Belonging

by P M Cole

  “This is a sewer that runs parallel with the river,” said Charlotte.

  “You recognise any of this?” I said to Colin in front of me.

  “Ain’t never been down this way before. But it don’t matter. We just gotta get to the river and out of this place.”

  The air grew colder, and a haze of white mist moved with us as we breathed heavily, trying to keep up the pace.

  “Look! Up ahead,” said Lucas.

  We arrived at an outlet covered in iron bars. I waved my hand and they bent backwards, creating an opening to the ice and snow outside. We moved through the gap and onto the frozen surface of the river. Opposite, the banks were lit with lamps, highlighting the warehouses looming into the night sky.

  “We safe now?” said Daniel. “Will those things follow us?”

  Charlotte pulled her coat around her neck. “No, they stay within the grounds of the Factory. But anyone else there will know their defences have been penetrated. They might come looking. We should leave this area immediately.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  We walked along the river bank, trying not to slip on the ice or worse, fall into the still flowing channels which littered the crystalline surface.

  Auto flew above, landing on masts and cranes alike.

  Lucas moved closer to me, his lamp lighting his face. “If we make it to the train line from Victoria, we could follow it back south to the Palace, but it means a three hour walk in these conditions. I don’t think we’ll make it…”

  “I’m old, not deaf warlock,” said Charlotte. “Unfortunately, though, I think the journey you proposed might be a bit too much for me.”

  “My shop,” I said. I looked up at the cranes and warehouses trying to understand where we were along the river. I looked at Colin. “Do you know where we are?”

  “Coming up on the London docks. Tower bridge is just around the next bend.”

  We skirted along the barnacled wooden planks of the hull of a clipper, its sails lowered.

  “Once we get near the tower, we can go back into the sewers. I’ll lead you to the—”

  Charlotte fell to the ground. We all lunged to stop her fall from being any worse and helped her to her feet.

  “I can carry you,” said Daniel.

  She pushed his hand away. “You will do no such thing!”

  Lucas shook his head at me and frowned. I wasn’t sure of her new age, but she was deathly pale in the light from his lamp. I looked up at the nearby wharf and the crane which stood on it.

  “Everyone stand where you are,” I said.

  “We have to keep moving to keep warm,” said Daniel.

  “Oh…” said Colin as he saw the iron hook on the end of the crane descend and stop just next to us.

  “Everyone grab hold of that. I’m going to put us up top.”

  “We’ll be seen!” said Lucas.

  I looked up. “Auto!” I said as loudly and quietly as possible.

  The mechanical bird swooped and landed on the snow in front of me.

  “Let me know if there is anyone around.”

  He chirped and took to the sky.

  “We need to get back to my shop as quickly as possible, we can’t stay out here any longer,” I said to Lucas.

  He nodded and held onto the large iron ball. The others did the same and finally, I did too. With a thought, it sailed high into the air, and then slowly drifted back down to the path that ran alongside the river bank.

  No light came from any of the windows of the warehouses around us. We were completely alone for now.

  “Still some way to the tunnels,” said Colin.

  “We’re not taking the tunnels,” I said. “Follow me.”

  We walked over a salted path and then along a barely lit alleyway which led to the main street. It was deserted, but I quickly saw what I needed. A number of carts, minus their horses were parked, half burred in snow on the other side of the road.

  “Ere look,” said Colin, standing next to a streetlamp. A wooden board was attached to it, and to that, almost lost to moisture, an artist’s sketch of my face. One of the many wanted posters I featured in that now peppered the city.

  He pulled it off, scrunching it up and dropped it to the ground.

  I looked back to the carts. Despite the amount of wood, they contained, there was still enough metal in the spokes and undercarriage for me to pull it free with some effort from the ice. It trundled slowly making a large track, then came to a gentle stop in front of us.

  I smiled. “Our carriage awaits.”

  Lucas and Daniel did the same, while Colin laughed. “Ha!” he exclaimed.

  With a little help Charlotte clambered onto it, then the others joined her. Finally, I climbed on the back, my thoughts already causing the wooden vehicle to start to roll forward.

  *****

  I stoked the fire, which was now raging in the back room of the shop. It had been an hour since we had got back, and I was only just beginning to get feeling back in my hands.

  Charlotte was asleep in Mr Gladwell’s old chair. Oddly, she reminded me of him, with her small glass of gin about to fall from her grasp. I leaned forward and placed it on the table nearby.

  I heard a noise behind me. I turned to Daniel standing in the doorway. “Do you mind if I find a space in one of the rooms upstairs to sleep?”

  “Mr Gladwell's—”

  “No, no, I don’t mean the proprietors room.”

  “Yes, of course wherever you want.”

  He nodded and went to move off.

  “Umm, thank you for helping tonight.”

  He nodded again with a smile and moved into the other room, then up the stairs.

  The rear door opened, and Lucas appeared, brushing the snow from his shoulders. “The home is warded. It will not take much to remove it, but it should mask the smoke coming from the chimney and will give us some warning if we are attacked.”

  He looked at what remained of the stove. “What happened there?” I went to answer but he lifted his hand briefly. “I don’t need to know. Right. I need to sleep; do you have any more blankets?”

  “Take them from Mr Gladwell’s room.”

  “It will be sun up in a little under four hours. We need a plan to how to get back, but for now if I don’t lie down I’m going to fall down.”

  I smiled. “Wake me when you rise.”

  He nodded and followed Daniel’s path.

  I made sure the fire was safe, slid the bolts across on the back door, and made my way to the basement. The four lamps were burning but it was still cold enough to see my breath. Colin smiled, his eyelids heavy. He was seated at my work desk.

  “Everyone off to bed?” he said.

  “Yes.”

  He stood and moved past me to the stairs.

  I grabbed his hand, stopping him, and looked into his eyes. “Keep me warm tonight.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  A shout came from the top of the basement stairs. My mind was full of cobwebs, but then I realised it was Lucas’s voice, and Colin was still in bed next to me!

  I leapt up, quickly stepping into my skirt and top. “Yes, I’ll be up, wait there!”

  I heard Colin laughing from behind me and gave him a frown. He leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. “Just say you were showing me some clocks and we fell asleep!” He laughed again.

  Auto chirped from a nearby shelf. I removed the cloth that I had covered him with hours before.

  “I…S…e…e…N…o…w…?”

  “Yes, you can see now.”

  “C…r…e…t…i…n…H…e…r…e…?”

  I giggled.

  “That owl talking about me again?”

  “Noo…”

  “You both awake?” shouted Lucas. “Sun’s about to rise. Any of you know where we can find some food?”

  Mrs Ballingsworth’s face came to mind, but could I trust her? “There might be someone that may help. A neighbour, across the street from us. The lady who runs the inn. I’ll go
across. Her and her husband are usually awake around now.”

  Colin sat up, swinging his feet around to the floor. “You can’t go out there! You’re the most wanted woman in the whole of London!”

  “Probably the whole of the country by now,” said Lucas, still not wanting to venture any further than the top step.

  “She knows me. I… helped her husband not so long ago. I think we might be able to trust her.”

  “That’s a big risk, Cog,” said Lucas. “One of us should come with you.”

  “I have to go alone, at least that way none of you get caught as well. But I think I’ll be OK…”

  A short while later I left by the rear of the property, wearing my coat and a scarf wrapped around my face and made my way via the alley to the main street. The silence and lack of the usual frantic motion of London’s workers made it feel as if I had stepped into a fairy tale. Not out front of my shop, but in a far-off land that had died a long time ago.

  At least some of the second- and third-floor windows from the inn were aglow, and a constant stream of smoke came from one of the chimneys.

  I lifted my skirt and stomped through the fresh snowfall to the side alley, and then to the place where Mr Ballingsworth had his misfortune. I walked up the few wooden steps to the deck which surrounded the back of the premises and knocked on the door.

  “The inn’s closed to new lodgers!” said Mrs Ballingsworth.

  “Mrs Ballingsworth it’s me! Cog!” There was silence from the other side. “Mrs—”

  “You can’t be here, Cog. All of London is looking for you!”

  “I didn’t do it! Please believe me, I’m innocent! You know I’m a good person, I wouldn’t do what they are accusing me of!”

  More silence.

  “If anyone knows you have been here, they’ll hang me next to you!”

  “I just need some food, anything you have…”

  I heard more movement from the other side and a muffled male voice. The door then opened, and Mr Ballingsworth stood, looking back at me. His hand and arm were in a sling.

  “Get inside quick!” he said.

  I walked into the warmth of a hallway, with a table, few chairs, and a shelf full of iron tools. Mrs Ballingsworth had an oil lamp in her hand.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  He looked to his wife. “See what we can spare from the larder. And make sure no one comes down 'ere.”

  She placed the lamp down, then moved off down the hallway. He sat and nodded for me to do the same, which I did.

  “How you end up in all this mess? Why’d they think you killed the Prime Minister?”

  A number of explanations ran through my mind, none of which would make any sense to the middle-aged man sitting opposite me. “Because I was there. I was invited by the Lord—” I noticed scepticism creeping across the innkeepers face. “I mean I was a maid—” His expression relaxed. “I saw some people fighting and I ran. Now they are blaming me for it.”

  He nodded. “That’s how those types do. I’m sorry you are mixed up in all this Cog. When I 'eard them sandwich men shouting about a girl called Cog and what you were meant to have done, I knew it weren’t true. Lies! I said to the missus.” A noise came from behind him. “Speak of the devil, what you got for the young lass?”

  I noticed he turned awkwardly, his arm hardly moving.

  Mrs Ballingsworth stepped into the room with a hessian sack. “Got some potatoes, carrots, cabbage, a bit of bread. No meat I’m afraid. It’s hard to come by with most of the markets closed due to the weather.”

  I took it from her with a smile and a thank you. “You can’t move your hand?” I said to Mr Ballingsworth.

  He frowned. “Nah, it’s good ’n broken. They wanted to take it completely, but I wasn’t having any of it!” His wife’s face was pale and sad in the flickering light.

  “Since his injury, times been tough for us,” she said. “We ain’t been able to keep the lights or heating on for most of the day so we can’t take any more in, and those that are still ere are just about keeping us in food. If this weather don’t—” She started to cry.

  “Come on woman, you be strong. Don’t be crying in front of this young miss, she’s got real troubles!”

  I looked back at his blue hand and wrist. “I’ve got no right to ask you to trust me. But if you do, then I know someone who can fix your hand.”

  Mrs Ballingsworth sniffed, producing a tissue from her dress, and patting her nose with it. “A doctor?”

  “We can’t afford any doctors,” said Mr Ballingsworth.

  “Umm, yes, a doctor. One of London’s finest.” They both looked confused. “He’s my friend. He’s been helping me hide. I know if I asked him, he could heal your hand. Would you want that? Please think of it as payment for the food.”

  The husband and wife looked at each other, each one nodding.

  “Good! He’s at my shop. Wait here, and I’ll be right back!”

  A short while later Daniel and I were back in the hallway, Mr and Mrs Ballingsworth both sat in silence.

  “Good day sir,” said Daniel. “My name is Daniel and Cor… Cog here has asked me to look at your arm which you broke some weeks ago?”

  Mr Ballingsworth nodded. “They wanted to cut it off.”

  Daniel knelt in front of the innkeeper. “May I?” he said, placing his hand on Mr Ballingsworth’s arm, who nodded. Daniel looked up at me. “Perhaps you could tell Mrs Ballingsworth what you intend to do with the shop once this unsightly business has been cleared up.”

  I could tell he wanted me to distract her. I moved off to the side, so she was facing away from what Daniel was about to do. “Ah, yes… I would like to expand beyond just selling clocks and repairing them. There are so many new inventions from the contentment and America that I could sell. I’m sure—” A glow came from beneath Daniel's hand. She went to look back. “— And I would like to invest in your inn!” She looked at me confused, but at least she wasn’t looking at Daniel.

  “You have m—”

  “My hand!” said Mr Ballingsworth. His wife, double confused, looked at him. Daniel stood as Mr Ballingsworth flexed his fingers, and colour flooded back into his hand.

  Mrs Ballingsworth's mouth fell open. “I don’t understand…”

  I smiled, taking Daniel's arm in mine. “He really is an extraordinary doctor. Best in London!”

  “It works! My hand it works!” shouted Mr Ballingsworth pulling the sling from his shoulder and swinging his arm around. Mrs Ballingsworth got to her feet and they embraced.

  “OK, we really should be going now,” I said stepping back to the door.

  “But… we should give you more,” said Mrs Ballingsworth.

  “We have enough.”

  Mrs Ballingsworth stepped forward and hugged me, while her husband shook Daniel's hand.

  “If you ever need somewhere to stay, to hide away. You come back alright?” she said.

  I smiled. “I will.” I opened the door and we both walked back out into the early morning frost.

  *****

  Charlotte took a large slurp of the broth I had made from the vegetables. A large basin sat atop a grill over the fire, now mostly empty. It was good to see colour in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes, despite her displeasure at me leaving the shop.

  “Silly girl, you could have been spotted!… good broth though. At least you can cook.” She sighed. “Damn shame we had to leave the dirigible behind.”

  “I’ll build you a better one.”

  She smiled, took another sip, then looked around the room. “So, this is where a Titan spent his time…”

  “I know it’s not much to look at, but he seemed happy here.” The image of him disintegrating in front of my eyes, seated exactly where Charlotte was, made me shiver. She must have noticed I was suffering from an unpleasant memory, and leaned forward, placing her hand on mine. “I’m sure being your guardian was part of that happiness.”

  I smiled and went to speak again w
hen I noticed a figure walking across the back yard. My heart leapt but then I saw it was a red-faced Mrs Ballingsworth doing her best to move quickly over the icy cobbles. I walked to the rear door and opened it.

  “The coppers are closing down the… roads around… us,” she said out of breath. “I think someone saw you!”

  The sound of footsteps descending the stairs behind me, heralded Lucas’s appearance. “I’ve been watching from the top floor. There are police wagons moving into the nearby streets. We have to leave!”

  “Thank you!” I said to Mrs Ballingsworth, stepping back inside.

  “Will you be alright?”

  “We’ll be OK, but please leave before they see you here!”

  She nodded, turned, and hurried back the way she came.

  I grabbed handfuls of snow, quickly throwing it on the fire, then locked the door.

  Colin was at the top of the basement stairs. “Let’s go.”

  “Where’s Charlotte?” I said, noticing she was nowhere to be seen.

  “She’s downstairs with the others.”

  I moved down to the basement as quickly as I could, extinguished the lamps, and put on my coat, placing Auto inside it.

  I then moved into the sewer and closed the wooden partition behind me. The sound of boots in the alley above echoed around the damp walls, followed by the distant sound of heavy knocks.

  “Come on!” shouted Colin, leading us away.

  I went to follow when I stopped and looked back at the circular gap in the wall to my basement room. Closing my eyes, I felt the metal fragments and pipes on the other side of the wall and pulled them across the door to the sewer. I then turned and caught up with the others. “Where we going?”

  “We just need to get a few streets over, then we’re going back to the surface!” shouted Lucas over his shoulder.

  We scurried along in the gloom, shafts of light momentarily lighting our path, then we stopped at a ladder.

  “This should do it,” said Colin.

  “I’ll go first,” said Lucas.

  Colin jumped onto the ladder. “I’m faster.” He climbed to the top and with a little effort pushed the cover up and to the side. Snow fell past him and he crept upwards. “Looks clear. Everyone up here.”