Deliverance: A Justice Belstrang Mystery by John Pilkington (top 10 most read books in the world .TXT) 📗

I said nothing, merely rose and went out into the foundry yard. Standing by Leucippus, breathing somewhat hard, I waited until Russell appeared with a paper folded into a tight square, tied with cord. But as I reached out to take it, he grasped my hand tightly.

‘Now I’ll say this, Pride,’ he breathed, leaning close. ‘If you ever let slip one word of what I’ve told you, your life will be ended. You may be certain of that.’

In silence I met his gaze. My impulse was to ask if he was the one who had sent someone to deliver that painful warning, two days earlier. But I merely waited for him to let go, took the paper and got myself mounted.

As I rode away, I glanced back to see the man watching me – and even from a distance I saw his look of unallayed menace. Urging the horse to a canter, I strove to put thoughts of Master Russell from my mind, and faced up to what lay ahead.

I could only hope I was in time to catch the afternoon tide.

***

The next hours passed in a hurry.

Back at The Comfort, I sought out Hawes and told him that I would be away for a while, and was obliged to leave Leucippus in his stable. As I handed money over, I held his gaze and let him understand that if anything was amiss when I returned, the consequences would be grave: the horse was precious to me, and should have only the best of care. In addition, I gave him a small sum to keep my chamber for my return. He listened until our business was concluded, then:

‘Do you intend to walk, Master Pride? There’s naught but forest in every direction… save the river, of course.’

I met his eye, but read nothing. Not for the first time, I suspected this man knew more than he told - but I was in a hurry. ‘I’ll return in a few days,’ I said brusquely. Whereupon I made haste to go up to my room and gather my belongings. There was little to pack, of course: what had started out as a brief journey four days before, to stay overnight with Sir Richard at Foxhill, had turned into something quite different.

Soon I was outside again, walking as quickly as I could along the track to Purton. Time was short, the afternoon was advancing and I’d had no dinner. Russell’s words came back to me as I walked: I expected little hospitality from Captain Spry, and an uncomfortable voyage ahead. I was unsure how far it was, downriver to Bristol… twenty miles? Setting my jaw tight, I forged ahead in the sunshine, perspiring as I went.

Mercifully I was in time, but only just.

The wharf was quiet. One or two men stood about, but the crane was idle, the stack of cannon-trunks gone. The Lady Ann, fully laden, sat low in the water, her cargo covered with sheeting. No sails were raised, but doubtless she would embark soon… I made my way to the trow’s side, then saw to my dismay that there was no gangplank.

Feeling mighty conspicuous, if not foolish, I called out. After a moment one of the crewmen appeared, to be joined by another. With some gesturing, I made them understand that I was a passenger, with authorisation for the captain. I held up the paper and waited, until at last Spry emerged from behind the aft awning. I watched him confer with his men, then look my way… whereupon his curse was plainly audible, and as vile as only a sailor’s curses can be.

But still I waited, my unease growing until I half-expected the man to set sail without me. Hence my relief was great when the gangplank was brought from somewhere and thrown across the gap between quayside and vessel. Without further delay I hoisted my pack of belongings and clambered aboard, proffering my paper before me. Spry snatched it, tore it open and read the scrawled message with a face of thunder. Then he faced me, and spoke up.

‘Lord help me, Pride, but the moment you give me the least cause, I’ll let you fall over the side – you and your whoreson letter of passage. But first I’ll wait until we’re on a fast current, so you’re swept out into the Channel… if you don’t drown, the sharks will have you. Do you understand me?’

To which I drew a long breath, tamped down Justice Belstrang’s indignation, and forced a nod.

And within a quarter hour all was bustle aboard the trow, as the mast was raised from where it had lain on her deck: the customary position, to enable her to pass under bridges. Her sails were hoisted, then as the wind filled them, ropes were thrown from the quayside. And soon after that we were moving south-west on the broad river, with the afternoon sun ahead.

***

That night I slept beneath the stars; there was no room under the aft decking where Spry, his three crewmen and Yakup lay, packed together and bundled in blankets. There had been no disagreement: once the captain showed me how small was the space, I had volunteered. The night was not too cold – and there was the imposing sight of the Great Comet, fiery-tailed, still bright in the southern sky. I thought briefly of home, of Hester and Childers with his warnings of doom, before managing to sleep a little. This was despite the rocking at anchor of the Lady Ann, the snores from the rear, and the fact that I had eaten nothing but bread and cheese, shared grudgingly with me by Spry’s crewmen. That, and the grim feeling that I could be on a wasted journey.

For I was unsure now