Chapter 5

“‘S all right,” I said hoarsely. I swallowed, and cast around for a way to change the subject. “Why’s your boat called Rent?”

Rupe laughed. “Because having bought her, it’s what I now can’t afford to pay. Plus, I must admit to a passing fondness for the Pet Shop Boys.”

“Yeah? I’ve got all their albums.” Thank God—finally something we had in common. “Neil Tennant’s definitely bent, despite what he says.”

“Oh, absolument. No, the plan is to rename her eventually, anyway. If I ever become gainfully employed,” Rupe went on dreamily, “I’ll buy a 40-footer, and name her Withnail. At which point Rent will become I, obviously.”

It was like he was talking a foreign language. And I’d always been crap at those. “You what?”

“Oh, come on! From the film—Withnail and I. You must have seen it.”

“Sorry, no.”