The Ladder: Part 1

by David Hodges

  There was no response.

  She knocked again. “Where am I?” she screamed.

  She heard nothing.

  Alexandra was exhausted, but she refused to fall asleep. She played the same thought over and over again—Cameron collapsing in front of her, that thing planted in his neck. She feared the worst.

  The carriage continued on for hours while she went back and forth between weeping and shouting out in frustration.

  Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt. Alexandra sat up and listened closely. The front of the carriage rose slightly as weight was removed. She heard footsteps, and something being dragged outside. The door swung open and she made out the shape of a man carrying something large.

  “Let me out of here!” she shouted as she dove for the door.

  She was shoved back into the carriage, and the man heaved whatever he was carrying onto the bench across from her before slamming the door.

  A sour scent filled the carriage. Alexandra reached across the bench and timidly touched whatever was in the seat. She felt fur, no... hair. She jumped back and shuddered, then screamed, “Help me! please!”

  The carriage lurched forward.

  7

  CAMERON

  Cameron could make out distant voices. The sounds grew louder and clearer until he awoke to see General Marlow pacing in front of him. Henry Marsden was standing in the corner of the room. They were in a study. Rich mahogany furniture reflected light from the fireplace.

  Cameron felt a twinge of pain in his neck and reached for it. He began to remember what happened.

  General Marlow stopped him. “Leave it, the surgeon’s just stitched you up.” He took a seat in front of Cameron and handed him a wet washcloth. “For your face, you’ve got blood on it.”

  “Alexandra, is she here? Is she okay?” asked Cameron as he wiped the cached blood from his jaw.

  “She’s gone... you and her governess were the last to see her.” Marlow focused. “Did you see anything, Cameron? Did her kidnapper say anything to you?”

  Cameron felt nauseous. “Kidnapper? No... no, I just remember something in my neck and then Alexandra, she was coming to help me... then she was gone.”

  Marlow nodded and sighed. “We found you unconscious with this in your neck.” He handed Cameron what appeared to be a short weighted arrow. It was not more than ten inches long with a small but sharp tip stopped by a cork.

  “What is it?”

  “A modified plumbatae, an ancient weapon thrown by hand. I don’t think it was intended to kill you. We believe the tip was poisoned with some kind of tranquilizer.”

  Cameron handed the weapon back to General Marlow. “Who would take her?”

  Marlow shook his head. “It’s hard to guess. Any number of people could find value with her. It could be political, perhaps financially motivated, but there were no instructions for a ransom.”

  Cameron imagined Alexandra being tormented, afraid, alone. He was the only one who could have helped her, and he failed. “We must go after her, whatever the reason,” said Cameron.

  Captain Marsden had kept his mouth shut for an uncharacteristically long time before he broke his silence. “We’ve already sent a small search party, and we’re preparing to send another.” Marsden gave Cameron a cold stare, then with that pompous face, he said. “It’s curious that she was out there on the street with you.”

  Cameron’s stomach knotted at Marsden’s presumption. He knew what Marsden was suggesting; it was his intention to bring Cameron’s relationship with Alexandra under scrutiny. That was not all that bothered Cameron, though. If he had not brought Alexandra out on the street in the first place she would not have been so vulnerable. “General Marlow, I can explain.”

  Marlow stopped him. “Now is not the time. What you can do is join the search party.”

  Cameron was surprised by the suggestion. It seemed a peculiar request for a man with hundreds of trained soldiers at his disposal. Regardless, he was eager to oblige. “Of course, when do you leave?”

  “They will depart in an hour from the garrison’s stable. I will not be there, neither will Captain Marsden. However, we are sending a dozen men under the command of two capable officers.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Cameron stood carefully with General Marlow’s assistance.

  Marlow handed the plumbatae to Daniel. “Take this with you, Cameron, it may help.”

  Cameron accepted the evidence. He looked down as he formed an apology for his failure to keep Alexandra safe, for facilitating the kidnapping. “Forgive me, sir, if I had not been there...”

  Marlow put a comforting hand on Cameron’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Save your apologies... just find my daughter.”

  Cameron rode through the dark as fast as his lingering nausea would allow, every step aggravated his pounding headache. As he approached the Lewin barn he saw several figures holding lanterns behind the opened doors. They exited the barn, and he heard Hazel’s voice in the distance.

  “Cameron!” she shouted as she dropped the lantern and ran toward him.

  He got off his horse. He was lightheaded as he staggered toward her. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly while Uncle George, Mr. Taylor, Daniel, and Fergus all came up behind her.

  “Are you okay?” she asked. “We saw you at the Marlow’s. You were hurt... we were just preparing to come back for you.” She looked to his neck. “Your neck, Cameron! What happened?”

  “I’ll be okay. I was hit with some kind of... poisoned weapon.”

  “A poison!” said Fergus.

  “Who was it?” said Daniel.

  “Alexandra was taken, kidnapped. I don’t know who did it or why.”

  Uncle George put an arm around Cameron and said, “Come inside and let your aunt take a look, you need to rest.”

  “No. I’m going after her. General Marlow is sending a search party, he’s told me to go. I need to pack my things.”

  “Cameron... are you sure that’s a good idea? You don’t look well...” said Mr. Taylor.

  “I’m fine.” Cameron walked his horse to the barn.

  “Let me come with you,” said Daniel.

  Cameron contemplated the suggestion. He was not sure if Daniel would be permitted to accompany him, but it would be nice to have his company. “Alright, we’ll see if you’re allowed when we get there, but we must get ready quickly. They’ll be waiting.”

  Cameron and Daniel ran to the house.

  As he opened the door carefully, Daniel said, “Shh, Mum’s asleep, there’s no reason to spend time explaining all this to her.”

  Cameron spotted the remains of a cake on the kitchen table. Hazel’s birthday dinner. He had forgotten he missed it.

  Daniel noticed. “It’s alright, Cameron, she knows you couldn’t help it. That reminds me though... there was something for you,” he pointed at a box on the end of the table, “from your mother.”

  “My mother?” Cameron asked.

  Daniel nodded. Cameron went to the large flat box and opened it. Inside was a colorful feathered disk with an envelope on top. Cameron placed it aside and picked up the gift. He flipped it over and saw a pair of straps with the approximate diameter of a forearm. “A toy shield.”

  “I reckon it’s from the natives, in America, that’s where Hazel’s gift was from. My mum said your mum wanted her to wait until you were both grown before she gave them to you.”

  Cameron tossed the gift on the table and left the envelope unopened. “C’mon, we don’t have time to waste.”

  Daniel was surprised at his dismissal, then nodded, “Alright, I’ll be quick.”

  Cameron gathered a blanket, a change of clothes, and a heavy coat. He grabbed his bow and quiver of arrows and met Daniel at the barn where they readied their horses.

  Uncle George handed Cameron and Daniel each a sack and hugged them. “Don’t forget to eat.” Hazel followed suit with a pair of canteens. “And drink.”

  “Thank you. Hazel, I’m
sorry I couldn’t be at dinner.”

  “Don’t be silly,” she replied. “You two be careful out there.”

  Daniel said, “We’ll be fine, just a bit of riding I’m sure. Try not to make Mum ill when you tell her where we’ve gone.”

  “We’ll do our best,” said Uncle George.

  They mounted their horses and before they took off, Cameron thought it a good idea to remind Hazel and Fergus of their duties. He knew they would be romanticizing the search as some adventure. “Hazel, your help will be needed on the farm while we’re gone. Make sure things don’t fall behind here. You too Fergus.” With that, he and Daniel departed.

  When they arrived at the garrison stables, a group of men were dressed in their uniforms of bright red coats, white pants, and tall black boots. They waited with saddled horses, a pair of four horse chaises, and three large covered wagons drawn by six horses each. Muskets with fixed bayonets were spread around the convoy.

  “They’re traveling light...” said Daniel as they approached.

  “Ah, our guest has arrived,” said a middle-aged officer as he approached them. “I’m Major Hunt. It’s Lewin, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m Cameron, and this is my cousin Daniel. He’s come to help with the search.”

  “I wasn’t told to expect both of you, but... I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

  A man overdue for a shave with a midsection that indicated too much ale approached them. “You said Lewin? I know that name. Your family delivers vegetables around here, don’t they? You didn’t happen to bring any with you?” Several of the other soldiers laughed at the jab.

  Daniel was quick to respond, “Unfortunately, no, a shame... you appear to be in dire need.”

  The portly man didn’t know what to make of the comment.

  Daniel clearly had not shared Cameron’s observation of an officer’s pistol at his waist, he replied, “Yes, sir, we deliver vegetables among other things. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He extended his hand and waited for an introduction.

  “Captain Dukes,” he responded as he shook Cameron’s hand.

  “We’re ready to depart. Make sure to stay with the convoy,” Major Hunt said to Cameron. He turned away and walked toward one of the chaises.

  “Sir, how do you know where you’re going?” asked Cameron.

  Without stopping Major Hunt replied, “We’re professionals, we know what we’re doing.” He boarded his chaise and started forward. The convoy filed in behind him.

  Cameron mounted his horse and rode in the back of the group with Daniel.

  The roads out of Leicester were in dismal conditions. Potholes and channels in the gravel plagued the convoy. Darkness compounded the treachery, forcing the convoy to move at a slow pace, not more than three or four miles per hour.

  Cameron’s nausea had subsided and been replaced with fatigue. They had been riding for nearly five hours without distraction. The same dark curtain hung over the landscape until the sun finally began to creep up over the horizon.

  “I hope we’re is coming up on Sheepshed soon, my legs are going numb,” said Daniel.

  “It shouldn’t be much longer,” said Cameron. He had delivered wool there once before Uncle George hired a driver.

  Cameron’s stomach grumbled. They had not made it three hours before their meal sacks were empty. They would be begging the soldiers for their rations had Uncle George and Hazel not thought ahead.

  The inn was finally in sight a short while later. When they pulled into the gates, and the convoy was received by the innkeeper. Major Hunt approached the man.

  The innkeeper greeted him,“G’morning, sir, traveling by night are we? You must be attending to something urgent,” he said.

  Major Hunt handed him a small sack of coins. “This should suffice, we’ll feed and rest the horses then we’ll be off.”

  “You’re sure you don’t want us to stable and replace them? We have a fine stock that could expedite your...”

  “No. We’ll be at our destination by dusk.”

  Cameron wondered what the major meant by destination. It suggested he knew where the search would take them. He dismissed the statement as a deflection of the innkeeper’s marketing.

  “Are your kitchens open?” asked Captain Dukes.

  “Of course, we’d be happy to serve your men.” The innkeeper turned to a boy who was filling the feed troughs. He snapped at him and pointed him to a door. “It’s just through that door over there.” He smiled at Captain Dukes, waving him toward the same door.

  The soldiers entered the yard. Those on horseback led their horses straight to the troughs, the others detached their horses from the wagons and chaises.

  Cameron followed behind and was stopped by the innkeeper.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “We’re with the convoy.”

  The innkeeper examined Cameron and Daniel’s civilian wardrobe. “Doesn’t look like it to me.”

  “Major Hunt will vouch for us,” said Daniel as he pointed at him.

  The innkeeper went after the officer and talked with him briefly as he nodded at Cameron and Daniel. He returned to Cameron. “My apologies, however the Major has informed me that his purse was meant for the soldiers, and that you’d be paying for yourselves.”

  “You marauding piece o—” said Daniel.

  “Fine.” Cameron handed the charlatan a few shillings.

  “Pleasure,” he said as he let them pass.

  “How could you let him swindle us like that? Major Hunt hardly said a word to him!” said Daniel.

  “I don’t have enough energy for a quarrel, and I’m hungry.”

  They went into a tawdry kitchen. The soldiers were starting on a course of bread and preserves. Cameron and Daniel sat at the end of a table. A woman brought them each a plate and a basket of bread and butter.

  “What would you like to drink?”

  “What do you have?” asked Daniel.

  “We’ve got apple cider and brandy,” she replied flatly.

  “Is that all?”

  “It is at half past six in the morn.”

  “Alright then, I’ll take the cider.”

  “The same for me, and ma’am, could we get some of that marmalade?” said Cameron pointing at the soldiers.

  “We’ve just run out,” she walked away.

  “The epitome of hospitality,” muttered Daniel as he broke a stale piece of bread which showered crumbs onto the table.

  She returned with their drinks. “What meat will you be having?”

  “When will that beef be ready?” asked Daniel, pointing at a slab that was turning slowly in front of a large stone hearth.

  “Not ‘till noon, and the sausage is out... I’ll bring you the bacon.” She returned with a few strips of burnt meat.

  Cameron tasted the bacon with a crunch. It was cold and over-salted, but he could stomach just about anything at the moment. He rinsed the salt out of his mouth with a swig of cider.

  “We might as well have eaten out with the horses,” said Daniel.

  The roasting meat gave off the only pleasant scent in the room. It had a rod driven through it that was attached to a contraption of cords and pulleys, which led to a spinning wheel. The wheel was about four feet in diameter and made of iron and wood. There were several large spokes on it. Behind them, a lean dog with short crooked legs and a spotted gray coat scampered in place.

  “Quit your slacking!” the kitchen boy shouted at the dog as he clapped at it.

  The dog looked to him and hastened its pace slightly.

  “You can do better than that,” he said as he walked over to the hearth and picked up a glowing orange coal with a pair of long iron tongs. He reached up to the wheel and tossed it in.

  With a whimper, the frightened dog opened its stride to a sprint, making an effort to avoid the coal as it bounced around beneath its feet.

  “That’s better!” shouted the boy.

  “C’mon! Is that necessary?” Dan
iel shouted at the boy. He stood up and went to the wheel. He snatched the hot coal out with precise timing to avoid the spokes and tossed it on the ground. “How ‘bout I shove a coal down your britches...”

  Cameron smiled for the first time since he woke up in General Marlow’s study. “That’s not a bad idea, might speed up the service,” he said to Daniel.

  They had been waiting for nearly three hours at the inn. Cameron was growing impatient. “I don’t understand why we’re still here... we could be losing ground on her every minute we wait.”

  “You said they sent another search party, didn’t you? I’m sure they’re on top of it, it’s their General’s daughter after all.”

  He took a deep breath and tried to relax. “You’re right.”

  Not long after, the soldiers readied their horses and the convoy departed. A short while after they passed through a toll gate, a gunshot went off in the distance.

  Cameron slowed his horse. “Did you hear that?”

  Daniel replied, “Just a hunter, I’m sure. C’mon, keep up.”

  Cameron scanned the rolling green-brown hills, then continued onward. They rode through the afternoon until they reached Derby. Their pace slowed as they continued through the town, navigating the bustling streets. They passed by a few large brick buildings on the Derwent River, along with a row of nearly identical houses packed close together. They stopped at an inn on the north side of town.

  Major Hunt approached Cameron. “We’ll sleep here for the night. Don’t stray too far.”

  Cameron and Daniel unloaded their horses and went to check in to the inn. At the lobby, a woman was sitting at a desk.

  “Good afternoon, ma’am. We’re looking for a room for the two of us.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, we’ve just sold the last one for the night. There’s another inn just down the road, you might have better luck there.”

  They walked out of the inn. “That’s rotten luck, everything seems to be running out,” said Daniel. They walked down the street and tried the other inn where they were able to find a room. After they stored their things, they went to the closest pub.