“Whaddayou call that?” he demanded, flinging the tankard at the barmaid. He missed. Irritated, he staggered to his feet, glared furiously at the barmaid, then reeled his drunken way towards the door.
The barmaid nodded surreptitiously at the tall man lounging against the wall. He smirked knowingly and slouched casually after Alan.
“Come,” he said. “I know a better place.”
“Anyfinksh berreren that catshpisssh,” Alan growled as he lurched outside.
The man barely caught him before the poison took full effect. “He’s a big ‘un,” he observed. “Them bodysnatchers’ll pay well for ‘im.”