Plague
Page 3
“I can work, sir! You’ll be pleased with me, I promise!”
The man smiled. “Good. Then it is agreed. What is your name, boy?”
“Sam Maylam, sir.”
“And I am Paul Giraud. I’m a jeweller and have my workshop here. This is my wife, and my daughter, Thérèse. Also you saw my son, André, and the little girls.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Sam again and again.
He felt a huge sense of relief and gratitude. But he also felt anxious about André, the man’s son. He knew that, as a servant, he would be under André’s control, and he was sure the French boy would find ways of taking revenge. But the thought of being looked after, and fed, and of sleeping indoors overcame his fears. No longer would he have to beg or steal. And the food here was excellent.
“You must wash, Sam,” said Mistress Giraud, interrupting his thoughts. “And I will find clean clothes…”
“Wait!” cried Sam.
He’d forgotten all about Budge!
“My dog…” he began, his voice shaking.
They all looked at Budge, who edged away from the cat and wagged his tail.
Husband and wife exchanged glances. Master Giraud raised his eyebrows in enquiry. Mistress Giraud shrugged her shoulders.
“He can stay,” said Sam’s new master. And he smiled.
* * *
“You!” André glared at Sam. “You dare to come here…”
They were in the back yard, where Sam had washed first himself and then Budge, and was now drying the dog with an old cloth. Sam stood up. This was just what he had feared.
He knew he was in the wrong. He’d been cruel to this boy, mocking his lameness. He felt sorry, but it came out badly as he tried to excuse himself. “It was just a game – a laugh,” he said.
“A laugh?” yelled André.
Budge was looking from one to the other of them, wagging his tail uncertainly. André patted him. “Pity we can’t just keep the dog,” he said.
“Well, you can’t! He’s mine!” Sam felt a sudden fear of losing everything. “Have you told your father what I did?”
“I don’t tell tales,” said André scornfully. “But remember: I belong here and you are just a pauper my mother felt sorry for. Any trouble from you, and they’ll throw you out on the streets.”
He turned his back on Sam and went indoors.
Sam couldn’t blame André. He put his arms around Budge and the dog licked him.
“I must work hard and please Master and Mistress Giraud,” he said. “We have a new home here, Budge. A new chance to make a life for ourselves. And we’ll stay together, no matter what.”
Copyright © 2013 A & C Black
This electronic edition published in April 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing
Text copyright © 2013 Ann Turnbull
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Akbar Ali
First published 2013 by A & C Black
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The rights of Ann Turnbull and Akbar Ali to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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eISBN 978-1-4081-8817-0 (e-book)
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