The bird of Manhatten

Chapter 21 - in which there is one betrayal and one, no, two rescues

Jacks P.O.V.

I quickly explain what I have in mind.
Davey agreed (thank god) an' dey even already have an article. Written by Denton.
Together we go ta find Denton.
We more or less catch him a bit of guard, but he lets us in.
He's packin' in his apartment. Says he lost his job an' is now goin' back ta report war stuff.
he meant every woid, he wrote, so he assures us. He tells us of all the child labour in dat damn city, an' how much money da people make from it.
"So, we can't really do, as long as dey have da power?", I ask.
Denton looks at me an' then looks back at his stuff on da table.
"Sometimes...", he says. "All it takes is a voice. One voice that becomes a hundred, and then a thousand, unless it's silenced."
He looks at each of us.
"But why can't we spread da strike?", I ask. "We could have another big rally. Wit' all the sweatshop kids."
"And what will you do? Put an ad in a newspaper?", Davey askes almost mockingly.
"No, we'll do better than dat.", I say. "We'll make our own pape."
But none seems really into it.
"Tell 'em day have ta join us.", I try again. "Ain't dat a good idea?"
"Yeah, it is.", Dave says. "But...", he looks ova ta Denton layin' a careful emphasis on his woids. "What do we know about printing a newspaper?"
"Nothin'." I answer, playin' along. "But our man Denton..."
Looks like Denton finally gets what we'se tryin' ta do, for he stops, turns ta us an' gives us a seriously-look.
"Yeah.", Davy speaks again, referrin' ta Dentons new job. "But I think our man, Denton, has something more important to do." He grabs da journalist by the shoulders.
"I mean, he's going to be an ace war correspondent.... Right Denton?"
Denton chuckles. Then he sighs. "All right. Where do we start?"
We all (except Les who is wanderin' through da room) sit down at da table.
"We gotta move fast.", I say an' explain my plan, again.
"That's good, just one tiny problem.", Denton says as I's done. "We need somewhere to print on."
I smirk. "So, it happens I know a guy wit' a printin' press. Come on."

I lead 'em through the already dark streets of Manhattan, back ta da circulation centre.
We sneak through da gate an' down da stairs.
"You've been living here?", Sarah asked.
"Yeah.", I whisper back. "But be quiet, dey'se right above us."
I lean against da door ta open it. It doesn't.
Da damn door's locked.
"Da damn doors locked", I tell da others my thought before another one hits me. "NO! Mags!"
"What's the matter with her?", Davey asks confused.
"I completely forgot 'bout her!"
"I found the key.", Les interrupts my worryin' an' gives me da key.
I unlock an' open da door.
Inside it's dark but we'se got a lantern.
"Mags?", I whisper as I walk down da stairs.
No answer.
"Mags? Ya here? It's me Jack."
Silence
At first.
After a short while: "Jack?"
I look around an' finally spot her.
She's standin' in da darkest corner, behind da old printin' press, an' slightly smiles at me.
But she can't fool me. Her face is covered wit' bruises an' her skirt an' blouse is torn.
"Mags!", I say. "What... what did dey do ta ya?"
"Calm down, Cowboy. I's ok."
"No, ya not."
"Hey Davey."
"Don't ignore me, god damn it." I grab her shoulder, causin' her ta wince. "Oh my god, I's-I's so sorry." I immediately let her go.
"Les. Sarah... Mr. Denton. What-"
"Sh!", I interrupt her. "We'se got a plan."
"A... plan?" She raises her eyebrows.
"Yes."

Magpie climbs through da window.
We had ta break it open by da way.
She's wearin' one of my new shirts an' a pair of my new trousers. Both is awfully too big, but she doesn't care.
We climb in da wagon an' begin our work.
After dat, all we have ta do is wait.

I use da, hopefully short, free time ta finally talk ta Magpie.
"Hey.", I says as I sit down beside her.
"Hey.", she answers, lookin' at me, slightly smilin'.
"So, tell me. What did dey-"
"Drop it, please. I ain't in da mood foa dat now."
"Mags-"
"No. Please. Jus'... jus' forget it."
"No."
"Why?"
"You'se my sista an' I care 'bout my sista, ya know?"
"No. Really. Why do ya care?"
"Ain't dat enough reason?"
"No! I's jus' a Newsie. I's not ya real sista, so much I wanna be, I's not. Ya said it ta Davey. Da Newsies ain't enough foa ya. Ya don't see 'em as a family. Ya still wanna go away. So, tell me why, foa gods' sake, da ya care about me?!"
"Did dey...", I ask when she finished her outburst.
She looks away ta her hands in her lab an' begins ta play wit' her fingers.
"They soaked me... again. Ok? It's fine.", she says, wavin' her hand like it's nothin'.
"I's gonna kill 'em!" stand up, but she grabs my hand.
"No!"
"Why?!", I almost shout. I can't believe her! "Dey freckin' soaked ya! Again!"
Some of da boys confused turn ta us.
"SH, ya idiot!" She shoves her hand over my mouth. "Ya won't kill 'em, because I'll do it myself, when we'se finished here."
I smile an' take her hand off my mouth. "Dat's da Magpie I know."