The Policeman of Secrets

Chapter 5 Part 3

Solomon knew his one eye meant his marksmanship was nothing like as good as it was in his army days, but he had to take the fight to the four men or he was done for. Ducking below the gunwale, he managed a swift shot at the nearest man and was rewarded with a sudden cry that was cut short as his victim fell between the ship and the dockside. Solomon lifted his head slightly, and a bullet from one of the men ashore pounded into the wall behind him.

Adrenalin was flooding through every vein. He felt no fear, only a terrible bloodlust. As had once happened so often, his mind was racing with tactics and stratagems, calculating the series of moves that should leave him unhurt and victorious. The dormant instincts that had briefly raised their head during the fight in his shop had returned in full force, and he hated himself for the excitement within.

The conveyor was bringing a new attacker ever closer, and Solomon had just a few seconds before the brute reached him, with his fellows surely on their way. Revolving a fresh bullet into the chamber of his gun, Solomon snatched a vicious-looking hook from the belt of a sailor trying to flee the gunfire and leapt onto the conveyor going down.

The rattling machinery was jerking and unsteady, and he almost fell to his death. But he kept his balance and turned sharply to face the shocked man on the belt opposite. The thug lunged at him with a brutally jagged blade, but Solomon skidded on the belt and the tip only pierced his coat. He did not hesitate, and put a bullet into his opponent’s face.

Not looking to see the result as the belt drew him inexorably down, he prepared to face the final two men. One stood below him, taking aim carefully with a heavy cavalry pistol, while his comrade stepped gingerly onto the other belt, waiting until he would be within a sword arm’s reach.

Desperately, the bookseller hurled the hook at the gunman on shore, then jumped, arms flailing, onto the opposite belt. A wayward bullet tore past him and killed a bold sailor who had dared to watch the melee, then Solomon piled bodily into the swordsman before him. His unexpected charge took the brute by surprise, and he almost slipped off the side of the belt before rallying himself. Solomon pressed home his advantage, and a hard punch broke the man’s nose. Pained, he dropped his blade and Solomon used this distraction to push him off the belt. There was a terrible crackas the dockside broke the killer’s spine, then he sank into the Thames.

Now being carried back up to the ship, Solomon saw the last man remonstrating with Barbarossa, clearly unhappy at continuing the fight. The argument ended when the brute pushed his way into the mass of people watching this unexpected disturbance, and disappeared.

Solomon looked to see the sailors thronged by the gunwales. Many were carrying weapons, clearly infuriated by the death of their shipmate, and they blocked his way back onto the vessel. Plunkett was first among them, and the unhappy captain yanked a lever that brought both conveyors to a juddering halt with a rushing hiss of steam. “Time you were leaving, my friend,” he called over the din.

A glance revealed that Barbarossa, who suddenly seemed frail and exhausted, was stuck at the dockside, his way barred by the crowd of bystanders. Hoping that the sheer number of people would prevent the authorities or any reinforcements reaching the scene too soon, Solomon stepped carefully down the unmoving belt until he was face to face with Balthazar’s supposed friend.

Slowly realizing the drama was at an end, the mass of onlookers steadily dispersed, but Solomon grabbed Barbarossa’s arm hard to prevent him escaping. The other man, who looked more beaten by the minute, made no move to resist.

“You led the Arcanum straight to us!” cried Solomon. “Why, man, why?”

“They’ve got my Jenny,” Barbarossa said, all life drained from his voice. “They took her last night. Said she would be all right if I led their hirelings to Balthazar and you. I tried a few of his old haunts and eventually thought of Plunkett. He’s done all of us a favor in his time.” He paused. “I never thought they would kill you, mind; just take you for questioning.”