Let me introduce you to the banker...
He lives in the Gatehouse by the turn in the hill.
He is the only one who can help us. Now listen! He is a very dangerous man and I am turning to him as our last resort!
Fenwick stretching out with its empty streets and dully lit lamplights was looking lonely enough for a lonely person to hide in.
'I am annoyed that we are doing this,' said Jim. 'I don't like the idea of borrowing more money!'
'Well it's like I said,' Rod replied, 'I am turning to the banker as our last resort. I am sorry, Jim. But this is just how things are for us right now. Our hands have been forced!'
There was the old gatehouse standing between the hill and the bridge upon a rocky bluff overlooking the Fenwick River. It was an old and ominous building. To be honest Jim did not want to go near it, let alone inside it. There was a horrible look about the place.
And it didn't get any better when they entered he doors. They were greeted by a chill breeze - 'It's colder inside this place than outside,' Butch complained. 'I might have to go back out into the streets for a warm up in a minute! How long do think this meeting is going to take Rod?"
'As long as it is necessary,' Rod replied.
'Who in their right mind would live in such a vile dusty old building?' said Jim, drawing his coat around him to keep out the cold.
'Me!' said a voice from the top of the balcony, and then a figure richly dressed made their way down the spiral stairway into the hall in front of them. 'I presume that you k now who I am?' he said.
'The Banker I guess?' said Jim.
'And you would guess right,' the Banker returned. 'Forgive the webs and the dust. It's just how I like it. It gives the place a historic look,' he explained.
"Well it makes the building look a mess," Jim thought, but he didn't say anything.
'So you are here to talk money?'
'We are indeed,' said Jim. 'I am presuming you know something about the topic, what with a name like The Banker.'
'I am the man with the money in this town and that is all you need to know,' he replied. 'Before we proceed with this you need to understand that if you want my money you need to abide by my terms. I am going to be upfront with you. I never lie. My terms are harsh! Knowing all this upfront are you ready to listen?'
Jim really didn't like any of this business with the Banker. It wasn't just that the man appeared to be very dodgy he didn't know him either. He had never even heard of the man until a day ago. Now he was expected to place his whole fate into a strangers hands?
It made Jim feel cheap, like he was grovelling. Begging. That was what he had been reduced to.
His recent success had made him proud. He felt strongly that he should be reaping the rewards of his new G-Juice business, not bending to the knee cap in hand to an odd man with a weird name.
"I don't want any of this," he thought. "Better to jump into the river and try to swim back home... Flee Fenwick and it's madness forever!"
As if hearing his thoughts Rod stepped in and replied, 'Yes, Mr Banker! We are ready to listen to your terms!'
'Now just hang on a minute,' spoke up Jim. 'I am not sure if I am ready to commit to these, harsh terms, as our new acquaintance plainly puts it. There is an old saying my mother used to say about frying pans and fires. How do we know that we are not jumping into a fire here?'
Rod guided Jim away from the Bankers ears, and he whispered to him, 'We have to accept his terms! He is the lesser of the two evils! The Brazilian Cartel is far more dangerous! They have already started to wage war on us in the streets! The Brazilian Cartel are very public about their business. They don't keep quiet about what they do! Starting a house fire? Ha! It's like what they say on the internet: weaksauce. O yes I mean it, house fires are just the start. How do you fancy tanks and guns in the streets? I know these guys. I have seen them in action! I know what they can do! I was there prisoner once! Never again. So I beg you to swallow your pride, man up, and take the Bankers offer!'
It was time to sign the deal...
'Welcome to The Tailors!' said the Banker after the drafts were dry.
'I beg your pardon?' Jim returned.
'You are a part of our syndicate now,' the Banker replied. 'Now there is one final step! Give me your right hand. It will require cutting!'
'Over my dead body!' Jim returned angrily.
'As a member of the syndicate you are obliged to carry the mark!'
'I never agreed to this!'
'Yes you did,' The Banker replied. 'The moment you agreed to our harsh terms! Now give me your hand! Once you have been bled I will transfer the money to an account of your choosing!'
'I want to know more about these, Tailors?' Jim pressed on.
He really didn't like the idea of being cut.
It seemed rather to barbaric.
And necessary.
'All you need to know is that you are one of us,' The Banker replied.
Then Rod rolled up his sleeve and showed that he was carrying the mark as well.
'We will protect you from the Brazilians - but once you have the mark there is no way out. It's as simple as that. Once the deed is done you will not only be under our protection but also our power. There will come a time when it will be your responsibility to carry out a duty! When we give the sign, you will answer. Now give me your hand!'
Jim offered his hand unwillingly to the Banker, who proceeded to hack a nasty mark into his flesh.
Jim was scared. There would be no ridding himself of that vile red sign behind his knuckles.
The regret was very real and raw inside Jim's heart at that moment.
He really did feel a proper fool, and that he had committed himself to a possibly dreadful venture.
Who were The Tailors?
They had to be scary people if they insisted on cutting a mark into your skin there and then...
Jim wanted to wipe the cut away - but it was too late. The deed was done.
'We have got a lot of surprises in store for you Jim my boy,' said the Banker ominously. 'We have given you a lot of money today, and we will want a lot back in return. But we will signal you when the time comes to pay. Trust me! When The Tailors call you will know it,' and after he said that he gave Jim a wink with his left and eye and the proceeded to repeat, in a very aggressive whisper:
YOU WILL KNOW.
(Remember! All spelling errors and grammatical mistakes are intentional - the author 😆)
===========================================================
