A new day arrived, and instead of heading back to his usual spot for begging, Arthur opted to roam the harsh, narrow streets of the slum.
The old beggar's words lingered in his mind, casting a shadow over his chances of evading the relentless guards. His small, fragile frame seemed ill-suited for the desperate escape from hunger and poverty that he so ardently desired. A new approach was needed.
As he walked, his thoughts churned like a tempest. The possibility of outsmarting the guards, of finding a way to fill his empty stomach without resorting to begging, gnawed at his conscience.
During this pensive journey, Arthur's attention was drawn to two other young faces in the slum. He recognized them as familiar companions in the desolation of their shared existence. These children, around his age, had weathered the same ruthless conditions and stood as testament to the unyielding resilience of youth. The spark of an idea took hold, they are kids, small frame and fragile which exactly can be their weakness or strength, Having thought of a plan he cautiously approached the two fellow beggars.
"What do you want?" the young girl asked, eyeing him skeptically.
Understanding the weight of suspicion that hung between them, Arthur chose to be forthright.
"I'm not looking for trouble. I'm as hungry as you are, maybe even more. I've been thinking about a way to get food without begging, without getting caught by the guards. Are you interested in hearing more?" Arthur said earnestly.
Understanding the weight of suspicion that hung between them, Arthur chose to be forthright. He explained that his primary motivation was to satiate the ever-present hunger that gnawed at their insides. He revealed a notion that held the promise of relief, reassuring them that no harm was intended. Their shared objective was to overcome their gnawing hunger by any means necessary.
Their shared objective was to overcome their gnawing hunger by any means necessary. And after a lengthy conversation, the two children, their eyes filled with longing and a newfound glimmer of hope, agreed to join Arthur's endeavor.
As the trio settled into a more comfortable exchange of ideas, Arthur started the conversation with a touch of vulnerability in his voice.
"You know, we've all seen how hard it is to get food around here. Those guards and nobles are always a step ahead. But I've been thinking..."
"What do you mean? What's your plan?" the young girl asked, curious yet wary.
Arthur looked at them earnestly, a hint of a smile touching his lips as he unveiled his vision.
"We can steal without even trying," Arthur replied with enthusiasm.
The boy furrowed his brow, clearly perplexed.
"Steal without trying? What are you talking about?" the young boy asked, confused.
"We steal food from the market." Arthur replied, confident.
The girl's eyes widened as if glimmering hope yet confused.
"So, you're saying we steal food instead of begging, but how could that possibly work without us getting caught?" the young girl inquired with hope in her voice.
"We're small, in the slums where everything is chaos, we can easily sneak around. We just need to wait for someone to initiate a theft, and while everyone's attention is on the thief, we can sneak in and steal food from the market."
Arthur explained, his confidence growing.
The boy, still skeptical but intrigued, questioned.
"But how can we be sure it will work?" the young boy asked skeptically.
"It will. Everyone will be too entertained by the events happening; they wouldn't notice a few kids like us," Arthur replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Arthur explained the full plan to his newfound companions. "Here's what we'll do." he began. "We'll wait for a thief to commit a crime. While everyone is distracted by the thief, one of us will approach the target stall and start stealing a small amount of food. Another one of us will keep a close eye on the seller, ensuring they don't catch on. The last one will be our lookout, making sure there are no witnesses."
"What do you think?" Arthur asked the girl. "You should be the one watching the seller. Can you do that?"
The girl nodded, her eyes determined. "I'll keep an eye on the seller and warn you if he's suspicious."
The boy, still eager but clearly nervous, was next. "And what about me?"
Arthur replied with a reassuring smile. "You, will be our lookout for witnesses. If anyone is watching too closely, you give us a signal."
The two beggar children, filled with a newfound sense of purpose, began to assign their roles within the plan. Everything seemed to be going well until they realized they had no specific target in mind, and they weren't sure if a daring thief would emerge.
As they pondered, a sudden commotion erupted nearby. Shouts and angry voices filled the air, and the trio turned their attention to the unfolding scene. It was clear that a theft was in progress, and the chaos surrounding it provided the perfect cover for their operation.
"Quick, it's happening." he urged. "Follow the plan and stay alert."
Arthur reacted swiftly, nudging the other two and reminding them of the plan they had discussed. With no time to think, he took the initiative, heading toward a nearby stall that sold old books.
Arthur then slowly grabs a book and puts it inside his clothes. The stall owner, momentarily distracted by the unfolding theft elsewhere in the market, never notices anything strange.
As he moved away from the stall, Arthur made eye contact with the two, who had been watching the seller's every move. The subtle signal from her confirmed that their plan was working so far.
As the commotion from the theft nearby gradually subsided, the three young conspirators concluded their covert operation. With stolen bread and a few other small items in their possession, they retreated to a less crowded corner of the market, their excitement palpable.
In their tiny corner of the world, the two boys couldn't help but exchange triumphant glances. Their hushed celebrations filled the air until, the voice of reason, broke their revelry with a curious question.
The hushed celebrations of the two boys were interrupted by the girl perplexed question, her brow furrowing inquisitively. "Why books?" she asked. "What are we supposed to do with these?"
The boys exchanged guilt-ridden glances, realizing they had acted on impulse without considering the practicality of their loot. The boy chuckled nervously. "I guess we got a bit carried away. But books have value, right? People buy them."
Arthur nodded in agreement but couldn't help noticing the skepticism in Others eyes. "Yes, yes, they do. And if we can't sell them, we can at least read them. Knowledge is power, right?"
The girl looked at Arthur with a quizzical expression. "Can you even read? And what about selling them? Won't people ask where we got them?"
Before Arthur could respond, a solemn voice echoed through the air, and a shadow fell over their small celebration. It was the old man, who had been quietly following them, offering a proposition. "I can teach you how to read, you know."
Startled and cautious, the two boys immediately tensed up, their wary gazes locked onto the old man. The boy voice quivered as he inquired, "Do you know him?"
The old man's offer was tempting, and Arthur hesitated. "I've seen him around, but I don't really know him."