SkinMarvin Gay Stories

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Chapter 3

The guys left, and headed home to Psycho's place, but I decided to stay around and watch. I hid in the clump of trees about 100 yards from the ruin, and settled down to wait for the gang to arrive. Sure enough, around 3.30 pm, two of the gang arrived on the common. I could see them approach slowly, taking their time, throwing rocks, and kicking a can about. They entered without any caution, thinking they were in safe country. They both came running out shortly after, both spewing up on the rubble outside. It was several minutes before they went back in, and several minutes more before one of them came running out, and headed for the town. The police arrived first, followed by the ambulance about 5 minutes later. The ambulance crew were inside for several minutes before one came out and went to the radio in the ambulance. I guessed correctly, because about 8 minutes later, the fire rescue arrived, and entered the ruin with cutting gear. They were going to cut Frank out of his restraints. It was at this moment, I decided to head back to Psycho's, and crept out of the copse, and kept low till I was well away from the scene.

The squad was well into celebrating when I got back. Each was toasting the other on their fine work of the afternoon. I joined them, and for the rest of the day and well into the wee hours of the next morning we just drank ourselves into oblivion. On waking with the biggest hangover I had ever experienced, I splashed water in my face, and headed off down to the corner shop for the morning paper. It was about 11 am, and the shop was busy. There was talk of a serial killer on the prowl on the common, so I listened intently to the gossip. According to one old biddy, the killer had killed several victims, and buried them on the common. The police were going to dig the whole common up (could only be an improvement I thought). The shopkeeper had heard different. He reckoned that Hitler Youth were behind it, and were punishing youths who would not join up. I could hardly keep myself from openly laughing, but I just bought a newspaper, and headed back to the house.

Bear was up, and sitting on the toilet, door open, farting and groaning for all to see. Psycho was lying on the broken sofa sucking on the hair of the dog that bit him. Ray, Mick and Tat's were all awake, but still on the floor, unable to raise their heads without the room spinning out of control. I sat down on one of the old car seats, and read the paper about the "Youth found mutilated on the common". A police spokesman had stated that "We obviously have a gang war going on, and we (the police) intend to stop it forthwith". When asked if they had any leads to the identity of the other gang, the police spokesman said, "We are investigating several leads, and he was not at liberty to say any more about the case". In other words, they had squat, and were as much in the dark as mushrooms were. The paper report went into a graphic detail of the rescue mission to free the victim, how the fire brigade had used special metal cutters to remove the shackles from the arms and legs. "What a waist of good shackles". Ray said nonchalantly, and bear started to laugh on the toilet, farting even more, as he guffawed. "We should ask for them back". Mick said, maybe we could use them again. This led to riotous laughter from all, with resulting moans from the self inflicted injured. "The gang is going to go to ground now", said Psycho, "Got any ideas Danny boy?" I had thought about that, and had a plan of action in mind. "Yeh Psycho, when all you drunks can get on your feet, we are each going to take one member each, and keep tabs on them, even if they move out of the area. I think we had all better get a mobile phone, so we can keep in touch.

It was at that moment, that I realised that I was a member of Psycho's squad. It had been a gradual acceptance by the others, Psycho, and myself included. It was never a request or a question of if I would, it just was. I smiled, and remembered the first time I had met Psycho down at the club that day we went with the film crew. The memories started to sadden me, but then I remembered the great times Larry and I had lived together, and I smiled and rejoiced in the fact that he had been a part of my life, even for such a short time. We all sat together, some with heads in their hands, but all well aware that what was being said was important. We planned out strategy, and divided the remaining gang members between us. I was the coordinator, Psycho would supply equipment as required (he had money, we didn't) and arrange any transportation as it came up. Psycho also said that Scar knew of our doings, and would support us all the way "where do you think the shackles came from". He said grinning. Knowing this made me feel good. I knew we would get every last member of the gang. But we had to work fast now, the youths would be on the move soon, and we didn't want to loose them.

There were 4 members left. Richard, better known as Skags, was the leader, aged 21, and the third person that attacked Larry. He would be our next victim. Ahmed and Graham were both labourers down the local council, and finally Barry, the second school kid. Bear took on Skags. Skags was big, muscled and brutal. Bear was an equal match for him should Bear be seen and Skags go for him. Ahmed was 19, and had a chip on his shoulder. He thought every thing that happened was a plot to kick him and his family out of England, and back to Lebanon, where the family had come from about 10 years ago. Ray would follow Ahmed. Graham was an illiterate, angry man of 18. His job at the council was all he could get, as he could neither read nor write, and even though he had a reasonable intelligence, could not concentrate long enough to learn anything worth while. He had a kid with a 16-year-old girl, but Skags had talked him out of getting married. That was the only good dead Skags had ever done for anybody in his life. The kid, a boy, was now 2 years old, but Graham saw little of him, and would not even acknowledge him and his mother in the street if they passed each other. Mick knew this type of kid, and decided he should take this guy on. That left Tats with Barry. Barry was actually very bright, and had he not fallen in with the wrong crowd, could have ended up in a university somewhere. At 17, Barry spends his time at every lesson he had, and did not wag off school like Errol. But he had been in trouble with the law several times, and had only been released from borstal about 6 months ago, for shoplifting once too often. His parents had split up several years before, and Barry's mum worked long hours at a cafe and Barry was often left to fend for himself. Hence his association with the gang. I felt sorry for Barry. He was a follower, not a leader, and given different circumstances, would have been a good kid. But now we were after him, and his life would never be the same again.

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