined her evening,’ I replied tartly. ‘Stop scaring the girl, Syd.’
    Syd took a step back and relaxed his fists, taking a deep breath to regain control over his racing pulse. He then smiled at Bridgit with just a touch too much teeth to be completely reassuring. ‘Don’t worry, darlin’, I wouldn’t dare be buffle’eaded round Cat. I’m terrified of ’er, I am.’
    Bridgit gave him a wondering look, perplexed as to how the towering giant could claim to be afraid of a red-haired girl of so few inches.
    â€˜But she seems so sweet to me,’ she said wonderingly, not quite sure if he was joking, but concluding he probably was.
    â€˜No, no, you’ve got ’er all wrong,’ Syd continued, enjoying his make-believe. He put his fists on his hips, rocking on the balls of his feet, still ready to fight if called on. ‘Cat’s a real tiger – keeps us boys in line, she does.’
    The Butcher’s Boys echoed this sentiment with a chorus of agreement mixed with laughter. I realized that Syd was trying to turn this dangerousconfrontation into a bit of harmless pantomime. I knew my role.
    â€˜That’s right, they quiver in their boots when they see me coming,’ I