Page 16 of Waiting for Ru
Ru laughed. Bela flew to his shoulder and Jasim’s jaw dropped.
“Not quite a vulture.Corvus corone. A crow. Her name is Bela. I found her as a fledgling with an injured wing when I was six years old. I helped her get better and she’s been with me ever since. Say hello, Bela.”
“Hello,” the crow squawked and flew up onto the wall.
“Hello,” Jasim responded, then turned to Ru.
You still make me feel…odd, but not in a bad way.Ru swallowed hard.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see Cookie and Joni, but the lady who answers your phone didn’t give me time to explain. She just said you weren’t there and put the phone down. I thought I’d wait. It’s only been a few hours.”
Jasim gaped at him.
“You… You did give me your card. I thought…”This is a mistake.“I’m sorry. I’ll go. I apologise for bothering you.”
He put on the backpack and the helmet. He’d cycle a little way down the road and spend the night in the tent. Better to be out in the countryside than in a town.
“It’s okay. I didn’t lie to you. When I give my word, I keep to it. You can see them.”
“You didn’t sell them on?” Ru’s heart leapt.
“No.” Jasim climbed into his car. “Follow me up to the house.”
Ru cycled through the gates after Jasim, glancing back to see them close behind him, and made his way up the gravel drive. After Ru had made the turn, the house came into view. It looked even bigger close up, a symmetrical box-shaped, pale stone structure with tall sash windows and a dark-blue front door framed by plain stone pillars. Ru left his bike behind Jasim’s car, together with his backpack and helmet.
“Where’s the crow gone?” Jasim asked.
“She comes and goes as she pleases. The cage is just to keep her safe, not to keep her in.”
“This way.” Jasim strode off and Ru hurried to keep up.
He has a lovely backside.
Ru almost tripped. Whose voice was that?
Yours, you eejit.
