Page 46 of A Long Way Back
Ink shrugged. “He could be. They don’t need to be registered.”
“What service would he provide?”
“Emotional? One look at those ears makes you want to smile. Maybe an assistance dog? He could fetch your slippers if you had any. Buy some and we can train him.”
Tay laughed.
The electronic board announced that the leisure centre was the next stop and Ink rang the bell. He moved behind Tay’s chair and once the ramp was down, he wheeled him onto the pavement.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Ink asked.
“No.”
“A lot cheaper than a cab.”
The doors of the leisure centre swished open.
“I’ll pay,” Tay said.
“Thanks.”
Ink wheeled him into the building and over to the counter.
“Is there somewhere safe we can leave the wheelchair?” Ink asked.
“We can keep it in the office. Is he okay on crutches?”
Tay bristled. “Yes, he is.”
“Brake’s on,” Ink said.
Tay pushed to his feet and Ink handed him his crutches. He paid with his card and the chair was wheeled away. As they made their way to the changing rooms, Tay hoped the access was going to be straightforward or he’d struggle.
“Looking forward to seeing my tattoo?” Ink asked suddenly.
“I’d not given it a thought.”
“Like a dagger to my heart.”
Tay laughed, distracted from what lay ahead as Ink had no doubt intended.
They found changing cubicles next to each other and Ink handed Tay his swimming trunks.
“We should be able to get everything in one locker,” Ink said. “If you need a hand with your underwear, just shout. Make it loud so I hear. Say something likeI need a hand getting out of my boxers. Something big’s got stuck.”
Tay chuckled. There was a bench to sit on inside the cubicle which made life easier, but it still took him a while to get ready. When he opened the door, Ink was leaning back against the lockers and Tay frowned. There was no sign of a tattoo on a hairless chest. Not quite hairless. There was a dark treasure trail leading to short pink trunks. Tay snapped his gaze up. No ink on his arms or legs either.
“You didn’t shout.” Ink pouted.
Oh God.Ink stood there in those trunks looking…Stop looking at him.
“Let me get your stuff.” Ink slid past him into the cubicle. Tay only saw his back when he passed him again and slotted everything into a locker. The tattoo was of a crow with its wings outspread. It looked like a watercolour painting with splatters of colour. The bird seemed to be losing its feathers, the detail dissolving further down Ink’s back. There were words written there too, but not in a language Tay recognised.
“Wow,” Tay whispered. “Couldn’t you afford to get it finished?”
For a moment, Ink looked as though he thought Tay was serious, then he gave a loud laugh.
“It’s fantastic,” Tay said. “Why a crow? And what do the words mean?”
