Chapter 9
"I want you, Dodger," said Fagin, bending over the table, "my dear friend, to do a job for me that requires the greatest care and discretion.
"Listen," Dodger said, "don't try to drag me into a dangerous case or send me back to your police station. It doesn't suit me at all, and I'm telling you so bluntly.
"There's no danger in it, not the slightest," Jack said, "you just need to follow one woman.
"For an old woman?" Jack asked
"For the young..." replied Fagin.
"I'll be fine with this case," Jack said. " I was a clever informant at school. Why would I track her down? Maybe not for that..." You don't have to do anything, just tell me where she goes, who she meets and, if possible, what she says; remember the street — if it's a street, or the house — if it's a house, and bring me all the information you can get. "How much will you pay me?" Dodger asked, putting down his cup and eagerly peering into the owner's face.
"A pound if you do it well, my dear. A whole pound," said Fagin, wishing to interest him in tracking.
" I have never given so much for a job that does not bring any benefit."
"Who is she?" he asked.
"One of ours."
"She has found new friends, my dear, and I must know who they are," replied Fagin.
"I understand" he said.
"Where is she?" Where should I wait for her? Where should I go?"
"You will learn all this from me, my dear. I'll show you when the time comes..." Fagin said. "Be ready, and leave the rest to me."
That evening and the next two days, the spy sat in boots and in full combat gear, ready to set off on Fagin's orders. Six evenings passed—six long, weary evenings—and each time Fagin came home with a disappointed face and briefly informed him that the time had not yet come. On the seventh day, he arrived earlier than usual, barely hiding his delight. It was Sunday. "She's leaving today," said Fagin. "And I'm sure it's the same case..."She's spent the whole day alone, and the person she's afraid of won't be back until dawn. Let's go. Hurry up!"
Jack jumped up without saying a Word, because the Jew was in such a strong excitement that it was transmitted to him. They quietly left the house and, quickly passing through the maze of streets, finally stopped in front of the hotel, which Jack recognized as the one where he had spent the night on arrival in London. by the light of the lanterns, he saw the retreating figure of a girl who had already significantly outstripped him. Keeping to the other side of the street all the time, he approached her as close as he considered prudent, so that it would be more convenient to follow her. Two or three times she looked around anxiously, and once she stopped, wanting to let two men follow her. She seemed to have gained courage as she went on, and now she walked more firmly and confidently. The spy kept the same distance between her and himself and walked without taking his eyes off, straightened up, pressed against the wall, and, holding his breath, began to listen attentively. she whispered in his ear. He nodded and jumped up, stuffed his things into his bag and returned to she smiled at Fox and threw a shawl over her head to protect her hair from the rain and her personality. She also pulled the cap over Oliver's head, covering his face. She grabbed his wrist and led him out the door into the rain, walking fast, but not fast enough to arouse suspicion. Soon they reached London Bridge, where a figure in a hat was waiting for them. Fox recognized the bright red dress and handed Oliver over to Nancy.
"Be careful," she whispered, and Nancy just nodded and led Oliver up the stairs .
Fox breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave, but before she could take a step, someone's hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her behind the wall. She screamed, her screams were muffled by her hand, and hitting the figure hard with his elbow in the stomach, the man grunted and turned her around to face him. She immediately stopped resisting when she saw her captor's face. She took her hand away from her mouth,
"Dodger, what are you doing here?" The Fox hissed.
"No, what are you doing here, honey? Remember when we started dating, we said we wouldn't keep secrets from each other?" Dodger crossed his arms.
"Dodger, we're just helping Oliver escape!"
"You know what I have to tell them, right? Dodger sighed.
"I'll turn you all in to the police!" Said the Fox
"I could tell you the same thing," he grumbled, but he looked worried. "What are you and Nancy playing at? Hiding like this..."
"I won't talk until you tell me why you were stalking me," she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest to demonstrate her point of view. Dodger sighed and scratched his neck,
"Feigin told me to avoid Nancy. He said she was acting weird and Bill was worried she was up to something. Which she obviously does. I just didn't expect you to be involved in this."
"We… We're helping Oliver get back to Mr. Brownlow," she confessed. Dodger's eyes widened,
"Help him escape?! "Are you crazy?! You know he'll turn on us, and it won't be any good for Fagin!
"He will never, ever become a peach. I thought you knew that, Dodge. Besides, he's not cut out for this kind of life, unlike you and me."
Dodger looked at her incredulously.
"Honey," he breathed, "you're really stupid, you know that?"Fox looked at him intently and stood up, brushing off her skirts.
"Thank you for the compliment," she said dryly, leaving. Dodger got up and ran to catch up with her, adjusting to her pace.
"You know I have to tell Fagin about this.I hate you.
" I've never hated anyone so much..."
" He opening the door to see Bill and Fagin at a wooden table, heads bent over a large bottle of gin. Fox turned pale and quickly walked past them. Bill looked up and saw Dodger.
"Ah, Dodge! You're back! We're already worried... he muttered something indistinctly, there was a taste of alcohol in his voice. Fagin nodded and waved to him,
"Tell us the news, boy! What was Nancy doing?"
Fox leaned against the keyhole, pricking up her ears.
"Good... I followed her and she met an elderly.
I didn't do anything."
"Liar," he chuckled, getting up and walking towards her until they were face to face.
Dodger took her chin and said:
" What's wrong with you Fox ?"
"I don't know, Dodger!
Dodger and the Fox had returned, and Fagin was waiting for them
"Nancy, and they met the Fox with some rich gentleman, they will tell the police about us!" We were just handed over!"
"Maybe it wasn't Nancy with the Fox?" Fagin looked coldly at the boy. Bill Sykes peeked out from behind the next chair.
"What is the name of the second girl?"
"Hey, come to me!" Bill Sykes ordered it.
"What are you two doing on the bridge?"
"None of your business!" said the Fox.
"How tired I am of you all!" said Sykes, he walked up to the Fox and punched her in the stomach, she coughed up blood, then kicked her again, she doubled over, and finally he grabbed her by the hair.
"Let her go, or I'll shoot!" It turned out that Dodger stole his gun when he was beating up a girl. Sykes just laughed. And one song that Miss Rose had given her was playing in her head.
"London Bridge is falling apart,
Fall, fall.
London Bridge is falling apart,
My beautiful lady.
Take the key and lock it,
Lock her up, lock her up.
Take the key and lock it,
My beautiful lady.
How will we build it,
Build, build?
How will we build it,
My fair lady?
Build it with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold.
Build it with silver and gold,
My beautiful lady.
I don't have any gold or silver,
I don't, I don't.
I don't have any gold or silver,
My fair lady."
"Boy, I'd rather kill you!" He took the gun from Dodger and put it to his throat.
"Bill, leave them alone, it's not their fault!" Fagin got up from his chair.
"Should I kill you?" Bill put a gun to Fagin's throat. Dodger crawled up to the Fox. Sykes took the gun and ran out. The Fox began to shrink with blood.
"Nancy, he's going to kill her!" Dodger the Fox said and the girl ran after Sykes The Fox opened the door and Nancy was lying on the floor, her eyes were open there was a lot of blood around. The cat hit Dodger, then hit him again.
"It's all your fault, even Fagin tried to shut you up!"
Someone started to get up, Dodger Dodger grabbed the Fox and hid with her under the bed, he covered her mouth with a kiss, the police left, the Fox ran out of the apartment first, Dodger ran after her again there was a heavy downpour. The Fox hid behind the wall of the house.
"Fox, I'm sorry!" shouted Dodger
"He could have killed us!" the Fox screamed, she began to beat the boy Dodger kissed the Fox again.