· · ·
The next day, as planned, a new corner was found for Robin. But before the day was out, Quill had found it as well. Once more he followed Robin when he picked up his box to leave. Up one street and down another Robin went. And though his heart might have been thumping at a great rate, he walked along slowly, carelessly swinging his box as if he were out for a Sunday stroll in the park. He had no intention of letting Quill know that he knew he was being followed. And though Quill followed him longer and later than the first night, once again he finally gave up.
The following day, yet another corner was found for Robin. And the exact same thing happened. But this time, even though Robin led him on a merry chase, Quill stuck with him for even longer than the previous two times. Would he end up following Robin all night, especially when he must realize that Robin knew he was being followed? But what was he hoping to accomplish by this curious game of cat and mouse? Did he think knowledge of Robin’s whereabouts could help him get something he wanted from Hawker? That would, of course, mean that Hawker was still looking for Robin, and determined to find him. And that was a conclusion that chilled Robin.
He told it to the boys, and they agreed that he was probably right. It would help if they could find out exactly what Quill was up to, and why. That, however, seemed almost impossible.
“Be nice ter be a fly buzzin’ roun’ the table wot yer step-pa sits at with this feller Quill,” Spider said.
“Wot table were that?” asked Duck. “Robin ain’t said nothin’ ’bout no table.”
“Aw, Duck, why’re you allus tweakin’ me?” complained Spider. “I jist meant any ol’ table. Sometime or other they got ter be sittin’ at a table. Ain’t that right?”
“That’s what they were doing when I met Quill,” said Robin. “Spider’s right, Duck.”
“Yeah, I knowed that. Sorry ’bout it, Spider,” said Duck. “But wot was they doin’ at that there table, Robin. Guzzlin’?”
Robin nodded.
“Where were that?” asked Mouse.
“A place called The Whole Hog,” Robin replied.
“Aint’ never knowed o’ that one,” said Mouse. “My own pa allus goes ter The Rat’s Nest.”
Suddenly Duck bit his lip and screwed up his eyes. “Wait a bleedin’ minute. I’m gittin’ a idea here. Spider, I got ter say it come from what you jist said ’bout the fly buzzin’ roun’ the table. Supposin’ it were a boy buzzin’ roun’ that there table ’stead o’ a fly. Or maybe jist hangin’ roun’ nearby.”
“Wot boy you got in mind, Duck?” asked Piggy.
“Any one o’ us,” Duck said. “Robin’s step-pa don’t know any o’ us from spit.”
“We don’t know Robin’s step-pa from spit neither,” said Mouse.
“Robin c’n tell us wot he looks like,” Duck said. “So tell us, Robin.”
“Well,” said Robin, “he’s big and he has a black beard, and a scar across his cheek. It’s from a fight he was in. And he always wears this black jacket.”
“You ain’t able ter do no better’n that?” Duck asked. “Sounds like a hunnert people wot I know. Wot’s ’is name?”
“You mean one o’ us got ter go up an’ arsk ’im?” Spider asked.
At this, Duck just looked at Spider, shook his head, and sighed. “No, Spider. Wot I were thinkin’ is hangin’ roun’ someone wot looks like wot Robin said. You wait long ’nough, someone’s got ter say his name. So wot’s ’is name, Robin?”
“It’s … it’s Hawker Doak.” Just saying his name made Robin’s skin creep.
Mouse’s eyes flew wide open. “Hawker Doak! He’s yer step-pa?”
Robin nodded.
“He’s the one wot comes ’round collectin’ rent where I used ter live with me ma and pa,” said Mouse. “I seed him more times ’n I cares ter count.”
“Do you think as how he seed you?” Duck asked.
“Nah,” said Mouse. “They was hunnerds o’ kids in the buildin’, an’ it ain’t likely he knowed one o’ us. All he were in’erested in were the sight o’ me pa’s hand forkin’ over the money.”
“Then sounds like as how yer the one wot gits chose ter do the buzzin’ roun’ the table at The Whole Hog,” said Duck. “You c’n pertend you was there fer yer pa. Ain’t nobody goin’ ter think nothin’ o’ that.”
“But when is it I got ter go hangin’ ’round?” Mouse asked. “I ain’t in’ erested in hangin’ roun’ mornin’ ’til night. ’Sides, if I’m seed hangin’ roun’ all day, you think there ain’t no one goin’ ter arsk questions? Don’t take all day ter pick up somethin’ fer yer pa.”
Duck took a few moments to think this over. “Well, ain’t much doubt this here Quill’s goin’ ter be follerin’ Robin agin tomorrow. An’ Robin’s goin’ ter lead him ’roun’ again. That right?”
“I believe it is,” said Robin.
“So,” continued Duck, “soon as Robin knows he ain’t bein’ follered no more, he high tails it back here. Mouse is waitin’ fer ’im, an’ he hightails it ter The Whole Hog. This here Quill, bein’ all wore out from follerin’ Robin, more’n likely won’t be goin’ no faster’n a dyin’ rat. So Mouse gits there, sets up his waitin’ place near this here Hawker … and waits.”
Mouse gave a deep sigh. “Sounds as how lots got ter happen ‘fore somethin’ else happens. An’ wot if nothin’ happens like wot you said, Duck?”
“You got a better idea?” asked Duck. “Anybody here got a better idea?”
Nobody did.
“Then that’s how it’s goin’ ter be,” said Duck.
“Mouse,” said Robin, “thank you for doing this. I want to thank all of you. I don’t know what Danny and I would have done if … if … well, I just wish I could get everybody something. When I start making more money, I’d like to get …”
“Git us all ’nother one o’ them big dinners like you got us first night you b’come one o’ us.” Duck grinned. “Nah, I were
