The Great Fury

by Thomas Kennedy

  “Yeah,” Jane said, “and my granny was a fairy.”

  “You don’t have to believe me,” John said.

  “Good,” Peter agreed with a grin at Jane.

  “Just dip it in the water again,” Jane asked, adding, “please,” as John looked doubtful.

  Holding by the scabbard, John leaned in and put the tip of the sword into the water. Immediately the contamination retreated.

  “Interesting, very interesting,” Jane remarked. Peter just stared in wonder.

  John sighed. He knew this was trouble.

  “The sword is called the ‘Great Fury,’” he said.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Better give her a blanket,” the Sergeant said.

  “Students,” Officer Murray said with a grin. “But she sure is a looker.”

  “Yeah but we better give her a blanket before there’s a riot.”

  “Blankets coming up,” Officer Larkin said as she arrived with two large blankets of doubtful cleanliness.

  Sitting on a holding bench, Maedbh smiled gratefully at officer Larkin. She’d had enough of staring policemen, to the extent she had almost stopped blushing at her predicament.

  Sitting beside her handcuffed and also naked, Oengus leaned out to the side to give Larkin room to wrap Maedbh in the blanket. He then let himself be wrapped in the second blanket, grateful for the sense of warmth and security it gave.

  “Thank you Officer Larkin,” Maedbh said.

  “Thanks,” Oengus added.

  “It’s OK, but call me Angela,” Officer Larkin said with a warm smile. She shook her head. “You students,” she added. “Whatever made you think you could get away with riding a police horse through Manhattan naked and bound in chains?”

  “We were escaping from witches,” Oengus interjected.

  “Listen,” Officer Larkin said, firmness entering her tone, “The city is in uproar. There is a problem with something contaminating the sewers, there are vermin running through the streets. We have enough on our plate without having to put up with student pranks. Dress as witches or wear nothing if it’s your thing, but for goodness sake this isn’t the time!”

  “And the horse, what happened to the horse, Murray?” the Sergeant asked.

  “Sorry Sarge, Larkin and me were on horseback patrol when they came towards us. We intervened and made the arrest. But when I was helping the female down off the horse she kicked me. Officer Larkin was busy handcuffing the boy. When I recovered my balance neither the cat nor the horse were anywhere to be seen.”

  “What cat?” the Sergeant demanded. “This is the first mention of a cat.”

  “There was a cat on the horse. It escaped,” Murray explained.

  “Larkin, get over here,” the Sergeant barked.

  “Sarge?” Larkin said, coming over to the Bench.

  The Sergeant looked over across his large wooden desk.

  “The horse, where’s the horse?”

  “Sorry Sarge, one minute it was there and then it was gone.”

  “Did you see a cat?”

  “Eh., yes, it ran off after a pigeon.”

  The Sergeant stared. Then he shuffled his papers.

  “Look Larkin, take that girl to a locksmith and get her out of the chains. Then take the two of them back to wherever they live. I’m assigning you to a patrol car for the purpose. And Murray, you get back on the horse and out on patrol until your shift is over.”

  “Sarge, I have to write this up. That’ll take time.”

  “Forget it, no horse no charge. Find the horse and I’ll reconsider.”

  “No charge, but they were naked...”

  “Murray, get out there. The city is in uproar.”

  “OK Sarge. But shouldn’t we hold them?”

  “Normally, but I’m not keeping a naked young girl and boy in our cells. We’re overcrowded. I couldn’t protect them. Get them out of my sight.”

  “OK, will do,” Larkin said.

  “Just verify their addresses and ID and tell them charges may be brought. That should scare the daylights out of them. Tell them if they are convicted they might be expelled from University.”

  “OK Sarge,” Larkin agreed.

  “And tell them if I see them again I’ll throw the book at them,” the Sergeant added with emphasis.

  Officer Larkin led them down to the car pool.

  “Hi Walter,” she said. “Sarge ring down?”

  “Sure Angela. I’m to take you to a locksmith, that right?”

  “That’s right Walter you’re the driver,” Angela said with smile, adding, “We have to make sure these naked nice young people get home safe.”

  “We can’t go home,’ Maedbh protested. “The vampire will be waiting for us.”

  “Enough!” Angela said. She was running out of patience with student pranks.

  “Locksmith,” she said and bundled them into the patrol car. Then she got in to the front seat and said, “Officer, take us to the police designated locksmith.”

  Smiling at her formality, Walter gunned the engine and eased out of the station.

  “Naked? In chains?” he said as an aside to Angela.

  “Don’t go there,” she replied.

  The locksmith inspected the lock again.

  “You got a key?” he asked again.

  “Sorry,” Oengus said.

  “It’s protected by a spell,” Maedbh said.

  The locksmith looked at Angela.

  “What?” she said.

  “I’ve tried sawing the chain. It’s seems to be silver but I can’t cut it. Silver is soft. I don’t understand,” the Locksmith said.

  “The inside of the lock is metal, not silver,” Oengus offered.

  “I’d expect that, but I can’t find a key on my list. This is not a standard lock and I can’t pick it,”

  “I can’t sit here naked for ever,” Maedbh said. “I’ll catch cold.”

  The locksmith shook his head with a grin, he didn’t mind helping a naked young lady.

  “Let me try,” Oengus offered.

  With a shrug the Locksmith handed his equipment over. Oengus looked at the lock-picking tool. He’d watched the Locksmith try to use it.

  “It’s only a small lock,” he said to the Locksmith.

  “Sure but small can be tricky.”

  “But as locks go it seems inconsequential?” Oengus suggested.

  “Yes, in the broader scheme of things you are right there,” the Locksmith agreed.

  Five minutes later, just as Angela was about to say give it up and let the Locksmith do his job, there was a click and the lock opened.

  Swiftly they slid the chains through the arm, wrist and neck clasps and Maedbh could stand and wrap herself in the blanket.

  “Good,” Angela said.

  “I’ll get my bill,” the Locksmith said. “Sign please.”

  “You kids are still under arrest,” Angela said as she signed, adding, “You’ll take me to your residence. You two will verify your ID and then I let you go subject to caution.”

  Maedbh was about to protest about the vampire but Angela raised a hand in anticipation. “Enough about Vampires.”

  “Sorry to interrupt Officer Larkin,” Walter said, coming into the shop.

  “We’re done here, thanks for your patience Walter. We can go now,” Angela said.

  “You are normally on the mounted patrol am I right?” Walter asked.

  “Yes? Tonight I’m babysitting these two with your help Walter,” Angela said.

  “Right, but there’s a police horse outside and there’s a cat sitting in the saddle.”

  “Quit with the ribbing Walter.”

  “Have a look.”

 
The Locksmith gathered up Maedbh’s chains while Angela joined Walter to have a look out front.

  “If there is a back way out of here you can keep the silver chain,” Maedbh said. “When the spell wears off you can melt it down.”

  “OK,” the Locksmith said, knowing a good deal when he saw one.

  Outside there was sign neither of horse nor cat.

  “Walter!” Angela said in annoyance.

  “I swear,” Walter swore. “They just trotted up and waited alongside the patrol car. Then I realized there was no officer on board. I wondered was it your horse Angela.”

  “Definitely not,” Angela said, knowing she’d stabled her horse on return to the station.

  “They went out the back way,” the Locksmith said when Angela returned to collect her two prisoners.

  “What!”

  “A cat and a poodle came in. The cat meowed something at the pretty girl and they all ran out back. I followed in case there was mischief afoot.”

  “And?” Angela prompted.

  “The back entrance was open. Usually it is locked. Maybe the cat squeezed in the window but how she opened the locks is a mystery. Anyway they are gone. I locked up again. I’d guess that kid is a good lock picker.”

  Angela sighed. Then she cheered up.

  “Where are they?” Walter asked when Angela came out to the car.

  “Ran away, escaped out the back,” Angela said.

  Walter gunned the engine. “We’ll catch them, naked on foot only wearing a blanket, they...”

  “Forget it,” Angela said and slipped into the car. “I was going to let them go anyhow. Let them go, they’re harmless.”

  “Back to the station?” Walter asked.

  “Not until the Sarge finishes his shift. I’m not explaining this to him.”

  “I know a nice place for a coffee?” Walter offered.

  “Go for it,” Angela said agreeably.

  ***

  “How did you find us?” Maedbh asked.

  “Puca flew, followed and observed,” Venus explained.

  “I do good pigeon,” Puca neighed proudly.

  “Will I turn through Central Park?” Puca added.

  “Good idea,” Oengus said. “Maybe we can find a place to stay the night.”

  “We’re going to freeze,” Maedbh said.

  Maedbh was sitting on Puca behind Oengus, and Venus was perched on the mane holding to Puca’s neck with her claws.

  “We have to go back to the witches house, back to the Bronx,” Venus advised.

  “We can’t do that,” Maedbh said in horror.

  “Oengus’s clothes are there. Oengus has a credit card in his pocket.”

  “That’s right, in my wallet,” Oengus agreed.

  “So?” Maedbh asked.

  “It is impossible to survive in New York without money,” Venus said slowly and clearly.

  “I have money,” Maedbh said.

  “In the apartment which is probably under surveillance by a vampire,” Venus countered.

  “OK,” Maedbh conceded.

  ***

  “What’s the plan,” Deirdre asked.

  She was sitting in her house in the Bronx with a large towel full of ice against the large bruise on her head.

  Leanan was murmuring to herself in the corner and smiling from time to time.

  Dearg Due sucked down the last of the sliced liver and wiped her lips.

  “We have to tell Morag. She won’t be pleased,” she said.

  “Nobody has escaped from me before,” Deirdre said.

  “Always a first time. I hope Morag doesn’t decide to turn you into something unpleasant. She really is quite a powerful witch,” Dearg Due said pleasantly.

  “She needs me to maintain the water spell,” Deirdre said nervously.

  “The plan as I see it,” Dearg Due said, “is that I go watch their apartment. They may be foolish enough to return there.”

  “I’ll go check the water spell,” Deirdre offered.

  “And Leanan?” Dearg Due asked.

  “She can hang out here. Clearly she is in traumatic shock. She may come out of it in time if we leave her at peace,” Deirdre suggested.

  “First you tell Morag that you’ve lost the prisoners,” Dearg Due insisted.

  Deirdre made a face.

  ***

  “I have another option,” Oengus said.

  “Yes?” Venus prompted.

  “We take the subway,” Oengus began. “We can’t continue to ride a police horse around without getting stopped.”

  “Yes?” Venus asked seeking further clarification.

  “We pretend we are beggars,” Maedbh built, working the idea.

  “Why?” Oengus asked.

  “That way everyone will leave us alone.”

  “Good thinking,” Venus agreed, “but you have to conceal the fact that you two are naked under those blankets.”

  “No problem,” Maedbh offered.

  “Beggars with pets do better than beggars without pets, statistically speaking,” Venus added.

  “We’d have to beg at the subway entrance until we have enough for the fare,” Maedbh pointed to the practicalities.

  “I could do a horse again,” Puca offered.

  “Poodle please,” Venus instructed. “We can’t risk going the horse route. We were lucky to get this far without challenge.”

  “Can I do a Hugo?” Puca asked.

  “Not until we get there, we can’t afford the extra subway fare,” Maedbh pointed out.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “You have to leave it in the water,” Jane insisted.

  “What are you doing with a sword anyway?” Peter asked.

  “It’s for my protection. I have to have it on my person,” John insisted.

  John continued to hold the sword in its scabbard in the water and Jane continued to watch with amazement. Clearly the contamination had disappeared in the vicinity of the sword and appeared to be retreating. Definitely not advancing. In the corner of her eye she saw a small alligator swim into the pool sized water reservoir in the junction chamber and move in their direction. They took this as further evidence that the contamination was no longer present in that part of the system.

  “It must be some sort of interaction with the metal in the sword,” Jane said, thinking aloud.

  “More precisely the scabbard of the sword. The sword itself is not in the water,” Peter observed.

  “I’m sorry but I need to keep the sword” John insisted.

  “Take the sword and leave the scabbard holder. Leave it partly exposed. I’ll take a scraping and then we can do spectrograph analysis on the metal. If we identify it we can use the metal to seed the system and kill the contamination,” Jane instructed.

  John hesitated.

  “What’s the matter?” Peter asked.

  “The sword radiates,” John said. “I stored it in a sealed containment area in the Natural History Museum. The containment area silenced the sword. There’s a history here,” John stammered, as if uncertain how to explain.

  “Leave the sword and scabbard or take it out if you must but the scabbard stays in the water and I’m taking a sample with a scraping,” Peter said.

  “It won’t scrape,” John said.

  “Why not?” Jane demanded, her tone reflecting her excitement at the impact of the sword on the contaminant and her impatience with John’s intransigence.

  John sighed knowing he was going to appear foolish.

  “It’s a magic sword,” he said lamely.

  Jane and Peter exchanged glances.

  “Maybe you are under a lot of stress,” Jane said kindly. “John I know you firemen have b
een working around the clock and the Chief did say you’d had a recent loss of a close friend...”

  Jane paused and when John did not respond she continued. “John, just trust us. You have by accident or somehow, hit upon a solution to the problem. This is mega. We must act. Let me have the scabbard and sword please.”

  “No,” John said, taking the scabbard out of the water and holding it with the sword across his chest. “I must have it.”

  In the silence and to break the standoff, Peter scratched his chin and said.

  “John, just do me a favor and put the sword in the water. We need to see if it also drives out the contaminant.”

  “John, the red stuff is coming back,” Jane added, pointing at the water with her torch.

  John drew the sword from its scabbard. He felt he could easily take out Jane, but Peter looked young and fit. He dismissed the thought.

  Peter and Jane stared in wonder when the sword came out of its housing. It was short like a Roman sword but and appeared to be of one piece, the handle and guard and blade being of the same color and texture, apparently all of the same metal.

  And in the dark of the tunnel it glowed in John’s hand. They could see the red of the blood in his hand as the glow lit it up.

  “Gosh,” Jane said.

  John stepped over to the side and plunged the sword into the water. Nothing happened and the red contaminant continued to approach the sword.

  “Doesn’t work,” Peter remarked.

  Then the contaminant reached the sword in the water. There was a churning and the water began to boil and then a wave of energy passed out of the sword and into the water sending a large wave down the tunnel in all directions.

  “What the hell,” Peter said.

  John put the sword back into its scabbard. He was white-faced in shock.

  “You don’t know what you are dealing with here,” he said.

  “Magic,” Jane asked, impressed despite herself.

  “The contaminant must be of magic provenance. The Great Fury belonged to the Celtic God of Love. It will attack all evil, especially evil magic,” John said with conviction.

  “Come on John, this is the twenty first century,” Peter said with a laugh. “There is a scientific explanation, we just don’t know what it is yet.”