Chapter 12
The apartment became oppressive after a while, and as I think better when walking, I stretched my legs with a walk into the city, hoping to find a locksmith along the way. It was a pleasant day, and I enjoyed the outing, as far as I was able to, while trying to digest everything that had happened over the last few days. There was a moving throng of people, and I felt safe in the crowd of shoppers, business folk and messengers.
The vice-like grip on my right elbow took me completely by surprise. It hurt, and I couldn’t move my arm, never mind wrenching myself free. The owner of the grip walked alongside, as though we were friends, as he steered me past shops, avoiding people and across an intersection. He was big. As wide as he was tall. A walking trash compactor with a thickse
