Julius and the Watchmaker by Tim Hehir Read Free Book Online Page B

even with the rag so he tossed it from hand to hand as he returned to the table and then he threw it onto Springheel’s plate. He repeated the process for himself and for Julius, and then took a large frying pan from the hot plate and slid three greasy kippers out onto their plates. Clements flopped into his chair and smacked his lips.
    â€˜Kippers again?’ said Springheel. Then he sniffed. ‘Actually, this whole place smells of fish.’
    Julius dug in. Kippers were fine by him. After a few moments Springheel repeated himself.
    â€˜I said, this place pongs of fish.’
    â€˜I know, I heard you. It’s Higgins’s boots. Don’t worry, I’ve cleaned the worst of it off,’ replied Clements with mouthful of potato and butter. ‘And kippers is all we can afford at the moment. If you could start to make some money we might be able to have some boiled beef once in a while. When are you actually going to do something with those watch-making books?’ said Clements, pieces of kipper spraying from his mouth.
    In what seemed like a practised motion Springheel covered his plate with his hands and glared at his companion. Clements shrank back into this seat and chewed his mouthful, brooding.
    Springheel picked up his knife and fork and poked his potato. ‘Well, for your information, my corpulent companion, I have been very busy today reading that diary, with a magnifying glass, I might add. And I can confirm that our pocketwatch is indeed the very device Harrison describes in the diary,’ he said.
    â€˜I knew it. So what does it say?’
    â€˜It’s highly technical,’ said Springheel.
    Clements shoved a forkful of potato into his mouth. ‘You said we’d be as rich as kings once you had the diary. Well, you’ve got it now so—’
    â€˜Perhaps you could stop eating while you are taking, Clements.’
    There was silence for a time, except for the sounds of food being chewed and swallowed. Then Springheel dabbed the corners of his mouth with his handkerchief and took his pocketwatch from his waistcoat.
    â€˜Would you care for a demonstration, Clements? Would that put your mind at rest?’
    Clements ignored him, not that Springheel noticed. He held the watch over the supper table by his fingertips and spun it around, just as Julius had seen the professor do. Julius stopped chewing. When Springheel removed his hand, the watch remained spinning and bobbing in the air. Julius’s eyes widened and his kipper-filled mouth fell open .
    Everyone’s got one of these watches.
    Clements was too busy eating to notice until Springheel coughed to attract his attention. He glanced up and saw the watch bobbing in the air an arm’s length away. He cried out in joy, and potato sprayed across the table.
    â€˜You’ve done it, Springheel. You’ve done it. I knew you would. We will be as rich as kings.’
    â€˜Richer,’ said Springheel.
    â€˜Yes, richer,’ said Clements, his face shining like polished brass.
    On the other side of the curtain the shop bell tinkled. ‘Shop, Clements,’ snapped Springheel.
    â€˜Higgins, you see to it,’ said Clements, not taking his eyes from the watch.
    Reluctantly, Julius rose from the table. ‘What do I do?’ he asked.
    â€˜You work in a bookshop don’t you, Julius?’ said Springheel, as he snatched the watch from the air. ‘It works in the same manner only the money goes in the opposite direction.’
    Julius sighed and went into the shop. It was cold and dimly lit by a single candle on the counter. The first thing he noticed was the strange smell of rotting fish mingled with boot polish. Then he saw the silhouette of a tall, broad-shouldered figure wearing a top hat. He appeared to be examining an old squeeze box. Julius swallowed hard and pulled his jacket straight. Oh cripes, the Irish bruiser has found you, Higgins. The floorboards creaked as the stranger