They went first to a dirty looking shop.  It was the same one, Djaren informed them, blushing, where he had attempted to pawn the unwanted pocket watch. 

            “There were flowers on it,” he explained.  “Pink.”

            Tam nodded sympathetically. 

            Anna laughed.  “Boys can be entirely irrational.”

            The ramshackle shop was as dingy inside as out, with piles of objects heaped everywhere from floor to ceiling.  It looked as if some of the stacks were actually supporting the roof.  Some of the objects might have been very valuable, but a lot of it looked to Jon like rubbish.  He only glanced at the antiques for a moment.  A familiar ragged figure stood at the counter having a loud argument with the proprietor, who was easily five times his size, mostly in girth.  Djaren had been entirely right in his choice of places likely to house thieves.  Jon tugged at Tam’s sleeve and pointed excitedly.

            “Three silver?  What do you think I am?  Those are real pearls, and worth more than half this miserable pile of refuse you call a shop!”  The pickpocket was berating the shopkeeper. 

            “You must be mistaken.”  The man spread his fat hands.  “They are small pearls, probably paste.  I am generous to offer you even so much, but I have a heart for small children.”

            The pickpocket answered with something unbelievably rude.

            The shopkeeper looked up then and saw the newcomers.  His hand closed over the pearls on the counter, hiding them from view.  “Ah!  Little master, are you here to buy a gift, perhaps for your small sister?”  He addressed Djaren, rising from his seat with difficulty and speaking in oily tones.

            The pickpocket turned too, annoyed, and stared at them.

            “You deal with thieves.  I should report you.” Djaren drew himself up to his full height, still considerably less than Tam’s, and frowned.     

            “No, no, not at all,” the shopkeeper protested.  “This boy, he tries to sell me stolen property, and I send him away.  Get out!” He yelled at the pick pocket, and made as if to strike him. 

            The boy dodged the blow easily, looking very angry indeed.  “Pig son of a diseased goat!  You have my pearls in your filthy hands, and you will give them back!”

            “I have nothing to do with thieves! Get out or I will beat you!” the man cried.

            The pickpocket cursed bitterly and rounded on the children, cornered.  Jon stepped back.  He had never seen anyone look so angry.

            “You stole the Professor’s pocket watch,” Tam said to the boy.

            “You know who stole the stone at the dig,” Djaren added, “and you’re going to tell us.”

            The pickpocket snarled at them.  “You are really starting to annoy me.  I’ve been having a bad day.  Don’t make me spoil yours.”

            “But you did.”  Jon spoke up.  “Your friends stole our research.  We just want it back.  Please.”  He met the pickpocket’s angry black eyes.

            “You’re really a hopeful child, aren’t you?”  The pickpocket smiled bitterly.  “The world isn’t nice.  Get used to it.”  He wheeled on the shopkeeper.  “I won’t forget you.  And I promise you won’t forget me.”

            The boy vaulted over a pile of trash with amazing speed and darted between Tam and Anna.  He kicked at a spot behind Tam’s right knee, sending him sprawling, and wrenched away Anna’s handbag with a deft motion.  The boy then eluded an interception attempt by Djaren and leapt onto the counter. 

            “You ruin my day, I ruin yours.”  The boy sprang off the counter toward the back entrance.

             “Look after Ellea!  Tea shop!”  Djaren told Anna, and raced promptly after the pickpocket.  The pickpocket swung a quick turn about a support beam and kicked a heavy looking statue into the next beam.  The beam cracked and swayed. 

            “Get out!  Everybody!”  Tam yelled.  He picked up Ellea with one arm, grabbed Jon with the other, and plunged out the front door with Anna at his heels as the whole structure began to give.  The pickpocket and Djaren raced off right through the falling building’s back entrance into a maze of alleyways.  The fat shopkeeper barely made it out as the whole place tumbled down in billows of dust.  He stood coughing and quivering with fury, one sweaty hand gripping the pearl bracelet.

            “Tea shop,” Anna said breathlessly, taking Ellea from Tam.  “Come on, we have to be ready!”

            “For what?” Tam asked, pulling a very startled Jon along after him.

            Jon looked back at the swearing shopkeeper for a moment and tried to see where Djaren and the pickpocket had gone.  In the swirling dust there was no sign of either of them.

           © 2007 Ruth Lampi