‘Did you not hear Miss Elizabeth’s instruction? She said on no account be behind the rocchetto at the moment it is lit!’
A wave of relief washed over him. ‘Thank you, Sam. You are right. I was so nervous, I had completely forgotten. If this device inspires half as much trepidation in the enemy as it does in me, it will serve us well’ and, still holding the ramp, he moved to its side.
Ralph picked up the candle which was still alight. ‘Come Tom, more men have left the ginnel. We need to see if this invention of Elizabeth’s will work or not.’
‘Oh I have no doubt it will work, knowing her as I do, and that’s what worries me, because I have no idea what is about to happen!’ And with that, he took the candle and, standing sideways on, plunged it into the twisted taper of paper at the end of the rocket.
Everyone in the room stood waiting, Isaac behind a barrel, ready to duck.
Tom tried to hold the ramp steady, still pointing at its target. He removed the candle and the paper started to smoke. The end started to glow red, but then to dim. In exasperation, he lent forward and blew on the glowing taper. It began to crackle then his world disappeared in a flash of white light and choking smoke. He fell to the floor and rolled away from the launch ramp. A cheer erupted in the room and he gingerly picked himself up. His skin was hot and he could smell singed hair among the stink of burnt black powder.
His father emerged through the fog of smoke, grinning broadly. ‘That young lady of yours never ceases to amaze me Thomas! Come and see.’ Ralph led him by the arm to the window. There was a glowing mark in the wall above the corner of the yard where the gang members were hiding, and the sound of commotion below.
‘When the rocket lit, it emitted a great deal of fire and smoke from its rear, like the very Devil himself, and after trembling for a second or two it shot off the ramp into the night sky. By then, you had dropped the ramp so the rocket was aimed too high, but it dipped at the last minute and hit the wall above those rascals with a tremendous shower of sparks. By its light I could see five or six men cowering in the corner and there were shouts of alarm. If we can aim the next one a little better, we will send them running, I’m sure!’
Tom nodded. He picked up the ramp again, placed another rocket and aimed it at the corner of the yard. He noticed that Petty and Dirck had now entered the room to watch. He picked up the candle and lit the fuse. As soon as he saw it glow, he turned his face and stretched his neck as far away from the ramp as possible. The rocket ignited and in a cloud of flame and smoke took off. Tom twisted his head back in time to see the missile leave the window. It shot off across the yard but, this time, fizzled out and dropped to the ground, short of its target.
There was a sigh of disappointment in the room, but he could see the failed attempt had still caused consternation outside. He could sense the tide turning so grabbed the ramp, loaded it and took careful aim. Seconds later the rocket was alight and this time flew straight and true, deep into the group of men hiding in the corner. There was a scream and, as the smoke cleared, Ralph shouted ‘they’re on the run, like frightened rabbits.’
Sure enough, Tom watched the mouth of the ginnel and saw dark shapes pushing and shoving, trying to escape back on to Thames Street. The room erupted in cheers. Petty slapped him on the back but he was too busy to notice, preparing the next rocket.
‘Thanks to Elizabeth, we have the upper hand for the first time.’ Tom shouted across the room. ‘Now we must keep it. We need to move the ramp and line it up on the entrance to the ginnel. As soon as one rabbit pokes its head out of the hole, we’ll send a rocket up its arse!’ There was another cheer and he caught sight of his father, smiling and nodding.
He lined up the rocket and waited but all went quiet again, except for the continuing shouting from Thames Street. He took a drink of beer and called over Isaac. ‘I can still smell singed hair. What is my face like?’ Isaac peered at him in the gloomy light and shook his head. ‘You looks like you’ve been six months on deck in the Indies, Master. And your hair is all burned off. You’re quite a fright!’
‘Look lively everyone. Something’s up. Tom, are you ready?’ shouted Ralph. He picked up the ramp and sighted the next rocket again. ‘Ready and waiting’.
‘Wait for my command’. He smiled. It was like being on ship again with his father as skipper.
‘Keep your current aim. Straight at the ginnel entrance….and fire!
He lit the fuse and turned his head away, praying this rocket would work. There was the usual whoosh as it took off and he looked back in time to see it fly straight as an arrow into the ginnel entrance. There was a cry as two men jumped out of the ginnel to escape the smoke and sparks and then ran back in again.
‘Yes!’ Tom shouted and returned to the basket containing the remaining rockets. He lifted the cloth. Only two left. The situation was on a knife-edge. He sensed the raiders were frightened by the attack and losing their appetite for the fight. He picked up the fifth rocket and placed it in the ramp. He sighted it towards the ginnel, and stopped.
A large man was standing in its entrance, gripping a firebrand in one hand. In the other he held the collar of one of the raiders and was shaking him like a dog with a rabbit. Had someone broken through in Thames Street to come to their rescue? Maybe Jonah had a change of heart? But as he watched how the gang reacted to the stranger, an uneasy feeling grew in his chest. Even from the warehouse he could sense the anger and menace. This figure berating and cuffing the cowering members of the gang was their nemesis, not their saviour.
Tom was so sure he immediately checked the ramp was aimed at the man, and without waiting for the order, fired the fifth. The sound and light made the man turn and look. But he stood his ground, raising his left arm to shield his face, as the rocket struck home. In the light from the man’s torch, Tom saw it bounce off his arm and fall to the floor. He dusted a few sparks and embers off his coat and shouted to the others. He picked up the remains and waved them in their faces.
Tom remembered Elizabeth’s words. The rockets were meant to ‘discourage not disable’. Their deception had been discovered. He watched in a weary daze as another figure emerged with a lit torch and, with the large man, proceeded to cajole the gang members to stay in the yard while dragging more out of the ginnel. Not for the first time, he felt the balance of the night tilt away from his family. He sensed the deflation in the room and fired the final rocket into the growing crowd assembling in the yard. Several ran off but returned seconds later. He threw the ramp into the back of the room, just missing Barty walking in from his bedroom.
He put his hand up in apology but Barty didn’t notice. ‘Henry is falling into a fever, Tom.’ He is still awake but is soaked in sweat and agitated by the pain from his shoulder. He needs urgent medical attention.’
Chapter 32
Tallant warehouse
Tom joined his father at the window. The two men with torches had stepped forward, studying the fire closely and pointing to the warehouse roof which was now smoking.
The smaller man broke away and ran towards the ginnel, barking orders at the growing number of figures gathering there, the glow from his firebrand illuminating their faces. Tom picked up his father’s eyeglass to take a closer look. The light was not good but he was sure of what he saw. ‘My God. They’re Apprentice Boys!’ he murmured.
Over 30 figures were now in the yard, which was lit by a growing number of torches. All attempts at subterfuge had been abandoned. It was clear they were preparing a mass attack. The large man stood alone in front of the warehouse, with hands on hips, staring at the window where Tom and his father stood.
‘So, you must be Ralph Tallant,; he shouted. ‘And the scarecrow next to you is your son, Thomas? The man sounded surprised, then Tom remembered how he must look.
‘Yes. And who are you, who has terrorised my family these past months?’
‘Jack Dancer, at your service’ and he made a mocking bow. ‘But ‘who I am’ is not your concern. ‘What do
I want?’ is the question to consider. But you know what I want, Ralph Tallant, don’t you?’
Tom listened to Dancer, his language and confidence. This was no ordinary street thief. He lifted the eyeglass again to get a closer look - long greasy blonde hair, parted in the middle and hiding much of his face, but little more.
‘Perhaps you can tell me,’ his father replied.
‘Jesu, this is tedious Tallant. I have no time to play Hood-Man Blind. And neither do you, by the look of that roof.’ Tom could now see small flames breaking through several roof tiles. ‘We want the map, Tallant. Hand it over and we’ll disappear, and you can return to your loved ones. All your troubles will be over.’
Ralph paused, weighing up the situation. Before he could speak, Dirck pushed him aside and, running to the window, hurled a cobble at the large man. He spotted it late, jerked away, but was caught on the side of his head, making him drop to one knee. ‘Thanks to you, I cannot return to my loved one, my brother,’ Dirck screamed, hurling a second stone. ‘My troubles will never be over and, by God, yours have only begun.’ Dirck went to unleash another cobble but Petty grabbed him, pulling him back from the window.
Dancer’s voice rang out again from below, now laced with cold anger. He climbed to his feet, pulling the lengthy Rondel knife from his belt. ‘It’s him!’ Tom realised. ‘The gang master who chased Robert and I to the churchyard.’
‘You Dutch bastard. I’ll enjoy ending you the same as your brother, on the end of a blade. Tallant, I’ve had enough of this pissing around. I tried to sneak in to your miserable warehouse and, until now, I was willing to let you come quietly. But too many of my men are lying hurt and now your roof’s on fire, so I’m coming in, whether you like it or not.’ And before Ralph could answer, he spun on his heel and walked back to the crowd of Apprentice Boys, which was still growing. As he entered their ranks, Dancer shouted a command and instantly scores of them charged forward as one toward the warehouse, screaming like maniacs.
Dirck, Petty and Sam bombarded them with cobbles but there were too many targets. A stone whistled through the window into the warehouse and crashed against a wooden post. Soon more followed. Against such large numbers, the cobbles were not only ineffective but also providing ammunition for their attackers.
Sam fell to the floor clutching his face . Ralph ordered Dirck and Petty to stop while Tom rolled Sam on to his back. He was covered in blood and his nose badly broken. There was a shout from downstairs. Mark was keeping guard behind the front door. ‘The barricade’s breaking up outside! They’re pulling it from the door.’
Another shout. An unmistakable shape was emerging from the ginnel. ‘They’re bringing up the ram. Barty, take care of Henry and Sam, and tell Andrew to keep lookout at the back. Everyone else down to the front door!’
They clattered downstairs to see Mark pushing at the barrels, chairs and tables blocking the warehouse entrance, making the barricade as tight as possible. They could hear voices outside, yelling orders. He surveyed the room and eyed up the oak wooden counter, in its position for as long as he could remember.
‘Father – is this fixed to the floor?’
‘No need, it’s too heavy. You’ll never move it.’
Petty read his thoughts and ran to the counter, shouting to Mark and Dirck to join him. Tom and Ralph followed. Together they placed their shoulders below the lip of the counter top and heaved. At first, nothing happened, but then a floor-seal of grease and dust from previous decades cracked open and the counter slid six inches across the warehouse floor.
The shouting got louder outside as Tom yelled ‘if we can keep it moving it will be easier. We can do this! ‘and, as he settled down to push, Sam ran to his side, linen plugs in his nose to stop the bleeding. And there was Barty on the other side. He smiled and nodded to them both, hope rising in his heart. If they could get the counter in place, blocking the door, they could hold out for longer.
‘Right everyone, let’s have…’
‘Master Tom! Master Tom!’ Andrew was running down the stairs. His spirits sagged. Had the gang evaded Jonah and were launching yet another attack from the wharf?
‘What is it?
‘Smoke, Master. Smoke everywhere. The pepper store is filling with it!’
‘Can you see or hear any fire?’
‘Not yet, Master but there’s so much noise from the front of the warehouse, it’s hard to hear anything!’ Tom glanced at his father who appeared close to the end of his tether.
‘All right. We need your eyes on our back , so return to the store and stay there as long as you can but let...’
There was an almighty crash at the front door, sending a billow of dust rising in the air, followed by a cheer from the outside.
‘It’s the ram. We must move this counter now. Andrew, get back upstairs!’ The men got behind it again but their unity of purpose had broken, their concentration fragmented by the imminent breakthrough by the gang. The counter didn’t move. The ram landed again on the door. This time the barrels were pushed back, their edges scraping along the floor. They still had over three feet to push the worktop but it might as well be three miles. When the ram cannoned into the door for a third time, there was a splintering sound and, as one, the men deserted the counter to stand ready to repel anyone who broke through.
They stood in a curve around the barricade and he surveyed their faces. He saw fear but also grim determination. ‘Barty. Go back, check Henry and see whether Andrew is safe. Get him out of the store when the smoke gets too thick. Let me know if you see flames.’
His friend was close to tears. Tom reached over and squeezed his shoulder, speaking quietly into his ear. ‘I know you would stay and fight, but every man must serve to his best abilities and I need you to look after Henry and Andrew.’ Barty nodded slowly and then walked quickly up the stairs to the pepper store.
Another splintering crash signaled the door had finally succumbed to the incessant battering. An arm carrying a cudgel appeared through the hole, and was immediately attacked by Mark wielding a broken chair leg.
There was a pause and more shouted orders outside. ‘Stand back! Stand back!’
Everyone inside took a deep breath. ‘I suspect the next one will do it Tom,’ so, let’s see what they’re made of,’ Petty shouted. He thought back to his encounter with the gang leader and recalled Elizabeth’s warning: ‘It’s a map…not worth dying for’. Would they be given a choice?
Petty’s prediction was correct. In the next charge, the battering ram smashed through the door, pushed the tables and chairs back and was left stranded inside the warehouse, lying among the debris. A wave of fifteen or more Apprentice Boys scrambled over their friends, holding the ram, and jumped off the mountain of broken furniture, on to the warehouse floor.
For seconds they looked dazed but then gathered in numbers to confront the defenders. Dirck lunged at the Boys nearest to him. They instinctively backed off but then surged again as Dirck retreated. The Dutchman stood his ground and a lad at the front was pushed by the impetus of his friends into Dirck, who felled him with a chopping blow to the side of his face.
There was a howl of anger from the mob who surged again. Mark tripped and stumbled backwards. Three men grabbed his legs immediately and started dragging him back, kicking and punching at his writhing body. Tom and Dirck leapt forward, and while Isaac distracted the Apprentice Boys jabbing with his fearsome halberd, they managed to drag him away. Mark stood up, battered and dazed, but ready to renew the fight.
‘Stop this! Stop, NOW!’ Jack Dancer had entered through the ruined door and was standing on top of the abandoned ram. He slowly climbed down and pushed through the ranks of Apprentice Boys to confront Ralph and Tom.
‘This can only end one way, Tallant. You know that. You might break a few heads, and end the lives of some of these brave boys,’ and he pointed at the crowd of apprentices. ‘But in the end you will be overwhelmed by our numbers, and then what will happen? I’m not sure I could control
my young lads if they picked up the scent of blood…the blood of their friends.’
Andrew suddenly appeared on the stairs with Barty who was shaking his head at Tom, surrounded by a haze of smoke. The fire was spreading.
‘Ah, reinforcements! Is this all you have?’ Dancer laughed. ‘Oh, maybe your friend has more sense than you. He doesn’t seem inclined to join your fight! You know what I want, Tallant. It’s simple. Give me the map and I let you all go.’
Tom desperately tried to think what to do, then Robert Petty stepped past him.
‘I believe we have unfinished business first to complete. How is your arm by the way. I trust it still causes you endless pain.’
Dancer recognised Robert Petty instantly. ‘You! I swore if I ever met you again, I’d tear you limb from limb, for this!’ and he held up the palm of his right hand towards Robert. A livid red wound ran across the inside of his wrist. It had not yet healed.
Tom put a restraining hand on Petty’s arm. ‘Robert, what are you doing, goading him like this?’
Petty regarded him with his unwavering eyes. ‘This man has absolutely no intention of letting anyone escape. Now, the gang have breached our defences, there will only be one outcome. We have a single chance remaining, for me to beat him, humiliate him in front of his men. That might send them off with their tail between their legs.’
‘But Robert, he’s a trained killer. Look at that knife’
Petty gave him half a smile. ‘I know, but unlike him, I will not make the mistake of underestimating my enemy. I think I have a few advantages. I will focus on his injury and keep moving. At least it will buy us time. If that fire takes hold, he may have to abandon the building before he has found anything.’ And at that, Petty turned away before Tom could protest further.
‘So, let’s clear the ground, and have this out, here and now’, he shouted at Jack Dancer, who laughed and started pushing the Apprentice Boys back to the wrecked entrance of the warehouse.
The Wrecking Storm Page 16