Aggy and the Dinos

Chapter 24

It was a week before the King sent for them again. Aggy spent the time mooching around with Geezer, smoking too much and being kind to John too little; even the love they made was harsh and angry. The air bore the first chill of autumn. One day, as she walked down a road opposite the Broadway, a woman came up to her, holding a Tescos Bag for Life, stuffed to the brim with clothes; a heavy, dark green jumper, a gilet from Target, a floppy but stylish hat, which the woman had made herself, a pair of fingerless gloves, and a thermal vest, still in its packaging.

"For the winter," said the woman.

"You can't give these to me," Aggy replied. "I haven't done anything to deserve them."

"Yes, you have. You don't know us but we know you. You fight for us, and you make sure that the King does it right. You're our voice in there." she pointed to the Broadway.

"Enjoy the clothes," Then she went back into the workshop, which used to be a Ladbrokes, where she divvied out clothing supplies. There was no doubt that Aggy had been given a choice selection. She scooped up Geezer and gave him a kiss, which he hated, and, feeling lighter than she had in a week, went home.

John was sitting at the dining room table, drinking tea and writing in his journal, a habit that he'd picked up since they'd moved into the flat. The journal had been by the bed – high quality plain paper bound in brown leather. Aggy had made a joke that he could carry on writing the history books, a task that Dean had begun, and so he had, He was writing about Dean, trying to find some justification for why their mission that day had been so important, when Aggy came through the door. Geezer came up to him and mmade his little snuffling noise that translated roughly as 'whatcha,' but she stayed at the door, wringing her hands.

"I met someone today, and she told me just one tiny thing about myself, but it made me realise how lost I've been since Dean...I've been bad to you, John, and unkind, and you're so wonderful and tolerant and brave and all those good things that I kind of don't deserve because I'm a self-absorbed, myopic wanker, so I just wanted to say thank you, and I love you."

John put down his pen and beckoned her over, and would have swept her into the kiss of the century if Blackwood hadn't knocked on the door to summon them to court.

There were no women in the chamber, but Aggy could hear them giggling and laughing from the other side of the partition, which was made from some flattened cardboard boxes, a snooker table (what a waste, thought Aggy) and two halves of an old billboard. The lack of scantily clad tottie – the women of this court were not even required to appear chaste – meant that they were about to discuss some serious business. John bowed, because that's the kind of man that was, whereas Aggy touched her forefinger to her hat in a hint of a salute, but kept looking the King squarely in the eye. She had warmed to him briefly after he declared the day of Dean's death as a national holiday, but he couldn't throw him very far.

"We have a problem," said the King, gesturing them over to a large table, on which there was a map of sorts. It was detailed, and well executed, but it showed only the streets ruled over by the King. Anything outside of his domain was labelled in grey; these maps were produced often, and quickly, as the King's territory was expanding rapidly, which meant a constant stream of new subjects filing into the bus station – court – to swear loyalty to the King. There were more knights now as well, all bright young men who knew which way the wind was blowing, and an ever growing number of young women happy to sit around in a converted bus stop not wearing many clothes, which had turned the already hostile environment between the 'ladies' of the court into perfumed, preened and pampered warfare. The King had his favourite, whom he referred to as his wife – but not his queen, it must be noted – which presumably made the rest of them a weekend hobby. Sometimes one would disappear, only to be replaced by something fresher faced – once Aggy had caught up with one of the cast-off, who had secured a position in catering, and thought that the woman looked distinctly relieved. Probably because she now got to wear more clothes.