[Marienburg 01] - A Murder in Marienburg

by David Bishop - (ebook by Undead)

  Kurt shrugged, not committing himself to agree.

  “Besides,” Henschmann added, “you seem to act as a lightning rod for trouble round here. I suspect you’re more useful to me where you are on Three Penny Bridge. Consider that a compliment, if you wish. I will have a word with your commander, see if he can’t arrange for you to have some reinforcements. Not much point having a watch station on the bridge if you’ve nobody left to man it, is there?”

  Kurt made his way back to the battered and broken station as the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon once more. Somehow he and a few of his recruits had survived everything the city could throw against them and more. They had lost far too many of their colleagues along the way, but the worst was over now. At least, he hoped it was. But rebuilding the station would be a massive task and one his recruits were ill equipped to undertake. Kurt shook his head. Maybe it would be easier to go back to the commander, tail between his legs, and admit defeat. For once the Schnell family pride would have to come second, in the service of a greater good.

  The captain was still mulling over his options as he got within sight of Three Penny Bridge. The span was choked with people, all of them gathered outside the station. Kurt quickened his pace, eager to see what was wrong now. But the closer he got, the denser the crowd became. As he struggled through the throng, people started to clap him on the back and applaud him. It was a disconcerting sensation after being the target of so much hatred and derision since arriving in Suiddock. When he did reach the front of the station, Kurt was stunned to see gangs of citizens hard at work rebuilding the battered walls, doors and windows. Scheusal was directing the efforts, while Molly and her girls were fetching drinks and equipment for the workers. Terfel leaned out of the captain’s office window and gave him a cheerful wave.

  Belladonna came out to see why the citizens were cheering and clapping. She smiled as Kurt approached, calling to him. “Isn’t it incredible? They heard about how we stood our ground against Henschmann and his mercenaries! I think you’ve won them over, captain!”

  Kurt shook his head, still not quite able to believe what he was seeing. Maybe some good had come out of all the sacrifices, all the pain, all the suffering and all the deaths. Maybe. Time would tell.

  Deep beneath the station, in the tall columns of stone that supported Three Penny Bridge, one particular stone pulsed hungrily. It had tasted blood five days earlier and it had feasted again when the ratmen brought it chunks of raw flesh torn from the bones of Abram Cobbius. The stone called out into the darkness, summoning other monstrous creatures, calling the denizens of darkness to it. A sickly, green glow emanated from it, pulsating with evil. The stone had tasted human blood and it wanted more…

  Scanning and basic

  proofing by Red Dwarf,

  formatting and additional

  proofing by Undead.