The Pure

relax,’ Avner said. ‘You’ve had a hard night.’
    Uzi punched the dashboard once more and they fell silent. He lit his cigarette from Avner’s lighter, and smoked aggressively. When the cigarette was finished he took some cannabis from his pocket and started to roll a joint.
    ‘Come on,’ said Avner, ‘we’re on an operation. Take it easy.’
    ‘This isn’t a fucking operation.’ Uzi growled. ‘I left the Office, remember? There aren’t any more operations.’
    ‘Look, just put the joint down. If you’re stoned and something goes wrong, we’ll both be fucked. I saw you talking to yourself out there.’
    ‘What’s your problem? It’s just a spliff.’
    ‘Not when we’re on an operation. Not when I’m on your side.’
    ‘But are you on my side? You’re still working for the Office, if only as a shit shoveller.’
    ‘What are you talking about? I’m doing you a favour.’
    ‘You call this a favour? This isn’t a favour. It’s a two-way street. I’m helping you with your political hocus-pocus as well, don’t forget. Getting you your money.’
    ‘Whatever. I just don’t want a stoner with me on an operation, that’s all.’
    ‘Fuck you.’
    Uzi lit the spliff and began to smoke. There was a pause. He looked through the windscreen at the supermarket. The last of the customers had left the shop long ago, and inside the staff could be seen moving to and fro, stacking shelves, cleaning floors. Soon it would be time to end this thing and go home for a few hours’ sleep. He was feeling mellower now. He looked over at Avner, who was resting his head on the side window.
    ‘Want some?’ he said, holding out the spliff.
    ‘Oh fuck it,’ said Avner, and took a long drag.
    The moon shone and the Tesco staff started to leave.
    ‘Let’s do it now,’ said Uzi.
    ‘Not yet,’ Avner replied. ‘It’s still too busy.’
    The air was close and still. Avner opened the sun roof. There was a pause.
    ‘I think we’re being watched,’ said Uzi.
    ‘We’re not being watched.’
    ‘I can feel it.’
    Avner shook his head. ‘Already you’re getting spy syndrome? You’ve got to kick the dope habit. You’re not the man you used to be.’
    ‘None of us are.’
    ‘But with you it’s because of the dope.’
    ‘What are you, a therapist?’
    ‘You’ve got to give it up, you know. This habit.’
    ‘Whatever.’
    There was a pause.
    ‘Do you have any idea where you might go?’ said Avner.
    ‘When?’
    ‘After our operation. When we start over.’
    ‘I told you, I’m staying here in London. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother building my business. I wouldn’t be bothering with these jokers in the back.’
    ‘You can ruin your life if you want. I’m going somewhere nice.’
    ‘You should try Greece. It’s cheap over there at the moment.’
    ‘I can’t speak Greek,’ said Avner.
    ‘You could learn.’
    They stopped talking as a car swept past them, headlights sweeping the road, heading for home.
    ‘Funny, isn’t it?’ said Uzi. ‘What we’ve become.’
    ‘Funny?’ said Avner.
    ‘A year ago we were gods. Now look at us. Taking petty revenge on some small-time losers. Funny, eh?’
    ‘Yeah, hilarious.’
    They watched the supermarket for a while longer. More staff left. Then it was time. Avner released the handbrake and the van rolled silently out of the shadows towards the bottle bank. They pulled ski masks over their faces, then Uzi used a pair of bolt cutters to open the lid. Avner hauled the three parcels out and laid them out on the tarmac. They were breathing, but otherwise not making a sound.
    ‘Now, children,’ said Uzi in Russian, ‘your eyes will be feeling better by now. Who wants to see again?’ He reached down to the first of the men and pulled away the tape from around his eyes. A pair of pupils flicked from side to side.
    ‘Like Arab women,’ said Avner, restoring the gift of sight to the second man. Uzi laughed and did the same to the third. Then he laughed louder to show he was not afraid. There they were: three wrinkled mummies with eyes.
    ‘Now, my Polish children,’ he said, ‘we are about to start our lesson for today. We’re learning not to fuck with Tomislav Kasheyev. Concentrate, children, because you’ll have an exam on it later.’
    Widening eyes. The occasional scuff against the ground. Uzi was sick to the stomach but he didn’t admit it, even to himself. His wounds were hurting. But business was business.
    ‘Get on with it,’ said Avner