C.J. Sansom - Revelation

'Master Shardlake, please, help us!' It was Minnie Kite's voice. I turned back to her.

ADAM HAD emerged from the gatehouse on to the street. Guy and Barak each held one of his arms, for he was trying to drop to the ground again, his eyes were closed and his lips moved in silent prayer. The gatekeeper followed, looking anxiously at the bishop. Bonner planted himself in front of Adam, arms akimbo.

'This is a fine sight,' he thundered. 'What did you think you were doing, boy?' Adam ignored him, his eyes on the ground, praying even now. Bonner reddened. 'You had better answer, boy preacher, or you will find yourself in the fire like Mekins.'

'I don't know how he got up there,' the gatekeeper said. 'He must have sneaked up through the house. On my oath, sir, I don't know how he did it unless he's a sorcerer and can make himself invisible.' Bonner snorted.

'Slave of the Roman harlot!' someone shouted out from the crowd. Bonner turned again, frowning mightily. 'Traitor!' someone else called out. This time there was a murmur of approval from the crowd. The soldiers took a firm hold on their pikes. The mood was beginning to turn.

Daniel and Minnie had been looking on helplessly, an expression of mingled fear and distaste in Daniel's eyes as he stared at Bonner. Minnie, though, stepped forward. She fell on her knees before Bonner, grasped the hem of his robe. 'Please, sir,' she said. 'My son is mad. Sick in his mind. The Privy Council sent him to the Bedlam. He must have escaped. He can be sore cunning despite his scattered wits.'

Bonner was quite unmoved. 'I heard of that decision, Bishop Gardiner told me. The Privy Council was wrong. This display shows your son to be a wild heretic' He glared round at us. 'I will shortly make matters so hot for you people, you will wish yourselves gathered into God.' He stared at Adam, his expression twisted with distaste. 'I shall begin with this slavering creature.' He looked round defiantly at the crowd; whatever else, Bishop Bonner did not lack courage.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. 'Sir, he is mad,' I said urgently. I waved at Guy. 'This man is his doctor, he will certify it. I have been unhappy with the boy's security, his care at the Bedlam. The matter is before the Court of Requests.' I spoke loudly enough for the crowd to hear it; there was a constant murmuring now.

Bonner looked curiously at Guy. 'So you are Dr Malton,' he said. 'I have heard of you. The ex-monk.'

'Yes, my lord.'

‘I heard you were a sound man among the physicians,' Bonner said. 'Why are you working with these heretics?'

Guy was at his diplomatic best. 'The Privy Council decided he was mad, my lord, not a heretic. I believe he is indeed mad and I hope he may be cured. Brought to his right thinking,' he added meaningfully.

One of the guards looked over the murmuring crowd, then leaned forward and whispered something to Bonner. He looked over at the crowd, then back at Guy and me. 'Very well,' he said. 'But I shall keep myself informed on his progress.' He turned to me. 'As for you, lawyer, make sure he is kept safely locked up. I might not be so accommodating next time.' He gave me a stern nod and walked away. The soldiers followed.

'Well done,' I breathed to Guy. He gave me a sombre look.

'I think he realized that if he were to burn a boy a doctor had certified mad, London would be even more against him than it was with Mekins. But he will not forget. Matthew, Adam must be kept secure.'

'Are we taking him back to the Bedlam;' Barak asked.

'Yes. Come on. It is a short walk. Let's see what Keeper Shawms has to say,' I added grimly.

Piers, who had hung back during the conversation with Bonner, now stepped forward and took Adam's arm, Barak taking the other.

We set off, the crowd staring after us, sorry to be deprived of their entertainment. Daniel and Minnie followed behind. They made no effort to talk to their son; they knew it would be useless.

THE LONG LOW building that housed the Bedlam presented its usual bland face to the world. I knocked on the door and it was opened by the woman Ellen. She had cast off her coif and her dark hair was wild, her expression frightened. When she saw Adam her face flooded with relief.

'Oh God's mercy, you have him! Where was he;'

'Preaching to the multitude from the top of London Wall.' A group of anxious faces stared from the doorway of the parlour, including the woman who had exposed herself on my last visit.

'Oh Jesu.' Ellen leaned against the wall. 'I knew Adam would make another exhibition.'

'Where is Shawms;'

'Gone out, sir. I am here alone with the patients. One of the under-keepers is ill, sir, the other visiting his family in Kent. Master Shawms said he had to go out and he took our third keeper, Leaman, with him. I had thirty people to look after. I thought Adam was safe, I thought he was chained. He must have got out of the window, I came to his cell and he was gone—'

'Let's get him back in his room.' At Ellen's directions, Barak and Piers dragged Adam, still a muttering deadweight, to the open door of his chamber. Daniel and Minnie followed with Guy. I turned to Ellen.

'So Shawms left you alone?'

'Yes, sir.' She hesitated, then said quickly, 'I think he did it on purpose, I think he left Adam unchained so he would get out. He is the only one with keys to the chains.'

'When did you find Adam was gone?'

'An hour ago.'

'But did you not raise the alarm?' I frowned, puzzled. Why had someone as conscientious as Ellen done nothing?

She reddened and lowered her voice to a whisper. 'I may not go out.' She wrung her hands together, the gesture somehow full of the most terrible anxiety. 'I did not know what to do. The other patients were afraid. I think Shawms wanted Adam arrested and dealt with as a heretic. He wanted him out. And I would be blamed for letting him go. Oh, he is cruel man, a savage—'

'But why, Ellen? When you told me before you could never leave the Bedlam, I did not realize you meant you could not leave the building. Why?'

'Do not ask me, sir.' She gave me a desperate, pleading look. I began to wonder if this woman had perhaps done something terrible, that perhaps she was kept from leaving by order of the court. But then why was she given charge of the patients?

The main door opened and Shawms entered, another keeper at his side. When he saw me he smiled wickedly.

'Good day, master lawyer. How is your charge?'

'Safe in his cell,' I answered grimly. 'With his parents and his doctor.'

'Oh.' Shawms' face fell.

'He got out, as you planned, but we got him back safe.' I stepped up to him. 'Now, sir, listen to me. Your heartless plan to let him escape and blame this poor woman is discovered. I will raise what you have done with Archbishop Cranmer if anything like this happens again.' His eyes widened. 'Yes, I am the Archbishop's man. Do you understand?'

He gave me a savage look. 'I don't know how he got out,' he muttered. The other keeper meanwhile backed away and disappeared.

'You are a brute, a brute!' It was Minnie's voice. She and Daniel had appeared in the doorway of Adam's cell. Behind them I saw Barak looking grim, but Piers, just behind him, was smiling slightly. He was enjoying this.

'So take care, master keeper.' I looked at Ellen. And do not take it out on her. I do not know what hold you have on her that she cannot go out, but you will not make her your scapegoat.'

Shawms laughed then, throatily. 'Me got a hold on her: Is that what she told you:'

'She told me nothing.'

'I bet she didn't.' He laughed again, gave Ellen a look of cruel amusement, then stared round at the parlour doorway. 'Come on, you lot, there's been enough spectacle for one day.' The patients retreated before his advance, and Ellen flitted quickly past me, vanishing up the stairs.