Named Sherlock

by Bagatur Zhamkochyan

  - What have you sluchilosto, mister? - John asked almost in a whisper. - Who are you napadalto, and then I knew nothing.

  - I myself did not understand properly. - By the way, now I will clarify it!

  - Mr. Langdon - once again I turned to the man - let me still disturbed ... But how did you know that the crowd is on our soul?

  - Quite simply, Mr. Brown. I looked in the port tavern in search of, so to speak, "dubious pleasures." Miss Warren, I'm sorry. And just caught the moment when these guys were discussing what to do better with you - to kill or just maim. They were already pretty drunk, and I noticed some weapons. Therefore, instead of waiting until they transform their plans into action, I rushed to warn you.

  - Oh, it's strange all this is, really, and our guys were there? They're just in the tavern and sat. "Drunk squid", right? Yes, there is another and no ... - in the voice of the sailor heard sincere bewilderment. - No, they are exactly the part would not be, and we drink is strictly forbidden.

  - Yes, wait a minute - I tried to calm him down - that there, without them, there was no one to attend? "Petrel" is not one here, right?

  - In the squadron of eighteen sail of the line and twelve frigates!

  - Well. And sure, everyone had to restock drinking water. So sure enough people in the port.

  - Yes, no one can! - John excitement was almost shouting. - First, sir, that the Royal Navy, and not full of shopping, we have the iron discipline. And secondly, no one was left on the shore of the night, as no one else there were no passengers on board!

  - John, calm down, I did not mean to offend you or a fleet of Her Majesty, this is just a version. And by the way, since you mentioned the merchant navy, perhaps these people with "Elizabeth"?

  - "Elizabeth," sir?

  - Well, yes, "Elizabeth", a trading schooner. We are just going to continue swimming in it, now, wait until it is replaced by rigging.

  - Sir, - said with conviction sailor - you or someone cheated, or just joking. Now the port no civilian vessel. And with the change of rigging at all funny, then it can only repair parts, a complete replacement - a rather serious repair.

  - Mr. Langdon, you have heard our conversation?

  - Unfortunately yes. And I want to say, Mr. Brown, that you are to blame for everything, - Mr. Langdon dropped the oar and jumped to his feet. His right hand instantly plunged into the pocket and appeared to have a gun. - You and your stupid questions!

  What do I prevent the wind, or the splash of the waves in a wooden board, or the horror came over me, but I did not hear the shot. I saw a flash of fire, and then to the left of me, a sailor suddenly stood up for a moment, but, instead, to sit back in silence fell headfirst to the bottom of the boat. Another is the same soundless flash, and Mr. Tennyson, who managed to get his gun, fell to the same.

  But after a moment, the silence was broken deafening crash and roar. The rumor came back to me at the very moment when I was snatched out of his pocket his own revolver, which, after much doubt, it is certainly took with him, emptied the whole clip from a distance of a few meters straight into Langdon's chest.

  But even this did not interrupt his laughter.

  Chapter 9

  - Well, I knew that the foresight and attention to detail one day save my life! However, it has been calculated for the case when for the sake of authenticity escape we have to shoot. Can I assume that you accidentally shot someone else of my people?

  - What? - a no brainer to me never occurred.

  - Well, as you seem to me because a lot smarter. What comes out, I overestimated your intelligence and absolutely nothing poor shot Tennyson? - Langdon continued to smile and, if not the barrel of a revolver, aimed at my chest, our conversation would have looked quite friendly.

  I silently leaned toward lying face down sailor, without moving it, put two fingers to the carotid artery. there was no pulse. Tennyson's body was lying almost under the feet of Langdon, but I and my seat was visible pool of blood that is slowly spreading on the wooden flooring.

  - Can not see, Mr. Brown, is useless. He died quickly and without pain, it's the least I could do in this situation for him - it seemed the man says with genuine pity in her voice.

  - But why? What for? And my gun ... I saw it, he was right!

  - Your gun? Ah, yes, a revolver, I almost forgot! Mr. Watson, if you please, your weapons, and ask no joke. Put on the bottom of the boat. And you Miss Warren, the excellent folding blade, who hides in the right sleeve, throw overboard.

  Judging by the brief rustle and splash of water behind, Marissa exactly follow the instructions killer. I'm still staying in a strange stupor kakomto carefully peered into his face. Even now, just killing two people and keeping us under the gun, Langdon did not turn suddenly into a scoundrel and a villain. Outwardly, it was still the same nice person, open, honest, disposing a smile. And even the reputation I have with it so far has been friendly. How can that ever be?

  - So, gentlemen, since Mr Brown's curiosity forced me to change my plans, then to the "Petrel" we are with you go with absolutely no need. The city is also not a reason to go back, I'm sure there is now full of soldiers. So we'll have to wait all this turmoil in one small cozy bay. Mr. Brown, Mr. Watson, I ask the oars. Damu will not make, and I prefer to work his head, not your hands! - and he again laughed heartily.

  I silently moved to the place of John killed, losing their Donny. The head creates a complete mess, and does not fit what happened in places. This is what comes out, it's about Langdon warned me the old woman? Open your eyes ... And those words about the external and internal. Here I'm an idiot! After all, it was just mentally continue the phrase, just offhand, for example: "How often a rough, flaky crust hides precious kernel, just and beautiful shell can hide the rotten core."

  Suppose somehow so ... Yes. There is no direct indication of my companions, but it is possible, you could tell if pay more attention to circumstantial evidence, but I ... No, I was called in vain Sherlock. And it's not that I do not own methods of investigation of my famous namesake, although I am the proud owner of a whole unit in the "deduction". Rather, the reason for my carelessness and inability to single out the most important of the overall picture.

  We can recall the recent case of the house in front of and strange tracks that at first I took to be the footprints of the milkman. I'm stressed this fact, a couple of minutes was interested, and then forgotten. But it turned out that it was the maid prints lover leg, with whom she subsequently robbed his mistress - took all the jewelry and a large sum of money, and then disappeared in an unknown direction. But if I was closer, the crime could have been prevented. And here again, my fault already killed two people ...

  - Lord, what are you depressed? - Langdon distracted me from the strewing ashes on the head. - Why is no one prays for mercy, does not promise mountains of gold to me? At least ask their own destiny, and that to me, really, bored, and we have yet to go at least an hour.

  - What is there to be interested in? - this time, the voice has filed Marissa. I must say that all artificially grafted her husk good manners instantly crumbled, and in front of us was just the kind of girl that was once kept a sharp knife at my throat, and if necessary, masterfully bossed picks. - It's all clear, handsome. Your goal - Sherlock, we do not need. So alive exactly to the moment, not yet landed on the shore. There let us in the flow, and it will hold up for ransom.

  - Lady, I'm delighted! You have to lead the expedition, the brain then you obviously more than others. And the beauty of the Creator you are not hurt ...

  - Do not go near it!

  - Hey, hey, Mr. Watson, take it easy! - Langdon instantly turned the gun from me to Donny. - would be so jerky, I thought that Miss Warren is fully capable of rowing for you. Do not worry, I'm a bastard, do not argue, but the lady always answered me in return, to use force, I do not intend to, it's rude and too boring.

  - So, where were we? Oh yes, you were asking about the revolver, Mr. Brown. And by the way, if you please, edit out on th
e Cape ... Thank you. Yes, the gun. You say you tested it and did not find anything strange? - Langdon was still impeccably polite as at social events, what annoyed me more and more.

  - Have not found.

  - Well, of course, was never found. While you're strolling through the market, I have replaced bullets in your revolver and the revolver Miss Warren, on special, I just invented a similar case when you need to make a lot of noise and it did not kill anyone. Externally, they are no different from the usual, except that a little bit easier.

  - But why these difficulties?

  - I agree, it is needless, Mr. Brown. But I was used to plan the operation well, so as not to lose it all because of a stupid accident are full. Of course, the ideal would be to replace the cartridges in all revolvers, but I prostonaprosto was not an appropriate case, Mr. Warren zachemto took his gun for a walk, though I'm sure he can not from it to shoot well and Tennyson never parted with their weapons . Oh, how sorry to lose him. Lovely was a man crystal honesty!

  Langdon sat on a bench at a maximum distance from us, almost on the nose boat, stretched out and crossed his legs, and put a gun to his knees. It still did not give any chance, I'm sure he is excellent shooter and has time to react, but now we could talk with Donnie almost silent whisper, trying not to move his lips.

  - You are not tormented by conscience, Mr. Warren? - the man continued. - I see what is not. A must have! After all, this is due to have brewed the whole mess. If you do not have got into a fight, if you were not brandish a weapon, they would not have received in the head. And Mr. Brown would not have to abandon the idea to return to the "Petrel". And there was this performance with the prosecution, asking questions, and the session would not have to kill ... you see how many of you trouble?

  - Wait a minute, something I do not understand anything ... - I was confused. - So Tennyson was not your accomplice? In general, you, all the same, want from us?

  - Oh, Mr. Brown, you would know what a temptation to tell the helpless victim of his treacherous plans! I begin to understand the book villains who recklessly engaged in this. But only if we are reading the same book, keep in mind the place where the victim suddenly heroically prevails, in real life is usually skipped. However, your chances of actually zero, so it is possible to tell and the more that I want to brag a little.

  No, definitely, if I, like many people of this world would have been religious, it suspected that Mr. Langdon - the devil himself. Well it is impossible otherwise to explain that despite the fact that the mind, you know - this man is a murderer and a villain worth his smile, as immediately want to smile back. No way, he wordly level of charisma ...

  - You see, gentlemen and lady - he started in the meantime, - my story is quite boring and banal. Where I was born and raised, I think, no one is interested. As soon as I was fourteen years old, I had to worry about food on their own, but here, in the small colonial towns, not too many opportunities to break out in people. I drove smuggling, drove the same wealthy idiots like you are in the jungle, got the skins and chopped rosewood. Often the expedition, in which we participated, suffered losses - people eating wild animals bitten by poisonous snakes or insects. And sometimes, when the equipment was particularly valuable, they are just completely disappeared without a trace. In general, he spun as he could, until he met a session. He pulled one of the rich idlers to the north, to the mountains, and I was among the local provodnikovnosilschikov,

  - You were supposed to catch it, really nobody suspected anything?

  - Well, the whole should be a measure, Mr. Brown. There is quite dangerous places people go in tens, and still are idiots who walk into the inferno for kakihto bloody ruins. In general, when our guys decided to gut these poor fellows, I saved Tennyson, pretending that did not know about the rest of the team's intentions. By the way, just there for the first time my idea was useful ammunition. Oh, how I shot back, pulling his wounded back to the village. He was sure that I put half of the bandits, no less - Langdon shook his head, smiling, puzzled and perplexed. - Surprisingly, it's not a fool was, but was hooked like a baby. In general, it has helped me get out of here and did my partner.

  - You're fine thank him, handsome, - again spoke up Marissa.

  - Lady, I would ask you to hold back his sharp little tongue. Where was I? Oh yes! Tennyson was covering me with its reputation of an honest man, he had a tough principles, so I like his partner, got a considerable fraction of the collective credibility. In general, working with him was a pleasure. He trusted me unconditionally, without even knowing that some of our customers are not just disappeared. I was very careful in the selection of victims, not to cast a shadow on us, because a great reputation - it is a gold mine!

  - Is that why you did not want to kill him?

  - Well, of course! He - my guarantee easy access to the thick wallets slackers who want an exotic adventure. And you all had to go through the same scenario! Swim up KastilaSerra - it was just a great idea! The whole plan was formed me instantly, as soon as I heard that the "Petrel" is just before the village. The local village of natives, most of those who could smuggle you in Belize, many years living on the money that gets away from me and my boys. And in fact, they do not need and denegto we in their eyes a such fighters with rich whites who take away their best lands. So help from the natives, you would not have waited - Langdon seemed completely at ease, and carried away by his monologue, even began to gesticulate revolver. Squinting at Donnie, I realized,

  - And on the ground you have been waiting for well-organized and has already worked out a scenario bandits, shooting and abduction of Mr Brown - continued meanwhile Langdon. - Perhaps, for greater certainty, to kogonibud even wounded. And by the way, Mr. Watson and Miss Warren sailed to home, in Londinium, safe and sound, as witnesses of the incident. But the bandits who had taken the unfortunate young man, some time would have contacted his heartbroken family and exposed to certain financial demands ... But destiny, in the face of too irascible Mr. Warren and too curious Mr. Brown decided otherwise, and now we have what we have.

  - And what will happen now?

  - Now? Well - Langdon scratched his muzzle of the revolver head. - Oh, nothing, in fact, does not change. That's just, given the time that I was going to have to move into hiding, the ransom would have to slightly increase, I think, twice as originally conceived will be just right. The only difficulty that may occur is that your guardian refuses to pay. Well, in that case, it will only have to wait for your age, to which, as I understand it, there are very few. Then you can transfer the money yourself.

  - Are you surprised, Mr. Brown? Yes, I'm well aware of your sad story and not know what is the approximate amount of the inheritance. And believe me, the game is worth the candle. Oh yes, your funny little animal mechanical, completely forgot about it! I understand all that is worth the money, Mr. Brown, and understand that kind of thing. I would love to know where you got it. I think we'll talk about it. And yet - he again smiled happily as if something incredibly pleasant reported, - witness to me is no longer necessary, so that, Mr Watson, Miss Warren, I'm sorry. I hope you do not hold me to the evil, believe me, I do not feel the slightest hostility to you.

  He does not feel the slightest hostility! No, definitely, this person is the same crazy as Lady Elizabeth. What he does not get pleasure from killing, for me no better than them outright pleasure. In his case, it does not affect, do not rush, and the total disregard for human life, bringing down its value to the level of waste. Kill as brush away crumbs from cookies after tea.

  - If you know the size of my prospective inheritance, you must understand that I can pay the ransom and their friends - in fact I was desperate bluff, because the size of this same mythical inheritance did not know himself.

  - Mr. Brown, I'm sure your friends will appreciate your noble impulse, but, no. You see, to compensate for the loss of my dear friend Tennyson, you have to give everything we have. Contain and protect three people instead of one, I have no reason to, given that it does not affect th
e size of the ransom.

  I do not know Langdon was able to see in almost total darkness, but he suddenly pointed toward the shore, and ordered to deploy to the boat. Time was very little, it was urgent to come up with something, but what? Even if we had the guns, to sense it was used enough. From my shooter APB from Donny - even worse, it is not the first time remember which way to direct the gun at the enemy, and that the press, there was a hope to Marissa, but she threw the knife ...

  Think, head, think about it! Realizing that time is running out like sand through his fingers, I began to despair. Really old women prediction will come true, and because of my friends die? After all, they, unlike me, will die forever. Unlike me? And she said so ... It turns out that the old woman knew that, in the event of death, I will be reborn again? So, stop. Now we need to think about something else. Unlike me! Exactly! I got used to the absolute reality of this world, are constantly pushed into the far corner of the mind the idea that all the same it virtual, and I'm here - immortal! Yes, the die is not very pleasant, even more hurt and scared, but this is our chance. The most important thing - to hold out as long as possible, try to contact the enemy fight to have friends there though kakayato opportunity! And yet, as well,

  - Donnie, Now shut up and listen to me carefully, - I bowed my head and tried to move as little as possible with his lips when speaking. - In this second be constantly ready. As soon as I shout: "Come on," you fall to the bottom of the boat, grab a gun and start to shoot at Langdon.

  Seeing that others are willing to argue, I quietly but quite stepped on his foot and continued to whisper:

  - It will not kill me, or at least try to hurt no more. I'm for it - a pot of gold. Therefore, as soon as the right moment arises, I'll jump on him and try to take away the gun, and you're in that time to raise her and kill the bastard. Can you? Remember, we are talking about Marissa's life.

  Hearing about Marissa, Donnie, as I expected, then I stand ready to fight heroically and, if necessary, to die with the name of his fair lady's lips. I really hope that this will not happen, at least for them. With regard to his own person, I had no illusions. Not only that, I was not at all certain that the fear of losing a source of income Langdon turn away from my murder, so also planned to get him to do that, arguing, thus friends to fight. Revenge - such a thing, can sometimes move mountains. But Donnie about my real plan is better not to know.