James McGee - Rapscallion

"Then he told me about a drinking session he'd had with some arse-wipe name of Tyler. Seems Tyler had been all ears when he heard that Morgan was after the blood of the Runner and Frenchie. Started saying it would serve the Frog right for sniffing around our women."

Lasseur and Jess Flynn exchanged glances.

"Higgs thought Tyler might have had a particular woman in mind, on account of it was his sister-in-law's farm the two captains had been staying at. He said he'd had a feeling, when he came to pick you up, that the widow and the captain were a bit more than landlady and lodger, if you get my drift. And that got me thinking: if I was on the run, looking for somewhere to hide out, where would I run to? Somewhere I'd find a friendly face, that's where. So I decided Mrs Flynn's farm might be worth a visit, even if it was only to see if I could dig up some more information. Turns out it was a sound stroke. Mind you, if we hadn't heard the dog barkin' we might have missed you. We were just about to head back."

So Higgs had seen Lasseur and Jess Flynn's tactile goodbye, too, Hawkwood thought. One small gesture that had led to consequences unimagined.

"Nathaniel — "

Jago turned. It was Garvey. He was on his own, his face grim. "You'd better come and take a look at this."

Jago, Hawkwood and Lasseur left Jess with Tom Gadd and accompanied Garvey towards the barn.

Micah had found a lantern. He held it high so they could see.

The bodies were covered with straw. There were six of them. Three lay face up, the others lay face down.

"That's Tyler," Hawkwood said, pointing to one of the corpses that was lying on its back.

Tyler's mouth was still wide open, as were his eyes; a man surprised, even in death. In the lantern light, his face was the colour of rancid cheese.

"You know them, Jethro?" Jago asked.

Garvey looked down at the corpses. He nodded grimly.

Hawkwood wondered what Jago had meant by local representative.

"I'm assuming this is all your doing," Jago said. "Want to tell me about it?"

"Later," Hawkwood said.

"They left the horses, too," Lasseur said. He was standing outside the barn door, looking into the paddock.

"Why would they do that?" Jago asked.

"They were in a hurry," Hawkwood said. "They were probably planning to come back for them later."

"Who's 'they'?" Jago asked.

"A man called Pepper and three surviving members of his crew."

Garvey's head came round.

An owl called from the nearby woods.

Jago said, "That wouldn't be Cephus Pepper?"

"You know him?"

"I know of him. Why would they be in a hurry?"

"They had an appointment."

"With who?"

"Morgan," Hawkwood said.

"Something else you're not telling me?" Jago asked.

"Plenty, but there's no time."

"Why's that?"

"I've got an appointment, too."

"Don't tell me," Jago said. "Same place?"

"Yes."

"And where's that?" "Deal."

"An' I don't suppose it can wait?"

"No."

" You going to need any help?"

"Probably," Hawkwood said.

"Christ," Jago shook his head. "I should definitely be on the bloody payroll. Micah, bring the horses round."

"Someone has to get Tom Gadd to a doctor," Hawkwood said.

"That'll be Jethro. Did you hear that, Jethro? I saw a cart round the side. Take the lantern. Go hitch it up. Then collect Mrs Flynn and the old 'un and take them to wherever she tells you."

Garvey nodded. He took the light and left.

"Good man." Jago studied Hawkwood's face. "I meant it when I said you looked like shit. Are you going to be all right? It's a fair ride."

"You know the road?"

"'Course I know the bloody road!"

Jago had been raised in a small village on the Kent marshes. As a young man, he had tried his hand at a variety of jobs — some legal, some more dubious in nature — all over the county before finally accepting the two-guinea signing-on fee from a recruiting sergeant at a Maidstone fair.

"How long?"

Jago looked thoughtful. "Depends how fast you want to push the horses. Sky's clear and it's a good moon. Our best bet'll be the Dover Road down to Green Street. Then across country through Eythorne. It ain't going to be a stroll in the park. I reckon it'll take a fair while."

"The horses that Pepper's men left will be fresh."

"Good point. We'll still have to walk them some of the way."

"I'll go and pick out the best ones," Lasseur said.

Jago looked at Hawkwood and raised an eyebrow.

"Best to have him inside the tent," Hawkwood said.

"Your call," Jago said. He watched as Lasseur let himself into the paddock.

"He's a good man, too," Hawkwood said.

"For a Frog, you mean?"

For the first time in a while, Hawkwood smiled.

Micah returned with his and Jago's mounts. There was no discussion as to whether Micah would be riding with them. Hawkwood had had dealings with Jago's lieutenant before and had been impressed with the man's quiet efficiency.

Jago and Micah retained their own horses. Lasseur had picked out the best of Pepper's string: a russet mare and a blue gelding.

Garvey, meanwhile, had taken the cob from the barn and backed it on to the cart, then tied his own horse to the rear. He was now sitting ready with the reins. Gadd was lying on the flat boards, covered up to his chest with a horse blanket. The dog's head lay across his thighs.

Hawkwood went over and took Gadd's hand. "You did well, Tom. You made a difference. I won't forget."

"Won't be forgettin' you in a hurry either, Cap'n." Gadd smiled weakly, though some of the fire was back in his eyes. " You going to make them pay?"

"Count on it," Hawkwood said.

"Especially Pepper."

"Especially him." Hawkwood leant in close. "I've a question for you, Tom: Morgan mentioned a ship that would be waiting for him off Deal. Any idea what that ship might be?"

"That'll be the Sea Witch. He uses her for special runs. She's an ex-navy cutter, fast; schooner-rigged and black-painted. You can't miss her."

At night time, you would, Hawkwood thought. He looked up at the sky.

"Sounds as if that'll be the one. Thanks, Tom. Take care of Jess, you hear?"

"I will, Cap'n. Good luck to you."

Hawkwood climbed on to the mare. Jago and Micah were already mounted. Lasseur stood with Jess Flynn.

"By the way," Jago said. "Thought you might need this — " He reached into his saddlebag and lifted out Hawkwood's baton, the ebony tipstaff containing his Runner's warrant.

"Where the hell did you get it?"

"Don't ask," Jago said, and winked.

Hawkwood gripped the baton, enjoying the feel. It was likegreeting an old friend. He looked over to Lasseur. "We have to go, Captain."

He watched as Lasseur and the woman embraced. Lasseur whispered something in her ear and waited as she climbed up beside Gadd. The cart moved off and she raised her hand in silent farewell. Lasseur stared after her for a moment, then climbed on to his horse.

As the cart started up the track, Hawkwood, Jago, Micah and Lasseur turned their horses about and rode for Deal.

It was after midnight when they finally arrived.

It had been a hard ride. They had joined the Dover Road to the south of the church at Blean and made good progress along the ten miles between there and Den Hill. The road had been firm and it had been a straight run, though they'd had to temper their speed through Canterbury, walking their horses part of the way through the town. Jago had used the opportunity to ask Hawkwood what was going on. Hawkwood had told him.

"Can't leave you alone for a bloody minute, can I?" had been Jago's response.

The route had continued south through Barham Downs. Ii had been too dark and too late to send a signal by shutter, but Hawkwood had seen the station outlined against the night sky at the top of the hill as they rode past.