The Artful Dodger

Chapter 17

Another day dawned in the grimy city of London. The weather was still warm but not exceptionally; the sun was not bright enough to wake the boys immediately. In fact, they would have had a lie in, had the door of the den not been flung open early and a huge man had not stamped in.

"Fagin. Wake up, lazy bugger. Where's the girl?"

Fagin, awakening at the yell, stepped out of his little cubicle rubbing his eyes and scratching his straggly ginger beard. He looked blearily at the man then recognised him.

"Rose, come 'ere. Come an' talk to Sikes." said Fagin tiredly.

Rose sat up quickly behind her curtain, having heard the word Sikes. This was the man who had murdered her father! Why did he want to talk to her? Dodger's breath also hitched in horror. What did Bill want with her? It could not be anything good.

"Come 'ere, pretty girl." said Sikes as she started to approach him nervously. She did not like the look of his lopsided grin.

"Yes, sir?"

"Where's this flat? I'm helpin' you clear it out." said Bill, getting to the point.

Rose shook her head. She could not let this man sort her belongings! He was a killer and a notorious criminal. Therefore, she refused politely.

"Where is it?" he said again, his lecherous grin starting to disappear at her disobedience.

"I'll do it myself, sir, thank you!"

Bill came closer to her threateningly and hissed "Where is it?" one last time. When she again insisted that she would sort the flat herself, he lifted a huge fist and hit her square in the jaw, sending her backwards. Rose crashed into the bed behind and lay, dazed for a few seconds before Bill leaned up to her face again and repeated his question.

"It's number 13... Dinsdale Road." she finally breathed, defeated. She sat; the pain of the blow finally got to her. The boys stood around, eyes wide and fixed on Bill in horror. Bill noticed their looks of disgust.

"Girls ought'a learn their place young... but you're a good girl, Rose. Right pretty, obedient... you'll be a good Nancy one day, sweetie." Bill leered, winked nastily then leaned back, pleased with himself. He nodded to Fagin. Then he put his hat on, and clicked at Bulls-Eye to follow him out of the door.

As soon as he left, the boys rushed to her. Dodger took her head in his hands and inspected the swelling around her jaw.

"Fagin, she can't go out today! Why did Bill 'ave to 'urt her?" he said, as the boys around him nodded indignantly.

"She's fine. She'll 'ave ter toughen up in future... an' behave herself. Dodger, don't yer encourage her! Davy, you as well. I 'eard that yer seein' Georgina again. You make sure you don't let her get above herself."

All the boys looked at Fagin, disgusted with his words.

"What's the damned difference between us an' her?" asked Dodger, pulling Rose to her feet and holding her upright.

"Yeah! You'd never let him do that to one of us!" said Charley indignantly.

"Get out, boys. Yes, you as well, Rose." said Fagin, not answering the boys.

All the way to the market, the boys fumed. None of them could understand why Rose was seen as less able and disposable compared to them. They each made up their minds not to treat any women in the same way as Sikes had earlier. They all looked at Rose nervously. Each time, her jaw seemed to have swollen even more. Oliver, Charley and Paul finally broke away from the group to go to the flower market where the pretty gangs of girls sold their posies, while Davy, the Artful Dodger and Rose continued to the main market square where Georgina would be.