Tales Of A WasteMan PART 5
Am I a wasteman, thought Marcus. He looked into Lewis’s face, into his dark and sinister eyes. His ever questioning, always probing eyes. Was there anything that those glossy eye’s missed? Could he lie to Lewis and pretend to be down with him? Pretend to be loyal and trustworthy.
“Naw, blood” said Marcus “I ain’t no wasteman”
“Yo” said Beez.
“What, ya got it?” said Lewis.
“One brick, famo”
How did he do that without turning the stereo on, thought Marcus.
“Naw, blood. I heard man moves two at a time” he looked back to Marcus “is that all of it?”
“Yeah” he lied “how was I supposed to know man’s are rollin around like James Bond, bout his hiding drugs behind screen”
Lewis peered deep into Marcus’s face. Marcus stared back, he blinked.
“Spread ya arm’s, blood” said Lewis, he pulled his gun out and stepped closer.
“What-“
“I said spread ya flippin arm’s, blood!”
Marcus sucked his teeth and reluctantly raised his arms. He looked away from Lewis and the car, over to where the oak tree stood, his stash hoarded amongst its roots.
Lewis went about padding him down, he found the black chrome nine.
“Easy, blood. Man’s got Pierson’s gat”
“What” said Beez “ya see famo, I told dat dis man’s hot. What kinda fool walks around wiv next man’s heat? Are you dumb?”
Marcus shrugged and said “I figured it’d be clean, or man would have dashed it” he shrugged again.
Lewis smiled, a glint almost appeared in his eyes. Marcus shivered.
“Man’s already thinkin wiv his balls, blood” said Lewis “But if that man thinks beyond his reach I’ll put his thoughts on the wall...along with his brains. Ya get me?”
Marcus nodded. Another ridiculous quote, he thought. Where on Earth was he getting them?
“Know ya place, and stay in it”
“Yo, fam lets move” said Beez, the large man wrapped his jacket around his neck “you Birmingham man’s love da cold too much man, its chappin”
“Alright, blood” Lewis sucked his teeth “chu, look how big you are and ya fraid of a little breeze”
“Dis ain’t no breeze, famo. Dis is some serious arctic conditions”
“About arctic conditions. Move out, blood” said Lewis. He looked to Marcus and smiled “Ya know me ennit?”
Stupid question, though Marcus. “What ya mean?”
“I mean ya know I’m crazy, blood. Completely off rocker”
At least he’s honest, though Marcus, “Yeah I know” he said “that’s why ya got me running around like chick, blood”
“To keep ya thinkin, keep ya mind ticking. Ya see I have to have people’s minds just ticking over, blood. Coz mine neva stops. And it makes me nervous when I know man’s minds aren’t ticking, blood. Ya know why?”
“No” said Marcus, he didn’t really care, it was starting to get cold. Yet here he stood, in the middle of Aston park being preached to by a fool.
“Coz if ya keep a man’s mind ticking, he has no time to think about the real stuff. Keep em confused and they flock at ya feet like geese for grain, blood”
Marcus nodded.
“This is how ya keep a man’s mind ticking” said Lewis “I want you to take back Pierson’s whip”
“What!”
“Just listen! Take it back and park it up. I don’t know how ya got man’s keys but park it up and leave it there, roll out” he removed a roll of fifty pound notes wrapped in cling film.
“Fifties, come on blood. I can’t roll around wiv fifties, aint ya got nothing smaller”
“What ya think this is a bank, go drop off man’s car. Come to Stacy’s flat tomorrow. We got something big to plan. If we do this, blood. We’ll be set, for life”
He reached out his fist. Lewis looked down at his bruised and ashy knuckles. Knuckles that had seen many fights, many battles. He reached forward and touched fists with Lewis. Now he was a made-man. He felt something almost leave his body, as if he had just sold his soul.
He squeezed the grand tightly in his hand, yet his palm felt empty, his whole body felt empty. Was it worth it?
He thought about going back to the tree and reclaiming his booty but then again, Lewis could be watching him from somewhere in the darkness.
He left it and drove the car back to Newtown. He pulled into the carpark and came to a stop outside the CountryFoods store. He looked around. It was empty, no sign of Pierson or Choc-Ice’s mangled body.
He got out and ran away as fast as possible. He reached the Newtown swimming baths. Two shady looking me were walking towards him. He gripped the chrome tucked in his jacket pocket. They passed him without a word, they seemed almost scared.
He pressed the button for the stop light and waited. A bus was coming down the road followed by a white van. The bus passed but the van stopped. The side door slid open.
Pierson leaned out pointing a gun at him. The faceless body of Choc-Ice at his feet.
“Get in!”
Marcus wanted to pull out but his body froze again.
“Oi wasteman, get in the van!”