I let him give her a rundown, interspersing a censored version of my battle.
‘I can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘Brian Cowan a revolutionary? Ultra-conservative schemer, maybe, but guerrilla fighter?’
‘It was a surprise,’ I said. ‘Is he conscious?’
She nodded. ‘And chained to his bed. I don’t know how much sense you’ll get out of him, though. The stunning seems to have damaged his synapses. Hold on, I’ll come with you. It’s not every day a fellow Council member goes haywire.’
I refrained from pointing out that I’d nailed several less than sane guardians over the years, admittedly none in full-scale combat.
Two guardsmen from Simpson Barracks, the one that provides most of the city’s medical staff, stood outside a room in the depths of the building. Davie nodded to one of them.
‘Is he trustworthy?’ I said in a low voice.
‘I think so.’
That was the problem – once a few auxiliaries went wrong, you had no idea how many others might have.
The education guardian was lying with the upper half of his body propped up, steel cuffs on his wrists and ankles and chains from them attached to the floor. He turned his head as we came in and smiled wryly.
Sophia slapped his face. ‘Don’t you dare! You’re a disgrace to the Council.’
‘Let alone the city in general,’ I added.
‘Spare me your fatuous outrage,’ Brian Cowan said. ‘I have Edinburgh’s best interests at heart, not you or the senior guardian.’
‘Rather a strange way of showing that,’ I said. ‘So you don’t like football. That doesn’t mean you have to storm the grounds.’
He glared at me. ‘Football will be the ruination of this city. That weakling Peter Stewart and his ghastly replacement have a lot to answer for.’
‘And you, pal,’ Davie said, looming over him. ‘You’re a disgrace to Hume Barracks too.’
Shit, I’d forgotten Cowan had been in Hume before he became a guardian, which was about a decade ago. Davie could have reminded me, but he was no doubt ashamed of Cowan even before the bullets started to fly. I remembered the treasure trove in the Pleasance, within Hume’s patrol area. That was, in effect, Cowan’s bank. I had a feeling a fair number of the Guard personnel who’d taken part in the attacks would have been Davie’s comrades – not that he’d spent much time there in the last five years. Hume 01 would need to be arrested, though. I took Davie aside and put that to him as diplomatically as I could. He scowled but went off to do the job himself.
‘Right,’ I said, turning back to the education guardian. ‘Would you like to explain what you’ve been doing or shall Sophia start operating on your groin without anaesthetic?’
She looked as fierce as she could – which was pretty frightening – but I knew she’d never transgress the Medical Directorate’s code of ethics.
‘I’ll talk with pleasure,’ said Cowan. He was obviously proud of himself; that turned me right off.
‘On second thoughts, we haven’t got all night. I ask, you answer, OK?’
‘Very well,’ he said, looking deflated. ‘But I will have my say before the Council.’
Sophia shrugged. It was as likely that he’d be taken out the back and shot.
‘You suborned a number of auxiliaries—’
‘No, I did not. There are many who disapprove of even the idea of a referendum, let alone actually rejoining Scotland.’
I smiled to soften him up. ‘All right. How many?’
‘I’m not going to give their identities away.’
‘No problem. Some of those we captured will be less reluctant.’
He returned my smile, but his was spiteful. ‘They are true Edinburgh patriots, they won’t talk.’
‘Uh-huh. What was your plan? To get into bed with outsiders, build up arms dumps and overthrow the Council?’
‘Get into bed with outsiders?’ he said, as if I’d thrown a pig’s pizzle at him.
‘Come on, Brian. Hume 481 was in contact with the Glaswegian Dead Men, as well as the Portobello Pish. A smart move that, making use of the city’s gangs.’
‘They’re animals, but they served their purpose.’
‘I’m sure they look on you as a much higher form of life – the few that are still alive and free. Anyway, John Lecky and his crazy builders were your initial shock troops, no doubt bolstered by the odd Glaswegian.’
Cowan shook his head. ‘I know nothing about outsiders. That must have happened on the ground.’
I laughed. ‘Who did you think you were buying the arms from? Santa Claus Industries?’
‘I didn’t care,’ he said, glaring at me. ‘The end justifies the means.’
‘That old get-out clause,’ I sighed. ‘You had tame Guard personnel put the first head on the New Tolbooth, the second through the window of the Walter Scott Rooms and the third on the top of the old writer’s statue. Don’t you like his books?’
‘He was a buffoon, welcoming George IV to Edinburgh and propagating all sorts of misconceptions about Scottish history and culture. But that’s irrelevant. The idea was to spread fear and uncertainty.’
‘Well, the Lord of the Isles only just kept his lunch down.’
‘Another buffoon. How can Council members seriously want to be involved with a tyrant, let alone the so-called democrats in Glasgow.’
‘Last time I looked they were actual democrats.’
‘And that’s what you want for Edinburgh?’ Cowan screamed, spittle flying.
‘Can’t be worse than what we’ve currently got.’
‘Quint,’ Sophia warned.
I looked at her and shook my head, but this wasn’t the time for an argument.
I looked back at the education guardian-cum-terrorist. ‘Did you expect the disgruntled citizenry to rise up and fight alongside you when the football grounds were attacked? That’s not exactly the royal road to many hearts.’
‘We … you got on to us before we could strike across the city. I decided to go out with a bang rather than a whimper.’
‘Thanks for that. But what do you think you’ve achieved?’
He smiled with the assurance of the deranged. ‘People won’t fall for the pro-Scotland propaganda any more.’
‘You think the Council will let any mention of this appear in print or on radio?’
‘No, but plenty of citizens heard and saw our attempts to put pressure on the Council.’
‘Moving on,’ said Sophia. ‘Was it really necessary to remove people’s hearts as well?’
Brian Cowan stared at her. ‘I know nothing of that, apart from what I heard Dalrymple say in the meetings.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ Sophia said, pointing her finger at him.
‘Hume 481’s heart was taken, was it not? Why would I sanction the mutilation of one of my own?’
He had a point, though the guardsman could have crossed him or one of his other people.
‘You seriously expect us to believe that you had nothing to do with the hearts that were put on the football grounds that you subsequently attacked?’ said Sophia.
Cowan smiled crookedly. ‘One, I don’t care what you believe, and two, the hearts turning up at Tynecastle and Easter Road was perfect for me. They sullied the ethos of city football. I never wanted that fatuous sport to be brought back.’
I beckoned to Sophia and we left the room.
‘I don’t suppose the truth drug has turned up,’ I said.
She shook her head. ‘It would be useful now, you’re right.’
‘Get someone to check if any of the potential thieves had links with Cowan or Hume Barracks.’
‘I don’t think so, but I’ll let you know. What are you going to do?’
‘Go to the castle and check that all’s well. Then eat, then sleep for a bit.’
She walked past me. ‘All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Shit. I’d been hoping for an invitation to her bed. Then again, she had wards full of the wounded and
the stunned to supervise. As I headed for the courtyard, it suddenly struck me that Sophia could be part of Cowan’s lunatic plan. No, they’d seemed genuinely at odds during the questioning. Still, stranger things have happened in this city of lies.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Davie was at the castle, in the command centre.
‘How are things?’
‘Pretty quiet,’ he replied. ‘There are some head-bangers having a go at the patrols in Leith and Portobello, and some Hearts fans have had to be taken in hand. They assumed Hibees had occupied Tynecastle and set off to burn Easter Road down. They’re cooling their heels in Raeburn.’ That was the barracks with the biggest holding area.
I told him what the education guardian had admitted.
‘Fucking shit,’ he said, eyes bulging.
‘What about Hume?’ I asked gently.
‘I’ve arrested the commander. Speaking to him in the 4×4, I didn’t get the impression that he knows much. Maybe Cowan manipulated him.’
‘That’s not going to save his career.’
‘No. I took in some other Hume personnel, most of them people I don’t like. I’ll be seeing if they’re dirty overnight.’
‘Have fun,’ I said. ‘Any sign of Guardian Doris?’
‘She’s in her quarters. Told the duty commander that she wasn’t to be disturbed until seven a.m.’
‘Fergus Calder probably tore her to pieces.’
Davie nodded. ‘Food?’
‘In moderation.’
As it turned out, I ate nearly as much as he did. Fighting for your life gives you a hell of an appetite. Afterwards, we split up. I got a lift back to my flat and listened to the blues. Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ‘That’s All’ hit the spot. In fact, it got me thinking that we hadn’t got it all at all, as regards the hearts and heads cases.
I didn’t get much sleep that night, but at least I had a plan when the rain became visible in the grey light of dawn.
I was outside the senior guardian’s house in Moray Place half an hour later, having had a shower and changed into my only remaining clean trousers. My donkey jacket had taken a beating the previous evening, so I put on the flash black leather jacket I’d been given when I went to Glasgow in 2026. It still fitted, just.
The auxiliary on the door told me to wait while she called up, then told me to follow her upstairs. I tried to avoid looking at her shapely behind, but my genes countermanded that. I hate myself for a macho swine.
‘Citizen,’ Fergus Calder said as I was let into the dining room.
‘What, no Quint?’ I said with a sad smile.
‘Let’s keep it formal,’ he said, angling his head towards the people further down the table: the Lord of the Isles, Andrew Duart and Hel Hyslop from outside the city, and Jack MacLean and Billy Geddes from inside.
‘Am I interrupting?’ I asked.
‘Yes, but take a seat,’ said the finance guardian. ‘Have you eaten?’
The gorging with Davie still lay heavy on my gut, so I stuck to scrambled eggs and toast. There was fruit, but I was about to play the hard man and grapes didn’t really cut it.
I gave the company a general good morning.
‘You’re lucky to be alive,’ said Billy, a trace of concern in his voice.
I grinned. ‘It takes more than an uprising with weapons from Glasgow to do for me.’ I hadn’t intended to get after Duart and Hyslop so early in the day, but why waste the opportunity?
‘What are you talking about, Quint?’ Duart said. Across the table from him, Hel was doing her best not to lunge at me.
‘I’m sure the guardians have briefed you about the activities of Brian Cowan.’
Fergus Calder narrowed his eyes and then nodded.
‘To some extent,’ the Lord of the Isles said, skewering a devilled kidney.
Duart raised his shoulders. ‘We wouldn’t expect our hosts to tell us all their secrets.’ He turned to me. ‘What’s this about weapons from Glasgow?’
I laughed. ‘As if you don’t know.’ I looked at Hel. ‘You approved at least one shipment. All of them, I’d hazard.’
The senior and finance guardians looked as if weasels had got up their trouser-legs.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘Worried your pro-Scotland supporters are subverting the city? I would be.’
‘You’re talking rubbish, Quint,’ Duart said. ‘Show me physical evidence that the arms came from my city. You haven’t got any, have you?’
‘There are different forms of evidence, First Minister,’ I said. ‘Including your police commissioner’s complexion.’ It was redder than a raspberry.
Billy rolled over to MacLean and whispered in his ear.
‘I quite agree,’ said the finance guardian. ‘Shouldn’t you be concentrating on who put the hearts on the centre circles, Dalrymple? I gather that Brian – I mean, Cowan – denied involvement.’
‘He did. And I am concentrating on it. That’s why I’m here.’
Fergus Calder’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What do you mean?’ he said, his voice breaking.
I looked around the table. ‘There were hearts left in Glasgow and in your region, Angus.’ No way was I going to address him by his self-awarded title.
They all returned my gaze, their lips sealed.
‘Have you no idea who was responsible?’ I continued.
They all shook their heads, Hyslop sheepishly.
‘No idea at all?’
‘No,’ said Andrew Duart. ‘What are you getting at?’
I played my ace. ‘Maybe someone from Edinburgh was behind it.’
There were several sharp intakes of breath. Even Billy was taken aback and he’s the biggest cynic I’ve ever come across.
‘Have you got any proof of that?’ demanded the senior guardian.
‘Have you?’ I shot back.
He twitched his head. ‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s the case that several guardians have been out of the city, isn’t it?’
Calder glanced at MacLean and then nodded. ‘What of it? We’re trying to secure Edinburgh’s fut—’
‘Yes, yes, but is there a list?’
‘A list of what?’
‘Of all guardians – and other individuals – who have crossed the city’s borders.’
There was a pause. ‘Well, not exactly,’ said the senior guardian.
I raised an eyebrow.
‘Permission is granted on an individual basis.’
‘And those are kept in a file.’
Fergus Calder nodded.
‘I need to see it.’
The senior and finance guardians conferred with Billy.
‘Very well,’ said Jack MacLean. ‘Come with me.’
I followed him to the door and then upstairs to Calder’s study. MacLean took out a thin silver laptop and tapped away on the keys.
‘Here,’ he said, holding out the device.
I took out my notebook and wrote down the names. There weren’t many, rather the same individuals – the senior and finance guardians plus Billy Geddes – appeared as many as twelve times, mostly visiting Glasgow. Sophia’s visit to Inverness was also there.
‘What’s going on in Inverness?’ I asked.
‘Full civil disorder,’ MacLean said.
‘What we escaped last night.’
He nodded. ‘Brian Cowan. I can’t believe it.’
‘At least he never left the city.’
‘That’s a good thing, true enough.’
I continued to write down names.
‘All right?’ said jingling Jack in his Glasgow suit.
‘Very far from it,’ I said. ‘But enough to work on.’ I turned and headed for the door.
‘Are you not coming back to breakfast?’ he called.
I managed to stop myself telling him where to stick the sausages.
I called Davie and asked him to pick me up in Charlotte Square – I didn’t fancy being called back by the jittery guardians. The rain was off, giving the betting te
nts and marijuana cafes in the centre of the square an almost carnival appearance. Unless you considered how demeaning they were for the citizens who had to work there.
A 4×4 pulled up beside me. ‘Morning, citizen.’
‘Commander. I just had breakfast with the senior guardian and his party.’
‘Lucky bastard. Were the sausages as good as is rumoured?’
‘I had other things on my mind.’
‘Such as?’
‘The possibility that we’re about to be detained.’ I looked around. ‘Turn round and head for my old man’s.’
‘It’s hardly the time to go visiting.’
‘We’re not. We’re rescuing him.’
Davie racked the wheel and headed towards Queen Street. ‘That nurse of his is quite presentable.’
‘Fool.’ I took out my notebook. ‘Here’s a list of guardians and senior auxiliaries who’ve been granted permission to leave the city.’ I pointed to a name that appeared several times.
‘What the fuck?’ he gasped.
‘Exactly. Now drive like the wind.’
He got us to Trinity in ten minutes. I ran into the old merchant’s house.
‘Oh, citizen,’ said Alison, the nursing auxiliary, ‘your father’s being given his wash.’
I went to his room and found a pair of young nurses wielding facecloths and soap.
‘Failure!’ he said, his eyes lighting up.
‘Morning, old man. It’s your lucky day. We’re off on an excursion. Dry him as quickly as you can, please.’
‘Do as he says,’ said their supervisor, from behind me. ‘Can I help?’
‘If they come, tell them you couldn’t stop me taking him.’
‘They? What do you mean?’
I shook my head and handed my father his trousers. ‘Probably auxiliaries, maybe armed citizens, or even outsiders.’
‘Should I bolt the door?’
‘It’s pretty solid, isn’t it? Yes, do that. And get everyone away from the windows.’
‘Will do.’
That was the good side of auxiliary training and service – people did what they were told without panicking.
Five minutes later we were in the 4×4, my father in his coat and Enlightenment tartan beret.
‘Morning, guardian,’ said Davie, as he pulled away.
‘It’s a long time since anyone’s called me that,’ said the old man. ‘Not sure if I like it. What’s going on, Quintilian? Have you made some new enemies?’
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