‘Probably best not to do that,’ replied Thornton. ‘We just want a quick in and out operation. Steal the Seal and escape. No fuss. Don’t go out of your way to try taking him on, that would be fatal.
‘Luga rules the country with a rod of iron, aided by his brother Count Rath, who runs the secret police. Any opposition is brutally crushed. You would be well advised not to take him on.’
‘But that’s the bit that sounds fun!’ said Jim.
Thornton said gravely, ‘The success of this mission is more important than revenge, Mr. Darby. With the Seal in our possession, we can depose Luga and put Lady Yuli in power. After we do that I think it’s safe to assume she will re-sign the treaty with Albion. Don’t worry, Luga will get his comeuppance.’
‘You mentioned new identities for us,’ said Cobb.
Thornton sorted through the paperwork from his briefcase. He handed each of them a package. ‘Here are your travel documents, tickets, timetables, passports in your new identities. You Mr. Darby are Michael Lewis and you Cobb are William Clark. You have train and boat tickets all the way to the Alpen Mountains, hotel reservations in Paree and Magdeburg. The train to the south of Gaul is a sleeper, so I’ve reserved sleeping compartments on it for you.’
‘Separate I hope,’ said Cobb.
‘Of course,’ replied Thornton.
‘Lewis and Clark,’ said Cobb. ‘We sound like explorers.’
Thornton looked at him a moment then said gently, ‘Just find your way back to Albion, safely. Both of you.’
Jim looked at them and felt a twinge of envy at the obvious affection between the older and the younger man. His own father had walked out on him and his mother at an early age, so he had never had a father figure to look up to.
They went over the details and timings of the trip some more until everyone was satisfied.
‘Fine,’ said Cobb to Jim as he put his coat on. ‘I will see you at Wellington Station on Monday.’
‘I’ll be there.’
Thornton looked at Jim for a moment and then reaching into his waistcoat pocket pulled out one of his business cards. ‘Here’s my address. Drop by some time and we’ll have a chat. I think I might be able to find some work for a chap like you if you are interested.’
Jim smiled, ‘I’ll think about it.’
Cobb and Thornton left the house and hailed a cab. When they had found one and were heading back to Cobb’s, Cobb couldn’t resist asking, ‘Are you sure that was wise, giving him your card?’
‘Yes, he seems like a resourceful man. If he pulls off this assignment then I think I may be able to use him from time to time. Why, don’t you trust him?’
‘Not anymore. I used to think he was all right, I figured he stole a few things sure, but then he would give the profits to a local charity so I sort of looked the other way. But this Great Seal theft … well I’m afraid it showed me what he was really like.’
‘And that is precisely why I think I may be able to use him,’ explained Thornton.
***
Monday morning, the cab containing Cobb and Adele pulled up outside Wellington Train Station. Cobb climbed out and helped Adele down. Cobb unloaded his luggage and paid off the driver. Adele waved to a porter who came forward with a trolley.
‘Can you take these to …’ Cobb checked his ticket, ‘platform nine please?’
‘Certainly sir,’ He put the cases on the trolley and set off into the station. Adele and Cobb followed him, stopping at the news stand on the way where Adele insisted on buying Cobb a book to read on the train. It was the latest from the fantasy writer, Jules Vernon Wells. (No relation to Thornton Wells.) It was about the sea levels around Grand Briton rising and submerging Cymru (which was the best thing that could happen to it in Cobb’s opinion). It was called, “Twenty Thousand Leeks under the Sea”.
Cobb had read one of his previously, which he had enjoyed. It was about a gentleman and his servant who undertook a trip around the world within a certain time period, for a bet. It was called, “Around the Globe in 11 ½ Weeks”.
They arrived at platform nine where the train was already waiting and Cobb tipped the porter as he offloaded the luggage.
‘Where’s Jim?’ asked Adele.
‘Oh, he’ll be along,’ said Cobb, looking around. ‘Ah, I think this is him now.’
Adele looked around and saw Jim sauntering down the platform followed by Willy Templeton staggering along laden with Jim’s luggage.
‘Cobb … Adele … good morning to you both, lovely to see you Adele,’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Willy, just put the bags down there would you, there’s a good chap.’
‘Morning Mr. Cobb, Ma’am,’ said Willy as he put down Jim’s things. Cobb noticed amongst the luggage that Willy had carried, several leather cases containing guns. Willy Templeton was a small time pickpocket that Cobb had arrested a few times over the years when he had been on the force. He ran errands from time to time for Jim Darby. A good thief but totally harmless.
‘Well, the train leaves in a few minutes,’ said Jim, ‘you say your goodbyes and me and Willy will put the luggage in the compartment. Come on Willy.’ He picked up a small case and moved towards the train, leaving Willy to carry the rest.
Cobb and Adele stared into each other’s eyes, it was not the done thing for a lady and gentleman to be seen kissing in public, so Adele contented herself by placing her hand on his arm.
‘Now, it’s going to be cold there so you wrap up warm and remember to wear your long-johns,’ she said.
‘Yes Mum.’
‘Sorry, I don’t mean to mother you, but I want you to be careful out there, I’ve only just found you … I don’t want to lose you.’
‘Don’t worry, I can’t imagine anything that me and Jim can’t-’
There was an almighty crash behind them; they both whirled around to see a small boy sprawled over a luggage trolley that had crashed into the wall.
They went over and helped him sort himself out. The boy was about eleven with unruly, dark hair and round glasses. As Cobb picked him up he noticed a jagged scar on his forehead, obviously not the first time he had run into a wall, he thought.
Adele dusted the boy down with her hankie while Cobb picked up the luggage, which included a scraggly owl in a birdcage. It looked at Cobb dubiously and tried to bite him. Well that seems all right, thought Cobb.
‘You should be more careful,’ said Adele. ‘What were you doing running into the wall like that?’
‘I was trying to get to platform nine and three-quarters. I have to catch the express to Hog-’
‘Idiot child,’ Cobb interrupted. ‘Obviously hurt his head.’
‘There is no platform nine and three-quarters,’ said Adele.
‘But there is!’ insisted the boy. ‘It’s where the Express leaves for the School of Wizardry. I’m going to become a famous wizard. My name’s Harr-’
The boy was interrupted once again by the train whistle and Jim calling from the train, ‘Come on Cobb, the trains leaving.’
‘Look, you go ahead and catch the train, I’ll look after the boy,’ said Adele.
‘Okay, bye. Love you,’ said Cobb and sprinted for the train which was beginning to move off. He leapt into the door that Darby was holding open for him. Cobb slammed the door shut and slid down the window. He leaned out and he and Adele waved to each other until the train had left the station and they lost sight of each other.
‘You’ve got a fine woman there,’ said Jim. ‘You’re a lucky man.’
‘I know, I still can’t believe it myself sometimes. So how long will it take to reach the coast?’
‘About four hours.’
‘So we should get there about …’ Cobb was rummaging through his waistcoat pockets. ‘Damn it, where’s my watch? I’m going to kill that Willy when I get my hands on him! He’s always stealing my watch.’
‘Ah …’ said Jim. ‘You looking for this?’ he said holding up Cobb’s watch. ‘I saw Willy steal it as you were say
ing goodbye to Adele and I didn’t want to cause a scene and ruin the moment, so I just stole it back off him.’
‘Don’t you get annoyed with him stealing things off you all the time?’ asked Cobb.
‘Oh no, he never steals anything of mine,’ replied Jim with a grin. ‘He knows better than to try that with me.’
Cobb gratefully took his watch back and after checking the time, put it in his waistcoat pocket. Then they settled down to enjoy the trip to the coast.
***
Adele got the boy sorted out. Some others students for the School of Wizardry had turned up and they showed him the proper way to get through to platform 9¾. She waved goodbye to him as he disappeared through the wall and marvelled at how much Magick went on under the noses of the normal people (what had the boy called them … muggers was it?) of which they were totally unaware. Although it was an accepted practice, most people were oblivious to it unless it affected them personally.
She left the station and took a cab back to Cobb’s place. Won Lungh opened the door to her and took her hat and coat.
‘Missa Cobb get away all right?’ he asked.
‘Yes he did thank you.’ She took a deep breath and decided now was the best time to drop her bombshell. ‘Won Lungh, I want you to pack a case for each of us. We are going to follow them to Pils-Holstein and keep an eye on them, without them knowing. We’ll let them catch the ferry to Gaul tonight and then we will follow them tomorrow.’
Won Lungh said nothing just opened the door to the cloakroom. There were already two large suitcases there, packed and waiting.
Damn, she thought, like all women she hated to think that she could be read so easily. ‘Very well then. I think I’d like some tea now please,’ she said and swept off into the living room.
Won Lungh allowed his normally inscrutable face to crack into a small grin at her disappearing back.
***
On the sleeper train to the south of Gaul, Cobb and Jim Darby passed time after dinner by playing some cards. Cobb had been particularly lucky and had a large pile of bank notes in front of him.
Cobb threw down his hand in frustration as he won again. ‘Okay, that’s it. You’re cheating!’
‘Why do you say that?’ asked Jim.
‘Because you’re not playing the hand that I dealt you!’
‘You mean you fixed the cards?’
‘Yes. I had to, you’ve been cheating all night,’ said Cobb with exasperation.
‘But I’ve been losing all night.’
‘Yes I know, that’s what doesn’t make any sense. You’re very good at it, I must admit. I only saw you palm cards off the bottom of the deck twice and then you lost both of those hands.’
Jim smiled and said, ‘Okay, you’ve got me. The truth is I am good at cheating at cards … but I’ve been stacking the deck in your favour. Those two times you saw me palm cards, I actually had good hands but it would have been too obvious if I’d just folded so I had to louse up the hands so I’d lose.’
‘Why?’
‘Call it a twisted moral code if you like. I have no compunction about cheating people if they deserve it but I never take money from anyone who can’t afford to lose it and I never take money off friends.’
Cobb removed his original stake from the pile of money and pushed the rest across the table to Jim. ‘I never take money off … people I know, either.’
Jim picked up a bottle and filled up both of their glasses. Raising his glass he toasted, ‘To friends!’
‘To the mission,’ responded Cobb and swigged down his drink.
Jim drank his drink. ‘You’re a tough one aren’t you?’
‘What do you expect?’ replied Cobb. You’re a thief and I’m a copper.’
‘Oh yes that’s right, you’re man of principle aren’t you?’ Jim said somewhat tetchily. ‘Made of unbending rock with no room for compromise. Heart of oak, nerves of steel, a will of iron … and a knob of butter,’ he ended facetiously.
Cobb stared back at him, refusing to be goaded. ‘Time I was going to bed, see you in the morning.’ Then he left for his own sleeping compartment.
After he left, Jim filled his glass and raised it in toast to the departed Cobb. ‘My hero!’
Sister of the Craft
After a long and tiring journey Cobb and Jim finally arrived at their destination, the hotel in Magdeburg. They had got off the train at the base of the Alpen Mountains while still in Gaul and then caught another that took them through the mountains and across Schweitzerland. Then they had taken a coach to the border of Pils-Holstein where their belongings had been thoroughly searched by the Customs men. It was lucky that neither of them had attempted to smuggle in any silver, as any significant amounts would have been discovered. Jim had even had to leave his silver cigarette case at home and had swapped it for a gold one.
Unfortunately, the Schweitzer coachman had refused to take them any further than the border when he had accepted the job. It was a busy trade route however so they were easily able to find a local Pils-Holstein coachman and transfer all their luggage to his coach. So, after an arse-numbing ride of several hours through the snow-covered countryside, they arrived in the town square of Magdeburg.
As Jim and Cobb dismounted from the coach and looked around the square, they spotted their hotel, Der Wilden Kirsche, “The Wild Cherries” Jim translated. As the coach had pulled into the square, a porter had come out of Der Wilden Kirsche and waited to see if there was any business coming their way from the coach. The coach driver waved him over and passed down Cobb and Jim’s luggage.
As the luggage was unloaded, Jim and Cobb stretched their legs and tried to shake out the numbness of sitting in one place for too long. Jim looked around the square and spotted the castle. He could see the turrets standing up above the houses, away towards the northern end of town. A street led directly to it from one corner of the square.
The porter bowed to them, waved them towards the hotel and picking up their luggage, headed off. Jim paid off the coachman and picking up his guns, followed Cobb and the porter to the hotel.
Once they had checked into their rooms, they agreed to have a rest, freshen up and then meet later for dinner.
Several hours later Jim roused himself and went along the corridor to Cobb’s room. Jim knocked on his door and Cobb yelled for him to come in.
Cobb lay there reading the Deutschen phrase book that Adele had insisted on buying him. He closed the book with a SNAP! as Jim Darby walked into the room.
‘Well, that’s it … I’m fluent in Deutschen now. “Ich habe ein kartoffeln in mein unterhosen!” ’ said Cobb, proudly.
‘Very good, very good, your accent is perfect, too,’ said Jim. ‘One small point however … I can’t imagine us ever being in a situation where the phrase, “I have a potato in my underpants!” is likely to come in useful.’
‘Well, that’s not my fault; I’ve done my bit to learn the language. I guess you’ll have to sprechen the foreign lingo for both of us.’
‘Very well Cobb, leave it to me. Anyway, let’s go and get something to eat. We’ll try the hotel restaurant tonight and we can look around tomorrow for some good places to eat.’
They went down to the hotel dining room and the elderly waiter brought them a menu and took their order for aperitifs. Cobb looked at the menu but it was all Greek to him. ‘Well I haven’t got a clue what to order. I saw some cows on the way here so I suppose they’ll do a steak, won’t they?’
Jim looked up from the menu. ‘If you’ll allow yourself to be guided by me … I would suggest that we have some local ham as a starter, then for the main course … Jager Schnitzel. It’s Veal topped with mushrooms, covered in a sauce, usually comes on a bed of noodles. I highly recommend it.’
‘Ummm, that sounds nice, I’ll have one of those.’
‘And for desert, Schwartze Wald Gateaux, or “Black Forest Gateaux” to you.’
‘Sounds delicious,’ said Cobb. ‘Okay, order away, try and get us a n
ice wine as well will you?’
‘We should have access to some good Deutschen wines here, so I’ll have one of those. A good red perhaps as we’re having Veal?’
Jim waived the waiter over and gave their dinner order. They sipped their aperitifs and talked generalities. Both of them were too old hands to discuss openly the reason why they were really in Pils-Holstein and just made the kind of small talk that two real hunters would have made.
Eventually the first course arrived and they tucked in eagerly, it had been a long trip and they were hungry.
After dinner when the waiter had cleared their plates away and was serving them coffee and brandy, Jim ventured a question. ‘Tell me, do you happen to know of an inn around here called Die Schwartze Pumpernickel?’
‘Yes,’ replied the waiter. ‘I know of it but it’s not really the sort of place for tourists. Why do you want to go there?’
‘Oh a friend of mine recommended it to me.’
‘Can’t be much of a friend then. It’s an inn for locals and they don’t usually like strangers there.’
‘Nevertheless, could you tell me how to get there?’
‘Well, if you must … take the road out of town heading towards Vengen, and as the houses start thinning out at the edge of the town, you will find it there.’
‘Thank you,’ said Jim. ‘Most grateful.’
‘What was that all about?’ asked Cobb after the waiter had left, as all the conversation had been in Deutschen.
‘Oh, just asking him the way to an inn called Die Schwartze Pumpernickel, that’s all.’
‘Why do we want to go there? And how do you know about this inn?’
‘It’s mentioned in the tourist guide,’ Jim lied smoothly. ‘They say no visitor must miss a trip to this place. It’s so charming and welcoming to tourists.’
‘Do they really? Is that what they say?’ asked Cobb, sceptically. ‘Well, I’ll have to take your word for that won’t I?’
‘Another brandy?’ replied Jim, ignoring the question.
The Londum Omnibus Volume One (The Londum Series Book 4) Page 36