Robbery and Assault at Slouse's Shop
The robbery and assault at Slouse's shop is a key early event in Alex's narration, demonstrating the gang's method of using a 'sammy act' to establish an alibi before committing a violent crime, and showcasing the casual brutality and lack of effective policing that define their world.
Planning and the Sammy Act
After their first attack of the evening on the old professor, Alex and his droogs decide to unload some of their money to create an incentive for shop-crasting and to buy an alibi in advance. They go into the Duke of New York on Amis Avenue, where they find three or four old women drinking their black and suds on State Aid. Alex and his droogs act as very good malchicks, smiling and ordering four veterans—rum and cherry brandy—for themselves. Alex then pours his pocket of money all over the table, and the other three do likewise. They buy large Scotchmen for the scared old women and give each a bottle of cognac to take away, also paying for a dozen of black and suds to be delivered the following morning. They purchase all the meat pies, pretzels, cheese-snacks, crisps, and chocbars in the place for the old women. Pete remarks that the act makes them feel real dobby, though Dim does not quite understand. They then leave without one cent of money in their pockets, having established the old women as witnesses who will later swear they were in the pub all night.
The Attack on the Shop
Having established their alibi, the gang goes around the corner to Attlee Avenue, where a sweets and cancers shop is still open. They have left the shop alone for nearly three months, and the district has been quiet, so armed police patrols are not around much. They put on their maskies—new, realistic faces of historical personalities: Alex has Disraeli, Pete has Elvis Presley, Georgie has Henry VIII, and Dim has the poet Peebee Shelley. The masks are made of a special plastic that can be rolled up and hidden in a boot. Three of them go in, while Pete keeps watch outside. As soon as they enter the shop, they go for Slouse, the owner, a big portwine jelly of a man who immediately sees what is coming and makes for the inside where the telephone and his well-oiled gun are. Dim is around the counter quickly, sending packets of snoutie flying and cracking over a big cut-out of a woman advertising a new brand of cigarettes. A sort of big ball rolls into the inside of the shop behind the curtain, which is old Dim and Slouse locked in a death struggle, with panting, snoring, kicking, swearing, and glass smashing. Mother Slouse, the wife, is frozen behind the counter. Alex knows she will scream murder given one chance, so he gets around the counter quickly and grabs her, a big lump all nuking of scent with big bobbing groodies. Alex puts his hand around her mouth to stop her screaming, but she gives him a large foul bite, causing Alex to scream himself. She then lets out a loud yell for the police. She has to be tolchocked properly with one of the weights for the scales, and then a fair tap with a crowbar they had for opening cases, which brings the red out like an old friend. They have her down on the floor, rip her clothes for fun, and give her a gentle bit of the boot to stop her moaning. Alex wonders whether to have sex with her but decides that is for later in the evening. They clean out the till, finding flip horrorshow takings, and take a few packs of the very best top cancers each before leaving.
Aftermath and the Alibi
After the robbery, Dim looks dirty and untidy, like he has been in a fight, which he has. His cravat is trampled, his maskie has been pulled off, and he has floor-dirt on his face. Alex gets him in an alleyway and tidies him up a little, soaking their handkerchiefs in spit to clean the dirt off. They return to the Duke of New York very quickly, Alex reckoning they have not been more than ten minutes away. The old women are still there on the black and suds and Scotchmen they bought them. The gang orders beers with rum and whatever the old women want. Alex tells the old women they have not been out of the pub, and they have been there all the time. The old women catch on quickly and agree, saying, "That's right, lads. Not been out of our sight, you haven't. God bless you, boys." About half an hour later, two very young policemen come in and ask if they know anything about the happenings at Slouse's shop. Alex acts innocent, and the old women immediately provide the alibi, saying the boys have been in the pub all night. The police give them a nasty warning look before leaving. Alex feels a bit of disappointment at how easy everything is, with nothing to fight against, but reflects that the night is still very young.
