Oliver Twist Chapter 9 (narrated by Daniel) Bill Sikes When Oliver woke up in the morning he was surprised to find a new pair of shoes by his bed. His pleasure soon disappeared when he heard that he was going to see Bill Sikes. 'Why am I going?' he asked Fagin anxiously. 'Wait until Bill tells you,' said Fagin. 'Be careful, Oliver. Bill Sikes is an angry man. Do what he tells you.' Oliver was terribly afraid. Falling on his knees, he prayed to God to save him. Nancy came in. She turned very white when she saw Oliver praying, and she covered her face with her hands. 'Nancy!' cried Oliver. 'What is it?' 'Nothing,' said Nancy. 'Now, dear, are you ready? You must come with me to Bill. You must be good and quiet. Give me your hand.' 'So you have got the boy,' said Sikes when Nancy arrived. 'Did he come quietly?' 'Like a baby,' said Nancy. 'I am glad to hear it,' said Sikes. 'Come here, boy, and let me talk to you.' He pulled off Oliver's hat and threw it in a corner. 'Now, do you know what this is?' he asked, taking up a pistol which lay on the table. 'Yes, sir,' said Oliver. Sikes put bullets into the pistol. 'Now it is ready to use,' he said when he had finished. 'Yes, sir,' said Oliver. 'Well,' said Sikes, pressing the pistol against Oliver's head. 'If you speak a word when you are outside, I will shoot you in the head immediately. Do you hear?' Sikes woke Oliver up at five o'clock the next morning. It was still dark outside, and rain was falling against the windows. After a quick breakfast, Sikes and the boy hurried through the streets. The city was waking up. The inns and shops were opening for business, and people were going to work. The young boy had never seen so many people or so much activity. Sikes pulled Oliver along by his hand. 'Hurry now!' he said, looking up at the clock of a church. Daylight came as they reached the country roads. In the afternoon they came to an old inn, and Sikes ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire. They continued their journey. The night was very cold and not a word was spoken. They walked across the fields until the poor tired boy saw the lights of a town. At a bridge Sikes turned suddenly. He left the path and went down to an old ruined house. 'Hello!' cried a loud voice when they were inside. 'Don't make such a noise,' said Sikes, closing the door. 'Show a light, Toby.' A man appeared, holding a candle in his hand. He had red hair and big boots and some large rings on his dirty fingers. 'I am glad to see you, Bill,' said Toby Crackit. 'Is this the boy? ' 'One of Fagin's,' said Sikes. 'Oliver Twist. Give us something to eat and drink while we are waiting.' He turned to Oliver. 'Sit down by the fire and rest, boy,' he said. 'You will have to go out with us again tonight.' Oliver looked silently at Sikes and sat with his head in his hands. He was very tired and he did not really know what was happening. Later, when the two thieves were ready, they went out with Oliver between them. 'Take his other hand, Toby. Let's go,' said Sikes. They went quickly through the town, and then stopped in front of a house with a wall all round it. Toby Crackit quickly climbed to the top of the wall. 'The boy next,' he said. ' Lift him up. I will hold him.' Sikes caught Oliver under his arms. In three or four seconds he and Toby were lying on the grass on the other side. Sikes followed them over the wall immediately. Now, for the first time, Oliver understood that they were planning to enter the house - to steal and perhaps to murder. He fell to his knees in fear. 'Get up!' said Sikes angrily, taking the pistol from his pocket. 'Get up or I will shoot you through the head.' 'Oh, please let me run away and die in the fields,' cried Oliver. 'Don't make me steal!' Sikes put the pistol to Oliver's head, but Toby took it from him and put his hand over the boy's mouth. 'Quiet!' he whispered. 'Don't shoot here. If the boy says another word, I will hit him on the head.' He and Sikes took Oliver to the back of the house and they opened a small window. 'Now listen,' whispered Sikes to Oliver. He took a lamp from his pocket and lit it. 'I am going to put you through there. Take this light, go up the steps and along the little hall to the door. Open it and let us in.' He stood on Toby's bent back and lifted Oliver through the window. 'Take this lamp,' he said.' Can you see the stairs?' 'Yes,' whispered Oliver, shaking. Sikes pointed to the door. 'If you don't open it, I will shoot you!' he warned. 'Now go.' Oliver had decided that he would go upstairs from the hall and wake the family. He did not mind if he died. With this idea in his mind, he took one step forward. 'Come back!' cried Sikes. 'Back! Back!' Frightened by this loud cry, Oliver dropped his lamp. A light appeared at the top of the stairs, and he saw two men. There was another cry, a loud noise, a sudden light and smoke, and Oliver fell back. He had been shot. Sikes reached out and seized Oliver before the smoke had cleared away. He fired his own pistol after the men, who were already running away. He pulled Oliver quickly through the window. 'Give me a coat, Toby,' he said. 'They have hit him.' Then came the noise of a bell ringing. Men were shouting. Oliver was carried quickly across the ground. Then he fainted and he saw and heard nothing more. Sikes rested the body of Oliver Twist across his knee. Then he shouted to Toby Crackit. 'Come back and help me carry the boy.' But men were already climbing over the gate into the field. There were dogs with them too. 'They are chasing us!' cried Toby, 'Drop the boy!' Toby disappeared. Sikes threw a coat over Oliver and ran. The two servants from the house came to the middle of the field. They looked round. 'I can't see them,' one said. 'We should go home now.' 'Yes, Mr Giles,' said the other man. His face was white. 'You are afraid, Brittles,' said the first man, whose face was even whiter. 'We are both afraid. It is normal,' replied Brittles. The air became colder as the sky grew light. The rain came down heavily. Still Oliver lay on the cold wet ground, where Sikes had left him.