He Won't Need It Now

by James Hadley Chase

Duffy slowly closed his fists. “Must you repeat everything I say?” he asked. “Can’t these two birds understand what I say?”

The little guy eased himself back in his chair. “You understand him, don’t you, Clive?” he said to the youth.

“Clive?” Duffy was getting annoyed. “That’s the name for a daffodil, ain’t it?”.

The youth sat up. “Listen, you long stick of ”

The little guy giggled. “How do you think of such things?” he said.

“What is this?” Duffy demanded. He looked across at the tough bird by the window.

“Come on, come on,” the little guy said, suddenly looking bleak again. “Give it up.”

“Give what up, for God’s sake?” Duffy demanded.

“Did you hear him, Clive, he wants to know what to give up?”

The youth called Clive slouched out of his chair. He stood over the little guy, his face viciously angry. “You won’t get anywhere with this stuff,” he said. “Turn Joe loose on him.”