Dennis Wheatley: Black August

As the last bars reverberated against the walls of the Palace, Ann squeezed Kenyon's arm and pointed: 'Look, darling,' she cried, 'do you remember that terrible prophet his month has run!'

Then Kenyon, looking upward saw, bright and clear above the Palace, the slender sickle of the September moon: 'My blessing', he drew her closer, 'we've come through Black August so, God willing, we'll have many moons together now.'

The Prince was holding up his hand for silence and, gradually, the cheering subsided; then he spoke, his voice faint but clear from the loud speakers.

'I thank you from my heart for this great demonstration of loyal feeling. With your support I now have every confidence in the complete recovery of our country, and it is my joyous duty to announce the formal restoration of law and order.

'From tonight the ancient laws for the protection of life and property will be administered with the utmost severity against all who seek to retard recovery by breaches of the peace; but, since many thousands have been led to criminal actions contrary to their nature by the stream of late events, I proclaim a general amnesty and free pardon for all such, in the heartfelt hope that they may become once more loyal and responsible citizens.'

'Gregory!' Ann cried, pulling herself away from Ken yon.

'You're free free!' shrieked Veronica.

'How perfectly splendid.' Kenyon hastened over to the prisoners.

'Yes,' Silas's cherubic smile spread over his broad face, 'I felt certain he'd get out of this jam somehow.'

But Gregory was gazing at his faithful henchman and familiar; 'I'm thundering glad,' he said huskily, 'the thought of what they might do to you is the only thing that's really been giving me hell on this journey.'

'Old soldiers never die, sir,' said Mr. Rudd.

The Prince had gone in but the thunderous cheering brought him out again. Once more, he returned bowing, smiling, waving a cheerful hand, yet they simply would not let him go. Five times more he appeared upon the balcony before he finally withdrew.

The great concourse of people would not disperse. Gaunt hungry knowing full well that tomorrow, and for many weeks to come, they would have to face life and all their individual difficulties, upon a meagre ration; perhaps to reconstruct their whole manner of living, or turn their steps from the known ways of the city to strange territories across the seas, they still remained for a new hope was born that night in England. The Prince Regent, idol of a still great and virile nation, would lead them yet into a new prosperity.

Their voices merged again into a solemn wave of sound, unrecognisable at first, yet taken up with the speed of wildfire, until the words of the famous hymn rang out clear and strong:

'Land of hope and glory Mother of the free How shall we extol thee who are born of thee Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set God, who made thee mighty make thee mightier yet God who made thee mighty MAKE THEE MIGHTIER YET.'