The Silver Arrow

by Ian Todd

  “It’s no oor bloody fault!” Snappy hid snarled.

  Since finding oot aboot the precarious situation regarding Senga and that flatmate ae hers, Johnboy hid never felt such hurt, pain, anxiety and helplessness in aw his life. Oan the previous Sunday night, straight efter she’d left the jail visiting room, he hidnae hid much ae a chance tae talk tae the rest ae The Mankys. Usually they wid’ve hid a chance ae a good chin-wag at recreation between hauf six and nine o’clock, bit that Sunday hid been the monthly film night doon in the dining hall. He could’ve bloody-well murdered Silent efter he found oot that it wis the barbers in Dumfries who goat tae choose the monthly films fur the year oot ae a big film catalogue. The film oan show hid been Clint Eastwood’s ‘Play Misty Fur Me.’ Everything hid been gaun fine and dandy until the bit where Roberta Flack started singing ‘The First Time Ever Ah Saw Yer Face.’ Johnboy hid wanted tae throw up. That hid been the song that wis played at Kate Simpson’s funeral in St Teresa’s Chapel across in Possil immediately efter Mrs Simpson hid stood up and publicly condemned they ugly sons ae hers, in front ae everywan, fur being the cause ae her eighteen-year-auld daughter’s suicide. Tam and Toby Simpson, alang wae a few ae their other bears, hid badly beaten up her boyfriend, Joe McManus, efter finding him in bed wae Kate oan her eighteenth birthday, a year or so before the basturts hid eventually gone oan tae stab Joe tae death ootside The Princes Bingo Hall in Gourlay Street, Springburn. The song in question hid been a birthday present fae Joe tae Kate. Johnboy hid been wae Joe the day he’d bought the single oot ae Woolworths. Memories ae Kate Simpson’s funeral and Johnboy’s feelings ae helplessness efter no being able tae influence Joe tae stoap gaun oot wae her, which wid’ve saved the baith ae them in the end, hid totally overwhelmed him sitting there in the semi-darkness. He’d suddenly stood up and gone across tae The Tormentor, arguably the maist hated screw in Dumfries, who’d been staunin across at the exit tae the dining hall and asked tae be taken back tae his cell.

  “Why?” the stupid prick hid wanted tae know.

  “Because Ah’m gonnae throw up aw o’er the place if ye don’t, starting wae that nicely pressed uniform yer wearing, that’s why.”

  Efter being led back and locked up in his cell, he’d lain oan his lumpy horsehair mattress punishing and cursing himsel fur the rest ae the night fur no trying harder tae get Joe tae change his ways. If only…if only he’d put a bit mair effort in, then no only Joe, bit Kate Simpson hersel could’ve maybe still been alive. If only he’d persisted and ignored Joe telling him tae fuck aff every time he’d brought the touchy subject ae dumping the love ae Joe’s life, Kate Simpson, tae come back tae The Mankys where he belonged. If only pigs could fly. Wis he no jist kidding himsel oan? Could Johnboy…in fact, any ae The Mankys, hiv done mair? Whit if somewan didnae want tae change? Joe hid made it clear tae them aw that Kate Simpson wis worth dying fur.

  “She’ll end up getting ye killed, so she will,” Tony hid warned Joe.

  “Ach, well, better deid daeing whit Ah want, than walking aboot like a fucking dead zombie maist ae the time,” hid been wan ae Joe’s mair polite retorts.

  Despite being sentenced tae fourteen years…the longest prison sentence ever handed doon tae a young offender under the age ae twenty wan in Scotland, the thought ae turning his back oan The Mankys, the only family he’d ever really felt comfortable wae since he wis a wee snapper, wis a daunting prospect. Did he really want tae change efter he’d promised that he’d gie up a life ae crime tae spend the rest ae his life wae her or hid he jist telt Senga Jackson whit she’d really wanted tae hear in the heat ae the moment, tae keep her oan board tae allow The Mankys, in the form ae Simon Epstein, precious time tae try and save her and her flatmate’s lives fae the clutches ae Glesga’s number wan bogeyman, Wan-bob Broon?

  He’d started aff the week cursing himsel fur no demanding that Senga write tae him every day, despite knowing fine well that he wis being unreasonable. The agreed priority amongst The Mankys…that Senga and her flatmate wur no tae know that their lives wur in imminent danger…hid been made efter careful deliberation. Efter no receiving a letter by the Tuesday, he’d gone intae panic mode which hid consisted ae growling and snarling at everywan roond aboot him. He’d woken up in a sweat through the night, convinced that she’d been snatched, strangled and her body set oan fire in some lonely shallow grave oot in the country somewhere. He’d ended up pacing in his cell maist ae the night, like a caged animal, feeling totally helpless. Wance he’d received her letter oan the Wednesday, he’d settled doon a wee bit, before the feelings ae helplessness hid started tae creep back.

  “Look, Johnboy, ye’ve jist goat tae accept the situation as it is. You prowling aboot in here, like a bear wae a sore arse, isnae gonnae change anything. Simon said he’d keep tabs oan the situation and respond if he thought there wis any likelihood ae a threat,” Tony hid reassured him.

  “Ah’ve never felt anything like this before, Tony,” he’d replied miserably.

  “Aye, Ah know, bit don’t worry…trust me…we’ll get it aw sorted oot,” Tony hid assured him.

  Johnboy smiled as he started oan another bandolier. They wur a strange bunch, The Mankys. He supposed that included himsel. No matter whit they did…wance decisions hid been made, especially serious wans, nowan tended tae go back and talk aboot whit the issue at haun hid been. Before and during the decision-making…aye, bit wance a decision hid been taken, it wis done and dusted and carried oot withoot further debate. It hid always been like that, even when they wur snappers back in the Toonheid. Maist ae the time, Tony tended tae hing back, listen tae the chatter, throw in a few wee corkers tae ramp up the discussion and then, when maist ae the arguments hid been exhausted, he’d be straight in there, dishing oot tasks, making sure everywan knew whit wis expected ae them.

  It hidnae aw been gloom, doom and misery since Senga’s visit. Pat hid fallen oot wae Snappy efter Tony hid informed Pat that he wisnae the only partner in Papa Fraser’s wee jewellery shoap doon in West Nile Street and everywan hid pished themsels laughing.

  “Aye, it’s worse than Ah thought. Papa only owns aboot five percent, wae Wan-bob and Pat Molloy, The Big Man, hivving the rest,” Tony hid said, keeping his face straight.

  “Tell me ye’re hivving me oan, Tony?” poor Pat hid squealed, turning white.

  “Well, Ah’m sure Simon said eighty five…or wis it ninety five?” Tony hid mused oot loud, as everywan creased up.

  “Ur you serious?” Pat hid demanded. “Ah swear tae God, Ah’m gonnae bloody kill that auld leather-skinned, cheating cunt, if it’s the last thing Ah dae,” Pat hid whinged.

  “Aye, well, ye better talk tae the other senior partner first, Pat. Ye know whit that Wan-bob’s like if ye upset him,” Snappy hid chipped in, stirring it.

  That hid been two days earlier. Johnboy and Tony hid bet a week’s worth ae puddings oan who’d speak first.

  Oan the Monday night at rec, Johnboy hid filled Tony, Pat, Silent and Snappy in wae mair detail oan whit hid been said and agreed between him and Senga during the visit, including the bit aboot her finishing wae her current boyfriend, Dr Gory, and agreeing tae re-establish their friendship…relationship, efter the deathbed confession ae an auld gangster called Haufwit Murray hid confirmed Johnboy’s innocence. He hidnae telt them that hid been efter she’d extracted a commitment fae him tae gie up a life ae crime and tae turn his back oan The Mankys furever.

  “And she fell fur yer charm and wisdom, did she? Ah wonder how long it’ll last this time until she finds oot aboot aw the other stuff ye’ve lied tae her aboot,” Snappy hid quipped, smiling.

  “Ah wis fair impressed when Ah clocked the pair ae ye hivving a wee winch at the end ae the visit. Christ, ye even hid Paula convinced ye wur in love,” Pat hid said, laughing.

  “Look, if a job’s worth daeing right, then it his tae be done tae perfection. That’s the difference between youse plonkers and Johnboy here,” Tony hid come oot wae, acknowledging that he wis also impressed wae Johnbo
y’s persuasive performance.

  “Aye, bit tae get her tae dump that auld man ae a boyfriend ae hers in tae the bargain? Is that no a wee bit too thorough?” Snappy hid persisted. “Fuck, she’ll bloody well take an axe tae that heid ae yers when she finds oot ye wur jist daeing it fur her ain good,” Pat hid laughed, drawing a finger across his throat.

  “Look, we’re trying tae protect her. We need Senga tae focus aw her energies oan Johnboy, insteid ae fucking aboot wae her lover-boy, prancing aboot aw o’er the toon at night, being clocked by Wan-bob and Charlie Hastie’s boys. Sometime in the near future, we might hiv tae confront Wan-bob and inform him that Senga is Johnboy’s fiancé and that whitever he’s up tae, she’s oot ae bounds. And anyway, wance this is aw o’er wae, she kin always get hersel another doctor…Christ, her work is full ae them,” Tony hid said, shrugging they shoulders ae his.

  Wis Johnboy kidding himsel oan? Wis this really a deception tae try and save Senga Jackson’s life? Whit wid the reaction hiv been if he’d announced tae everywan that…wis it fuck…he actually did love her and wanted tae settle doon and spend the rest ae his miserable life wae her? And, as fur Silent? Where wis he in aw this? Whit wur his thoughts? Johnboy knew the reason he wis annoyed at Silent wisnae really because ae any Clint Eastwood film, although the music hid upset him. It wis the frustration. He’d been pals wae Silent since they wur ten years auld. Not wance in aw the years he’d known him, hid Silent stood up and telt Johnboy whit he really felt or thought aboot him. Aye, Silent hid always covered Johnboy’s back in times ae trouble and strife, bit when Johnboy hid really wanted tae speak tae somewan close, Silent’s World, as Snappy always referred tae Silent’s condition, hid become a convenient barrier. While the conversation wis being discussed aboot whit tae dae aboot Senga, Johnboy could feel Silent’s eyes oan him. Though silent, wis that brain ae his jist an empty shell? Johnboy jist wisnae that sure aboot that wan. He’d shared a flat and done time wae Silent. Johnboy knew there wur times when there wis a definite pattern tae Silent’s thought process…when it wis obvious…at least tae him…when Silent wis figuring oot whit wis gaun oan roond aboot him. He tried tae remember the last time Silent hid strung mair than two sentences thegither at the wan time. It hid been when they wur up in Longriggend eighteen months previously, jist efter they’d been sentenced, when Silent hid wondered how many people ye hid tae bump aff tae be labelled as a spree killer. It hid been during the Sunday service when Johnboy hid been planning tae attack Jimmy Baxter. Whit hid been the trigger tae start the conversation, he wondered frustratingly? Johnboy needed tae speak tae somewan…tae bounce his thoughts aff ae somewan…bit apart fae Silent, that person wisnae in amongst The Mankys. He wid’ve liked tae hiv shared his thoughts wae Tony, bit something deep inside ae him telt him that that widnae be such a good idea…at least no at this stage. Senga Jackson and her flatmate’s lives took priority o’er everything noo and Johnboy wis gonnae dae everything in his power tae ensure she survived…even if it meant stringing alang Jesus F Christ himsel. He looked aboot the sewing machine workshoap and wondered if he’d ever manage tae get oot ae Dumfries YOI alive.

  “Snappy, ya wee ugly arse-bandit, ye. Ah’m sorry aboot noising everywan up. Ye wur right, we’re aw in this thegither and it’s only by working thegither that we’ll be able tae keep oan tap ae the Senga situation,” he’d jist come oot wae, as Tony appeared through the door wae The Tormentor in tow.

  “Aye, well, don’t ye worry aboot a thing, Johnboy. Nowan will lay their hauns oan her noo…certainly no efter ye’ve gone and made the poor basturt dump that auld doctor boyfriend ae hers, ya selfish prick, ye. Aw Wan-bob’s bears will be too busy feeling sorry fur her,” Snappy said subtly, focusing oan sewing up his MOD bandolier, as Johnboy smiled.

  “Good evening. My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.

  At least four people are believed killed and more than 60 injured after two bombs went off in The Horse and Groom and The Seven Stars pubs in Guilford, Surrey. All pubs and cinemas in the town have been closed, fearing further explosions. Surrey Ambulance Services are said to be stretched as…

  A policeman has been suspended after a man was found hanged in a cell in Possilpark Police Station this morning. Despite strenuous efforts to revive the unnamed prisoner, he was found to be dead on arrival at Stobhill General Hospital. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal…

  The Light of Morocco Restaurant in Woodside Road was closed down today and the proprietors arrested after fifteen customers turned up throughout the night at various hospitals across the city, complaining of cramps and suffering from acute diarrhoea. Sanitation Officers, led by Elvis Presley, the recently promoted Senior Sanitation Officer for the North of the city, were seen to be bagging and taking away the contents of the restaurants fridges and freezers…

  Police are clamping down on the city’s prostitutes in and around Blythswood Square and Anderston after complaints from female hotel staff working in the area of being accosted by male drivers looking for sex…

  Fire engines were in full readiness this afternoon at Glasgow Airport after a Spanish-run passenger plane made an emergency landing when the pilot smelled burning in the cockpit. All passenger and crews landed safely…

  And still at Glasgow Airport, two stray dogs that wandered onto the runway this morning were shot after dog inspectors failed to capture them. All passenger flights were delayed by two hours…”

  Chapter Eight

  “Ah still think ye should let me dae the talking,” Ben McCalumn murmured, peering through the steamed-up windscreen ae the freshly stolen, wan point six, green Ford Capri Mark Two, towards The Kind Man pub oan Pollokshaws Road as the passenger plapped that arse ae his doon oan tae the passenger seat.

  “We cannae sit here. Heid roond tae Alison Street and see if ye kin park up wan ae the side streets there,” Jake McAlpine instructed, deliberately ignoring the whinge, as he wound doon the windae at his side ae the car a few inches.

  “Ah take it he’s there then?”

  “He’s in the lounge, sitting oan his lonesome like some sad spare prick.”

  “There’s a surprise.”

  “Noo remember, Ben, Ah’m the wan that’ll be daeing aw the talking. Aw you hiv tae dae is sit there looking dark and mean, saying sweet F.A. We don’t want tae cause a commotion.”

  “So, ye’re saying Ah’d fuck it up…is that it?”

  “Naw, Ah’m the man that Simon delegated tae be in charge. Your job is tae sit there and keep that gub ae yers shut…unless anywan interrupts the proceedings, that is.”

  “So, Ah’m the dafty…the muscle? Whit wis the point ae me being here, eh?”

  “Ben, kin you put a bloody sock in it. If this aw goes pear-shaped, it’ll be doon tae aw that fucking whinging Ah’m hivving tae be subjected tae. If ye’ve goat a problem, take it up wae Simon.”

  “That prick? Who left him in charge anyway, eh?”

  “Tony.”

  “Jake, shut the fuck up, will ye? Who asked you fur yer opinion,” Ben girned, as the baith ae them exited either side ae the Capri at the same time.

  Happy Harry, Glesga’s longest serving desk sergeant wis deep in thought, focused oan wan particular bubble that wis competing wae its wee pals tae see who could reach the surface ae his pint ae Tennents first. He’d been nursing his pint fur nearly hauf an hour noo, due tae being skint wae aw the debt he wis hivving tae pay aff. Six months tae go and he’d be oot oan that fat arse ae his. Twenty two years ae ducking and diving, avoiding getting they size twelves ae his wet oan the vomit-covered manky pavements…and noo he wis nearly there. He knew aw the boys in the station took the piss, bit apart fae the odd black eye, staved knuckle, where his right hook hid landed oan a foreheid insteid ae a nose and the odd broken tooth, he’d survived relatively intact. He wondered if his survival record wid get a mention at his farewell piss-up at the polis social club in Bishopbriggs? If the truth be telt, he didnae want tae retire, bit he didn
ae hiv any choice. Rules wur rules and where wid everywan be if they wurnae there tae be observed? He wondered where the time hid gone. Efter being demobbed, he’d gone fur a job in the pits. It wis the only job, apart fae being a pavement pounder, that a hoose came attached tae it. He’d applied fur the two and hid been selected fur baith. Efter discovering that he suffered fae claustrophobia during his initial training in the mines, he’d contacted Glesga Polis and telt them he wid accept the job if it wis still oan offer. If only he’d been able tae keep that job oot in Midlothian he widnae hiv come back tae Glesga and met that wife ae his. Who could’ve known that Stella wid’ve turned oot tae be a vindictive hypochondriac, who’d gambled aw their measly savings oan the horses, while he wis oot slaving in aw weathers, day and night, in preparation fur his retirement? It hid only been fairly recently that he’d managed tae get o’er the initial guilt he’d felt efter she’d died ae cervical cancer, when his good Austin Princess…his pride and joy…hid been carted aff tae pay aff the remaining ootstaunin debt tae wan ae The McGregors’ bookies across in Govan. Tae add insult tae injury, the last horse she’d put money oan and lost the last twenty quid ae his life’s savings oan, hid been called ‘Hivving A Fine Time.’ Ah bloody bet she wis, he cursed under his breath bitterly. The wee planned caravan that hid kept him gaun o’er the years, doon at the Heids ae Ayr Caravan Park, a quarter ae a mile alang the road fae Butlins, wis noo only a figment ae his twenty-two-years-ae-service imagination. Granted they hidnae hid sex fur the past seventeen years, bit that wisnae an excuse tae go and bloody ruin his retirement plans, wis it? At the end ae her funeral, a wee weedy jakey type hid accosted him and tried tae hit him fur a few bob tae go and get himsel his next bottle ae cheap wine, efter informing him that his ma, Happy’s wife, Stella, hid informed him before she’d died that Happy wid gladly take care ae him if anything ever happened tae her.