Parchman, стр. 22
‘Unbelievable,’ said Chuck.
Tallulah smiled, nodded to McGregor and started walking towards thefood tent with him.
‘One last thing,’ McGregor whisperedto Tallulah. ‘I’m not actually a solider.’
She looked back at him.
‘It’s a long story.’CHAPTER TEN
Tallulah, Chuck, Nathanieland Carlgren stood watching McGregortucking into a bowl of freshly cooked stew and stuffing bread down histhroat faster than he could wash it down.
‘He knows we’ve got hardly any waterleft doesn’t he?’ said Carlgren.
‘This is a bad idea,’ said Chuck watching McGregor stand up and walkover to them rubbing his hands and wiping stew from his beard.
‘Right,’ said McGregor. ‘Let’s have a little chat with this fella.’
‘Be my guest,’ said Nathaniel holding his arm out.
‘Right,’ McGregor said again, taking a deep breath and belching loudly.
‘Go on then,’ said Tallulah who was getting more and more irate.
‘Right,’ McGregor repeated. ‘Right, right, right,’ he said and startedwalking across the area between the community towards Jackal and hisgroupies.
At this point McGregor didn’t have a plan. He was free from the shacklesof the community and had just had his first decent meal in weeks. In factat this point he felt like he had overeaten. Halfway between both groupshe stopped and bent over double then started vomiting.
Nathaniel sighed and turned away, whilstJackal’s group on the oppositeside to him started laughing. McGregor raised his hand to them inacknowledgement and lifted his head trying to smile, which actually cameout as more of a grimace.
Composing himself he stood up and started walking toward Jackal. ‘Wellgood morning to you,’ said McGregor.
‘Good morning,’ said Jackal, wary of the man who had just thrown up hisbreakfast in front of them. ‘That was some display you just put on. Youmust be the white knight who caused such a commotion over there earlier.’
‘That’s me,’ replied McGregor. ‘I’m sorry, we haven’t met,’ he saidholding out a hand for Jackal to shake.
Jackal didn’t shake McGregor’s hand leaving him to awkwardly pull backhis outstretched hand.
‘Jackal,’ said Jackal.
‘HaHaHa. Very good. But what’s your real name?’ said McGregor, clearlyirked at the Jackal’s reluctance to shake his hand.
Jackal looked around at his gang who weren’t sure whether to be furiousat the question or laugh at McGregor for daring to ask the question. Jackalsmiled.
‘My name is Jackal.’
‘Yes, but I mean what is your real name? Your mother didn’t name youJackal. Let me guess, Nigel? No. no. Donald? You look like a Donald,’said McGregor laughing to the now baying crowd.
‘Stop,’ said Jackal giving them a look. ‘I’ll bite. Before The Cure my namewas Joseph. But since The Cure my brothers and sisters and I have takenmore fitting names for the situation we find ourselves in.’
‘Yes, a name makes all the difference Joseph. Can I call you Joe?’ saidMcGregor, continuing to wind the man up into a temper. ‘I recognize thataccent there. English right? Birmingham.’
‘Very good,’ said Jackal. ‘Irish?’
‘Aye,’ said McGregor.
‘So, tell me Mr. White Knight Irishman. Did you come over here to pokefun at me and die an embarrassing and painful death? Or did you come toaccept the terms I gave your President?’ said Jackal.
‘A little of both,’ smiled McGregor.
Jackal jumped forward and stuck his elbow into McGregor stomach whofell to the floor in agony clutching his gut. ‘Ooh, that’s going tohurt.’McGregor clambered onto his knees and then back onto his feet. ‘I’vecome to offer an alternative offer. An even better offer,’ he said taking thepainful jab in his stride.
‘I’m listening,’ said Jackal.
‘We don’t all need to fight now do we? Some of yours will die, some ofours willdie. It’s a no-win situation. Look at your guys. Theydon’t reallywant to fight now do they?’ said McGregor, sparking the crowd to startchanting ‘fight, fight, fight’. Jackal smiled at his naivety. ‘OK, some ofthem may want to fight. But we’re not Savages.’
This made Jackal prick up his ears and the crowd around him stoppedsilent. ‘Savages? Are you are callingus Savages?’ he said.
‘No, no, no,’ said McGregor, knowing this had prompted exactly theresponse he wanted.
‘We aren’t Savages,’ said Jackal upset and irritated.
‘Of course not. I was making the very point that you aren’t Savages.’
‘Sowhat is this offer?’ said Jackal.
‘One of yours against one of ours. We win and you go on your way. Youwin and we’ll give you anything or anyone you want,’ said McGregor.
Jackal thought about this. ‘The nativegirl?’
‘Yeah, sure,’ said McGregor nonchalantly with absolutely no idea of theconsequences should they lose the fight.
‘Deal,’ said Jackal. ‘Go get your people and we’ll meet you halfway. Well,notquite halfway,’ he said, pulling a face and pointing to the pointMcGregor was sick. ‘In one hour. If youdon’t turn up then we will takewhat we want.’
McGregor nodded and started walking back to the camp.
‘So?’ said Chuck, who was first to speak. He was excitedly hoping that
McGregor had sorted everything out with Jackal and was simply awaitingconfirmation it was all a huge mistake and that they would go on theirmerry way.
‘Well,’ started McGregor. ‘I did manage to get them to agree to give us afighting chance.’
‘Go on,’ said Nathaniel raising an eyebrow unconvinced.
‘A one on one fight. Winner takes all,’ he replied.
‘Winner takes all?’ said Chuck.
‘Yes, so if we win then they will justgo,’ said McGregor.
‘And if they win?’ said Nathaniel.
‘Then they get what they want. Like everything,’ he paused. ‘AndTallulah.’
‘I knew it. I knew it,’ said Chuck furiously. ‘Goddamn it.’
Tallulahhadn’t spoken at this point and looked to be deep in thought. ‘Butwe won’t lose,’ she jumped in positively. ‘McGregor will fight whoeverthey put forward and willwin the fight. Then they will just go.’
‘Whoa now,’ said McGregor. ‘I’m not fighting anyone.’
‘What?’ said Tallulah. ‘But you’re our best fighter.’
‘I agreed to go over there