C. Sansom - Dark Fire

'That's a strange look, Matthew.'

On the spur of the moment, I said, 'Godfrey, may I put a case to you?'

'Of course.'

'What if that God gave you a miraculous power, a thunderbolt that could fell all your enemies at once, whole armies. All you needed to do was raise your hand.'

He laughed. 'That is a far-fetched case, Matthew. There have been no such miracles since Our Lord's time on earth.'

'But just say you were given such a gift.'

He shook his head piously. 'I would not be worthy.'

'But say you had it,' I persisted. 'Something that, if used, would inevitably kill thousands, many of them innocent. Would you use it?'

'Yes, I would. I would place it at the service of King Henry to confound his enemies at home and abroad. Does not the Old Testament tell us that often many must die if God's cause is to be served? Remember Sodom and Gomorrah.'

'They were destroyed in fire and thunder.' I closed my eyes a moment, then looked at him. 'You won't apologize, will you?'

He smiled gently, that fierce holy light in his eyes again. 'No, Matthew, I will not.'

WE MOUNTED THE NARROW stairs to Bealknap's rooms. The padlock had been taken away. I gave a peremptory knock on the door. Bealknap himself opened it. He had left off his robe and his doublet too in the hot weather, and was wearing only his white linen shirt. Coarse yellow hairs protruded above the collar. With his lawyer's regalia off, he looked more like the rogue he was.

'Brother,' I said, 'I have been trying to find you. Where have you been?'

He frowned. 'On business.' He eyed Barak's shorn head in surprise. 'Who's this?' Then he caught sight of Leman and his eyes widened. The stallholder gave him an evil grin. Bealknap tried to slam the door in our faces, but Barak was too quick for him, jamming his foot in the door and putting his shoulder to it. Bealknap staggered back, while Barak winced and rubbed his arm. 'God's death, I'd forgotten the burn.'

We stepped in. Bealknap's chamber was as untidy as ever, the chest prominent in its corner. The door to his living quarters was open. Bealknap stood in the middle of the room, his face red with outrage.

'How dare you!' he shouted. 'How dare you burst in here?' He pointed a long finger at Leman. 'Why have you brought that rogue, Shardlake? He has a grudge against me, he will tell any lies-'

Barak spoke up. 'You won't remember me, master, I was just a boy, but my stepfather used to be one of your witnesses in the bishop's court. Edward Stevens. Strange people, witnesses. Sometimes they'll appear out of the blue and swear to the honesty of a man they couldn't possibly have met.'

In all the time I had known this pestilential lawyer I had never seen him lose his composure, but now he stood with clenched fists, taking deep breaths. 'This is all lies,' he blustered angrily. 'I don't know what game you're playing, Shardlake-'

'No game.'

Bealknap's lips parted, showing long yellow teeth. 'If you're trying to pressure me into giving way on my properties, it won't work. I'll have you disbarred.'

'It's not that,' I said contemptuously.

'Your clutch-fistedness has caught up with you, Master Bealknap,' Leman said with pleasure. 'Only a tiny piece of gold from yonder chest to pay me what you owed would have saved you this.'

'Master Leman has prepared a statement,' I said. I took a copy from my robe and held it out to Bealknap. He clutched it and read, frowning. Yet as I watched him I sensed that something was wrong. He should have been terrified, facing the ruin of his career, yet he seemed only enraged. He lowered the statement.

'Hunting down a brother barrister,' he said in a savage whisper, 'getting Cheapside stallholders to swear false statements – what is this about? What do you want?'

'You remember I have a commission from Lord Cromwell?'

'I told you all I knew about that matter. Which was next to nothing.' He waved a hand angrily. If he was lying he did it well.

'I want to know the nature of your connection with Sir Richard Rich, Bealknap.'

'That is none of your damned business,' he said stoutly. 'Yes, I have a commission from Sir Richard, I work for him. It is his business I have been on these last few days.' He raised a hand. 'And I will not be questioned about that. God's death, I'll go to Sir Richard now, I'll tell him of your pestering-'

'Brother Bealknap, if you do not answer my questions, I shall go to Lord Cromwell.'

'Then he can speak to Sir Richard.' Bealknap nodded grimly. 'There, you did not expect that, did you?' He reached for his robe. 'I shall go to him now. You are out of your depth, sir; you have been dabbling in matters that are beyond you.' He laughed in my face. 'Have you not realized that yet? Now, out of my chambers.' He threw open the door. Barak clenched his fists.

'Lord Cromwell can have you on the rack, you great bony arsehole.'

Bealknap laughed. 'I think not, though he might make your arses smart after my master and he have spoken. Now leave!' He waved at the door.

There was nothing left but to go. As soon as we were outside, the door was slammed in our faces.

We stood on the landing. Barak gave me a puzzled look. 'I thought he'd be terrified.'

'So did I.'

'Lord Cromwell, Richard Rich.' Leman gave me a sidelong look. 'I don't want any more to do with this, sir, I'm going back to my stall.' And with that he turned and hastened downstairs, without even asking for the rest of the money I had promised him.

Barak and I were left looking at each other. 'Well, that went well,' Barak said sarcastically.

'What can Rich have to say to Cromwell that will turn his anger on to us?' I shook my head. 'Cromwell is the chief secretary, Rich is a big fish but nowhere near that big.'

'And what does he know about Greek Fire?' Barak took a deep breath. 'I'm going to have to get word to the earl about this.' He began descending the stairs.

I followed him. 'Do you know where Cromwell is today?'

'Whitehall again. I'll ride there now. You go home and rest. You look like you need it. Do nothing till I return.'

I wondered if he and Cromwell might have things to say he did not want me to hear. But if he did, there was nothing I could do about that.

IT WAS MORE THAN two hours before Barak returned. I waited for him in my parlour, looking out over the garden as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen. I was still exhausted after my terrifying experience of the night before, but though my eyes smarted with tiredness I could not rest. Thoughts chased each other round my head. What had Bealknap meant? What was it I should have realized? And what was I to do if my planned trip to St Bartholomew's proved successful and we actually found some traces of Greek Fire? My conversation with Guy nagged at me; I could not keep the broader implications of what I was doing from my mind. It would be better, surely, if nobody had Greek Fire. But Toky's master, whoever that was, had it already.

At length, tired of prowling round the room, I decided to go to the stables. As I stepped outside, I winced at the heat – it was hotter than ever – and became conscious that everything ached, my burned arm, my back, my eyes, my head.

Barak had collected Sukey, but Genesis stood quietly in his stall. He gave a whicker of recognition when he saw me. Young Simon was mucking out the stables.

'How is Genesis settling in?' I asked.

'Well enough, sir, he's a good horse. Though I miss old Chancery.'

'So do I. Genesis seems a placid beast.'

'He wasn't at first, sir. He was anxious in his stall, couldn't settle. I feared he might kick me.'

'Really?' I was surprised. 'He was no trouble to ride.'

'He's probably been well trained in Lord Cromwell's stables, sir, but I think he was used to larger quarters there.' Simon flushed as he mentioned the earl's name; it was a source of wonder to the boy that I was associated with so great a man.