Then another man jumped into the ring. He was tall—about half a foot taller than Bosco, who was no midget himself—and brawny, with bulging arms and a profusion of rings. He had rings on his fingers, toes, and even through his ears, nose and lips. He was shining with sweat too—either getting into that ring was a lot harder than it looked or, considering his tardy arrival, it was just the effort of getting through the crowd. He stood on the platform, looking at the sky with his arms raised, bellowing. Since his technique also involved shaking his arms and his head at the same time, the overall effect was of a roar amidst much jingling, as the plethora of rings all over him gamely contributed to the cause. Depending on which way one looked at it, the effect was either that of a lion trying to imitate a siren, or a really angry bell.

‘Ah!’ said Kieran. ‘That’s—’

The rest of what he said was lost in the roar of the crowd as the two men lunged at each other. They grappled for a moment, then Bosco pushed the ring-faced man back before following up with a violent swing of his fist which would have probably decapitated the man if he hadn’t ducked.

But Ring-Face was quick and, having avoided the blow, followed up with a couple of his own that connected—the first a vicious uppercut that landed somewhere in the middle of Bosco’s beard, the next a powerful kick to the stomach that sent him flying to land on his back.

There didn’t seem to be much sympathy for the fallen hero. The crowd went wild. Albert turned to Kieran. ‘Not doing too well, is he?’

Kieran winked at him. ‘Oh, ’e’s jus drivin’ the bets up now.’

Bosco got to his feet, just in time for Ring-Face to negate the entire effort with another punch that sent him back down with a thud and a groan. Almost immediately, he was up again, and was greeted with a push that sent him against the nearest rope. He bounced back, just in time for his beard to meet an outstretched boot, sending him down on his back once more. It looked like he was unconscious.

Albert looked at Kieran again. ‘Well?’

‘Wait and watch,’ Kieran assured him.

Ring-Face turned around and did his roar-jingle thing again, while the crowd howled around him. Albert couldn’t tell if they were jeering or booing.

Behind him, Bosco struggled to his knees, lifting himself up with difficulty. Ring-Face looked around and, grinning broadly, clasped his hands together and smashed them down on the bald head. Bosco collapsed. Yet somehow, he got up again, so Ring-Face, who evidently believed in being thorough, repeated the process, with the same result.

Next to Albert, Kieran was looking far less assured. ‘’E’s left it too late,’ he muttered.