by G. P. Taylor
‘What is it?’ Charity asked as he lurked in the shadows.
‘They’re boarding up the hotel and Mrs Mukluk is being taken to the jailer’s van. Zogel’s carriage is there – he’s leaving,’ Mariah whispered as he looked on. ‘There’s Walpole and his men – Grimm and Grendel and –’
‘And who?’ Charity asked.
‘He’s standing by the door of Athol House. I can’t be sure. Looks like the man from the Towers – the one who was speaking with Walpole.’
Charity edged closer to Mariah and peeked around the corner. In a brief clearing of the mist that came between fast swirls, he saw the man. He was dressed in his fine coat and silk top hat with a black cane in his hand.
‘Bardolph,’ Charity said in a whisper, recalling a distant memory and a face he could never forget. ‘I never thought I would ever see him here.’
Walpole began to shout to make his voice heard as he read from the writ. ‘I, Inspector Walpole of the town police, hereby give warning that as from this time the Prince Regent Hotel is out of bounds to all and sundry … and no longer the property of Captain Jack Charity, formerly of this parish and now deceased … This will be made law by the Mayor, Ebenezer Wolf, at the town hall banquet tomorrow night … Any person found on these premises will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I have men inside the hotel and guards on every door and they have orders to shoot.’
‘Now it is all very clear,’ Charity whispered as he pulled Mariah back into the shadows. Zogel’s carriage rattled along the street, followed by the jailer’s cart. Mrs Mukluk screamed to be released as she clung to the bars of the window, the fat driver giving no heed to her distress.
‘What are they doing to her?’ Mariah asked as the carriage rattled into the fog.
‘She won’t have gone without a fight. Doesn’t like leaving the Prince Regent, thinks her son will come back and the only place he’ll know to look is here.’
‘Where is he?’ Mariah asked as they hid in the doorway of the Italian coffee house.
‘Lost at sea – believed to be dead. Mrs Mukluk won’t believe it. The Prince Regent was the last place she saw him alive, before it was rebuilt. There was a small theatre. Twink would entertain the crowds with impressions. He took a steam ship to France that sank in a storm.’
‘But she thinks he will come back?’
‘It’s what keeps her alive. Old Smutch fell in love with her. Sends her a card every Valentine’s Day – she thinks it’s from her son.’
‘Look,’ said Mariah as he spied through the dark glass of the coffee shop to the door of Athol House across the square. ‘Grimm and Grendel are going inside.’
Finished with their business at the Prince Regent, Grimm, Grendel and Inspector Walpole went through the large grubby door into the tall, shabby white building of Athol House. Bardolph waited at the bottom of the steps and looked across the square at the mist-smeared facade of the hotel. He smiled in smug satisfaction and then turned and followed, and the door of the house was closed behind him.
‘Bardolph. Never thought he would be in a town like this, Mariah,’ Charity said as they took the long flight of stone steps that led from the Italian coffee house to the strand below.
‘What does he do?’ Mariah asked as they walked on.
‘It is not what he does, but who he is. Bardolph is not his true name. Like Gormenberg he can change his identity as he likes. He is the Templar of the Society of Truth. When they need money or hear of some fine object that they could steal they send Bardolph. He is a scavenger.’
‘Then why is he here?’
‘Obvious,’ Charity replied as they came to the bottom of the steps and watched the last steam tram of the night roll slowly from the beach up the side of the cliff on its iron rails. ‘He has come for the Ghost Diamonds.’
‘So they are here?’
‘Possibly. Are you sure that it was in suite 217 where you saw the man?’ Charity asked.
‘Sure as sure,’ Mariah replied.
‘Then that is where we need to be. Suite 217. If we could find the diamonds before Bardolph, then we would be in a position of power,’ Charity said quickly as they walked along the beach beneath the towering dark hotel.
‘Even if we can get inside, Walpole’s men could still find us,’ Mariah said.
‘They don’t know the place. Imagine – we could hide anywhere. We could be in and out of the room as fast as light. My only concern is why they never searched for the diamonds straightaway,’ he replied as the tide came near to their feet.
‘There’s a guard by the sea doors,’ Mariah said as he pointed to a shadow far off along the beach. ‘Walpole wants no one to get inside.’
‘Then we’ll have to find another way,’ Charity said, looking up at the looming building that seemed to reach to the sky.
There was a sudden dull moan of the siren from the Irenzee anchored in the bay. It was as if it signalled the ship to wake from a sombre sleep. As before, the funnel and masts slid from the deck and a searchlight skimmed the waves as it scanned back and forth across the sea.
The ship’s launch pulled away from the vessel and raced towards the harbour. The searchlight followed, illuminating its every movement. Mariah eyed its journey, pointing its path to Charity as it soared across the sea.
‘Never seen a boat go that fast before,’ Mariah said, watching the craft ease its speed as it reached the harbour.
‘Looks as if it sucks in the water and forces out a blast at the stern,’ Charity replied as he took from his pocket the miniature telescope that Quadlibett had brought from the Golden Kipper. ‘Zogel and Lucius are at the harbour side,’ he said as he peered through the lens. ‘They’re getting into the boat and –’
‘What is it?’ Mariah asked.
‘It’s Sacha and her father. They’re with Zogel,’ Charity said in disbelief.
‘They must have been caught,’ Mariah replied.
‘See for yourself,’ he said as he handed Mariah the telescope.
Mariah looked through the lens. The searchlight from the Irenzee lit the pier and cast dark shadows like black fingers across the water. There, on the steps just above the launch, was Zogel. Next to him was Sacha. She was with her father. They were both smiling. Lucius handed her a cork life jacket. She slipped it across her shoulders and tied it at the front. The dwarf squeezed her hand and laughed. It was as if they had been friends for a long time. Zogel shook her father’s hand warmly. He led them both to the launch. Soon they were on board.
‘They’re taking them to the ship,’ Mariah said as his mind raced to discover what could have happened. ‘I heard Walpole saying that the reason they had kidnapped Sacha was so her father would do what they wanted.’
‘Looks as if it is already done,’ Charity said as he watched the launch get nearer to the Irenzee.
‘Why would they do this – what is on the ship for them?’ Mariah pleaded. ‘She promised … I’m her friend.’
‘We don’t know what is going on. Zogel is a complicated man and can charm the birds from the trees. It could be believed that he has lied to them both.’
‘Then we have to tell her – get to the ship and tell her, bring her back,’ Mariah replied as he saw Sacha and her father step from the launch and on to the deck of the Irenzee.
Lucius and Zogel followed on. The launch was winched from the water and stowed beneath the enormous deck. The funnel and the masts slid back to their places until the ship lay in the water like a vast island in the bay.
‘First thing, Mariah, is to find the Ghost Diamonds – then we can look for Sacha and her father. But we shall have to break into the Prince Regent and all the doors are watched by Walpole’s men.’
‘I know a way,’ Mariah said as he remembered the Piscis humanis. ‘I found a secret entrance. We should see Titus Salt. There is a tunnel from the Aquarium to the lagoon – it’s where Otto Luger bred strange fish.’
‘Then we shall visit the old dog and put an end to this skulduggery,
’ Charity said as a smile spread across his face.
[ 22 ]
The Porkpie Hat
THEY walked the length of the beach, covered by the shadow of the Prince Regent and the pall of mist that came in with the tide. As they reached the Aquarium, Charity saw two men by the museum. They stood in the doorway, huddled in their coats to keep out the night. He quickly realised that they were Walpole’s men – their porkpie hats and long black coats were what they all seemed to wear. Charity walked ahead, Mariah following silently and keeping to the shadows, out of sight. Soon they had left the beach and were on the short promenade that led to the Aquarium and Pleasure Palace.
The door was locked and bolted. Mariah could see a faint glimmer of light coming from the office where Titus Salt lived. He tapped as gently as he could so that the police would not hear him. The dog growled as it stalked from the room and looked through the glass at the two dark shadows outside. It eyed Mariah as if there was something about him that it knew. It sniffed the air as he came closer and then jumped up to the door, its front paws on the glass standing higher than a man.
‘Grub, Grub,’ Mariah whispered as the animal stared at them. ‘Go bring Titus!’
The dog seemed to know what Mariah had said. It dropped to the floor and ran off back to the office, only to return moments later followed by Titus Salt.
‘Who is it?’ he asked as he came closer, dressed in an overlarge dressing gown and Egyptian fez hat. ‘Can’t a man have his sleep without being disturbed?’
‘It’s Mariah and Captain Charity,’ Mariah said as Titus got to the door.
‘You’re early, always early,’ Titus chuntered as he turned the lock and hurriedly let them inside. ‘You weren’t supposed to be here for another hour. I saw it clearly when I had the dream – saw the church clock, and you’re an hour too soon.’
‘Do you want us to go and come back?’ Charity asked with a smile as they stepped inside.
‘You’re here now,’ Titus replied as he fiddled with the belt of the dressing gown, trying to tie it into a tight knot.
‘We –’ Mariah said, but Titus interrupted.
‘Want to use the tunnel to get into the Prince Regent?’ He sighed. ‘It’s already known to me. I’ve seen it all. Ghost Diamonds is it, Jack?’
‘That is yet to be discovered,’ Charity replied as Titus walked ahead of them and through the doorway to his office.
‘Tea first and then battle, eh, Jack? Wasn’t that the way it always was?’ Titus spoke happily as if recalling some fond memory.
‘Long time ago and many miles away Titus Salt,’ Charity replied as Titus put an old kettle on the stove. ‘Does the future offer you any surprises with that far sight of yours?’
‘It’s a dim glass and only comes when others are in need. It’s a Corinthian gift – I’m not your seafront diviner or charlatan. Wouldn’t want to see everything – too painful to know.’
‘But you saw we were coming and what we wanted,’ Mariah said as he sat by the fire with Grub wrapped about his legs.
‘You’re both in danger. All I’ll say as a warning is something I saw. Since I heard that you were arrested I could do nothing but think of you. Every time you came to mind, I could see a lion waiting to tear you to pieces. It was a dark creature with blood-red eyes. Something or someone wants you both dead. I’ve pleaded your case before the King of kings and for your sake I hope He heard my call.’
‘I fear the same, Titus. We battle not against flesh and blood, but powers and principalities that work through human form. Nothing is clearer in my mind,’ Charity replied as Titus poured the tea and stood by the fire. ‘I have to clear my name and prove to the world that I didn’t kill those people. The only way that can be done is if I find the true killer.’
‘He’s not far away, Jack. They have sent him for you. As we speak he searches the streets,’ Titus said.
‘Then we shall be about our business and the hunted shall become the hunter.’
‘Like old times, Captain? Outnumbered – the enemy on every side – and still prepared to fight?’ Titus asked.
‘Isn’t that when it’s at its best? A fight isn’t worth taking on unless there are seven of them and only one of you. It’s the only reason worth leaving this land for – and you were one of the finest, Titus …’
Titus Salt looked into his mug of tea and watched the swirling leaves go around and around. It was as if he were no longer there – not in a dream or trance, but standing in the past. He could hear the sound of a battle far away as his fingers trembled. Titus said nothing but in his mind the sun had set behind the mountains and a squall beat against the land in fury.
‘But when does it stop?’ he asked quietly without looking up. ‘I have left too many friends on foreign shores never to be seen again.’
‘No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight, he will
make good his right to be a …’ Charity sang softly as the fire light dimmed and Mariah stared into the darkening embers.
‘Listen,’ Mariah said as Grub pricked up his ears. ‘It’s coming from the Aquarium.’
From deep inside the Pleasure Palace came the faint echo of what sounded like singing. It wasn’t a voice that Mariah knew and he couldn’t understand the words, but he was sure it was singing.
‘Can’t be,’ Titus said as he walked from the room and into the vast arcade, followed by Charity and Mariah. ‘I can hear …’
Coming from the far end of the Aquarium was faint music. At first it sounded like the singing of a choir of high-pitched voices. As they got closer the sound changed to that of a shrill note pitching and falling.
‘Someone’s playing tricks,’ Titus said as he pulled Grub close to him.
‘Then they choose the wrong time,’ Charity replied as he took the pistol from his pocket and cocked the hammer. ‘I’ll go around the back with Mariah,’ he whispered.
Charity and Mariah slipped through the narrow gap between two large, dark glass cases that went from the floor to the ceiling. Each tank was braced with red-painted iron. Mariah stared inside. There in the murky black were the shapes of fishes and crabs swirling in the dark water.
‘That’s why I joined the army,’ Charity said as if he could read Mariah’s mind. ‘Never liked dark water. You can never see what lies beneath.’
They could hear Titus walking slowly along the stone floor between the avenues of fish tanks and kept pace step by step. Charity held the pistol ready to fire as Mariah listened to the faint music.
‘Piscis humanis,’ Mariah said as he thought of the fish. ‘Luger bred them. They look like people. It could be them.’
‘It’s the fish,’ cried Titus Salt as he stared into the glowing tank.
Mariah and Charity slipped back onto the avenue between the tanks and stood with Titus. There in the tank was the Piscis humanis. It swam in small circles, its mouth out of the water. As it swam the fish glowed red, green and then bright blue. There was a gurgling sound that came from the large pipe that ran around the entire building. Mariah looked up at the large arches hung with vines. Small oriental birds danced silently through the leaves that wrapped themselves around each arcade. Before him the fish continued to sing.
‘Can’t be,’ Charity said, his brow raised in disbelief.
‘This is what was bred in the Prince Regent. Luger – or whatever he was called – brought them here. They change all the time. Sometimes I think they look even more human.’
‘Hu … maa … naa,’ said the fish eerily, as if it repeated what Titus had said, then it swirled from the surface to the glass and appeared to smile.
‘Did you hear what it said?’ Mariah asked, unsure he could believe his mind.
‘A clever trick, Titus Salt – don’t you get enough visitors here?’ Charity scorned.
‘That were no trick, Jack – that was the fish,’ he replied, his eyes showing his own disbelief. ‘I’ve seen them on a Sunday; they stay by the glass and listen to the visitors. It’s
as if they listen to what they are saying. Sometimes wonder who is on display. Told you there was something wrong with these things. I have a good mind to have done with them and have them killed.’
‘You can’t,’ Mariah protested. ‘They know what we are saying. Look.’
Together they stared at the tank. For a moment they could see their own dark reflections against the glass and then in an
instant the water exploded in bright colour. All the fish began to sing. And as they called out they shone brighter, until the tank glowed so brightly that Charity and Mariah covered their eyes. The creatures rolled around and around, intertwining with each other as they sang. They seemed to be giving praise with a chorus of sound and uttering divine words that neither Mariah nor Charity nor Titus Salt could ever understand. The light grew even brighter as the fish swam around the vast tank of seawater and dived into the air above them.
Suddenly all went silent. The fish tank darkened and the Piscis humanis were gone. Mariah listened to the dripping of water from the roof and the chirping of the birds that lived in the vines. Titus looked at Charity as if they had been privy to something secret that should never have been beheld by the eyes of men.
From the look on his face it was clear that Charity didn’t know what words to say next. He pointed at the tank. There, as if just appeared by some magic trick, was a single Piscis humanis. It was larger than the others, its face more human and its eyes dark and piercing. It had several long tentacles around its lips that touched the glass like a large catfish. It made the creature look like an army colonel with a waxed moustache.
The fish looked at them as if they were the ones on display. Its eyes searched each one of them as if it knew their hearts. Then it smiled and turned. In the second it was gone into the darkness of the vast Aquarium.