We make our way back from the pub towards Tom's home. Along the way, Tom shares with us how he has become a boxer, known as the sailor boy, and he's preparing for his final match a few weeks away, which will serve as a grand farewell for his retirement.
As we turn another corner, I become certain that we are being followed by five men who are getting closer to us. In a hushed tone, I inform Sarah and Tom, "We are being followed by five men. I think they're about to attack us." I laugh as if someone has just told a joke, and Tom quickly catches on, understanding my intention. Discreetly, I pass the baby and my bag over Sarah's shoulder and guide her into an alley as I turn around to face the attackers with determination.
The five men charge at Tom, and my Viking training kicks in as I defend against them. Drawing my sword, I intimidate the assailants, causing them to flee.
Tom dusts himself off and looks at me with admiration. "You've got some moves, lady! Where did you learn to fight like this?"
"A woman in the wilderness needs to know how to protect herself," I respond.
"Indeed she does. You must show me those moves tomorrow. I'd love to incorporate your technique into my fights," Tom suggests.
Sarah appears shaken but unharmed and asks, "Are you okay, guys?"
"Yes, are you and the baby okay?" I inquire.
"Yes... Who were they? What did they want?" Sarah asks in confusion.
"This is a dangerous neighbourhood. I suppose they thought they could rob us or something, but they didn't anticipate encountering this warrior lady," Tom laughs, pointing at me.
"Five skilled men for a random robbery? I don't think so, Tom," I remark.
"Well, I don't know then," he responds.
Tom's house is quite large and located in a good area of the town.
"Wow, Tom, you weren't kidding when you said you were doing well with your fights... This house is amazing," I express in awe.
"And it's fully owned by me. I paid for it in full from my last fight. I want to retire here without any worries... Now it's your home, Sarah, and my little nephews'. You'll be safe here, I promise. I'll take care of you now," Tom says, his love for Sarah evident in his eyes. Then he turns to me and adds, "You're welcome to stay here as long as you wish. We have plenty of room."
Once I'm in my room, I find it cozy and start a fire in the fireplace. The warmth immediately fills the space, providing comfort. Exhausted from the day's events, I fall asleep feeling relaxed, eagerly anticipating my journey home the next day.
In my dreams, I see Boleslaw standing on the beach, calling out to me. I'm in a boat, sailing away from him, and he becomes smaller as his voice fades away. I witness worry and pain on his face. As he falls to his knees, I feel compelled to reach him, diving into the water determined to reach him quickly. However, the waves grow massive, attempting to engulf me. I continue to see Boleslaw, but now he's falling to the ground. Fiercely battling against the water's pull, I fight to resist being swallowed.
I wake up sweating, my body trembling, and my heart pounding in my chest. Boleslaw's image lingers in my mind. Seeking solace, I rise from the bed and go to the fireplace. Adding more wood, the warmth intensifies. I gaze at the fire, attempting to calm myself. The memory of the fight with the five men resurfaces, prompting me to use the AI to learn more about Thomas King. To my surprise, I discover that he has become a well-known and respected boxer. It appears he was right—our encounter with the robbers was merely a random incident.
Restless, I spend the remainder of the night lost in thoughts, observing the early signs of life outside my window as the milkman and the baker make their separate deliveries to our doors and our neighbour's.
With the first rays of sunlight, I finally drift back into a deep sleep.
I wake up to Sarah vigorously knocking on my door and shouting, "It's midday, Bethany! I know you were tired, but for the love of God, get out of that room! I'm dying of boredom here!"
I quickly jump out of bed and rush to open the door. "How are you feeling today?" I inquire.
"Much better. I'd say I'm back to full strength," Sarah replies. I return to my room, swiftly covering myself with a blanket and say, "That's good to hear. And what about the baby? How did he sleep? Did he require frequent feeding?"
As we head downstairs, Sarah responds, "He seems perfectly fine. His first night in this world went smoothly. We slept together in the bed, and he woke up a few times during the night to nurse. I fed him and put him back to sleep. We should have a couple of hours now... What should we do?"
"Breakfast or perhaps lunch?" I suggest.
"Definitely. Come, I'll show you where the food is," Sarah replies.
We make our way to the kitchen, and I start enjoying a sandwich that I've just prepared. Curiously, I inquire, "Where is your brother?"
"He had to go to the gym. He's training for his upcoming fight, which seems to be of great importance to him. He mentioned he would stop by for lunch," Sarah explains.
"I better go and get dressed before he returns. I wouldn't want him to get the wrong impression seeing me like this," I comment, realizing my current state.
"Okay, but first, let me show you something," Sarah exclaims, grabbing my arm and leading me through the halls and corridors. Eventually, we come to a closed door, and with an excited smile, she says, "Look at what he has in this house. He claims to be one of the few people who own it."
She opens the door, revealing a bathroom, and exclaims, "Our own personal bathing room!" We share a laugh, but then the sound of the baby crying in a nearby room interrupts us.
"Oh no, he's awake! Go, use the bathtub. It might take me a while to settle him back down," Sarah urges, disappearing around the corner. I close the door behind me and decide to take advantage of the bath.
After a relaxing soak, I return to my room and change back into my clothes. I can hear the main door opening and closing as Sarah welcomes Tom downstairs. Glancing out the window, I spot three men crossing the street. Two of them were among the group from last night. It seems the encounter was not a mere coincidence, Tom. Swiftly, I gather my belongings, pack my bag, and head downstairs.
"Hello, Tom," I greet as I enter the room.
"Hello," he responds.
Sarah holds the baby, and I approach her, taking the boy from her arms. I inquire, "Could you please make one of those delicious sandwiches you always prepare? Please?"
"Sure thing," she says, heading to the kitchen.
"Can I have one or two as well, please?" Tom calls after her. I walk over to Tom, handing him the baby, and say, "I know last night wasn't a coincidence. I just saw two of the men leaving from here. They must have been waiting for you. What's going on, Thomas?"
"It's not a big deal. I owe them some money, and they want to collect. I told them I'll pay them back after I win my big fight in a few weeks, but they're getting impatient," Tom explains.
"How much do you owe them?" I press, concerned.
"It doesn't matter. I'll be fine. They know I'm good for it," he replies.
"How much, Thomas? Tell me, or I'll tell Sarah," I insist.
"Two hundred pounds," he reluctantly admits.
"Is that all, or do you owe anyone else?" I probe further.
"No, it's just them. I needed the money for the house deposit. The house is fully mine. I just need to pay those bastards off," Tom confesses.
"Okay, I just want to ensure Sarah and the baby will be safe with you and won't lose their home because of gambling or something," I assert.
"No, none of those things," Tom reassures me.
"Alright, I trust you. I can see that you truly love her," I say with a hint of relief.
"I do. I'll do right by her," Tom affirms.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now, I'll wait for my sandwich, and then I'll be on my way," I state, eager to continue my journey.
"You want to leave already? What about showing me your fighting moves, as you promised?" Tom asks.
"You want to do it now?" I inquire.
"Sure," he responds.
We clear the furniture and place the baby in a safe corner. I begin demonstrating what I've learned from the Vikings, and Tom starts mimicking my moves. Once he grasps the basics, I turn to him and say, "Come at me." He immediately straightens up and replies, "No way. I might be a boxer, but I'll never lay a finger on a lady."
"Don't be such a fruitcake! Come on, sissy! Come at me!" I playfully taunt him.
"What did you just call me?" Tom questions, taken aback.
"Oh, I didn't hear that. What did you say? Why don't you come over here and ask me again?!" I giggle, teasing him.
"You're going to be in trouble, missy," he warns.
"Who, me? In trouble with you? You wish! A pansy like you wouldn't stand a chance near me!" I laugh.
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you!" he retorts.
He charges at me, but I swiftly sidestep, causing him to stumble past me. In the process, he grabs my wrist, pulling me down with him. I use the momentum to regain my balance, and after some playful wrestling, we both end up on the ground, laughing.
"What is going on here?!" Sarah exclaims, outraged upon finding us lying on the floor.
"Your friend was just teaching me some savage moves, sister," Tom explains as he stands up and extends a hand to me. I accept his help and join Sarah, who hands me the sandwiches.
"Thank you for this, sis," Tom says, taking the sandwiches from her and planting a kiss on her forehead.
"I need to get back for more training. I'll see you tonight for dinner?" Tom asks Sarah.
"I'm making bangers and mash," Sarah proudly announces.
"Well, I wouldn't miss that for the world. Good day," Tom replies, nodding his head at me before leaving.
Sarah puts down my sandwich and goes to check on her baby.
"Sarah, I think it's really time for me to go now... I can see that you and the baby are safe with your brother. I'll go upstairs and gather my things to leave," I state, motioning to leave the room.
"Are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" she asks, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I've already stayed longer than I had planned. I really miss my family and need to get back," I explain.
"I understand..." Sarah walks over to me and gives me a warm hug. She says, "It's just been so nice to have you with me. You're like a really good friend."
"You're a good friend to me too. But now you have your baby and your brother with you," I reply, returning the hug.
"I do... Do you need anything for your trip? Shall I make you another sandwich? And maybe a bottle of water?" she offers kindly.
"That sounds amazing, actually... And you know what? Could you run me another bath? I'll use the water from there if that's okay," I request.
"Sure," she agrees, holding her little boy in her arms as she heads down the hall.
Meanwhile, I climb the stairs and return to my room. I tidy up the bed and gather my belongings. As I look around the room, an idea strikes me. I go to the desk, take out a piece of paper and an envelope, and decide to write a letter.
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your hospitality. Enclosed is a token of my gratitude, which I hope will resolve your worries with your debtors and allow for a truly peaceful life for you, Sarah, and your nephew.
I know you have your sister's best interests at heart. I remember you mentioning that gambling is not something you wish to be involved in. However, you might want to consider becoming a bookmaker. There's some money to be made in that role.
I wish you all the best.
Sincerely, Bethany
I place the letter in the envelope along with a few gold and silver coins I found in Michael's pocket. It should be enough to cover Thomas's debt to the men who attacked us last night. I don't want Sarah to get caught up in any dangerous situations.
I go downstairs and find the bathtub filled with water. I gaze at it for a moment before Sarah and the baby join me. Sarah hands me the sandwiches and the water, and I pack them in my bag. We exchange goodbyes, and finally, I ask, "I never asked you, what did you decide to name your baby boy?"
"His name is Arthur... Arthur Henderson," she replies with pride.
"It's a great name," I say, glancing at the white powder in my hand.
"Okay then, bye!" I exclaim, tossing the powder into the tub and touching the water, which engulfs me in an instant.