The Londum Omnibus Volume One (The Londum Series Book 4)

by Tony Rattigan

  Cobb looked at Adele and, knowing it wouldn’t be the last time, gave in to her. Wordlessly, he held out the reins to Won Lungh, who came running up to him, a big grin on his face. He took the reins, ushered Cobb into the carriage, closed the door behind him and climbed up into the driver’s seat. With a flick of the reins, they were off.

  Chickens, Coming

  Home to Roost

  Cobb woke up late that afternoon. He had brought Adele and Won Lungh back to his house in London, where he had shown Adele into the guest room. Then he had offered Won Lungh the sofa in the living room. Then he had gone gratefully to bed himself and slept a long, dreamless sleep. He’d had a really long day. (It had actually spanned billions of years but who’s counting?)

  He arose, washed and dressed and went downstairs. He found Adele in the living room, sitting on the sofa stroking the cat.

  ‘Good afternoon,’ she said brightly as he entered the room. ‘I was beginning to think we’d have to hold a séance to get through to you.’

  ‘What’s up with the cat, he seems a bit docile? Is he all right?’ Cobb stretched out a hand to touch Lucifer who hissed at him and swung a paw, with outstretched claws at him, which he narrowly avoided. ‘Oh no, he’s seems his usual self.’

  ‘He’s lovely. What’s his name?’ The cat snuggled himself into Adele’s lap and sneered at Cobb

  ‘Lucifer.’

  ‘Oh come on, that’s not his real name,’ said Adele.

  ‘Tiddles?’

  ‘Cobb!’

  ‘Oh okay then, it’s Saladin.’

  Adele picked up the cat and looked into his eyes, ‘Saladin, there’s a noble name for such a distinguished cat!’ The cat looked at Cobb as if to say, ‘There you are, at last someone who can recognise feline nobility.’

  ‘How did you get him to be so friendly?’ asked Cobb. ‘Did you talk to him with your mind, you know, like you did with those rabbits?’

  ‘I didn’t need to. He just came to me as soon as he saw me and demanded a cuddle. He obviously knows a friendly soul when he sees one.’

  ‘Talking of friendly souls, where’s Won Lungh?’

  ‘I sent him out to buy some food. Your cupboards were practically empty, except for bottles of alcohol, that is. Fancy some tea? I’ve made a pot.’

  ‘Yes please, that would be nice,’ said Cobb, anxious to change the subject from his supply of booze. ‘You know, that poultice you put on my shoulder in Caledonia worked wonders, the scar has gone completely.’

  Adele looked at him curiously. ‘And that’s not all,’ she said. ‘All your grey hairs have gone. I thought it was a trick of the light when I saw it last night but I can see clearly now that you don’t have any, anymore.’

  Cobb got up and went to look at himself in the mirror above the fireplace. ‘Good Gods, you’re right,’ he exclaimed. He stared at his reflection for a moment then something occurred to him and he pulled the sleeve back on his left arm. He showed Adele the smooth, unmarked skin on the inside of the arm. ‘I had a two inch scar there. I did it years ago climbing over a fence. Now that’s gone too.’

  ‘So it looks like whoever did this, didn’t just let you come back from Limbo or wherever it was that you went to, they created a whole new body for you. A better body.’

  ‘Well if this isn’t my body, I’m wearing someone else’s underpants!’ he said, slightly alarmed.

  ‘No, it is your body, it’s just not the one you had before,’ explained Adele.

  ‘Well I hoped they fixed up my liver as well while they were at it. That has seen some hard times, so a new one of those would be fine.’

  He decided that as there was nothing he could do about it even if he wanted to (which would be silly really as he’d actually ended up better off) he wouldn’t worry about it. He sat down to finish his tea.

  ‘So what are your plans now?’ he asked Adele.

  ‘I haven’t had time to think about that yet, things have been happening too fast. I need a few days to catch my breath and think things through.’ She looked at Cobb, hesitantly.

  Cobb flushed and said, ‘Well you could … er …’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Well I was thinking … that is, I was wondering …’

  ‘Wondering?’

  ‘Perhaps you could stay here for a few days? Just while you sort yourself out.’

  ‘Why yes, that would be nice.’ She rushed on nervously, ‘But just for a few days…I don’t want to impose.’

  ‘No, no … it wouldn’t be an imposition I assure you,’ babbled Cobb.

  ‘Good, that’s settled then, I accept your offer.’

  ‘Fine, that’s the plan then.’

  They sat there in silence for a moment, Adele stroking Lucifer and Cobb stirring his tea, both trying to act nonchalant and not show what they were thinking. They were saved by the sound of the front door opening. Cobb got up to go to the door and met Won Lungh entering the room carrying a basket of groceries.

  ‘Oh, you awake. Hello Missee Adele, I go fix some food for us. Come on kitty, I got nice fish for you.’

  Lucifer leapt down from Adele’s lap and obediently followed Won Lungh out of the room and off towards the kitchen. What is it with that cat? Cobb wondered. How come he seems to like everyone, except me?

  ‘Er … does he know how to use a kitchen?’ asked Cobb dubiously.

  ‘Of course he does. What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, it’s not exactly the sort of thing I imagine they teach in “Evil Henchman” school.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. Remember I said he used to act as Quist’s butler whenever they came to my mother’s house. He’s quite an accomplished cook, actually. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.’

  ‘Okay, if you say so.’

  ‘So what do you plan to do now?’ asked Adele.

  ‘Well I want to start going through Quist’s books. I’ll have to turn them over to the police eventually of course, but I want to read through them first and note down any information that may be useful to me, before I do that.’

  ‘I can help you if you like?’

  ‘Thanks, that would be great. Where did we leave them?’

  ‘We put the bag in the front room, your office isn’t it?’

  ‘Fine, let’s get started.’

  They went into the office and Cobb emptied the bag on the desk. He scooped all the money back into the bag and they settled down in chairs facing each other across the desk.

  First they sorted out the scrolls of paper, which on examination appeared to be plans and patents for various inventions, like the Strong Light Generator and the device for extracting Magick from a witch. Cobb knew that if he handed these over to the police they would just end up in a filing cabinet somewhere, never to be seen again. He decided that wasn’t going to happen. He would see that they were put in the hands of someone who would know how to get them to the right people, so that they could be put to good use, someone like Thornton.

  They started on the books, A4 sized ledgers, going through them taking notes. They stopped to take a break when Won Lungh brought them some food. He’d also brought a bottle of wine but Adele noticed that Cobb only took a glass as they ate their meal and then left the rest.

  Won Lungh came back later as it grew dark, lit the oil lamps and stoked up the fire. Then he and the cat, which was following him around, bid them good night and withdrew. They worked on for several more hours and then they retired to bed, going their separate ways at the top of the stairs.

  ***

  Next morning after breakfast, Cobb excused himself, saying he had to go and see Thornton, so he could let him know he was well and thank him for his help. Adele offered to keep working on Quist’s ledgers.

  Cobb went to Thornton’s bookshop. Naturally he was delighted to see Cobb and demanded he tell him everything that had happened since they last spoke. Cobb told him everything from the time he had boarded the train at Paddingworth station, to the present. All about Harlequin, The Heart of Infinity, going ba
ck with Quist to the beginning of time, the creation of the Multiverse, how he had died and Adele had brought him back from the other side. He even told him how he and Adele had gotten close to each other.

  ‘Well that’s excellent news, Cobb. I’m sure even Esme would be pleased about that,’ said Thornton.

  ‘Ah well … actually … she gave me her blessing. When I died, I went … somewhere, I don’t know where but Esme was there waiting for me, on the other side.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘It’s true,’ said Cobb. ‘Esme was waiting for me. She seems to be happy there. And she told me that I could return to Earth if I wished and make a new start with Adele. She wanted me to get on with my life, that’s the only reason I came back. Her last words to me were to give you her love.’

  Thornton shed a few tears at the mention of his lost daughter and Cobb’s heart went out to him. He poured Thornton a drink to give him time to recover his composure but Thornton was made of strong stuff and it wasn’t long before he had recovered enough to converse normally again.

  Cobb told him about the designs he had found at Quist’s and gave them over to him, asking that he place them in the right hands. Thornton promised faithfully that he would. Then Cobb thanked him for his help, providing the airship and locating Quist, without which no one in the world would have survived. He promised that they would talk again and soon but right now it was crucial that he finish going through Quist’s books and then give them to the police, before Quist’s men found out he was dead and began to go into hiding.

  When Cobb returned home he found Adele in the office, still poring over the books and taking notes. He sat down and helped her.

  There were several sets of ledgers with different coloured covers. They contained an amazing wealth of information about Quist’s operations. The book that Cobb was reading had a green cover and listed various safe houses where his men could safely hide away and stash stolen goods. He was copying these addresses into his notebook when Adele spoke. ‘I think you should look at this one, Cobb. I don’t recognise any of these people but you might. Take this book and I’ll carry on with the one that you’re working on.’

  Cobb handed over his book and Adele gave him the one she had been reading, one with a red cover. He flicked through it quickly, stopping at random pages and soon realised that it was a roll call of names of people who had either received bribes from Quist or who were on his payroll, receiving regular payments in exchange for “services rendered”.

  After the initial scan he began going through it page by page. He recognised many of the people listed in the book, either by name or by their position. Suddenly he stopped; there was a name he knew well, very well. He quickly checked the pages following, yes; there it was again and again. This meant trouble.

  ‘I have to go out again and see someone. Do you mind if I leave you to carry on by yourself?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘Is it because of what you’ve found in that book?’

  ‘Yes I’m afraid so. And don’t mention this book to Won Lungh, will you?’

  ‘You go ahead and don’t worry about Won Lungh; his loyalty is to me now. All I want from you in return, is your promise not to turn him in to the police.’

  ‘Okay. I’ll be honest, I’m not too happy about him being here but at least I know that as long as he is around, you’ll be safe.’

  ***

  Cobb arrived next day at Caledonia Yard for his appointment with the police commissioner, Sir Arthur Wilberforce KBE, head of Caledonia Yard, Albion’s top policeman.

  Cobb had gone to Caledonia Yard after he had left Adele. He had requested an appointment with the police commissioner saying he had important information regarding Marcus Quist. That had got their attention and word came down from the police commissioner’s office requesting Cobb to attend a meeting with the commissioner at 3 o’ clock the following day. Then he returned home and spent the rest of the day and the following morning with Adele, going over Quist’s books to make sure he had copied all the information they contained, before handing them over to the police. You never knew when it might come in handy, in his line of work.

  Cobb checked in with the desk sergeant and was taken up to Sir Arthur’s office. The police constable that acted as his PA asked Cobb to take a seat while he let the commissioner know that he had arrived. The constable came back a moment later and ushered Cobb into the office.

  Sir Arthur came around from behind his desk to greet Cobb. ‘Cobb, good to see you again, how are you?’ he said warmly, extending his hand.

  Cobb shook it, ‘I’m fine Sir Arthur, thanks for seeing me.’

  ‘Take a chair, now how can I help you? I understand you have some significant information about Marcus Quist?’

  Cobb settled in the chair, putting down the bag he was carrying, ‘Yes that’s right. The first thing I have to tell you is that Quist is dead.’

  ‘How? When? What happened?’

  ‘That I’m afraid, I cannot tell you. You’ll just have to trust me on this one, you won’t be bothered by him again.’

  Sir Arthur leaned forward and clasped his hands together on his desk. ‘Well, this is most unusual, however I do remember that when you were one of us, you were one of my more reliable officers and I could always trust your word. So I think I’m going to have to believe you on this one and accept that Quist really is dead.’ He paused for a moment, ‘You … didn’t have a hand in it did you? I know you always had it in for him.’

  ‘No but I was there when he died, that’s how I know it for a fact.’

  ‘And you can’t tell me anything about how he died?

  ‘I’m sorry, I can’t.’

  ‘So where does that leave us? I suppose I could always have you charged with withholding evidence,’ said Sir Arthur with a smile.

  ‘Yes, you could. But if you did that then I would deny any knowledge of Quist’s death, after all you only have my word that he is dead. And then I wouldn’t give you the rest of the information I have about Quist, of which, the contents of this bag is just a sample,’ he said holding up the carpetbag.

  ‘What’s in there?’ asked Sir Arthur.

  Cobb opened the bag and took out Quist’s books. ‘Here I have some of Quist’s records. Accounts of his operations, safe houses, employees, bribes, payoffs and so on. With this and the rest that I have stored in a safe place, there’s enough information to smash his organisation once and for all.’

  ‘Where on earth did you get those?’

  Cobb told Sir Arthur about Quist’s mansion in Green-Witch but not how or why he had come to be there. ‘Send a search team down there and you should turn up some interesting stuff.’

  Sir Arthur looked at the books, looked at Cobb and said, ‘Okay Cobb, if those are what you say they are, then you’re quite safe from arrest, I promise you. Besides, between you and me and off the record … as long as Quist’s dead, I don’t really care how he died or who did it, you understand me?’

  ‘Yes, I understand,’ said Cobb. He handed over one of the books, the green one that listed Quist’s safe houses and ongoing operations, which Sir Arthur flicked through eagerly. ‘This is excellent work, Cobb.’

  ‘It’s not all good news, Sir Arthur,’ said Cobb handing over the red book, the one that contained the names of all the people that Quist had bribed or paid off over the years. The commissioner took the book hesitantly and opened it. He flicked randomly through the pages.

  ‘Good Gods!’ he exclaimed. ‘Magistrates, judges, politicians … I’ve had lunch with lots of these men. Some of them are even members of my club!’

  ‘Turn to page 47,’ said Cobb.

  Sir Arthur did so. ‘Oh,’ he said.

  ‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’

  ‘Does anyone else know about this?’

  ‘No, I brought it straight to you.’

  Sir Arthur leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands in front of his mouth.

  Cobb placed the rest of the books on Sir Arthur’s desk. ‘Maybe I sh
ould be leaving now. Let you sort things out.’

  ‘No, stick around. You’ve earned the right to be here.’

  Sir Arthur got up, went to the door and opened it. ‘Constable, go and find me two sergeants, immediately.’ Then he went back to his desk and flicked through the rest of the red book, tutting occasionally. Cobb wandered over to the window and looked out at the view.

  The constable soon returned with two police sergeants. Sir Arthur waved them all into the office and shut the door, He briefed the two sergeants and the constable on what he had just discovered, what was going to happen next and what he wanted them to do. ‘Now go and find Inspector Ffolkes and Sgt. Benton, bring them to my office, now! Then wait outside until I call you.’ The three policemen filed out of the office, closing the door behind them.

  Then Sir Arthur and Cobb went back to the desk and looked at the red book again. Cobb pointed out a few more pertinent entries and they discussed the situation gravely, while they waited.

  There was a knock on the door and the constable showed Inspector Ffolkes and Sgt. Benton into the room then left closing the door behind him. The two sergeants waited outside. Benton seemed pleased to see Cobb but Ffolkes saw him and said, ‘What’s a civilian doing here?’ He said civilian as if it was a dirty word.

  ‘Mr. Cobb is here at my invitation. He has been responsible for bringing some important information to my attention regarding Marcus Quist’s organisation,’ replied the Sir Arthur. ‘Now then, to business. I have some excellent news,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Thanks to Mr. Cobb, we have got our hands on Quist’s records. With the information contained within these books we can wrap up Quist’s operations.’ He waved the books in the air. ‘Please gentlemen, take a seat. I want to give you a few moments to familiarise yourselves with the contents of these books and then we’ll discuss how we can best put them to use.’

  Ffolkes and Benton sat in front of Sir Arthur’s desk and he handed them a book each. Cobb noticed that he gave the green book to Ffolkes and the red book to Benton.