Chapter Twenty-Six
Ishmael
Ishmael watched Kris fiddle with the camera. At first, the boy had glanced between the camera buttons, the booklet, and the view outside. He’d finally given up on trying to read the manual, opting instead to aim the camera at the view outside and experiment with the buttons, then look at the pictures he’d taken on the small view screen on the back of the camera. Ishmael felt pleased. His pet was enjoying his gift, and it would continue to pay dividends later when Ollie pulled images from the SD card and uploaded them to Kris’ social media accounts. Friends and family he’d left behind would be reassured that all was as it should be. Which it was, though how it should be and their imagining of what that was would never come close to the reality Kris now found himself in.
“Okay, boss. Dropping you here so you can walk through as you wish,” Bob said, pulling over.
Kris looked surprised. “We’re walking?”
“The best way to see everything and get pictures, isn’t it?” Ishmael said. “Today is about you. I want you to be able to explore, nip into a shop that catches your eye, stop to snap a photo, you name it.” Ishmael smiled benevolently as he spoke.
“Oh! Thanks, that sounds great,” Kris stammered. Ishmael’s smile warmed even further. His pet was off footed by his gesture.
Get him feeding from my hand so that he fully understands that all graces come from me, so that he is willing to pay the price.
A shadow loomed outside the door. Ishmael glanced at the figure. “Ah, here’s Josh. Make sure you have your camera and be certain to stick close..” Josh opened the door. “You can explore, but be smart about it.”
He watched as Kris’ face fell as he realised that he wasn’t truly free, even today.
“There are pickpockets in all of the areas popular with tourists,” Ishmael said. “One could cut the camera strap from around your neck and knock you down, snatch it from your hands and pass it to an accomplice as they ran.”
“Or worse,” Bob said from up front as Ishmael exited the car.
“Or worse,” Ishmael agreed. It was actually far more likely that Ishmael would be noticed and his pet’s relationship garner scrutiny, something Ishmael wanted to avoid until their relationship was more settled. He had no need of further complications. “Come, we’re on double yellows,” he said, holding his hand out to Kris.
Kris took it, his head swivelling around as he took in the swirling crowds. It was a weekday morning, but even so, the district was busy.
“London is always so full of people. I mean, there are lots of people in the other places I’ve lived, but this is like wall to wall,” Kris said.
“Yes, so stay close,” Ishmael reminded him. You want to see something closer, let me know, and we’ll all go.”
Kris nodded his head. “I will.”
Ishmael met Josh’s eyes and they exchanged a look. They both knew the risk of Kris coming to realise that he might be able to lose them in a crowd and try to make an escape. Not that he would get very far, even if he somehow managed to reach the consulate. Too many favours were owed for allowances to be made. Ishmael preferred that it not come that. He would have to punish his errant pet and it would set back their progress, likely for weeks.
“Is that the gate?” he heard Kris ask excitedly. He turned to look at where Kris was pointing.
“It is. We’re going to walk through it to enter the quarter. If you wait until we’re a bit closer, you’ll get much better pictures.”
Kris lowered his camera and nodded. “It’s so beautiful,” he breathed. He looked confused as Bob and Bert both drove off. “Aren’t they coming with us?”
“They couldn’t park here,” Josh reminded him. Double yellow lines,” he said, pointing at the markings on the pavement.”
“They’ll find a place to park and then come join us,” Ishmael reassured him.
“Oh, I wasn’t worried. I was just wondering. So, they’ll meet us by the gate?”
Josh tapped his ear meaningfully. “They’ll ask where we are and come meet us there, wherever that is.”
“Oh.”
They moved closer to the gate, Kris quickly joining others who were busily immortalising it within their holiday snaps. Josh and Ishmael stayed in Kris’ periphery as he photographed it from several angles. Josh chuckled.
“He certainly likes that camera.”
“He does. He had planned to visit here and share the pictures with his family.”
“And he can, but with a device that makes no calls and can send no texts,” Josh observed.
