The morning was bitter cold, especially on his now recent bruises. Belle took a little longer in his which had Bill concerned on what she was up to. He'd also thought of holding her tight, his hands on her skin as he ran his fingers down her spine. Her breathe on his skin and his on hers. She was rough last night after the big party in the barracks, and it ended quite civil to bill's surprise. All this pleasantry was cut short from how gypsies thought it was a good idea to steal an airship and put Bill Hatchet's name on the deed. Needless to say he was not amused, he was no one's patsy and now the gypsies had to answer for it but without letting the police know he said anything. He decided to put trust in the gypsies properly and planned on getting answers from the family.
Belle finally came down dressed from the big fire yet not a speck of ash or blood on her. She had grace in her walk like an angel coming down from the heavens. She blushed as she decended down the stairs when she saw the look on bill's face. It felt good to adored by a man still a mystery. This moment was interrupted by a lad rushing in quite hurried, he was a small framed boy in tattered clothes, big shoes and a peak hat.
"sir there's slum kids outside the barracks, we've got lads holding them here and at the docks... Sir they want to join" the boy caught his breath.
Bill turned to face him to also see the boy looking at now a concerned Belle, he nodded him away. Belle and Bill shared that grim look and went out to see a large group of slum kids now shouting for audience with Mr Hatchet. In the crowd one stood out silent and looked directly at him from behind the line of seasoned lads keeping them out of the barracks. The line of lads were horizontal to the door ten wide, Bill pointed at the man looking at him and signalled him in. One lad escorted him in that towered over him, as he was escorted in six more lads came out to cover the flanks of the line whilst the stranger was sent to a table and seat where two more men stood three paces away.
Bill sat on the other end of the table and looked him over, a man in rough woolly clothes donning a grey six day shade and a receding hairline equally grey. There was a furnace like gaze that seemed tamed yet potent; this man would would be a strong character. He had an officer's stance and yet the conviction of a foot soldier. It was as if he was alike Bill more than things seemed. May the chess game of minds begin.
"who are you, and do you lead what is left of the slum kids?" Bill was very direct on his intentions and what he wanted to know ; pawn to b4 to d4.
"we're not slum kids anymore mate, just those needing protection from harassing smaller groups. Some of them only knew Tokyo blue and the gang" pawn g5 to e5.
"your name please" bill persisted, pawn d4 to e4.
"Randal Savage at your service" pawn d7 to d6.
"why also at the docks?" knight b1 to c3.
"not my people, just more desperate souls my friend" savage leaned back comfortably ; pawn a7 to a6.
"how can you and the desperate souls benefit the lads army?" pawn h2 to h4.
"erand boys, shit shovellers, anything that needs extra hands they'll do as if it's the last thing they'll do" knight g8 to h6.
"they can start shovelling shit and coal in the dock yard with guards on duty, tell the desperate souls, now get out" Bill looked straight at Randal in eyes without blinking, two lads escorted him out not before he tipped his rough bowler hat with a grin. Bishop c1 takes knight at h6 then pawn g7 takes bishop at h6.
Randal savage took a noble defence, a misdirection play. Something Bill knew was not his style, because it was not his either. Belle was at the bar helping herself to the whiskey provided by the gypsy kin, not really paying attention to his words but body language as he said them. Every time he spoke he fidgeted with his hat and looked around with a mirror in his hat she'd noticed. He saw her looking at him via the mirror and put it back in his hat; knight c3 to e4.
She downed a few shots then put the bottle back on the shelf and the glass below the bar.
The refugees were still loud outside, but not violent to bill's relief.
"I should go, my brother will need help with all the new junkies out getting desperate" Belle said leaving the back of the bar and heading to the back door of the barracks.
Bill stopped her to land a kiss but she shunted him with a cheeky grin and left all the same. He had to face the crowd of refugees and so went out to the front door. He saw that Randal was not in the crowd anymore, which got him concerned; game put on hold. He stood in front of the line of purposefully big lads and put his hand up to quiet the crowd, it worked for a moment until questions of joining, shelter and food were all asked at once. He went to say his piece anyway.
"you all will get the chance to be a lad or lass soon, there will be no Tokyo blues here or anywhere in lads army territory nor on members. It's first and foremostly cold turkey hard yards", he looked over the crowd for expressions of interest, "also everything is earnt in the lads army, so no charities nor giving out charities"
He signalled the lads behind him to show they're firearms and order the crowd to back up, the crowd understood very clearly and backed up quite neatly.
"take up a line and you all will be seen to individually" bill needed a stiff drink or ten to get through the bollucks of this morning.
Most of the crowd got accepted straight up and the rest were taken to the site of the great conflict in the factory grounds. For those accepting to the code of conduct in the lads army they were the foot troops and labour aid where needed, it was the work that built character and for some that had some already it just needed to be tailored to suit the lads army. Those awaiting an answer were sent to the site of the conflict to rebuild it as the expansion to the lads army territory with food and basic tent shelter provided they were given a chance to remake they're homes without the drugs and intimidation. Only the fittest and clean minds were accepted which strangely ended up being the older men and women in the crowd. There were even people of a religious standing in the crowd, which gave Bill an idea.
He figured the preacher could ease matters of the soul whilst labour of good will gave them a home and food with clean clothes.