I'll Get You For This

  There was movement in the fourth cell. I paused, peered in. A fat old woman, raddled, decaying, grinned toothlessly at me.

  "Hello, pretty boy," she said, waddling to the bars. She grasped the bars with raw hands. "Ain't seen a man for ten years. Coming to see me, precious?"

  My face was stiff with fright. I shook my head, edged past her, my back scraping along the wire screen.

  "After the young 'un, are you?" she leered. "You'll like her. But watch Bugsey. She's in the next cell. She hates screws."

  I edged on, staring at the old woman fascinated. As I came to the sixth cell an arm shot through the bars, a thin, sinewy hand gripped my wrist.

  I started back, trying to drag myself free. The grip bit into my flesh. The bloodless fingers were terribly strong.

  My face was damp with sweat. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

  I allowed the hand to pull me to the bars so that my face was against the cold steel of the door. I found myself face to face with a young blonde whose mad burning eyes glared ferociously at me. She hissed at me through clenched teeth. Little flecks of foam bubbled on her lips. My hair moved on the back of my neck, my heart skipped a beat. Her other hand whipped through the bars and caught my coat collar.

  My heart began to pound again. I was scared.

  "Hello, copper," she said. "I've been waiting for you." She closed one eyelid in a gruesome wink. "I'm going to kill you," she went on, in a stage whisper.

  "No, you're not," I said, bracing my feet against the bars. "I'm going to get you out of here."

  She sounded off with her crazy, high-pitched laugh. It sent spiders' legs up and down my back.

  "They won't let me out," she said. Her smile was sad and cunning. "They know what I'll do to them. I'm going to do it to you." Her face tightened, her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to tear your throat out."

  I got my feet against the bars, and suddenly heaved back-backwards. I broke her hold and I fell against the wire screen, slid to the floor.

  She glared at me, beating her hands against the bars. As I struggled to sit up, she flopped down on her knees, grabbed my ankle. I kicked at her with my free foot, but I couldn't reach her because of the bars. She held my ankle between her two hands and hauled. I choked back a yell of fright as I felt myself sliding across the rubber floor. I grabbed at the wire screen, but she jerked, breaking my hold. She hauled me towards her like a landed fish.

  I kicked and twisted, but I couldn't get my leg free. The raddled old woman was watching, giggling with excitement.

  "She'll cut your heart out," she whispered to me.

  Sweat ran down my face, and I struggled and writhed in blind panic. There was something about the mad woman's face and the way she laughed and muttered to herself that scared me silly.

  I was now against the bars. She released my leg and grabbed my coat again. Our faces were

close. I could smell her sour breath. She turned me sick with horror.

  "What's the matter with you?" I panted. "I'm going to get you out of here. You and the kid next door."

  "You're not touching her," she snarled. "They've done enough to her. I'll stop you and I'll stop them touching her again. Come closer, copper. I want to get my hands on your dirty neck."

  I tried to pull away, but she dragged me closer, her hooked fingers moving in little jerks up to my neck. She was so intent watching my face that she didn't see that I'd drawn back my leg.

  I placed my foot gently on her chest, then kicked out with all my strength.

  She shot over backwards, the breath rushing out of her body. Released, I staggered to my feet, reeled against the wire screen. I was trembling, and could scarcely stand.

  "That gave you a fright," Edna Robbins sneered.

  I went cold, turned.

  Edna was standing just inside the grill. She was watching me. Her small, sharp nose looked pinched, her eyes dangerous.

  The raddled old woman had disappeared to the back of her cell. The mad woman lay on the floor, gasping and wheezing for breath.

  I straightened my torn jacket, ran my fingers through my hair. I felt like hell.

  Edna came down the gallery.

  "I told you to scram, didn't I ?" she said bitingly. "All right, wise guy, you're going before the Warden."

  I backed away, my eyes darting to the cell next to the mad woman's. I could see a woman lying on the cot; a woman with honey-coloured hair. My heart lurched. I knew who that was.

  "Don't get mad," I said in a croaking voice. "I didn't mean any harm. I wanted to see what this cuckoo looked like."

  Edna smiled spitefully. "Well, you've seen her. I've a mind to stick you in with her and let her

work on you. Come on, you rat, you're finished here. The Warden will fire you out."

  I knew then it was Edna or me. I eyed her small body over. She looked capable, but I was sure I could handle her. I had to get my hands on her throat before she could raise the alarm.

  I slouched towards her, looking crestfallen, sullen.

  "You might give a guy a break," I muttered, as I reached her.

  "You'll get no break from me ..." she began.