Anna did not sleep all night she was excited early in the morning her father called her come on Anna it's time to get up It's a Long Way to the station Anna got dressed and she was soon ready she did not eat any breakfast she was nervous she was going to visit her aunt in naira she was going alone in a train for the first time Anna and her father left the village and began to walk to the station it was a long way they reached the station at midday soon the train came it was
nearly empty Anna got in she was frightened it was her first journey away from home your aunt will meet you at naira her father said be careful now Anna don't talk to any strangers the train started suddenly soon it was going fast Anna watched her father he looked smaller and smaller then he disappeared the train journey was very long Anna looked out of the window the fields trees Villages and animals rushed past after a long time she began to feel sleepy she was very tired slowly she fell asleep later Anna woke up it was dark
outside she felt small and lost she was a long way from her Village and her father there was a man in the carriage with her now he had an ugly face and he was very big and strong his hair was very short he looked bad and dangerous the man smiled at Anna hello he said you're awake now are you where are you going Anna remembered her father's words she did not say anything are you going to polona ask the man Anna was surprised no to naira she said naira said the man but we passed naira
two hours ago you were asleep Anna wanted to cry she sat very still it was warm in the carriage but Anna felt cold we've passed naira she asked yes said the man Anna thought of the journey back to naira how much did it cost she did not have any money she thought of her aunt at naira station don't worry said the man I'll help you what's your name Anna she said my name is Sam said the man you can trust me Anna Anna looked at Sam again he was very ugly he had a long scar
on his face and he looked dangerous but he seemed kind was he good or bad Anna did not know the train began to slow down Sam got up and looked out of the window Anna saw a newspaper on Sam's seat there was a photograph on the back page it was Sam's photograph above the photograph was a headline this man is a dangerous fighter now Anna was sure Sam was a bad man and dangerous too he was a criminal Anna must be careful she must get away from him quickly Sam left the window we're coming into
polona now he said Stay With Me I'll help you the train stopped Anna jumped up and ran to the door she wanted to run away the door was very heavy she could not open it Sam was standing behind her I'll open it he said at the station exit Anna was stopped where is your ticket this ticket is for naira I fell asleep I passed naira I haven't got any money I'll pay said voice it was Sam thank you sir come with me Anne Anna wanted to run away but she was frightened of Sam she was
tired and lost Kelowna was a big town Anna did not know anybody there Sam called a taxi get in Anna he said Anna got in the Boxer Hotel Sam said to the driver the taxi went a long way the streets of polona were wide and busy there were lots of cars and shops and people the taxi turned into a small dark Street and stopped Sam got out and paid the taxi driver Anna looked up and down the street come on Anna said Sam Anna could not run away she was weak and slow Sam was big
and strong she followed Sam into the hotel there was a cafe Inside the Hotel it did not look very clean two men were drinking and playing cards they saw Sam one of them said hello Sammy come and have a drink who's the pretty girl Sam took off his coat and sat down hello Tino hello bubs he said this is Anna she's lost the men looked at Anna and laughed lost is she said Tino poor Anna you're a lucky man Sam have a drink Sam gave Anna a chair she sat down she looked at the men
Tino had a mustache bugs did not have any front teeth they looked tough the men were drinking Tino gave Anna a glass come on Anna he said drink some wine Anna pushed the glass away she thought I mustn't eat or drink anything these men will give me a drug then I will fall asleep Sam called the waiter bring some dinner he said bring some good hot food the waiter came with the food bubs put some of the food on a plate and gave it to Anna it looked good and smelled delicious Anna forgot about drugs
and began to eat she ate quickly and finished everything she put her spoon down the men were looking at her they laughed Anna was very frightened again come on Anna said Sam you're tired you must go to bed now he took her arm lock her door Sam said Tino there are bad men in polona you must keep her safe bubs laughed good night Anna he said Sam took Anna upstairs and into a bedroom her heart was beating fast good night Anna said Sam he smiled at her don't worry you are safe here Anna did not
say anything Sam seemed kind but she remembered the newspaper Sam was dangerous and his friends looked dangerous too she must escape Sam went out of the room and shut the door he locked it and went downstairs Anna sat on the bed and cried downstairs the men drank and played cards Anna heard their voices they were laughing after a long time she fell asleep Anna woke late the Sun was shining she looked out of the window the waiter was sitting outside in the street he was smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper Anna looked round the
room it was dirty there was some old paper on the floor in one corner there was a small table with some things on it Anna had an idea there was a Biro on the table she took the Biro and picked up a piece of paper from the floor She Wrote please help me I want to go to naira my aunt is waiting for me there I must escape I have no money and no friends Anna she threw the note out of the window the waiter picked it up he read the note he looked up and
saw her he smiled at her and went into the hotel Anna heard voices outside her room somebody unlocked the door the waiter came in there was somebody on the stairs behind him it's a policeman thought Anna he's brought a policeman she ran forward it was Sam he was holding her note in his hand good afternoon Anna said Sam you've slept very late you must be hungry come and have some food we're going soon the waiter smiled at Sam Anna understood the waiter did not want to help her he and Sam were friends Anna went downstairs
with Sam and they gave her some food but she was not hungry she did not eat or drink anything Sam went outside into the street Anna heard voices Sam was talking to a man what were they planning Sam came inside again come on Anna we must go now he said a taxi was waiting outside Anna and Sam got in where are we going Anna asked Sam looked at her till take you to your aunt later he said first I have an important job to do Sam smiled the smile twisted his face he looked very ugly
soon the taxi stopped Sam and Anna got out they were outside a big building there was a notice outside Anna understood now Sam was a boxer dangerous fighter meant good boxer Sam was not a criminal Anna followed Sam into the building it was a very big haul there were seats on all sides in the middle was the boxing ring Tino and bubs were waiting for them stay here Anna said Sam Tino and bubs will look after you I must go now Tino and Bob shook Sam's hand good luck Sam said bubs you'll win all right
said Tino Anna smiled at Sam for the first time good luck Sam She said Tino and bubs took Anna to a seat beside the ring Tino sat on one side of her and Bob sawing the other Anna sat quietly and waited the two men talked excitedly Sam's going to win said Tino of course he'll win said bubs he's the best fighter in the country Anna listened Sam was famous everybody wants him to win said Tino everybody likes him that's right said bubs Sam's a great boxer and he's a good man too one know a story
about Sam said Tino one night he was asleep in bed he heard shouts in the street and he looked outside a house was on fire he ran outside there was a child in the burning house he went inside and saved the child but he was badly hurt his face was burned and he got a bad scar poor Sam said bubs that's why he's so ugly they both laughed Anna was listening quietly she now understood everything she was safe with Sam she felt sorry for him is the fight going to start soon she asked Tino yes
of course said Tino it will start very soon the hall was full of people now boys were selling cigarettes and sweets everybody was laughing and joking the referee was waiting in the ring the audience was excited now Sam Sam we want Sam they shouted Sam climbed into the ring he was wearing short trousers and big boxing gloves he raised both hands in the air the crowd was clapping Sam Sam Sam they shouted the other fighter climbed into the ring he was very big and strong Here Comes Danny said Tino he's a very good fighter Anna
was worried don't you worry Anna said bubs Sam's the best fighter in the country the referee called the two boxers to the center of the Ring he spoke to them quietly for a few moments then Sam and Danny shook hands the two fighters went back to their corners and waited a bell rang and the fight began Danny was younger than Sam but he was a good fighter he moved fast he tried to hit Sam but Sam jumped away every time Sam's arms were long he moved very quickly he hit Danny hard many times Anna was
very excited her hands held the seat tightly it was a long fight Sam moved quickly he hit Danny often but Danny did not fall down Sam was getting tired he was moving more slowly Anna was worried the crowd was shouting Sam Sam Anna shouted Sam Sam come on Sam watch out Tino and bubs were shouting too Danny hit Sam's face hard blood came out of Sam's nose and one of his eyes was nearly closed but Sam did not stop he ran forward and hit Danny with all his strength Danny fell over and lay still the
referee started to count one two three four Danny did not move five six seven Danny tried to get up he could not eight nine ten Danny lay still the fight was over Sam was the winner Anna was laughing and clapping well done Sam well done Sam She shouted nobody heard her everybody was shouting Sam we want Sam we want Sam Tino and bubs took Anna to the dressing room Sam was resting hello Sam said Anna you were great Sam was surprised hello Anna he said you're different now you didn't talk to me before I'm sorry
Sam said Anna I was frightened I know said Sam I'm big and ugly and you were frightened but I'm not a criminal Anna I'm sorry Sam Anna said again I was wrong I'm not frightened now Sam was pleased come on Anna he said we'll go to naira now your aunt is waiting for you Anna said goodbye to Tino and bubs she got into a taxi with Sam it was a long way to naira and Anna asked Sam many questions they talked and talked and talked they reached naira at night it was dark Sam new naira
he quickly found Anna's aunt's house they knocked on the door the door Anna's aunt was standing in the doorway she was crying oh Anna Anna she said thank God you are here at last then she saw Sam he looked terrible his face was cut and bruised after the fight Anna she said who is this man Auntie Anna said don't be angry this is Sam I fell asleep on the train I passed naira station Sam helped me he took me to a hotel he brought me to naira in a taxi Anna's Aunt looked at Sam again
wait a minute she said she ran inside she came back with a newspaper Sam's photograph was on the back page are you Sam the boxer she asked yes I am said Sam Anna's aunt was pleased Sam was famous he was a great man everybody knew him come in Sam She said please sit down will you have some tea Anna sat in the room with her aunt and Sam she did not say anything she felt very happy Anna's Aunt asked Sam many questions she laughed a lot she liked him it was getting very late I must
go now Anna said Sam can I come and see you again yes Sam said Anna she smiled at him
