Read Online Think Yourself Lucky by Ramsey Campbell - Free Book Online Page B

arcade behind, a man carted out of it, "Hold on there," he shouted. "You with the papers, hold on."
    He marched into David's path and stared up at him. His large eyebrow-heavy face looked like a bid to compensate for his shortness. "Is that yours?" he said and jerked his head to indicate the errant handbill.
    "It was."
    "It's still your responsibility."
    "I didn't throw it away. I'd blame whoever did."
    "They aren't here and you are. In any case you need to show me what you're carrying."
    "Take one by all means," David said, holding out a leaflet. "We've got offers to suit everybody. Grab whatever takes your fancy before someone else does."
    "Not your advertising." The man lowered his eyebrows as if he suspected David of facetiousness. "What we've given you," he said. "The council."
    "I don't think you've given me anything in particular. I don't live on this side of the river."
    The man's head jerked again, and David saw it was a tic rather than an indication. "Leafleting requires a permit," the man said. "Kindly show me yours."
    "I don't have one with me. If you'd like to contact our Bold Street branch—"
    "Then I'm afraid I must ask you to desist at once."
    "Look, the firm sent me out to do this. I'm just trying to get on with my job. I don't think you can say I'm doing any harm to anyone."
    "For a start you're causing litter, and in any event we can't have unauthorised promotions. Our streets would be overrun with nuisances to the public."
    "I've come across a few of those recently." Just too late David realised that the man might think this was aimed at him, and so he pointed at the evangelist, who was informing everyone that their existence was a sin. "Have you told him he can say that sort of thing?"
    "Some people still believe in sin."
    It wasn't clear whether the official did. "Just let me hand these out, then," David said, "and I'll make sure we have a permit when I get back to the branch."
    "That won't be possible. You've been given notice of the situation."
    "Can't you forget about it for a little while?" When the fellow only stared at him David said "Can't you loosen up a bit this once?"
    The man's head twitched as if David had struck him in the face "If you attempt to distribute any more material I shall be forced to call someone."
    "You say you're from the council." It occurred to David that he should already have said "How about showing me some proof?"
    "I believe I've given you every chance," the man said and snatched out a phone. "You can take the consequences."
    "All right, you've won. You don't need to call for backup," David said and saw another of his handbills flutter past him. "I'll even help you keep the street tidy," he declared and darted to retrieve the flyer.
    As it reared up and slid out of reach, an action that seemed positively mocking, David heard a metallic screech, and an object jabbed the back of his right calf. "Can't you look where you're going?" a man shouted.
    He was riding a mobility scooter, though he barely fitted into the seat. "Trying to cripple someone?" he demanded so vigorously that a wobble climbed his stack of chins and spread through his apoplectic face.
    "Well," David said but wasn't quite able to leave it at that. "I think—"
    "Let's hear it, mister. Share it around."
    "I think if anybody's just been crippled it was me."
    The council official made a sound that hardly needed him to add "We don't encourage that kind of language about people who are challenged."
    "He used it first." David felt like a child telling tales, which roused him to protest "They're not supposed to drive that fast where there are pedestrians, are they?"
    "We expect a little give and take, especially from people without difficulties." In case David wasn't sufficiently abashed by this the official said "Our mission is inclusiveness."
    For a moment David felt as close to ranting as he had the first time he'd met Len Kinnear. "I'm going back to the branch to tell them," he said.
    That sounded childish too.