“See, you even complain like an old woman,” William said with a smile on his dirty face, not really angry with his friend. It was his turn to dig anyway. “At least keep an eye out for anyone headed our way, right?”
“Aye, I’m watching. Just hurry it up.”
William began to dig and sure enough, within twenty shovelfuls he’d scraped the top of the wooden box buried below his feet. Five minutes later he had the entire lid uncovered and was surprised to see it didn’t look as old and rotted as all the other cheaply made coffins normally looked. In fact, it still looked quite solid.
“Well, well, well…what do we ‘ave here?”
Billy, despite what he’d promised only a few minutes ago, was stretched out on the grass with his eyes closed and was nearly fast asleep. “Huh?”
“Come look at this, mate. Something’s different about this one.”
“Different how?” Billy said crawling over to look down in the hole.
“The wood and the construction’s old but look how good of shape it’s in. Almost looks new but that’s no’ possible way out here. Is it?”
“How should I know? Open the blasted thing and let’s have a look.”
William nodded his head and went back to work. Most of the old boxes were crumbling to bits under their feet, but with this one he had to use the edge of the shovel to pry up the corners of the lid. There were twice as many nails holding this lid in place than in any other coffin they’d opened, and even though they didn’t think it possible, William and Billy found themselves getting excited about what they might be about to find. Billy jumped into the hole too, and by getting both their hands in under the lid, they were able to finally loosen the wooden top enough to heave it up and out of the hole.
What they saw within the coffin nearly took their breath away.
The dead man lying inside the box was huge, a hulking muscular man wearing a soldier’s wool tunic and leather boots, whose broad shoulders barely squeezed inside the confines of the wooden walls. His size was impressive, but what shocked the body snatchers most was that his skin and hair were still intact. Every other body they’d checked in this part of the cemetery had been nothing but dust and bones, but this man, this unknown warrior, was almost perfectly preserved. From his clothing and the location where they were digging in the ancient burial grounds, he surely had to have been buried in this hole hundreds of years ago, but he looked as if he’d breathed his last breath only a week or two ago. Impossible, but nonetheless true.
“He’s a Templar,” William said, still in awe at what he was seeing.
“Huh?”
“A Templar Knight, Billy. See the red cross on his tunic?”
“Aye. He’s wearing a sword too. Look!”
“I see it.”
“Something’s no’ right though, William. No’ natural. I mean, Templar or no’…why hasn’t the big bugger rotted away like a’ the rest?”
“No idea…but didn’t Mr. Black say something about the Knights when he was yammerin’ in his sleep the other night?”
“Aye, he did. Think this is the bloke he was talking about?”
“Could be. One of them at least.”
“He also mentioned something about gold, right?”
“That he did, Billy. That he most certainly did. Let’s have a look…”
William knelt down and began to search around the soldier’s legs and along his sides. All traces of weariness or worry about being caught by the police were gone now, the excitement building by the second as he felt around for the possible treasure.
“Maybe Black is after the sword?” Billy said. “Something like that’s gotta be worth a pretty penny, right?”
“Probably is, yeah, but my gut’s telling me he’s after something…” William started to say but the breath was sucked from his lungs at what he’d caught a glimpse of. The soldier’s arms were bent and his gloved hands were clasped above the center of his chest. When William had nudged the dead man’s left arm it had moved his hand enough that a glimmer of something shiny was revealed beneath. With a trembling hand, William reached over and pried open the Knight’s gloved hands.
“Sweet Mary, mother of God!” he whispered. “Look at that, Billy!”
There was a golden chalice hidden under the man’s gloves, resting above the Templar’s burly chest. The cup wasn’t fancy or adorned with jewels; it didn’t even have any carvings or written engravings on its smooth curved sides but it was impressive nonetheless. It practically glowed in the meager moonlight filtering through the fog, a magical golden heart hidden in this place of death.
“We’ve found it!” William said.
“What is it?”
“Don’t know, mate, but I’ve got a good guess. Do you remember what else Black was muttering about that night by the fire…the part about blood and the death of the carpenter? Something about a traitor too, right?”
“Something like that, yeah. It was just a dream.”
“Don’t be so sure. I didn’t think so that night and I’m even more sure of it now. Think about it: The death of a carpenter, the Knights Templar, and a golden chalice. Even a brainless lump like you can put those things together.”
“You don’t mean the Grail, I hope? The Holy bloody Grail! Have you lost your marbles, William? That’s just make-believe, a children’s bedtime story.”
“You sure? Maybe that’s why this bloke in the hole hasn’t rotted to bones. He’s protecting the carpenter’s cup…or maybe its protecting him.”
“So it’s magic now, is it? Come off it, mate. Do you hear yourself?”
“I’m no’ saying that I believe in the Grail, Billy, but I’ll bet you Black and Da Vine do. Guaranteed. This is what they’ve both been looking for.”
“What do we do now, then?”
“We take it, obviously. Are you simple?”
“That’s no’ what I mean, William. ‘Course we take it. I mean, who do we give it to? The sculptor or the actress?”
Now that was a good question.
William briefly considered keeping it for themselves but again, his fear of Ambrosious Black and Magenta Da Vine ruled that option out in a hurry. He was a simple man with simple needs and the chance that he might be in possession of the priceless cornerstone of countless myths and legends – hell, the very foundation of a worldwide religion – never really entered his mind. In this one instant, William decided honesty was probably the best policy. As soon as this chalice (fabled or not) was delivered, Billy and he could stop all this blasted digging and concentrate on more important matters for Dr. Knox. Just having the sculptor and the actress out of their lives for good was treasure enough, as far as William was concerned. Not that this made their choice any easier.
Who would get the prize?
“We’re going to have to think on this for a few days, Billy. I never thought we’d actually find the bloody thing, right?”
“We don’t tell either of them, then? We keep it a secret?”
“Aye…for now. Just until I can figure out who’ll pay us more. No one’s getting this cup for free, that’s for sure!”
“Now you’re talkin’, mate. Can I keep the sword too?”
“Don’t think that’s a good idea, Billy. Best not. Fewer ties we have to this grave the better, hear? We’ve got to fill in this hole like we were never here. Can’t have anyone finding out about our big friend…or his sword. Come on, grab your shovel.”
Chapter
14
All good things must eventually come to an end.
Immersed in the nefarious underworld of bodysnatching and murder in an attempt to supply the surgeons with their cadavers – not to mention the daunting task of keeping their golden secret hidden from Black and Da Vine – it was only a matter of time before Burke and Hare were brought to justice to answer for their heinous crimes.
No matter how clever Billy and William believed they were, or how careful they thought they were being, the net was slowly closing in on them. Despite
it being the Christmas season, public outrage was at an all-time high, and there were eyes and ears in every graveyard and on every street corner anxious to lay claim to the rewards the police offered for information leading to the arrest of the ‘resurrectionists.’ Ironically, it wouldn’t be the cemetery guards or the police constables who would ultimately trigger their undoing – it would be a roomful of student doctors.
Burke and Hare let their greed get the better of them and they ended up killing an eighteen-year-old young man by the name of James Wilson. Wilson was a simpleton with a deformed foot but he was well liked by the locals for telling riddles and jokes to the neighborhood children. Daft Jamie, as he was called, was well known throughout the Westport area, and when his dead body turned up on Dr. Knox’s dissection table a few nights later, several doctors and members of the student audience immediately recognized the poor boy.
It didn’t take long for the police to become involved, and once they got their hands on Robert Knox, he was happy to explain to them who it was that had been supplying his surgical school with Daft Jamie and the other bodies. Naturally the good doctor claimed he had no idea where the corpses had come from or any knowledge of wrongdoing and promised to help their investigation all he could. The police may or may not have believed Knox, but in the end they didn’t care – they finally had their men.
And Burke and Hare were suddenly in big, big trouble…
* * *
Edinburgh Prison near the top of Calton Hill was a terrible place. It was old and crumbling, with most of the stone cell walls covered in mold or moss from the constant moisture in the air. There were heavy iron bars on the windows, of course, but no glass to keep the howling wind and rain outside where it belonged, the fog rolling into the tiny rooms thick enough that the prisoners needed to feel their way around some nights just to find their cot.
The police had separated Burke from Hare the minute they’d been dragged here from the pub, kicking and screaming their innocence all the way, and William had no idea which cell his friend was being kept in. He’d tried calling out to Billy several times that first night, but the only responses he’d gotten were from other prisoners telling him to shut his gob and go to sleep. It had been two full days and nights since William had seen anyone other than the same foul-mouthed fat man who brought him a bowl of cold porridge each morning and a stale sandwich made from some kind of greasy grey meat for supper. Eventually he’d have to see a lawyer or judge, he supposed, but for the time being the powers that be seemed content to just let him rot.
On the third morning of his incarceration, William’s nasty guard forgot to bring his gruel altogether, instead showing up hours later with the first bit of information shared with Hare since his arrival. Unfortunately, the news was grim.
“Hey, Cockbreath?” the jailer said, “Just heard they’re gonna give yer neck a bit of a stretching, they are! Soon as they can get the gallows ready, I’m told.”
“Hang me? Without even having a trial? They can’t do that…can they?”
“They can do any damn thing they want, mate. Who in blazes do you Irish bastards think you are, anyway? The rope’s too good for the likes of you two animals, they ask me. I’d just slit yer throats and be done with it.”
William knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere by talking with this brute so he decided to try and change the conversation.
“When can I speak to a lawyer? Surely I’ll be allowed to—”
“A lawyer? For a senseless prick like you? Everyone already knows you’re guilty. Why would they give you a lawyer?”
While William tried to come up with a suitable answer to that, the guard started to laugh, slapping his dirty palms on the wooden part of the door and grunting like he’d never said anything so funny.
“Just pulling yer leg, you silly toff. ‘Course you’ll get to see a lawyer, for a’ the good it’ll do. Before that, though, you’ve got a visitor.”
“Who?” William asked.
“Some woman. Probably your wife comin’ to say good riddance. Don’t know. Don’t care. I was just told to come and get ya.”
The guard unlocked the door and stepped into the room carrying a pair of rusty shackles to put on William’s ankles and wrists.
“Try anything funny and I’ll bash yer brains out right here and now and save a’body the bother of a fancy trial, hear?”
William nodded and let the boorish guard do his work, the whole time trying to understand why Maggie would be coming here to see him. With all the trouble Billy and he were in, he’d thought she was probably the last person to ever willingly come for a visit. People might start wondering how much she knew about the bodysnatching and the murders, and if maybe she was involved in the crimes and deserved to be sitting in a jail cell alongside him.
“Right then,” The jailer said. “Steady as she goes…”
William hobbled out the cell and moved down the damp stone corridor as quickly as his shackles allowed. The guard poked and prodded him from behind through what seemed like a maze of tunnels, but eventually William was herded into a clean, wooden-floored room with a desk and two chairs. Sunlight and a refreshing cool breeze blew in through the open window set high on the outside wall. He was roughly shoved into one of the chairs and left in irons for whatever was about to happen.
“Sit there and keep yer trap shut. Someone will bring her in soon.”
William ended up having to wait nearly half an hour for his visitor, but that was fine. He still wasn’t sure what he was going to say to Maggie and it was far nicer here in this room than in his cold, dark cell. When the meeting room door finally creaked open, William turned expecting to see Maggie’s angry face, furious with him for what he’d done, but he was wrong. It wasn’t his wife sitting down across from him after all.
It was Magenta Da Vine.
Out of the frying pan…into the fire, William thought, his heart leaping into his throat. Why would she be here?
Da Vine sat in silence, a slight smile on her ruby-red lips, but her eyes were dark and brooding, perfectly relaying her mood to William without having to say a word. Outwardly she appeared calm and in control, but inside she was mad as hell. The actress had toned down her sexuality for today’s visit, wearing only a touch of makeup and a simple brown dress buttoned all the way up to her collar. She was still a beautiful, full-figured woman, but just not as boldly stunning and noticeable as usual. William tried his best to meet her gaze but found it nearly impossible to do. Instead, he asked the question he’d had on his mind.
“What are you doing here, ma’am? Not exactly the kind of place for a refined lady such as yourself.”
“I could ask you the same, William. What are you doing here?”
“Well…it’s not like the coppers gave me much of a choice, did they?”
“How could you have been so bloody stupid? Even I had heard about Daft Jamie…did you really think he wouldn’t be missed?”
William didn’t see any reason to lie or make up stories around Da Vine so he answered her honestly. “The simpleton was Billy’s fault, no’ mine. He was dead before I even got home. I just helped take him to the surgeon.”
“You were supposed to be out digging in Calton Cemetery for me, or had you forgotten about that?”
“‘Course not. We didn’t…” need to William nearly said, but caught himself. “We just didn’t want to, I guess. Dr. Knox was paying us a lot more than you, see, and I had a sore back from a’ the digging and umm…” He was rambling and couldn’t think of anything else to say so he stopped right there, unable to look at the actress’ face.
She gasped, seeing through his lie in an instant.
“You found it, didn’t you?”
This time he did look up. “Found what? We didn’t even know what we we’re supposed to be looking for.”
“But you found it anyway. Where is it?”
“I don’t know what you’re on about, lady. Billy and I haven’t found anything but old dried-up bones. That’s a’
there is in those fields.”
Da Vine looked at William long and hard. “Well then…I suppose there’s no sense in us continuing this relationship, is there? Consider yourself fired. I can always find other men who know how to work a shovel.”
William couldn’t help but to laugh at that one.
“Fired? Ha! If you hadn’t noticed, being unemployed isn’t exactly my biggest worry these days.”
“That’s true, but seeing as you’ve no interest in digging for me anymore I’ve really got no reason to stop them from taking you to the gallows. Enjoy your day, Mr. Hare. Sorry things didn’t work out between us. I had such high hopes…”
The actress stood up and started heading for the door.
“Hold on…don’t be running off like that. You’re saying you can help Billy and me? You can stop them from hanging us?”
“No…not both of you. Someone has to pay for what you fools have done; the crown will demand it, but I’ve always thought you had more brains than the rather vile Mr. Burke, so I’m giving you the option. One of you can walk away from here, William. Who’s it going to be?”
Billy had been the best friend he’d ever had, but William didn’t even feel the need to answer that last question. It was obvious who he was going to choose.
“How can you get me out of here? It’s impossible.”
“Do you honestly doubt me? If I say I can do something, it will be done.”
“Yeah…for a price.”
“Of course. There’s always a price to pay, silly. Give me what I want and you’ll get your life back. Simple as that.”
“But I don’t know what you want? I already told you—”
“You’re wasting my time,” Magenta said, taking another two steps toward the door. “You and your mate can rot in Hell together. Goodbye, William.”
“WAIT! Don’t leave. I…I might be able to help you.”
“Might’s not good enough. Do you have what I want? Yes or no?”
Only the Thunder Knows_East End Girls Page 8
