Deadly Apparition

by G. Ernest Smith

  “But,” said Howard. “I thought you wanted to help England.”

  “England. Yes,” called Castillo, “but not unprincipled hooligans, who feel justified in using any amount of coercion or force to further their own ambitions!”

  When he arrived at the front doors to the church, the guards stood blocking his path. He stood there face to face with one of them, saying nothing. He heard Drake’s voice call out, “Pass” and the guard stood aside. Castillo hauled open one of the mammoth doors and entered.

  Lambert was the first to greet him. She ran to him and said, “Oh, Don. I was worried about you.”

  “I’m okay. How are you guys?”

  Tanaka came up. “We’re okay, sir. Hungry and tired, but otherwise…”

  “And they took Crystal,” said Lambert.

  “Who took her?”

  “Two guards,” said Tanaka. “They said Howard wanted to see her.”

  “That bastard!” spat Castillo.

  “Are we going to go get her?” asked Tanaka.

  “Definitely! Taylor took the Kansas and the rest of the crew to safety. We’re trying something that’s going to get us all out of here…maybe.” He debated telling them about Bud Unger.

  “In case it doesn’t work, I think I’ve found another way out, sir,” said Tanaka.

  Castillo felt energized being back with his crew. These talented people renewed him.

  • • •

  Crystal McConnell took in her surroundings. There was a fancy wingback armchair covered in some kind of fancy print fabric and a sofa made out of red velvet or something, and there was a large polished table of maple stacked with papers and books and a fireplace with a deer head above the mantle.

  They had taken her by coach to this clapboard farm house with weather worn unpainted boards. An older lady in a white apron met her at the door and showed her to this room. It had the most beautiful old antique brass lantern, it looked like a swan, except it wasn’t really an antique to these people. There was a silver candlestick holder and there were beautiful oil paintings too. One of a magnificent castle on a rocky mountain top and one of an old sailing ship, except it really wasn’t an old ship, was it? The lady who met them at the door had explained that the admiral was using this house as his temporary quarters.

  The aproned lady brought in some tea and scones. The scones were delicious and Crystal devoured them all. She was quite hungry.

  • • •

  “We saw these guys in the wagon measuring black powder,” said Chief Brown. “They put it onto these pieces of cloth, then they tied it up with twine. When they were done, they had a bag of black powder about the size of a bowling ball, see?”

  “Yes,” replied Taylor.

  “We discussed it and decided these must be the charges they use in the big guns when they load ’em.” Chief Brown winced when Doc Aultman pressed the tape on his dressing into place on his arm. “Anyway, when they were finished, they went to dinner and didn’t post a guard. So we took the bagged charges of powder down to the shoreline and emptied each one and then refilled them with sand and ve-e-e-ery carefully retied them exactly like they were. Then we restacked them by the wagon exactly where we found them. It took us about 45 minutes.”

  Taylor let loose a belly laugh and Brown joined in. “So you swapped their gunpowder with sand and they didn’t detect it?”

  “No, sir! And when one of those big muzzle loaders gets jammed up, it’s not an easy thing to unload!”

  “You’re right! I watched them scramblin’.” Taylor and Brown both laughed long and hard. Tears came to Taylor’s eyes. “That was a damn good trick, chief!”

  “Yeh. I’m pretty proud of that too. It was Douglas’s idea though.”

  “Good job. You saved our skin. But we’re not out of this thing yet.”

  “Just tell me what you need me to do, sir.”

  “You should rest, chief. You’re hurt.”

  “Aw hell! This is barely a scratch!”

  “Well, more than a scratch,” said Aultman, packing up his tape and dressings. “It could have been much worse. You’re lucky, chief. The ball passed clean through and didn’t involve much muscle tissue. Subcutaneous mostly.”

  “Like he said. A scratch, sir. I can still hold a gun.” Brown flexed his left hand and made a fist.

  “Well, if you’re up for it. I’ve got one more mission for you, chief.”

  Chapter 19

  “On the other side of this wall,” said Tanaka, “is the firewood box.”

  “What is that awful smell?” asked Castillo. They were in a small dark room at the back of the church behind the altar. It had only one narrow window that was very high up at the ceiling.

  “That’s the chamber pot in the corner. This serves as the bathroom here too.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “No I’m not, sir. And the ladies don’t like it much either,” said Tanaka wrinkling his nose. He knelt down and pointed to a wooden panel. “See this?” He slid the panel open. “This is a pass through. I’m guessing they use this to get firewood when its cold out.” The firewood box appeared to be only a third full. There was nothing blocking the opening.

  “Let me try it,” said Castillo, removing his hat. He knelt down and twisted his body through the opening. It was about 4 feet wide and about 18 inches high. Immediately when he flexed his torso, his chest wounds began to throb and the pain made his eyes water. He was not yet healed from his ordeal with the Spaniard. He could not stand up in the firewood box. It was too small. He was able to lift the cover, however, and peer out. He could see Admirals Drake and Howard with several other people. The two admirals appeared to be arguing. He hoped it was about Taylor’s ultimatum. He wanted to increase discord between the two.

  When Castillo came back through the opening, he stood, smiled and said, “Look what I found!” He was holding an ax. It was coated with dirt and had a rusted head, and when Castillo pulled on it, the head came off easily. He wiped away the dirt from the ax handle and took an experimental swing. It was as solid as a Louisville slugger.

  “Now we have a weapon,” said Tanaka.

  “And a way out,” said Castillo.

  “Shouldn’t we wait to see if they’re going to release us, sir?”

  “I think we better escape if we can. I don’t think Mason’s going to wait either. His bluff against the admirals was just a ploy to buy us time. And maybe cause dissension. We just have to deal with the two guards at the back of the sanctuary. I don’t trust myself to swing this thing with any accuracy though. I have too many injuries.”

  “Want me to try, sir?”

  “Sure. But don’t we have a crewman who played baseball? Italian guy?”

  “Deangelo! He was scouted by the Atlanta Braves!”

  “Is he with us?”

  “I think he is!”

  “Could you go get him?”

  “Yes, sir. Be right back.”

  When Tanaka returned, he was trailed by a petty officer, second class, in dress white uniform. He was a young man with dark hair, serious eyes and a good set of shoulders. He immediately saluted Castillo.

  Castillo returned the salute and said, “That’s another navy reg we’re going to do away with. No more saluting.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Deangelo.

  Castillo scratched his whiskered chin then said, “If we distract a guard, could you knock him out with this?” He put the ax handle in Deangelo’s hand.

  Deangelo got into a batter’s stance and made a test swung. “Yes, sir. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “That will handle one guard,” said Castillo, “but there are two.”

  Deangelo walked over to a small table with a candle set in a round pewter candle holder. He picked up the candle holder and removed the candle. It was a small carved head about the size of an orange, the likeness of a saint probably. He tossed it up gently, getting the heft of it. “I have an idea, sir,” said Deangelo.

  The three discussed a str
ategy and finally agreed on a plan they thought would work and came back out to the sanctuary. Tiny motes of dust wafted in the rose colored beams of sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows on the south side of the building. The tall Gothic windows brightly illustrated the virgin Mary and various saints in heroic poses, in battle and slaying dragons.

  “Why were you gone so long?” asked Lambert. “And what happened to your uniform?”

  “We were coming up with a plan,” said Castillo, dusting dirt off his trousers.

  “Why is Tony walking like he has a stick up his ass?” asked Lambert.

  Castillo studied Deangelo. He was walking very awkwardly, with stiff legs. Castillo removed his hat, finger combed his dark brown hair, sighed and said, “It’s not a stick. It’s an ax handle. God! I hope no one else notices.” He turned to Lambert. “Susan, we’re about to make a move. Go around and wake up anyone who’s asleep. Tell them to be ready.”

  “Sure,” said Lambert. She began to move through the crowd, gently shaking them and whispering.

  Both guards were standing alert with their backs to the wall beside the heavy doors. Castillo nodded to Tanaka and Deangelo who were standing together at the far right wall. At his nod, they separated. Tanaka began walking out into the center of the room, humming. Deangelo began to make his way along the wall toward the guards.

  Tanaka took out his Leatherman multi-tool as he slowly ambled toward the center of the room. The guards both followed him with their eyes.

  When he was sure the guards were both watching Tanaka, Deangelo slowly undid his belt and unfastened his trousers enough that he could reach inside and withdraw the ax handle. He leaned against the wall, trapping the ax handle between the wall and his back. He refastened his pants, then began slowly stepping in the direction of the nearest guard with the ax handle in one hand behind his back.

  Tanaka made a great show of turning the tool into a pair of pliers. He opened and closed the jaws of the pliers, then he folded the tool and unfolded a knife blade. He swished the air with the blade as if sword fighting.

  One guard frowned and called, “‘ey, wo’s ‘at?” Tanaka continued to make passes at the air, slicing and cutting. “‘ey!” said the guard louder. Tanaka paid him no mind. Finally the guard pushed off the wall and began approaching Tanaka with his hand extended. “You better give ‘at ta me.”

  Deangelo was almost to the other guard when he pushed off the wall too and began to follow the first guard. Deangelo decided to follow the second guard, but almost bumped into him when he abruptly stopped. Deangelo thought he might turn around, but he seemed to be focused on what was going on with the other guard and Tanaka in the center of the room.

  “No,” thundered Tanaka. “It’s mine. You can’t have it, you big ape!” Both guards put hands on their swords and began to draw them.

  Thunk!

  Deangelo hit a home run on the head of the guard in front of him. The other guard turned in time to see the stricken guard hit the ground…and…

  Thok!

  …catch a pewter candle holder in the forehead. Deangelo had withdrawn the orb from his waistband and had whipped it as hard as he could, like he was throwing out a runner at first.

  Deangelo dropped like a bag of cement on the guard in front of him. Tanaka fell on the other one. Castillo walked up and nodded with approval. “Well done, guys!” Both guards appeared to be stunned.

  “We need something to tie them up with,” said Tanaka.

  “Here,” said Lambert. “Take my belt.” She undid her long white thin leather belt and handed it to Tanaka.

  Another crewmember volunteered a white navy uniform belt for Deangelo to use. They tied the guards up, hands to feet with arched backs, and gagged them with strips of a red scarf volunteered by Lambert. They took swords and daggers off the guards and handed them to crewmembers.

  Castillo herded them as a group to the small room behind the altar, then he wiggled through the firewood opening first to scout ahead. When he lifted the wooden lid of the firewood box, he didn’t see the admirals anymore, but there were two other men there. Aides probably. They were approximately 250 feet away, at the edge of the cemetery.

  Castillo called back inside the room and said, “Deangelo, I need an instant replay.”

  • • •

  “It is time to admit defeat, Howard,” said Drake, collapsing into a padded chair. They had taken over a banquet room at a nearby tavern to eat, drink and have a planning session. They were accompanied by five guards and two aides.

  “When victory is at hand? I think not!” said Admiral Howard, spearing a piece of beef with his knife and putting in his mouth.

  “This was destined to fail. We take away no shame. These are extraordinary people.”

  “I believe not that doubtful fiction of flying weapons destroying Effingham and Devon. Do you?”

  Drake blinked. “You don’t?”

  Admiral Howard stared hard at Drake, chewing.

  “I’ve been inside the God ship. Howard. It travels as fast as a hawk in flight with sails unseen. It has a great God’s eye that can look anywhere and see anything. I saw the Spanish loading their ships and making ready to invade us. They were parading wagons and horses down the piers at Flanders. I saw it! I fear they watch us right now! If Castillo claims weapons that dance on the head of a pin, I believe him!”

  “I think you’re hysterical, Drake! These are only mortal men with fancy magic. I wager they dance a macabre dance when their necks are stretched by the hangman. Same as anyone. And it’s time to stop bargaining with them and demonstrate our willful intent.”

  “What is your intent?”

  “I’m going to hang one of them with Castillo as witness. We’ll see if that gives him cause to swear oath.”

  Drake put down his knife. “I want no part of it.”

  “Then that’s just what you’ll have…no part of it!” snapped Howard. He finished his ale, banged the tankard on the wooden table then stood.

  “Are we going back already?”

  “No. There is an urgent matter I must attend to at my quarters.” He donned his long cloak and his black hat of office and exited.

  • • •

  Castillo and Deangelo lifted the lid of the firebox and exited as quietly as a summer breeze. Castillo motioned for Deangelo to stay behind. He approached the two men and said, “Say, could you help me? I’m trying to figure out what’s happened to one of my people?”

  The two turned to face him. One had a round boyish face with not much beard and a ruddy complexion, the other was taller and pale and sniffed nervously. Castillo nodded to Deangelo who began his stealthy approach from behind.

  “Which one, commander?” asked the shorter boyish one.

  “The tall woman who was with us,” replied Castillo. “I need to find her.”

  “Did she possibly wander?”

  “No, she was with us under guard when two guards came and took her away,” said Castillo, raising his voice. “I want to know where she is!”

  He advanced on them both. They seemed to shrink under his onslaught. “We did not take her, sir.”

  “Well, someone did!” shouted Castillo. “And I think you know who!”

  “no, sir,” said the shorter one. “I assure you I…”

  Thunk!

  The short aide collapsed in a heap with Deangelo standing over him. When Deangelo turned to the second aide, weapon raised, he dropped to the ground, cowering with his arms over his head. “No,” he wailed. “Don’t hit me! I didn’t take your lady, sir.”

  Castillo waved off Deangelo, and he lowered his weapon. “Where did Howard take her?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know, sir, verily,” cried the aide. “I make no deception!”

  “Maybe this guy knows,” said Deangelo, prodding the unconscious aide on the ground.

  Castillo shook his head in frustration. “Go get the rest of the crew, Tony. Tell them it’s safe.”

  One at a time Deangelo
helped them out of the firebox until there were 44 people clustered in a group, unsure where to go next.

  “What’s up, sir?” asked Tanaka.

  “We have to find Crystal,” said Castillo. “I think Howard took her.”

  “Why?” asked Tanaka.

  “He’s a lecherous old man.”

  Understanding dawned in Tanaka’s eyes.

  Castillo looked down at the cowering aide. He reached down and pulled him to his feet. “Where does Howard go to sleep at night?”

  “He’s taken a house down the road,” blurted the aide. His fearful eyes were on Deangelo who was still carrying the ax handle. “It’s his temporary field quarters.”

  “How far is it?”

  “Four furlongs, maybe five.”

  “How far is a furlong?” asked Castillo.

  “Not far, sir,” said the aide. “A ten minute ride. It’s just past the Kilborn Tavern, down Slocum Road.”

  “I think that’s our best bet,” said Castillo. “Eric, I think we need to go to that house and try to find her. I don’t want to take everybody. I need to move fast. Just you, me and Deangelo.”

  “I’m with ya, skipper!”

  “Me too,” said Lambert, approaching.

  Castillo took her by the shoulders and said, “Susan, this is likely to get dangerous.”

  Lambert just stared at him, mouth set.

  Castillo recognized that look. The one she had when her mind was set and no argument was going to dissuade her. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”

  “Crystal is my friend,” said Lambert, stubbornly, as if that’s all the argument she needed.

  • • •

  Crystal McConnell was feeling sleepy after consuming scones and tea and getting comfortable in the large stuffed chair. She yawned and looked out the window at the tree lined lake. There were black ducks floating on it beneath a clear blue sky. It was a peaceful scene, but she was jolted out of her reverie by the slam of a door.

  “There you are,” said Howard as he entered the room. He removed his hat and long black cloak, closed the door, smiled broadly and said, “Would you fancy some claret, my sweet?”