Thieves World 01 – Thieves World by Asprin, Robert

resolve to recruit the children.

‘Talk it over with your friends,’ he urged. ‘A full stomach can … where are we

going?’

, They had left the dank Serpentine for an alley so narrow that Jubal had to

edge sideways to follow.

‘To meet Hakiem,’ Mungo called, not slackening his pace.

‘But where is he?’ Jubal pressed. ‘I do not know this rat run.’

‘If you knew it, it would not make a good hiding place.’ The boy laughed.’i.t’s

just a little further.’

As he spoke, they emerged from the crawl-space into a small courtyard.

‘We’re here,’ Mungo announced, coming to a halt in the centre of the yard.

‘Where?’ Jubal growled standing beside him. ‘There are no doors or windows in

these walls. Unless he is hiding in one of those refuse heaps …’

He broke off his commentary as the details of their surroundings sank into his

mind. No doors or windows! The only other way out of the courtyard was another

crawl-space as small as that they had just traversed … except that it was

blocked by a pile of wooden cartons. They were in a cul-de-sac!

A sudden crash sounded behind them, and Jubal spun to face it, his hand going

reflexively to his sword. Several wooden boxes had fallen from the roof of one

of the buildings, blocking the entrance.

‘It’s a trap!’ he hissed, backing towards a corner, his eyes scanning the

rooftops.

There was a sudden impact on his back. He staggered slightly, then lashed

backwards with his sword, swinging blind. His blade encountered naught but air,

and he turned to face his attacker.

Mungo danced lightly just out of sword range, his eyes bright with triumph and