The Soft Whisper of Dreams Read Free Page A

everything, in some strange way Alex was thankful for his lengthy stay as Her Majesty’s guest. It had finally made him grow up, and on reflection – and he’d had a lot of time for that during the past three years – he thought it was the best thing that could have happened to him. Making his cellmate understand this concept, however, was a different matter.
    ‘You’re a weird son-of-a-bitch, Marcombe.’ Foster, a huge brawny man in his mid-twenties, shook his head in total incomprehension. ‘How the hell can you say you’ve enjoyed it here? You must be off your rocker.’ He scratched his head. His shock of dark hair had been given a crew-cut a month previously, and now it resembled the back of a hedgehog.
    ‘Quite possibly, but I didn’t say “enjoyed” exactly. I said it had made me mature, made me see life in a new light. I’ve learned some very valuable lessons during my time here and I don’t intend to forget them in a hurry. And I certainly wouldn’t want to return. Ever.’ Alex’s mouth tightened. There had been tough times when he’d wanted only to lie down and die, but something had made him carry on. Pride perhaps? Or just sheer bloody-mindedness.
    ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s what they all say. When you go back outside though, and no one wants to give you a job in case you steal something, you’ll soon go back to doing what you’ve always done. What else is there? And before you know it, you’re back in here.’
    ‘I suppose you have a point there, but that won’t be the case with me.’ Alex knew Foster had already spent roughly half his life in one institution or another and tended towards a cynical view of the whole system. It was difficult to persuade him otherwise and he did seem to be stuck in a Catch 22 situation.
    ‘Oh, I forgot. You toffs stick together, don’t you? I ‘spect you’ll find a job just like that.’ Foster snapped his fingers loudly to emphasise his point.
    ‘Not quite, although I daresay it might be true for some people. No, I don’t think any of my former friends would employ me, but I’m lucky enough to have an older brother with more tolerance than I deserve. He’s been incredibly patient with me over the years, and now he’s promised to give me a home until I can stand on my own feet again.’
    ‘He ain’t a criminal?’ Foster asked suspiciously.
    Alex laughed. ‘I don’t think he could be further from it if he tried. No, he’s a lawyer and I can’t see him ever doing anything that wasn’t right and proper.’
    ‘Sounds like a dead bore to me,’ Foster commented grumpily.
    ‘Now there you’re wrong. Conscientious and hardworking maybe, but he has a great sense of humour and you’d have a hard time finding a better sailor or sportsman. And there’s a mischievous side to him as well.’
    ‘Hmph.’ Foster lay down on his bunk and turned his face towards the wall. Then he added in a slightly wistful tone of voice, ‘The only thing my older brother ever did for me was talk me into joining him in a bank robbery that went wrong, and I found myself back in here faster than lightning. Rob’s a bastard.’
    ‘Yes, so you’ve told me.’ Alex didn’t know what to add to that so he stared out of the window again. ‘I can’t wait to get out tomorrow,’ he said finally.
    ‘Well, good luck to you. No offence, but I hope I don’t see you again.’ Foster turned around to face him, and Alex was pleased to see he was back to his normal, laid-back self, smiling again.
    ‘No chance, not in here anyway.’ He grinned confidently. ‘But why don’t you come and see me when you get out, instead of that brother of yours? Maybe I can help you find the straight and narrow.’ Alex noticed Foster raise his eyebrows in scepticism. ‘Only if that’s what you really want, of course.’
    ‘And how would you do that?’
    ‘Well, I’ll find you a job.’
    ‘Hah! Fat chance, mate.’
    ‘No, I’m serious. Or do you really want to keep visiting institutions