Bill and Chop decided to part ways as the lads went off and disappeared around the corners of the buildings. Bill waited in the pub commonly known as the hat. The lads army called it the Barracks, it was they're local haunt.
Chop went to stay by the boats by the river factories. He knew he'd likely get the information first over Bill. To Chop, Bill was too quiet so too dangerous. He wasn't one to trust easy so he put on a no bollucks view on everything and everyone. He'd missed the trenches to a point. Life was really simple, and for the weak... Short.
Chop didn't drink nor smoke. He didn't care for social expectations, he set his own. When Mr Blackjack sought him out he gained more authority not that it was much more. He'd already had sway in ranks of the Lads Army, Blackjack only became his employer. There were lads passing and going keeping busy. It was quiet for a main channel, there were even black country gypsies passing by boat waving.
He looked over to a small stack of barrels and saw a kid he'd never seen before, and he knew everyone at least by face in the lads army.
He called him over, "you over here now!"
The kid jumped nearly out of his skin, and looked over to the corner of the building and then back to Chop. It was then Chop knew he had competitors. He got up and walked over to the kid. He put on a knuckle duster and watched for signs of other bodies. It didn't take long til he was now charged by three slum kid thugs brandishing blunt weapons.
He swung his hand out from his pocket and caught one in the side of the head. This was followed by his free hand grabbing another as a shield. For a big guy he was fast, and for every swing he was parrying or countering with a kick, punch or otherwise. He threw his meat shield which was screaming in terror at another, they both hit each other and the ground with a thud and crack.
He was not counting on the fifth to hit him with truncheon though. He fell back a little but wasn't too phased. He was too angry now to notice it'd split his face open a little. The attacker took a step back and froze as if to regret his decision. Before the thug could run he copped a punch at full force by Chop's knuckle duster hand. He fell to the ground like a ragdoll.
Seven lads came to Chop's aid way too late, by this time all attackers were down and out. Chop then noticed his face bleeding by the taste of his own blood trickling into his mouth slightly.
"slum kids are getting brave lads, let's show them why they shouldn't" Chop said ordering the bodies to be rounded up.
"take all but they're heads to the cut" he ordered with the shock response from some of the lads. He grabbed an axe from the nearby wood pile and led the chop as it were. This was why he was called "chop"
He was always placed on body removal duty, but he always left the head for body traps in the war. He was definitely a lot smarter than he looked.
Back at the barracks Bill was enjoying a little whisky with a few lads along with two newspapers, one being the local times and the other the daily mail. He was a paranoid man and liked to know what was the fake and real news. He had the theory some news was there to misdirect the readers. A young lad came into the barracks in a hurry, looking around the boy saw Bill and walked right up and in a quiet tone told him, "Chop was ambushed sir, he's chopping the bodies now"
"so he survived and now is sending a message, how is this urgent lad?" Bill asked looking up from his paper.
"it was slum kids sir" the boy answered.
The tone of the table went tense, he gestured the boy closer. As he did he grabbed him by the shirt suddenly pulling him much closer.
"keep that name out of this establishment yeah? Or else you'll never walk in here again. You'll never walk at all" Bill hinted with one eye now flickering.
He let the boy go,"now run along and thank you for shortening my break"
Bill quickly finished his drink, put down the newspaper and left the barracks with the three lads at the table following suit. With this new information Bill was sure Ricky had one finger in with the slum kids. It was time to either trample or truce once four fingers was pushing daisies. He found the boy outside looking into a shop window.
Pulling him up he asked the lad to be"go to the top kid and tell him this... " he whispered the message and the boy took off down the street.
It was time to deliver the chop really soon. He only had one concern, and that was Chop himself. Where would his allegiances be come crunch?
All Bill knew was that he had a plan in case he wasn't with him. Bill was convinced his paranoia was his best asset in such occasions.
He went to see chop back where they met earlier, he'd know he was there. Chop was predictable like that. Always wanting to be in front to get the goodies first above others. When he got there Chop had finished chopping and a clear blood trail was being covered by gravel by some working lads. A small crate had blood on the side of it with the smell of pickled fish.
"you stayed busy" Bill said looking over the scene.
"they got brave, big mistake" Chop said cleaning his face up, "we should take it to them with love"
"agreed, four fingers put this together but we'll drop it off to him" Bill said.
Chop looked up with the look of "say that again?!"
"the kids need a truce or the chop and fingers will get the cut" Bill added.
Bill got closer to Chop and spoke quieter, "he'll be at the factory gambling with the boss. We chop them"
"are you suggesting..."
"every bit of it mate" Bill said, "time to shuffle the deck and redraw"