“I shall return in the morning after I have decided what to do with you.” Sneered the beak, leaving Daisy, Neep and the old man alone in the cell.
“Where is Ciniomawr?” asked Neep despondently.
“A southerly course some one hundred miles south of the Tines.” said Daisy. “Jenkins will be there in about twelve days with a good head wind.”
“Do you think once translated the key to the will give instructions as to where the treasure lies?” Asked Neep and Daisy nodded. She was sporting a rather large bruise over her right eye which was currently in the process of changing colour from black to a deep blue and yellow.
“No doubt about it.” She sighed, striking her leg uselessly. “I have really messed this up. Bones is gone, we are locked in a tower and we still have no indication of what the symbols mean or indeed even have a map.” She sighed again, only more deeply this time. She adjusted the red and blue scarves about her neck in an attempt to stave off the cold rising from the sand covered cell floor.
“Looks that way.” said the old man shackled to the wall. “Still on the bright side the guards spit in your coffee every Sunday morning.” Neep made a noise of distaste. “Just as a treat.” he finished, rattling his chains as if in a state of excitement.
“We won’t be staying that long.” muttered Daisy, groaning as she stretched her legs. “All we need to do is get these chains off and we will be on our way.”
“Hehe.” giggled the old man. “Pretty good chains these. Not like those soft metal chains you find in the dungeons on the Old Coast. Much sturdier.”
“Chapter forty-four sections seventeen to nineteen of the SOPE manual mentions chains, padlocks and manacles.” said Neep, a faraway look on his face as if he was searching for something in his mind.
“Anything useful?” snorted Daisy.
“Got a hairpin?” asked Neep.
“Do I look like the kind of girl who uses hairpins?” asked Daisy, a hint of anger finding its way into her voice.
“Probably not.” Sighed Neep. Across the cell the old man had closed his eyes and began to snore loudly.
“Great.” said Daisy. “Just great.” There was a moment of silence before the next snore rippled around the cell.
“How come you can remember all of the SOPE manual anyway?” asked Daisy. “Is it really short or something?”
“No. Not really. Just over a thousand pages all in all.” Daisy laughed as Neep said this.
“Right. So you can remember all of it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay,” Sighed Daisy. “Page eight hundred and seventeen paragraph one.
“It’s a short one.” said Neep and Daisy nodded. “Don’t piss into the wind.” he laughed. Daisy chuckled.
“Of course I have no point of reference so I have no idea if you aren’t just making it up. So how does it work this remembering thing? It’s impossible to store a thousand-page book in your memory Neep. Even you must see that I find that rather difficult to believe.”
“Oh I am not making it up.” said Neep testily. “It’s not just the SOPE manual. It’s everything really.”
“Everything?” asked Daisy incredulously. “You remember everything?”
“Yes.” said Neep. “Lithographic memory. Once I see something if I concentrate on it I can recall it perfectly.”
“Right.” said Daisy. “Of course you can.” Across the cell the old man had stopped snoring, his eyes open.
“Sailor I sailed with on a voyage to the the Romany Isles had every map and navigation chart in his head. Never got us lost once. Very handy in a game of poker too, I seem to recall.” he chuckled at the memory. “Remembers the cards, you see.” he explained.
“Lithographic memory.” snorted Daisy. “Complete nonsense.” Silence filled the cell again. “So you remember everything?” she asked finally.
“Yes.” smiled Neep.
“What was Mister Blade wearing on his belt then?” she smiled.
“A set of keys.” Daisy chuckled.
“We all saw them.” she said.
“Two flintlock pistols, the left one made by Weston and Gould, the second Harringay and Smith.”
“Good pistols.” said the old man.
“The best.” said Daisy. “He probably stole them I imagine.”
“Oh The Beak rewards his servants well I think you shall find.” said the old prisoner.
“Indeed.” She had seen the pistols of course, but apart from noticing that they were a good make she had noticed nothing more. “How many steps were there from the front of the mansion to the entrance to the hallway at DeNeuf’s mansion?”
“Nineteen.” said Neep instantly.
Daisy thought about his answer. She had no idea how many steps there were at the front of the mansion. She needed a point of reference to catch him out.
“On the Magpie. How many steps up are there from the deck to the wheel deck?” Neep cocked his head as if remembering something.
“Seven,” he said and the smile left Daisy’s face instantly.
“This is a good game.” clapped the old man from the other side of the cell.
“Lucky guess.” said Daisy and Neep looked offended.
“How many buttons does my scarlet waistcoat have on it?” she asked. “The answer isn’t “not enough” by the way.” Neep smiled.
“Five.” he said. Daisy flinched. He was right, but given most men’s seeming obsession with her chest she discounted the idea almost instantly, though she was forced to concede that Neep was one of the very few men who actually managed to maintain eye contact with her face and not her chest for most of the time.
“MY sword has a few letters on the handle just above the blade. What are they?”
“A and R.” said Neep. “Maker’s marks I think.”
“Correct.” said Daisy.
“In my cabin behind my desk there are a row of books.”
“Six of them.” smiled Neep and Daisy found herself trying to remember herself. She was surprised to find he was correct. The books had been her father’s and she knew them well.
“The fourth one along.” she said.
“Tide tables of the old coast - the mariner’s guide.” said Neep and Daisy found her colour draining.
“The third?”
“Navigation and map guides to the island of New Franklin.” Daisy gasped.
“The first is, “A history of the indigenous peoples of the Grey Vale”, and the second, “Plumb depths and tack sailing: a guide”. Do you want me to continue?”
“No.” gasped Daisy. He had got every single one right so far. She racked her brains for a way to use Neep’s new found ability to help them out of their current predicament but could not come up with anything. She needed something useful.
“Wait. When The Beak threw the map down on the floor here you could just see the symbols that were Old Scurth - what was it again? The language?”
“Old Scurthian.” said the old man. Daisy threw a small piece of straw across to Neep.
“Draw the symbols in the sand here.” said Daisy eagerly. Neep shrugged and leaning forward took up the piece of straw and began to drag it through the sand, forming small symbols as he did so. Daisy gasped.
“Looks accurate to me.” said the old man cautiously.
“Me too.” said Daisy.
“Do you want me to draw the rest of it or are the symbols enough?” Asked Neep meekly, looking to Daisy for approval. Daisy thought he looked like a puppy waiting to be stroked. Then she thought a little bit more about what he had said and she found herself scowling.
“What do you mean?” asked Daisy, a chill entering her voice. Neep scuttled backwards a little in his chains.
“The rest of the map. Do you want me to draw that too?”
“We only saw the edge with the symbols.” said Daisy quietly. “The rest of the map was rolled up.”
“Oh yes.” agreed Neep. “But when I was taken prisoner by the Golden Octopus in Hard Knocks captain Jenkins
held the map up for all to see. So once I have seen it I can’t forget it really. Do you want me to draw it?”
The colour drained from Daisy’s face.
“You have that map in your memory?”
“Yes.” Simpered Neep. He had the definite feeling that he was in trouble without really knowing why. “Once I had seen it then it is stored in my memory permanently.” He began to move the straw through the sand. “There is a little squiggle here.” he said almost to himself. “The Tines I think. And then…”
Daisy screamed.
“You bloody fool!”
Neep visibly shrank, pulling himself back against the wall as if trying to make himself smaller. Even the old man on the other side of the cell seemed to shrink as Daisy turned even redder.
“Let me get this right.” she snarled. “Your lithog- what did you call it?”
“Lithographic.” whispered Neep.
“Right. Your lithographic memory would mean you could if you had a quill and a piece of paper replicate the map that Jenkins has just run off with because you saw it once briefly weeks ago.”
“Yes.”
“In every detail. Even the finest mark.”
“Yes.”
“So why the hell didn’t you say anything?” She raged. “We have been holed up here for the best part of a week trying to find a way to get our hands on the map and it was in your head all of the time?”
“Well you never treat me as anything other than an idiot.” said Neep sulkily. “Besides. It never occurred to me. There’s a lot of stuff stored up here. I just never thought.”
“Never thought?” said Daisy incredulously. “You never thought.” She paused, her colour reddening even more if that was possible. “By the seven seas it is a good job I am chained to the wall here or I may very well kill you with my bare hands. We could be on our way to Ciniomawr now. Instead I am chained up in a cell with two idiots and to make it worse Nick Blade is the gaoler. I couldn’t be in a worse situation if I had tried.”
“I didn’t think…” began Neep, but Daisy threw herself at the chains, rattling them loudly. She was however, luckily for Neep at least, no nearer to him.
“Just be quiet.” she spat. “Don’t speak to me at all. Pirate consultant. Ha! You are not fit to clean a pirate's boots! The word consultant has far too many vowels in it if you ask me. Get back to playing pirates and leave me alone! If we ever get out of here I want that map out of your head Mister Neep, and then you can do what the hell you like but you won’t be welcome on my ship!” she kicked at the floor angrily. “Damned fool! Leave me alone!” she rolled herself away from them and lay down presumably to sleep.
“Well that went well all things considered.” said the old man. “Though I think the thing with the map was a bit of a sticking point.” Neep ignored him and turned the other way, his back to Daisy. Reluctantly he tried to get to sleep.
Chapter 21
~ The One Thing That SOPE Doesn’t Tell You~
The cell was dark when Neep suddenly woke with a start. A cool breeze blew through the wide window, and although he could see nothing he could hear muffled footsteps from outside the door and the snoring of the old man. Slowly the heavy stone door swung open and was then hastily pushed closed again. A tall dark figure stood by the door, torch in hand which he placed in a mantle on the wall. Neep squinted against the light.
“What do you want Blade?” Neep heard Daisy say from across the floor, her chains rattling as she turned to face the figure. Neep could see now that it was indeed Nick Blade, a wide leer on his face, the torch light flickering madly in his eyes.
“Ah. Daisy, Daisy.” said Blade, approaching her. “Last time we met you marked my face rather badly. Ruined the way the world looks at me, you could say, or the way it treats me, perhaps. Yet my current employer The Beak has the grace and perception to not allow his view of me to be coloured by my scars. I seem to recall that you said that you would kill me if you ever saw me again, and yet here we are and the shoe as they say seems to be on the other foot.” He smiled darkly. “I knew it was you of course”, he said, smiling. Neep kept quiet, gauging the distance between himself and Nick Blade. It was just a little too far, even for one of his height. “I would recognise that chest anywhere.” he laughed slightly, his voice devoid of humour.
“I say.” said the old man from the other side of the cell, “This is most irregular. Normally late night visits must be accompanied with nefarious tools of torture and torment. Pliers and the like, yet you do not seem to have any such items with you. Whatever is going on?” Blade strode across to him and without breaking his stride kicked him under the chin. It was a vicious kick and the man slumped to the floor unconscious. Neep gasped at the sudden show of violence, but Daisy did not move at all, her mouth a thin tight line in the darkness.
“So what do you want?” she asked, her eyes never leaving sight of Blade as he approached her again.
“Oh I think you know what I want, Daisy.” he leered. “It is all I ever wanted.” He looked over his shoulder at Neep who was straining against his chains to no avail. “I think I will let him watch.” He chuckled to himself. “I think I would like that.” Blade moved nearer and Daisy kicked out at him but he kicked at her feet and she moved even further back. “I do like them lively, Mister Neep.” he said, his voice like ashes. “Though I will admit the chains will come in handy on this occasion.” he laughed loudly and removed his cloak, letting it drop to the floor. “Who knows Daisy.” he smiled. “You may even enjoy yourself.”
Daisy’s eyes never left Blade’s face but still she addressed Neep.
“Turn your back Neep.” she said calmly as Blade removed his belt and let it fall to the floor on top of his cloak. It clattered noisily to the floor despite the sand everywhere.
“No.” said Neep, his voice stubborn.
“Please look away, Neep.” she said and Neep for a second considered obeying.
“No.” he spat. “I want to remember every single reason why I want to kill the bastard in front of you now.” he said and Daisy flinched as Blade drew nearer to her, beginning to unfasten his breeches.
“Mister Neep, Mister Neep.” he chided. “Sadly for you The Beak seems to have lost interest in Daisy and yourself. I am sorry to have to inform you that after I have finished with Daisy here I am forced to concede that I shall have to kill you both.” He turned back to Daisy. “Still, pleasure first I think. I have waited for this for a long time and I intend to enjoy it. Maybe you will too Mister Neep. At least for a while.”
Neep looked down at the cloak on the floor, Blade’s belt on top of it. The belt was out of reach, and yet the cloak was nearer… slowly he reached out with his foot.
“Don’t put up too much of a struggle, Daisy.” said Blade. “Maybe a little though.” He smiled again. “I like that too.”
He continued to unfasten his breeches as Neep stuck his leg out further. Daisy looked at him only for a split second as she did not dare avert her gaze from Nick Blade either, and so she did not see Neep’s foot snag the cloak and slowly begin to drag it nearer to him. Neep thought that Blade had made an error in forgetting just how tall Neep was. Slowly the cloak moved towards Neep, dragging Blade’s belt silently with it. Neep stopped breathing.
“Please don’t look Neep.” said Daisy, and her voice made Neep’s final effort to drag the cloak nearer easier.
“Oh please do, Mister Neep.” said Blade, finally removing his breeches and throwing them to the floor. “The more the merrier, eh? Pity I can’t let you have a ride on her too. Shame, really.” He moved towards Daisy and paused as a loud click filled the room.
The sound of a safety catch of a flintlock pistol being removed.
Blade slowly turned to Neep, his every move slow and controlled, designed to make sure that Neep did not panic or make any sudden movements. As he turned he saw Neep still on the floor with a flintlock pistol in his hand, aimed straight at him. Blade cast an eye to the floor and saw his belt there, lying ato
p the cloak at Neep’s side, one pistol missing from the belt which was now shaking unsteadily in Neep’s hand.
“It seems I have underestimated you, Mister Neep.” smiled Blade, his teeth showing through his smile.
“Stand away from her.” said Neep, his eyes never leaving Blade, his finger tensing on the trigger. “Now!” Blade did not move a muscle.
“A shame the pistol is not loaded.” laughed Blade, grinning. “Give it to me Mister Neep and I may be merciful when I kill you.”
“Neep.” said Daisy, and Neep was surprised to hear almost a pleading in her voice.
“Don’t do this.” she whispered. “Not for me.”
“See?” laughed Blade, moving slightly and Neep pushed the gun forward. Blade stopped dead; not moving. Yet still he could not be quiet. “Even Daisy doesn’t want you to help her. Maybe she is looking forward to it.” He chuckled. “All those long cold days at sea with just a skeleton for company. She is looking forward to the company of a real man I think.”
“Quiet, Blade!” shouted Neep. “Step away from her or I will kill you here and now.”
“The pistol is not loaded.” said Blade, grinning. Neep thrust the gun forward an inch and Blade involuntarily flinched.
“Really?” said Neep. “Are you sure?”
“Quite sure.” said Blade, and Neep saw him look at the belt on the floor where the other pistol lay on top of the cloak. It was just a quick glance, but Neep noticed it all the same.
“Besides, Mister Neep, you do not look like a real pirate to me.” said Blade. “Tell me. Have you ever killed a man?”
“Move away!” shouted Neep and Blade moved a little further away slowly, reluctantly almost.
“Neep, please!” said Daisy from the floor. “Not for me. Please don’t make that mistake!” to Neep’s surprise Daisy began to sob.
Overboard! Page 24