The Professionals Circuit Archive - A Different Drum A Different Drum by ET *Also for Teresa* We've taken off. Actually left the ground. An' they didn't get on the plane with me. Tailed me the whole way to the boarding gates, though. Would've stopped me if I'd had any more than hand luggage. So tired. Still ache from their last visit. Too clever for them. Bastards. Give 'em their due, though--tried their damnedest to get something to stick, and the times they couldn't they threw in a beating for good measure. No one to help, either. Never has been, probably never will be. No. Wrong. The old guy...don't dismiss him. Might've talked me into going back but 'e kept 'is word about the contacts. Wonder how he managed that--? Hope he put it all to good use. Never 'ave felt any patriotic loyalty. Knew I'd like England, though. Right from the sight of that porno mag Ray brought me-- Ray.... Wondered why he didn't take me to the Embassy. He always seemed to know what the old guy was up to--figured he must know and not care. Until those screeching tyres. Was too late then. God, how I needed last--What? Few short weeks together, never learnt more than a few sentences of English...an' 'is tries at German cracked me up. But I always seemed to understand him. Felt as if I was leaving him in some enormous hole, in some sort of danger. He was a bit of a maniac, I think. Reckless. Good at 'is job, though, from what little I saw. But 'e needed a keeper. An'...I've never known such loneliness in a man. Hung on the air around him just like his aftershave. Decadent, that. Think I'm gonna enjoy the comforts Britain's got on offer. Sleepy. Yeah.... First decent, relaxed kip ever.... ****** Oh, great. Thought England was a fair an' pleasant place in spring. 'Spissin' it down. Could do with a glass of water. That celebratory brandy's gone right to me belly an' head. Left me mouth like a cossack's crotch. Breathe fumes over whoever they've sent to pick me up. Who will--? Don't. More'n a year's gone by. Probably dead by now, killed by a dozen different bullets, the biggest being that spreading disillusion behind his screen of uncaring. 'S all right. There's no need to look over your shoulder any more. That's gone. Past. New life now. Excitin', innit.... Where the hell's Cowley? The hours I kick my heels round these dingy corridors-- interrogating, maybe? Take a look. Strewth, where's everyone gone? Nice to 'ave the place quiet again, though. They must've despatched the ruskies back to their Embassy. They'll be lucky if they don't get the firing squad. The reds don't like being embarrassed. 'Ang on. There's one left. 'S that kraut. Aah--all by 'imself, 'e is. Do 'im good. Reflect on 'is misdemeanours. ****** Well, 'e might not sprechen zee Engleesh, but that face can certainly talk. Never seen such expressive eyes. Nothin' in 'em except contempt--for me, this place, the food.... Until, that was, I brought him some magazines, an' he spotted the Mayfair. Homed in on it like yer typical, red-blooded, debauched Brit, 'e did. S'pose they don't 'ave things like that behind the curtain. Not as corrupt as us. Uh, I dunno, though.... He knows a few words of English. Heard me yell out my order for Lucas's trip to the hot dog van. He came to life then. Enjoyed eatin' it, too. He's got a sense of humour. Those two idiots, Lucas and Mack--fooling around with nothing to do--didn't need an interpreter to explain THAT joke to him. Roared, he did. 'Mazin' how different he looks now. The mean and moody look's gone and there's a spark of interest there now. Must be a patient bloke. Doesn't even know what's gonna happen to him. ****** I've enjoyed the last week. Money for old rope, playin' games with prisoners. Nah--guest detained at Her Majesty's--an' all that. He learnt Mastermind an' a few others. Picked 'em up so quick I reckon he's played before. Had a real kid's delight in winning, too--was a sparkle in those blue eyes, an' that daft grin-- Bin tryin' to teach him some English. He'd been got at, though. Surprised me with some very vulgar words. I blame McCabe, myself. 'S time I was given another assignment. More than time, actually. But I don't mind--I've enjoyed babysittin' our kraut. Learnt somethin' else today, too--he might hail from East Berlin, but he's Hungarian born. Conjures visions, that. Famous for their horses, gypsies, lovers.... Bet he's got plenty of frauleins back home. Something about that angled face...an' those funny eyebrows. 'S weird. In two short weeks I feel closer to him than any of the mob here. -- THE END -- Archive Home