The Pickpocket 20. The Pickpocket It was mid-afternoon before Dougal had the confidence to leave his flat and that was only because the stones gave him courage. Had the choice been his, he wouldn’t have gone out at all, but the uniform he planned to wear that night for the dress rehearsal of the Tattoo had to be collected from a nearby dry-cleaner. Looking from his window, he saw that the streets were busy and eventually decided that, as long as he tagged along with groups of people, he ought to be safe. Although he suspected that his flat was being watched and peered suspiciously from his window from time to time, he could see no one lurking around outside. Amgarad, perched motionless but vigilant on the pinnacles of the Tron Kirk, was well hidden and the pigeons who flew in at around lunchtime looked innocent enough. Jaikie and Hamish, however, had been at the meeting in the distillery that morning and their errand was serious. Everyone had managed to attend the meeting, even the Ranger who was tired from working so much overtime.
