TheTosher'sTale CrystalHollis

CrystalHollis

Ilovethispub.BestselectionofalesinLondon,thepricesarelow,andthecompanyisn'tterrible. Greatplacetocometoafterwork,orbeforework,orboth.Thenagain,myworkain'tthebesttypeof workinthecity. It'snotsobadIsuppose,diggingthroughwhatevercomesdownintothesewers,Ifind somenicethingssometimes.JusttheotherweekBernardfoundhimselfafancybronzepocketwatch. Somepooroldbastardmusthavedroppeditanditmadeitswaydownheretothetoshers. That'swhatweare.Toshers.Everynightwecomedownhereandlookforallyourlostgoods.Bits ofmetal,watches,hairpins,jewellery,coins,anythingwecansellorpawn.You'dbeamazedhowmuch findsitswayintoourhands,andendsupwiththepawnbrokerthenextday.Bernardhasbeengettingthe beststuffrecently,hopefullythat'shelpingquiethisnaggingmissus.Iusuallygetadecenthaulofgoods attheendoftheweek.

Butsometimes,youstarttonoticethatsometoshersaregettinghaulsthatare,well,toogood. Somehow,theygetasmidgeofgoldoralady’sjewellednecklace.Shouldyoucomedowninoursewers, you’dbeststayclearofthesemen. LikeTom.Itallstartedoutsowellforthelad.Nicebloke,hadalrightluckwithfindingthegood stuff.Hadagorgeousgirl,namewasAlice.Sweetlittlething,alwaysmadehimsandwichestobringdown totherivereachnight.Hewasplanningonmarryingher. Threeweeksinwithustoshersandthingsstart togoallfunny.Heasksabouthowcommoncertainthingsare,likethejewelledhairpinhefoundwith goldandsomeprettybluestones.Moreimportantly,onenightasIcameoutofthesewersIsawhimwith her.Thestunningvisionofawomanwhowalksthisembankmentatnight,goingfrompubtopub,looking forunwarytoshers,withherrubyredlipsandonegreyeye.DownherewecallherQueenie.

BeforeIevenhavetimetowarnhim,he'sbuttoninghisshirtuptightaroundhisneckorwearinga scarf.He'sfindingmoresilverandgoldthanallofuscombined.He'sstoppedbringingsandwichesdown withhimtotheriver.IaskhimhowAliceisandhejustgrumblessomethingunderhisbreath. Therats downhereseemtoshowupingreaternumberswhenhe’saround.Therestofusknowexactlywhathas happened.He'sbeenwithher;he'sbeenwithQueenie.Thatscarfishidingalovebitefromthequeenof therats,andheronegreyeyeshouldhavebeenawarningtohim. Fewmonthslaterhe'sstilldownworkingwithusinthesewers.Aliceseemstohaveforgivenhis dallianceandhehashissandwichesagain.StilldredgingupthebestbitsintheThamessewers.Butwe can'tgettooangrywithhim,he'sabouttofindoutwhatallthatgoldandsilverisgoingtocosthim.You

see,Aliceispregnant.Tomisoverthemoonhe'sgoingtobeafather,everybucketoftrinketsisgoing towardsthischild,andtheweddinghe'llhaveafterit'sborn.Thedaysgobyandwecontinuetowork,sell ourfinds,anddrinkhalfoftheprofitatthepub.Tomisoblivious. Thenonedayhecomesdownintothesewers,shouldersareslumpedandhe'shalf-heartedly diggingscrapsofmetalandbitsofglassandcoinsoutofthemuck.

Isaytohim“Whythelongface,Tom?”knowingfullwellwhatistocome. “Alicehadagirl.” “Ohbless,what'dyounameher?” “Sarah.” “Prettynamethenforalittlegirlthenisn'tit?” “She'sgottwogreyeyes.”hesaidkickingoverhisbucketofgoodies,Icouldheararatscurrying away.“Twogreyeyesandshecan'tseeoutofeitherofthem.” Ididn'thavethehearttotellhimthatinreality,itwasamercy.GreyeyesfromQueeniemeanthat youseetheworldasarat;blindnessmeansyouneverhavetoendurethatpunishment.YouseeQueenie isn'tsomebeautifulwomanwhorulesovertherats,she'snotbeautifulatall.Whenthesuncomesupon

thebanksofTheThames,ifyou’reluckysometimesyouwillseeahuge,hideousrat,withbristlingfur andyellowedteethandahorriblegreyeye.That'sQueenieinhertrueform. Tomleftthesewersshortlyafterthatday.Ineverseehimatall,evenaboveinthestreets.Who knowswherehedisappearedto. AllIcansayisthattoshingiswonderful,youworkforyourself,yougetdecentpayonanaverage dayandyoucanspendtherestofthetimeatthepub.Butifyoudecidetoventuredownintoourdark, stinkingworld,stayawayfromthebeautifulwomanwithonegreyeye.