Archief - Je glimlach van vandaag - deel 17

Wednesday 24 November 1780,
Heathcliff slowly opens his eyes, feeling dizzy, shivering with cold, trying to remember what happened last night. He can barely feel his feet. He tries to rise up but succumbs due to the enormous pain he feels when lifting up his left leg. When looking down at his bruises and scratches at his leg he notices a small note with an address written on it: “Duncan Street”, on the reverse of the note there is written “be fast”. He immediately stands, swallowing the pain, and starts limping to find someone who knows the location of Duncan Street.
The streets are empty; the only noise he hears is the sound of a ruinous door and a breeze through the streets. Suddenly in a dark corner at the end of the street an old man with a tobacco-pipe emerges, he wears a long brown coat with D.S. written on it. He slowly walks toward the old man, hoping he can help him. Uhm, hello sir?” Duncan whispers. The man doesn’t react to the question and smiles lugubriously. After this short silence the man says “Duncan, Duncan Jones”. “I’m pretty sure you are looking for the Duncan Street, correct?” he adds. “How do you know that?” Heathcliff replies. Try to remember last night Heathcliff, just try it he says while he takes a hit of his pipe. “But, the last thing I remember is a drink I got from...” “2 strangers, I know” the old man interrupts. “Ok, what in god’s name is going on here” Heathcliff demands. “Just follow me my friend; I’ll explain everything later on”.
Arriving at Duncan’s squatted building Heathcliff recognizes the two men sitting at a pile of bricks. “They gave me the drink before I passed out” Heathcliff whispers. Duncan laughs and coughs; “I know, I gave them an order to do this”. “But why?” Heathcliff asks anxiously. “Heathcliff Heathcliff Heathcliff, as I told you before I’d explain you everything. We: ‘Jack, Rodney and I’ have been following you for a while. We know you are broke and we are going to help you. You know it’ll be a harsh winter, aye? We will help you surviving this one, without our help you won’t even make it till next year, I’m sure of that. We will provide you shelter, food and warmth.” “I suppose this help isn’t free?” Heathcliff says. “Correct” Duncan replies immediately. “We just want one thing; you have to rob citizens with us so we can survive.” Without hesitating Heathcliff says they have a deal and asks what he has to do to complete the group. After hours of discussing, giving instructions and making plans to rob rich people they start their project.

Three months passed where Heathcliff and his companions survived the harsh winter while living in the squatted building, except now with more money than ever. Their personal victory however, was overshadowed by Heathcliff leaving to get his life back on track and return to Wuthering Heights.