Clive Cussler: Pirate

“Nonsense, Agatha,” Aldridge said. He turned toward Sam and Remi. “Percy’s wife Agatha.” As they shook hands with her, he said, “Agatha, this is Sam and Remi Fargo. They’re here looking for information on some archaeological artifacts, and, well, Percy was supposed to meet us. He never made it.”

“Understandable,” she said, glancing toward her husband. “Normally, Percy’s very good with lists. Perhaps I should have written ‘Don’t light the fire’ and called the chimney sweep myself.”

“I simply forgot,” Percy said.

Agatha gave a tired smile. “I know.”

“Maybe,” Aldridge said in a quiet voice, “it’s time for live-in help?”

Agatha’s eyes glistened and she turned away, busying herself with the dishes in the sink. Eventually she took a seat at the table, giving another tired smile. “Rather like sitting around a campfire, what with the smoky scent all about.”

Percy looked at his wife. “I forgot to call the chimney sweep.”

“I see,” Agatha said, patting his hand and smiling at him. “So what sort of artifacts are you discussing, Percy?”

“Artifacts?” Percy eyed Sam and Remi. “I… Aldridge? Are these the people?”

“The couple I told you about.”

“Right… We were supposed to meet. Slipped my mind. Almost burning down one’s house will do that.”

“Indeed,” Aldridge replied. “But they’re here now.”

“Yes,” Percy said to Sam and Remi. “I expect you’ll want to have a look for yourself.”

Sam felt Remi tapping his foot with her own. “Maybe,” he said, “we should reschedule.”

Remi gave a sympathetic smile. “You probably have enough on your plate right now.”

“Actually,” Agatha said, “it’ll be best if he’s out from underfoot. I expect I’ll have a lot of calls to make while you’re all off doing whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Very good,” Aldridge said. “It’s settled, then.”

As they left the house and walked through the park toward their car, Sam told Remi quietly, “We’ll catch up to you,” then slowed his pace, signaling for Professor Aldridge to follow suit. Sam waited until Remi and Percy were out of earshot. “In light of Percy’s memory issues, maybe we should go with this other expert?”

“Normally, I’d say yes,” Aldridge replied. “This is beyond his usual forgetfulness. But he seems to have more trouble when he is out of his element. When something happens to throw him off his game. Like starting a chimney fire.”

“But if this other expert is willing to help…”

“Maybe give Percy a chance. He lives for this sort of thing. And I know Agatha agrees with me. I ran it by her first. She’s the one who insisted. He’s happiest when he’s in his element, and the tunnels below Nottingham, well, are definitely his element.”

“Is it possible he can just point us to the cavern entrance?”

“I suppose so. Though he does enjoy walking through them. I’m sure that’ll be fine. In fact, I believe he’s mapped most of them out on some chart, if that’ll work.”

“That’ll work perfectly.” Sam watched as Percy pointed something out to Remi in the hedge, some bird, as both started laughing when it flew off. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake. “Let’s go find this chart.”

Sam expected that Percy and Aldridge would be returning to Percy’s home, not to a shopping district in town.

Percy directed Sam where to park. “The entrance is about a five-minute walk from here,” he said, leading them down a cobbled street past several storefronts. He stopped before a tailor’s shop. “The map’s in here.”

Remi looked up at the sign. “You’re kidding.”

Percy’s face lit up as he held open the door. “Quite unexpected, wouldn’t you say?”

Remi then glanced around the shop. “I guess I was expecting something… different.”

“The entire city is sitting on tunnels and caves. A lot to look through.”

Apparently Percy was related to the owner, a second cousin, who was used to Percy’s unexpected visits. He walked them to the back of the store, then opened a door. A stone staircase led down to darkness, and Percy stood there a moment, eyeing it. “Don’t forget the electric torch on your way down.”

Aldridge opened a nearby cabinet. Several flashlights stood on the shelf, and he handed one to each of them.

They started down the stone steps, the temperature cooling as they descended. “This is my favorite,” Percy said, “the first I’d ever been in. I knew, from that moment on, I wanted to explore every one of them.”

Sam brought up the rear, wondering exactly where it was Percy stored this map. “How many caves are there?” he asked.

“Over seventy-five, and counting. Most have been lost due to building and garden encroachments. Others have slowly collapsed after eight hundred years. Sadly, few people even know they exist outside of those opened as an historic attraction.”

“And this cave?” Sam asked, shining his light on the fairly smooth walls, noting that shelves had been carved into the side where things had been stored. “What was it used for?”

“The previous shop owners used it as a wine cellar.” He led them through the cavern into a tunnel that opened into another wider space. “Hand-carved. Sandstone. Centuries before that, people lived in here. Actually, in caves all over the city. The entrances were carved aboveground to prevent flooding when the river overflowed. It’s all quite fascinating.”

“One question,” Sam said when he realized this last cavern was a dead end. “What does this have to do with Robin Hood and your map?”

“Robin Hood?” Percy turned a confused glance toward Aldridge. “I thought they wanted to see this one. Did I tell you it was the first one I’d ever been in?”

“You did,” Aldridge said.

Sam looked at Remi, who kept a bland smile on her face as she ran her hands along the cavern walls. He should have insisted they contact the other expert, especially after the incident with the fire. “We appreciate your bringing us here,” Sam said, “but we were hoping to learn about any caverns that have some connection to Robin Hood, King John, William the Marshal, and the four chambers.”

“You mean the four caverns ?” Percy asked.

“I believe so,” Sam said. Percy’s recognition of the name had to mean they were on the right track. “Do you know where it is?”

“It’s been a while, but I believe I can find it again. Don’t recommend it, though. Very dangerous. Places to fall. Wrong turns. There are so many better places to explore.”

“But we love exploring,” Remi said slyly. “Maybe you could tell us how to get there?”

“Getting toward midday, don’t you think? Haven’t had lunch.” He turned and started walking toward the outer cavern and the stairs that led up to the shop. “I feel as if I’m forgetting something but, for the life of me, can’t remember. Why do they want to go there?” he asked Aldridge.

“They’re looking for historical artifacts.”

“Ah, yes. Now I remember. Won’t find much there. A lot of tunnels to get lost in. And some Celtic carvings on the wall. That’s about it. Any artifacts are long gone.”

As they followed him up the stairs, Sam asked Aldridge, “You’re sure this is a good idea?”

“Don’t forget, Percy’s off his game today. The fire definitely rattled him. Naturally, if you’d rather go with that other expert, I’d be glad to call him for you.”

“In this case, we’d better.” He didn’t want to count on the failing memory of a retired professor when it came to saving Nigel’s life and he pulled Remi aside and told her who Aldridge was calling.