by Chico Kidd
-Art thou fallen on hard times then? I asked.
-Nay, he replied, but that I do forget to eat and drink some days. Fabian give me thy sword that I may for-speak it.
31 have and hold
4 i.e. from the beginning to the end
-For what purpose? I said.
-That it will cleave to Kemp, and seek him out, and give thee intelligence that he be near.
So I reversed the sword (which I had not sheathed) and offered him the hilt; he took it in his two hands and spoke words over it that I could not hear, nor do I think they were English or Latin words; and the air shone and sparkled about him and the sword; It so crackled that the separate hairs on my arms did stand on end, then flashed so bright I must needs close my eyes for the shining of it. Then he returned to me the sword and I bedded it in its scabbard.
He ruffled my hair with his hand and quoth -Thou art become grisard, Fabian, before thy time.
I frowned at him for I misliked this, and asked, -Hast thou seen aught of the creature that thou named Lilu?
He narrowed his eyes and said, -Why do you ask?
-Roger, I said, angered, hast forgot from what thou madst her? And he grimaced as if he tasted a sour savour in his mouth.
-I have not seen her, he said, nor heard aught of her, and this doth perplex me greatly.
Self do, self have, I thought, but did not speak the words out loud.
-Never doubt, Fabian, I have a cunning scheme in my mind to counter her an she do come by with ill intent.
-Beshrew thee, Roger, I said, that is not my concern.
-I do give you my word, saith he, that no ill shall come to Catherine Allsop in connection with this. And he looked so fatigued then that I did feel sympathy for him.
-I had best go hence, he said, for I have much to do on the morrow.
-I’ll aid thee an I can, I said.
And Roger raised up his eye-brows and replied -I thank thee, Fabian; and went out at the door.
The day following I did wonder whether it was that Roger could see into the future like unto a gypsy for Master Pakeman did call to me and say, -Fabian, you shall go this day to Richmond for me to Master Fletcher’s where you are gone before.
-Gladly, says I, and truly I spoke, for like unto a red flower opening in my breast there blossomed the thought of making an end on Kemp; Aut inveniam viam aut faciam,5 said I to myself.
I hied me back to my lodging and fetched my sword before I did go for a boat; and although I did once more find the voyage up-river a pleasant interlude, I did yearn all the time for it to be over so I could be about my business.
-Twill rain before night, the waterman said to me when I lighted, you should make haste with your errand; but I did consider I needed the dark for mine own task. although as matters turned out I did not.
But first of all, I went strait to Master Fletcher’s House for to collect a packet of writings. As on the previous time I must needs attend a while until that the papers were ready, but at length I had the writings in a satchel and came out a doors once more into a day very dull and gray, with clouds all in the sky so that the sun was not to be seen; and it did cast as ’twere a pall over the day.
I minded well where it was that I had seen Kemp, down by the river, so that was the way I turned my steps; I remembered much of the town from the wanderings I had made on that day. And then I came around the corner of a building and walked strait into Kemp him-self before ever any of Roger’s magic could take effect.
5 I’ll either find a way or make one
-Fabian Stedman, he whispered, nigh too soft to hear; I stepped back and drew my sword.
-We have unfinished affairs to settle, he said, and I had no need to look far to discover the source of his sudden courage, for he had with him two roynish fellows; three on one is bad odds, for the one, anyway. He had his sword out presently, and I made haste to parry him.
-Wat, says he to one of his bullies, do you spy out for the watch, and we will finish this cock-brained whoreson.
-Thou smock-faced crack, said I, I had fain see you adventure it. There was as ’twere a knot in my belly but strange to tell ’twas not so much fear as arousal; I grinned a wolf’s smile at them; and then both set on me.
All was so confused I cannot set down any clear narrative of the first minutes, but ’twas clear Hugh Bishop’s teaching was good; for he was a soldier and taught me a soldiers tricks while these two had learned off a fencing-master; they did jig about like girls with the green-sickness.
Kemp seemed content for a while to permit his accomplice to cross swords with me while he essayed to harry and distract me from one side or the other; then the one slipped past my defence and did gash my arm, at which I took my own dagger-hilt and punched him in the face with it; after which he lost Interest in the fight. I believe I did break his nose, for it was gouting blood; I kicked him as he fell and also kicked his sword out of reach. Kemp nigh spitted me with a fortunate sword-thrust, but I dodged aside and went for his gut with my dagger; he deflected the mortal blow but I cut him, and pressed the advantage, backing him to the wall. I saw his frighted face as white as paper, and sheathed my sword in his body; It slipped in with but little resistance, and he did fold over.
-Wat, he cried, and the other came a-running. As I gave to Kemp his death-stroke this man put his own dagger into my side and pain followed sharp and sudden, worse nor any whipping I ever took. I let go the sword which was stuck in Kemp’s body, and put my dagger in the man Wat’s throat. His blood spewed out like unto a fountain and he fell without a cry, looking mightily surprised.
This Wat’s dagger had stuck in me just below my ribs on my right side; I pulled it out and there followed a rush of blood that soaked my clothing. The dagger fell to the ground and I pressed my hand to the wound, seeing mine own blood leaking betwixt my fingers.
It came to me a whit late that I must needs get me hence before that some one came; I looked round but the third man, that I broke the nose of, was gone; I retrieved my sword and wiped it and the dagger clean on Kemp’s clothing, then made my way down the alley towards the river. My head felt empty and strange; I had killed two men that sought to slay me, and my Yard was stiff yet; though walking was becoming difficult, I could not go a strait line but staggered from side to side. I felt cold sweat on my countenance, and leaned against a wall on one side; I do not know whether I swound but far-away I did hear a Voice, although I could not tell any words.
Then someone had an arm about me and I one upon a shoulder and I was being dragged halting in at a door.
I could make out nothing plain, the room swam; -Can you stand up, asked the voice, and the question seemed difficult to answer.
-I think it unlikely, I replied after some consideration, and the words came out slurred like unto the speech of a drunk man.
-Lie you down here, then, and attend until I return.
I replied that I did not think I had be going any other place; then I know I fainted, because I woke propped against a wall and someone giving me water to drink; much of it spilled down my chin, and I realised that it had a faint bitter savour as of herbs.
-Drink it all, said the man, ’tis the loss of blood that makes you faint. Then I’ll see about your hurts.
-Who are you? I said.
-Your saviour, I think, he said; hight Nicholas Griffin; I did spy you beset by three rogues, I went to fetch a pistol; but you had done the work and mumpt them indeed when I came out a doors. I looked and saw he had a withered leg, the which explained his slowness.
-And you, he said, what’s your name, and your business?
-Fabian Stedman, printer’s prentice, I replied, awaiting an Inquiry that never came.
Instead he said, -Is’t only the arm and side, or are you more hurt?
-I think the arm is but scratched, I said, but my side’s sore hurt; but there’s no more wounds.
-I’ll put you on a poultice, he said.
-Are you a Pothecary? I asked.
-Of a
sort, he said.
-A Magician then?
-No, not that, indeed; an Herbalist I am, primes inter partes.6 Soft now, can you take off your shirt, an I help you?
I saw that on my arm was in truth but a shallow cut, which was nigh stopped bleeding, but around the stab-wound in my side, which looked so small, my flesh was bruised and swollen, and the blood still welling out, and I felt a cold trickle of fear. ’tis not so deep as a well, I thought, nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, twill serve.
Nicholas Griffin took a wet clout and wiped away blood.
-An you had an ale-belly, he muttered, this would be but a flesh-wound. However we will do our best, and hope twill suffice.
-Is’t grave? I asked.
-’Tis not so bad, he said; you will not die, young man, for forty or fifty Years, an you stay out of brawls. Next time you might not be so fortunate as to meet with those less skilled than you. He applied some jollop that smelt pungent, and bound a pad over’t; my arm he anointed also, but more lightly, and bandaged it. Now you need clean clothes, he said; at that moment there came a banging on a door somewhere.
-I’ll not be long, he said, and went out, closing the door behind him.
I looked round the chamber: it was more like unto a cook’s-kitchen nor a pothecary’s work-shop, with a pot over the fire and a wooden table and a joint-stool and bunches of herbs hanged up to dry. I wondered briefly whether an I could get myself to sit at the table, rather than on the floor, but decided it was not a good Idea. By and by Griffin returned, his countenance thoughtful.
6 first among equals
-’Twas the watch, he said, at the which I started in alarm. Soft now, they are gone; they asked me an I had seen murder done and I told them ’twas those dead ruffians that attacked a lone man, who was long gone. Now see, put on these clothes for your own are ruined.
-I cannot pay you for any of this, I said, and he but shook his head.
-’Tis no matter; I do not want paying. Now you must get you hence, for ’tis three a clock already. And mind, do you limit your occupation for awhile, lest you hinder the healing. Tell your little Town-miss to have a care an she want you whole again.
I imagine I did look surprised for he laughed and said, -My young friend, what age have you, five, six and twenty years?
-But lately turned six and twenty, I said.
-Well I never met a man of six and twenty that did not swive whenever he could, said Nicholas Griffin, and laughed again. I smiled, but bethought me that stwould pain me overmuch to laugh also.
-Now get you hence, he said, drink no strong ale for a sennight, but drink you water with these herbs in it; and he gave me a small paper folded and sealed with wax, saying, A thing more, do not place so much faith in magic, ’tis not the rock that you believe it to be.
I discovered that an I walked slow and did not move over-much the pain was not great, though it ached sorely and made the boat-trip a lesser pleasure than hitherto; although the rain prophesied by the boat-man never did come; what do they know?
I delivered Master Fletcher’s writings to my master and worked quietly the rest of the day, lest he notice that I moved not easily and found that I had been in a brawl. Afterward I hied me to Catherine and told her what had befallen; I had entertained a doubt that she might mislike me when that she found I had killed two men, but she had heard the tale of Ann Pakeman’s murder, and thought it fine revenge, and was more concerned with my hurts. However we discovered that much was possible even though I could not move very well; although I was a plaguey long time returning to my lodging afterwards.
A day later a very horrid thing to relate, Nate Mundy is murdered, they found his corpse in Clerken-well; like unto the other man, drained of substance like some Vessel emptied and blue in the face. And though Nate was but a smell-smock kind of man, yet it is a waste that he be dead so youthful, at the age of but twenty years.
There was a pamphlet circulating ere long that said that Nate and Humphrey Hope (which was the other man that was killed the same way) were not murdered at all but stricken down by God for excessive whoring, the which is just the kind of thing I expect the snot-nosed Faithful-brethren to say and an they believe such nice falsehoods will put an end to fornication then ’tis high time England had a King again to put an end to such foolishness and sit down upon these damned Parliamentarians.
I had but xvii years of age when they did cut off the head of king Charles and my father so distressed that he did fast for three days nor took aught but water to drink all that time. But now they are fond bedfellows, the which doth show that not the least among men but hath given up his principles for the sake of an easy life. Beshrew me an ever I do the same.
That night I did dream another strange dream, nor did I know that I dreamt, for ’twas so real that I believed I was in my chamber having lately returned for the night. And the ache of my wound keeping me waking there came a knocking at the casement so Insistent that at last I arose from my bed and went to look out at it; and outside, sitting on the air, was a woman all white and her countenance masked; and I fell to panting as if ’twere (this thought came to me in the dream, and I did remember it in the morning) the breath in my body was calling to this creature.
I laid my hand on the window-catch ere I knew what I did; when that I saw’t I moved my hand away and without the figure tapped on the glass again, opening her mouth below the mask to bare her wolf’s teeth, all sharp and fangy. But then the pain of my wound came on so sharp I bent over double with the hurt of it; and when the ache had died down, she was gone and I resumed my bed.
However day by day my flesh healed, aided by the herbal specifics of Nicholas Griffin that had warned me to abjure magic. And indeed in spite of Roger’s incantation I had received no warning of Hawkin Kemp’s presence; Of whose demise his mother my master’s sister had been apprehended so that she took to wearing a black veil atop her widow’s weeds, the which did call to my mind the creature of Roger southwell when soever I did see her.
I half expected questions of Master Pakeman, but an he knew Kemp died that day I went to Richmond-town he did not connect the two occurrences. And indeed why should he so; knowing neither that I do possess a sword nor that I have skill enough to use it. Nor do I think him like to see a prentice of his acting such a part.
In my mind there are matters spinning that I feel certain are connected, and could I but make those connections I might discover some momentous thing. Is there a link betwixt Roger’s creature and the dead men? Or betwixt my dream and they? I could wish I knew what Roger is doing at this time, as he works towards his cunning scheme to counter her, what soever that may be.
It was Catherine that did point my mind in the right direction, after we had been to ring the first time since I was stabbed. The stretching did pain me a whit, but it was not the sharp pain that ate me the days after that it was done, more like unto an ache, and then an itch in the flesh. So we made haste back to my lodging, for I could not go arm-in-arm with her when she was dressed as a boy; she was not so merry as her wont and she sat on the bed and clasped her arms around herself.
-What is’t? I said, does aught ail thee?
She shook her head; and I came to put my arms about her and found her as rigid as a piece of wood. I set to rubbing her back, and she put her head upon my shoulder. So my thoughts had taken another direction, which is to say the usual one, when she did say very quiet, -I have such horrid dreams these last nights I am almost afeard to sleep.
-What manner of dreams, I said; tell me one.
-I durst not, she replied, which was not the words of my Catherine.
-Listen to me now, I said to her, I have bad dreams also; I will tell thee mine, that I did have not such a long time since, and the which was most horrid, do you but tell me thine.
-Do we dream real things, Fabian? she asked.
-I know not, said I honestly; But perchance we can riddle them.
-I dreamt, said Catherine then, three times now have I
dreamt it, and they do say that three times is the charm, that I had me a desire to drink of the breath of living men. And I did turn cold myself.
-What is’t? she asked of me. ~
-I’ll tell thee by and by; tell thy tale.
She said, -I seemed to be drifting through the air, having no body of mine own; I floated hither and yon, seeking for nourishment. And two times I did feed but not the third, though the third I desired most urgently. I know not what manner of creature I was; not human, nothing possessed of a soul; but each time I woke, I felt not human even then.
I held her close then, my thoughts a-roiling. It was Roger’s creature Lilu, in a new disguise, that was walking the night and sucking out the breath and the life from men, and Catherine dreaming her because Lilu was made from her; and I could not tell her that.
-What did you dream then, Fabian, she asked me, and I told her of the white woman that drifted outside my casement; she looked fearfully at it.
-We dreamt the same thing then, she said, but from opposite sides.
-They are dreams, only dreams, I said, and I held her until we both forgot them.
In the morning I awoke betimes and lay without moving, knowing that something was very wrong; I opened my eyes and knew; for Catherine was yet there in my arms; we two had fallen asleep and slept the whole night through, and just now her servant or her father would be finding her own bed not slept in. Catherine must have felt me move as I wakened, for she opened her eyes also.
-O Fabian, she said, what have we done?
-Hush, I said, ’twill be well, I’ll wed you today and Master Pakeman can go whistle for a prentice.
-What will my father say? she cried.
And I said, -He will say what he will, and we will discover’t soon enough, but just now we are here two together, and what shall we do about that? And therefore we did the only thing we could do.
-Not until that we were dressed, she in her own proper clothes and I eschewing working-dress, did she say, I dreamed again.