The three stayed very still.
“Listen,” the little guy said patiently, “we’ve come for the camera, and we’re going to have it, see?”
Duffy shrugged. “I can’t help that,” he said shortly, “I ain’t got it.”
The little guy said, “You ain’t got this right. I said we want that camera and we are going to have it.”
“Sure, I heard you the first time. I tell you I ain’t got it.”
The little guy looked at the other two and said, “He ain’t got it.”
The youth drew his top lip off his teeth. “I told you you weren’t getting anywhere with this bastard.”
Duffy pushed himself away from the wall. He began to wander slowly round the room. He didn’t take his eyes off the three, watching him.
“You be careful,” he said to Clive, “you’ll be getting some false teeth mighty soon.”
Clive looked at the little guy. “Turn Joe on him,” he said excitedly. “Go on, beat the sonofabitch to hell.”