10-Lb Penalty
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Joe smiled lopsidedly. ‘Wyvern said Usher Rudd had phoned him and told him.’ He stood up again.
My father said, ‘How did Wyvern think he would get away with it?’
Joe shrugged. ‘He did last time. In the commotion, he simply walked away. If it hadn’t been for the hotel manager, he quite likely would have done it again. But it was odd. He seemed just plain tired. There was no fight left in him. He could see he hadn’t managed to finish either of you, and he simply gave up. We had no trouble arresting him.’
‘And what are you charging him with?’ my father asked.
‘Attempted murder,’ Joe said.
I faintly smiled. ‘A 10-lb penalty.’
‘Ten years,’ Joe said.
The next Prime Minister held my hand.
I gripped his tight, as if he would give me comfort and security when I needed them badly.
I gripped his hand as if I’d been a little boy.