REVENGE

REVENGE.

"Henry Bender"

The judge's voice boomed sonorously around the courtroom.

"Society in general and this court in particular is heartily fed up
with you and your activities. According to your record you have been a
bane in the lives of law -abiding citizens for over thirty years. Your
legal representative has made a valiant effort to present you as some
sort of loveable rogue. Well, rogue you definitely are but loveable you
definitely are not. Mostly your crimes up to now have been of a petty
variety consisting mainly of small-time burglaries and thieving
resulting in short sentences, probationary orders even electronic
tagging but this time you have gone too far. You broke into a house
whilst the occupants were asleep and when one of them woke up and
interrupted your evil activities you attacked him in a vicious manner
causing actual bodily harm. This was a man in his late seventies for
which you showed no regard or respect. It is a matter of good fortune
that you are not facing a far more serious charge. As it is, it is
serious enough. You will go to prison for ten years. Take him
down".

Henry 'Bendy' Bender sneered at the judge as he turned to be led
away.

"Stupid old git". He muttered under his breath.
"What does he know? He doesn't know what he's talking about. None of
them do, they're all stupid"

To 'Bendy' Bender everyone was stupid. None of them knew what they
where talking about and none of them knew what really happened.
In this last instance he was actually correct.

Locked up in a holding cell, waiting for the meat wagon, Bendy pondered
on the circumstances of his capture.

It was so unfair! There he was, walking along the street, minding his
own business having just done a couple of quick break-ins when he saw
this gaff just asking to be done. All the lights were out and no car in
the drive. It never ceased to amaze Bendy that when people went out
they turned all the lights off making it appear obvious that no one was
at home. Either that or they would leave the carzy light on deluding
themselves that any passing villain would actually believe that someone
was up there for hours on end straining away.

A quick shufti up and down the street to make sure the coast was clear
and Bendy was round the side, over the wall and round the back in
double quick time. No problem!
Casement windows, no extra security locks. Easy peasy!

Elbow through the glass, no need to worry about noise, there's no one
at home and in we go.

In fact, events didn't go exactly according to plan, or lack of plan,
as Bendy was about to find out.

"Oy, you. What d'you think you're doing?"

Standing in front of him was this stupid old black git wearing
pyjamas.

"It's all right" said Bendy trying not to laugh "No need to get excited
granddad. I've made a mistake and I'm going now"

"Oh no you're not, Sunny Jim" and the old git moved closer with his
fists raised.

The old chap was tall but although Bendy was below average height he
had a very strong and wiry frame which apart from his profession was
one of the reasons for his nickname.

Bendy knew that in these circumstances a couple of sharp punches to the
belly usually did the trick. Most victims were so winded that they just
gave up but this old idiot just kept coming. Bendy managed two blows to
the solar plexus to no effect."Shit" he thought,"this bloke's made of
iron"

In the next instant Bendy was on the floor, face down, with the old
bloke's knee in the small of his back and his right arm in a rigid
arm-lock.

"What's going on" It was a woman's voice.

"Don't worry" said the old man,"I've caught a nasty little rat but I've
got him so you send for the police"

"Oh, right you are. I'll use the phone upstairs."

Even with his face pressed against the kitchen lino Bendy could not
help noticing her calm acceptance of the situation as if nothing out of
the ordinary had occurred.

When she had gone off to use the phone the old man leaned down so his
mouth was close to Bendy's ear. "Listen to me you little turd, the
slightest struggle from you and I'll dislocate your arm out of your
shoulder. Do you understand?"

"Yes" Gasped Bendy, the pain in his shoulder and elbow was bringing
tears to his eyes.

"Yes sir" said the old man increasing the pressure slightly.

"Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir "Squealed Bendy "please stop"

It was almost a relief to Bendy when he heard the sirens and saw the
flashing lights that signalled the arrival of the police.

What a performance at the trial! The old man staggered in on his wife's
arm barely able to walk and gave his evidence in a creaky, breathless
voice as if finding it difficult to speak. He complained that after the
incident he had been on painkillers for several weeks and was still
having physiotherapy.

As for the medical evidence! The doctor testified that the mans ribs,
although not broken, were badly bruised, that he needed bed-rest,
painkillers and was very fortunate that his injuries were not more
serious but he had suffered a great shock and was psychologically
traumared by the incident.

Of course Bendy tried to explain that the old man was as strong as an
ox and he was lucky not to have a dislocated shoulder.

Prosecuting council was scathing in his sarcasm.

"Are you trying to tell this court and this jury that a man of seventy
six ignored the trauma of two vicious blows to the body and went on to
overpower a man many years his junior? I don't think so Mr Bender, I
don't think so at all. I put it to you that what really happened was
that you tripped whilst making your escape, knocked yourself
unconscious on the table, which gave your victim the opportunity to cry
out in great pain to his wife to summon assistance. As for your
submission that the bruise on your forehead was caused by being kicked
by a police officer whilst you were pinned to the floor by your elderly
victim, well, we can treat that with the contempt it deserves..

Bendy knew he was done for. Trussed up like a kipper and well
fried.

A key turned in the lock and the cell door swung open. Bendy started to
stand up.

"You can stay put, " said the duty sergeant entering the cell."We won't
be rid of you for a couple of hours yet. Till then, you have a
visitor"

Bendy's glance took in the figure in the doorway. Polished, good
quality shoes, razor sharp trouser creases, suit off the peg but
expensive, custom made shirt, silk tie, all topped off with a smiling
black face.

"Hello Bendy, remember me?"

"If you're some poncy social worker trying to get me to mend my ways
you can piss off"

"Oh come on Bendy, you must remember, we were in the same class at
school. George Hampton".

Bendy stared at the face and recognition dawned.

"Yeah, I remember now, Blacky Hampton. What are you doing here and what
d'you want?"

"We've both moved on since school. You've progressed from petty larceny
to serious crime and I'm a barrister. I knew you were in court today
and I came especially to observe your case"

"So Blacky Hampton's now a flash git lawyer. If you came here to gloat
you can kiss my arse".

"No, not at all. I'm legal advisor to the man you attacked."

"What that lying black bastard?" Bendy started to get up, his fists
clenched menacingly but the duty sergeant, who up till then had
remained silent, raised his hand and cleared his throat loudly. Bendy
remained seated.

"That's him. You picked the wrong victim there Bendy. He wasn't just
another easy old man. He did thirty-five years in the army. Royal
Marines, the best in the world. He still goes to the gym four times a
week and runs theLondon Marathon.

"How terribly interesting" sneered Bendy "but I bet you robbed him
worse than I ever could. How much did you charge him for your
invaluable advice?"

"Nothing at all," Hampton chuckled, "he's my father and I must say he
did very well in court, followed my advice to the letter, stitched you
up nicely."

"What" Yelled Bendy, indignant at the injustice of what he'd just
heard. "Are you telling me that you set me up? That you got him to come
out with all that crap about being a sick, helpless, old man? Why? Why?
What for? They'd already nicked me for burglary what was the
point?"

Hampton smiled but there was no humour in his eyes.

"Revenge, Bendy. Pure, simple revenge. I knew that you would get just
another short stretch for just another break-in but I saw the chance to
get even on behalf of all the people you robbed, traumatised and
terrorised over the years. For all the times you rampaged through some
one's home destroying their property and their peace of mind, pissing
in their bed because you thought it would be a laugh. I saw the
opportunity to give justice a helping hand and your victims a little
satisfaction and with my father's help I took it."

A cunning gleam now came into Bendy's eye.

"D'you realise what you've done? You've admitted to perverting the
course of justice in front of a witness. This officer is a witness to
what you've just said. Oh, this is great!" Bendy laughed out loud. A
laugh fuelled by the sense of triumph. "I am going to sue the bollocks
off you, the court, the police and anyone else I can think of."

Hampton smiled and this time he meant it.

"Do you remember, Bendy, about a year ago you broke into a woman's
house. You ransacked the place for a few pieces of jewellery and some
cash. Then, leaving your usual trail of destruction, you went out the
front door just as the woman was walking up the front path. You went
right up to her, held your hands up like claws, shoved your face right
up close to hers and gave a loud, shrieking scream. The woman passed
out in a dead faint. You were caught because a neighbour saw you. You
got three months suspended. Do you remember that Bendy?"

"Yeah, I remember. Stupid cow came home early. So what's that got to do
with anything?"

"She was traumatised and on tranquillisers for months. She still has
nightmares about it."

Hampton paused to allow his next sentence to sink in."She was and is
this police sergeant's sister."

The look of triumph disappeared from Bendy's face.

"Tell me, sergeant, have you heard one word spoken in this cell in the
last five minutes?"
The sergeant, who had been staring at the floor, looked up in mock
startlement."Sorry sir. Did you speak to me sir? I'm afraid I was miles
away"

Bendy's whole body sagged as he mentally caved in.
"All right, all right, so you got me. Now piss off and leave me
alone."
"Oh no no Bendy you don't get away with it that easy. I haven't
finished with you yet. Do you remember that time at school when you
punched me? You were aiming for my eye or my nose but I managed to turn
my head in time and you caught my forehead. Left quite a nasty
bruise"

"I punched you lots of times you slimy, black bastard"

"Yes, and usually I would punch you back and we'd fight until a teacher
separated us, but that time I didn't. Something came over me"

"Yeah" sneered Bendy "it's called cowardice"

"Not at all. It was as if an inner voice was telling me to bide my
time. Do you remember what I said?"

"Probably cried for your mummy"

"I said" went on Hampton, ignoring the jibe,"one day I would get my
revenge. You laughed, you thought it hilarious that I might challenge
you to some kind of duel. But I knew that one day my time would
come."

"So, what are you going to do now, punch me back? Even with this bent
copper here you wouldn't dare hit a prisoner"

"No, Bendy, you don't understand. I want real revenge. That doesn't
necessarily mean physical response. Real revenge should strike at the
very psychological core of the recipient. Real revenge is the knife in
the heart without drawing blood. Real revenge must last for as long as
life lasts. That's why I will take my revenge this coming Saturday at
nine o'clock in the evening, not just for that one punch but for all
the abuse that I took from you whilst we were at school and for all
your other victims during your miserable life."

Bendy leant back and viewed Hampton with contempt.

"Well, that's really interesting but you seem to have forgotten
something. In a few hours I shall be leaving here and come Saturday I
shall be in some nick up north."

"That's right, and I shall be at a law society dinner amongst guests
who will include judges, barristers, cabinet ministers and important
people from the world of business. At that dinner it will be announced
that a few others and I have been awarded silk. I am being made a QC, a
Queens Councillor."

"I know what a QC is, I'm not stupid, but what's it got to do with
me?"

"What it's got to do with you is that at nine o'clock I shall take my
revenge. At precisely and exactly on the stroke of nine, at that
exclusive dinner, in the company of those eminent people I shall raise
my glass
and think of you. At precisely that same moment I know that you,
sitting
in your stinking cell, will be thinking of me and we will both know
that the pain of that moment will live within you forever. That will be
my revenge.
Till Saturday at nine, goodbye"
Before Bendy could think of a response Hampton was gone.

The police sergeant didn't say a word, just left the cell, slammed the
door and locked it.
Outside he called out."George, hey George hang on a minute."
Hampton waited along the corridor.
"Yes Tom."

"That was a bit of a liberty you took in there wasn't it?"

"In what way Tom?"

"In what way? In what way? You've got a nerve. You know bloody well
that I haven't even got a sister."

"In that case, Tom, I owe you a pint."

"In that case, my friend, you owe me at least two pints."

"It will be my pleasure Tom."

George Hampton, QC, sat at his table in the magnificent banqueting hall
and surveyed his fellow guests. The country's leading intelligentsia
and he was one of them. From third-generation immigrant in class four B
at that run-down comprehensive school to this. He glanced sideways at
his wife, a successful solicitor. After all these years of marriage and
two children, to him she was still the most beautiful of women.

He looked at his watch. A few minutes to go.
He picked up his full, crystal, wineglass and considered that the glass
and wine together probably cost more than his father used to earn in a
week.

In his cell, which he shared with a belching, tattooed pig, Bendy sat
on his bunk and fumed.

"I'll get them, I'll get them all. That stupid judge, those stinking
coppers, that smarmy, black bastard. Just wait. Just wait till I get
out of here. I'll show them, I'll show them all. As soon as I get out
of here I'll show them I'm not stupid."

He looked at his watch. A few minutes to nine. 'I don't give a shit
what time it is? Who does that black bastard think he is, trying to
psyche me out like that?'

At that moment the tattooed pig farted loudly.

"Oy" Yelped Bendy. "Do you mind!"

"Shut your face you skinny git"

The tattooed pig was very large and had a reputation for hurting
people.
Bendy shut his face and lay back on his bunk.

The minute and hour hands were showing nine o'clock. George Hampton,
QC, picked up his glass of fine wine and watched the second hand on
it's upward sweep. At precisely the moment it reached it's zenith
George raised his glass and under his breath muttered the silent
toast,
"To revenge." And drank it down.

At that precise moment Henry 'Bendy' Bender rolled over on his bunk and
pressed his face against the wall so the world would not see his
tears.