Unhooking the Moon (27 page)

‘Here,' she said stopping at a door. ‘We'll have to break it in.'

I pushed the crowbar into the door and we both pushed. But nothing happened. ‘Move,' I said. I went back and, running at the door, I gave it one hard kick. It never opened, but it cracked around the lock. Sliding the crowbar into the crack I pushed. There was a crunching sound and the lock sprang off.

‘My brother the burglar!' said the Rat. Then she ran in the room.

It was dark inside. I could hardly see anything. But I could hear her speaking softly: ‘Ice is here. He'll protect you now.'

I knew Tommy was on the landing and Ice was
downstairs, but I still felt shaky. ‘Come on, we have to go!'

When she came out she had her arm around a small frizzy-haired black girl. ‘This is my brother Bob. He'll protect you as well.'

The girl cringed as she looked up at me, as though wondering whether to trust me. And so I smiled at her and she sort of smiled back.

Tommy came towards us. ‘There she is! Marie Claire DeBillier!'

‘It's OK, Felicia. He's with us,' said the Rat. ‘Hey, Tommy!'

‘Come on, kid. You can't dawdle on a jail break, let's go!'

We walked back down the corridor and went down the stairs. Ice had gathered Mr Joshua and the rest of them in front of the reception. They stared up at us as we came down the stairs. Ice still had them covered with his Berettas but when Felicia saw them she froze.

‘Don't look at them. It'll be OK,' said the Rat. And we carried on.

When Ice saw the Rat he looked relieved. ‘You OK, Marie Claire?'

‘Sure, Ice. Thanks for coming.'

‘Who's this?' asked Ice. And trying to hide his guns he knelt in front of Felicia. But she wouldn't look at him. She only looked at the floor.

‘This is Felicia, but she's not speaking because he hurt her!' shouted the Rat and pointed at Mr Joshua.

Sweat was pouring down Mr Joshua's face. He looked around like he wanted to run. Then he looked pleadingly into the Common Room.

Ice's face darkened. He never took his eyes off Mr Joshua as he rose to his feet.

The woman started to cry, but no tears came from her eyes. ‘I swear I had nothing to do with it. You have to believe me!'

‘You liar!' said the Rat and ran at her.

Me and Joey restrained the Rat while Ice raised his Berettas. ‘Bob, get your sister out of here. And take these kids with you!'

There was something sinister in Ice's voice. And in the way he glared at the four people he held at gunpoint. It was like he wanted a fight.

‘Come on, Ice. Let's go,' said Tommy. ‘I don't trust these reptiles.'

‘Leave it, Ice!' I said. It was an evil place. I didn't want to leave him there. But Ice gave us a look as cold as death.

‘Leave!' he said. And when Death told us to go, we went.

When I released the Rat she was seething. ‘Goddamn paedophiles!' she said.

And, putting her arm around Felicia, she walked her outside.

‘Come on, kids!' said Tommy gathering the kids around him. ‘We'll take you somewhere safe.'

I wanted to warn Ice again about the creep in the dark. But I knew he wouldn't listen. And so taking some of the kids by the hand I followed Tommy outside.

The lights from the home faded as we passed Ice's wrecked Range Rover. And so we moved in the moonlight like a silent herd. The only sound was our clothes swishing and our shoes tapping against the tarmac. But I was relieved now that we'd rescued the Rat. And I felt good about freeing the kids. ‘Come on, kids. Everything's gonna be OK.'

As soon as I said it I felt uplifted. Everything really was going to be OK. But then a gunshot cracked the silence.

Some of the kids started to cry. Others took it to be a starting pistol. They dropped their suitcases and sprinted down the drive. I looked at the Rat.
She looked at me. Tommy turned to me. He went to say something. But a horrific scream came from the home. Then there was a lot of shouting.

‘Kill him!' someone shouted.

Then gunfire erupted like you wouldn't believe! Bright flashes lit up the doorways and windows, while the ground seemed to tremble with the noise. ‘Run!' shouted Tommy.

I grabbed the Rat and Felicia and we ran for the gate. Next thing I know, Joey was tearing past us. Ignoring the driveway, he ran on the lawn.

‘Get to the car!' he shouted, his voice echoing around the grounds.

As we went through the gate, the kids scattered in different directions. Some of them ran into a small park but most of them disappeared down a side street. I looked over my shoulder. Tommy was gritting his teeth and straining with the pain. But he wasn't far behind. Up ahead the lights of the car came on. Joey opened the door. I jumped in the back with the Rat.

Tommy staggered towards us. ‘What happened?'

‘Ice got shot and he went down!' said Joey.

‘Ice!' said Felicia, and ran back to the home.

‘No!' shouted Tommy. He slammed the car door. ‘Get Marie Claire out of here!'

‘Tommy!' shouted the Rat, and tried to follow. I grabbed hold of her to stop her from getting out the car.

‘No!' screamed the Rat as the car screeched away.

And all the time we could hear gunfire coming from the home. They must have had Ice surrounded.

The home faded behind us. I fought to keep hold of the Rat. There was no way she was going back there. No way!

Boy was I exhausted. I wished I could have slept more. I put on my jeans and T-shirt and stepped outside with the last night's mayhem running through my mind. And then I saw the Rat, or the silhouette of the Rat, playing soccer in a hazy sun. I sat heavily in a chair and squinted at the river. How could she play soccer after what had happened last night? She went to kick the ball but she missed. And it was so close, too. Then she stood back and tried again, but she fell on her butt.

I shielded my eyes. ‘Are you OK?'

Slowly she turned her head towards the trailer. She was saying something but I couldn't hear what it was. I stood up and walked towards her. She was straining to speak but no words came out.

I ran towards her. ‘What is it?' I helped her to her feet.

She gagged a little and then she spluttered it out. ‘Nothing. I'm OK.'

I put my arm through hers and walked her back to the trailer. ‘You look so pale!'

She looked up at me. ‘You don't look so good yourself, Bob.'

She smiled, but she held my arm like she was holding on to life itself. I sat her in the sunshine and sat close by. She was a bit dazed and her eyes were slightly out of focus, but that wasn't what worried me. She looked straight ahead in such a strange way. It was like she was watching something. All of a sudden I felt frightened. ‘What's wrong with you?'

As close as I was, she had to look around to find me.

She laughed. ‘There's nothing … wrong with me … Bab.'

But she spoke so slowly and she slurred her words like a drunk. ‘You're freaking me out!' I shouted. ‘You better pack it in!'

Startled, she sat up and fought to re-focus. ‘I'm OK, Bob, relax!' Then she rubbed the side of her head soothingly.

I felt bad then. ‘Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. I was just worried.'

I heard the car before I saw it. Then Joey jumped out, holding up a stack of newspapers. ‘Ice, he's not dead!' he shouted, and gave me half the stack. ‘He was hit three times but he's still alive!'

The Rat jumped up. ‘I told you he was an angel! Isn't that what I said? I knew he wasn't dead, not really! You can't kill an angel! It's impossible! They're protected by the Great Spirit!'

‘Don't excite yourself!' I told her. ‘You're not well!'

But she wouldn't listen. She looked up at the sky and, extending her arms, she spun as fast as she could. ‘I can see the whole universe! And … and I can see … I can see …' But then she hit the ground hard.

‘You OK, MC?' asked Joey.

She sat up on her butt. ‘Shewer, Joe.'

Joey laughed. But I was so angry. ‘I've got no sympathy for you! I told you not to overdo it.' I gave her a look that told her to pack it in. Then, taking a seat, I turned my attention to the papers. I could hardly believe what had happened last night. And what was more bewildering was reading about it.

‘What about Tommy?' I asked.

Joey pulled up a chair. ‘He got stabbed! How he managed to get stabbed in that gunfight I'll never know. But he's still alive. Listen to this: “Blood Bath
At Children's Home. The story coming out of the Don Children's Home is one of abuse. Allegedly, the latest star of rap, the Iceman, who shot to fame with the release of his first CD
The Iceman Cometh
, arrived at the home to rescue his goddaughter. We can only speculate at what sparked it off, but a horrific gun battle followed. One employee from the home is dead. Two are seriously injured. The Iceman himself was shot three times.”'

I was so relieved that Ice and Tommy were going to be OK. And that being the case I felt boosted having been involved in a front-page story. Because, in many ways, it was our story: mine and the Rat's. I took the
Post
from the stack.

‘The
Post
says his wounds are not fatal,' I said. ‘And he's expected to make a full recovery. And it says, “The police are still looking for a girl by the name of Marie Claire DeBillier. Unconfirmed reports say she organized the breakout, telling the other children to be ready, that the Iceman was on his way.”' I expected the Rat to be buzzing, but she didn't say anything.

‘Listen to this,' said Joey. ‘The FBI have taken over the case. All the staff from the Don Children's Home are being questioned over the disappearance of three
girls who went missing last summer. Originally it was thought that they had run away. But now they are treating the case as suspicious… . Goddamn paedophiles! I should have picked up a gun and – '

Then I saw my name. ‘“Police are also looking for a Robert DeBillier who is allegedly the brother of the missing girl.” How could they find out so soon?'

‘Are you kidding?' said Joey. ‘I flicked through the channels in a diner this morning. It was on every single channel. And you should have seen the footage. The street outside that home looked like a police car park.'

‘They'll see it in Winnipeg. My phone!' I searched my pockets but it wasn't there. ‘I must have dropped it when we were running away.'

‘Now you know how they know,' said Joey. ‘If the FBI are involved they'll have traced it back to you. And listen to this: “Ice was accompanied by a man of Italian origin. He was stabbed several times in the affray while allegedly saving a girl from being kidnapped.”

‘You think that was Felicia?' I asked. But the Rat never answered.

‘It is also rumoured that he is the Iceman's bodyguard. I wonder where they got that from? But he did
more than I did, that's for sure!' said Joey scanning the papers. ‘That's why there's no mention of me. God, I wish I would have done more!'

‘What happened back there?' I asked. ‘Ice had everything under control when we left.'

‘Oh man! That woman went to stab Ice and he shot her. Then someone shot at Ice from the top of the stairs. Then that big guy in the dark started blazing away. I can still see the flashes from the gunfire lighting up his face. But you should have seen Ice. He never took a step back. Not even when he was reloading.'

When I looked at the Rat she was still sitting on the ground. ‘You're lucky Tommy and Joey were here. I never would have found that place by myself.'

She tried to smile, but her mouth twisted. She looked so strange.

‘Way're heroes, brader. Way safed all de liddle kids.'

Joey put the paper down. ‘You OK, MC?'

‘Stop talking like that!' I said.

‘I – I can't halp et, Bab!'

I knew then that the thing that had plagued her all these years had finally come for her.

‘Dant lave may, Bab! I nade yo now!'

Standing slowly, I knelt in front of her. ‘You never
have to worry about me leaving you, Marie Claire! Because you're my sister and I love you very much!' I put my arms around her.

I could feel her tears on my face. ‘Me brader luvs me! Me luvs hem!'

‘Are you in pain?'

She shook her head. ‘Tiyerd need slip.'

I picked her up and, holding her in my arms, I carried her into the trailer. Joey helped me. We laid her on the bed and wrapped some blankets around her. I put a chair next to the bed and took her hand. ‘I'll sit here with you until you fall asleep,' I said, my voice breaking up. ‘And when you wake, I'll take you to see a doctor!' She tried to speak but I shushed her. ‘Don't worry. I'll find a nice doctor, someone you'll like!'

The Old Man once told me: ‘The day may come, Bob, when she deteriorates.' I had dreaded that day would ever come. But when I thought about it there was always me and him at the hospital. I never thought I would be by myself.

When her eyes closed I begged God for it to be a bad dream. I wasn't even sure I believed in God but I begged anyway.

As she slept, I sat there thinking about all the crazy
things that had happened since we were little kids: like the time she'd nearly drowned in the Red River and I'd saved her. Or when I'd broken my foot and she'd ridden for help. We had always been there for each other. But now I felt powerless to help her.

I went outside. Joey put out his cigarette and stood up. ‘How often does she get like that, Bob?'

I wiped my eyes. ‘She's never had trouble speaking before. When she wakes up, I'm gonna take her to a hospital. But I'm not sure they'll be able to help her.'

Joey held out a newspaper. ‘Maybe you can take her to your Uncle Jerome.'