The Reaper's Kiss

by Robert Southworth

  “We are making good time. Have a drink and recover your breath.” William eyed the experienced Inspector and decided there was no time like the present. “Tell me, George, what troubles you?”

  “Nothing. Have I failed in my duties?” Faraday’s reply was very abrupt.

  “I have not accused you of any such thing. We have not known each other that long and initially we did not see eye to eye. However, I like to think that we have become friends and that I can tell when all is not right with you.”

  George Faraday looked as though he would burst with rage but then his body seemed to relax. He slipped back to the ground and took a drink from the flask.

  “I’m sorry, William. It is just revisiting this place. I thought I was done with Polperro and smugglers.”

  “Is this where you lost some men?” William asked.

  “I did not lose them. I threw their lives away because of my stupidity.”

  “All leaders mourn the deaths of their men. It is the price of rank,” William replied. He was attempting to apply reason, but inwardly William knew that he had never truly come to terms with causing the death of his own men.

  “I know that men die, William. But when you cause them to fall because your mind is clouded. Duty ignored over a piece of skirt. There is no excuse and no cleaning the blood from your hands.” Faraday looked at his hands as if they were covered with the evidence of his failings.

  “A woman – you were in love?” William was surprised by this new revelation.

  “Love – lust who can tell. All that matters, is that I lost focus and good men died.” Faraday took another drink and then passed the flask back to William.

  “And the women.”

  “My shame was too great. She may still live in the area. Or if the wrong men found out that she had lain with a copper, then she might be dead.”

  “I am sorry, George. If I could carry out this task without you, then I would spare you that pain.”

  Faraday lifted his impressive frame from the dirt. “Let’s just get this bastard task done.”

  ***

  As William lay in a ditch just twenty paces away from the second tower, he could only hope that his comrades had made similar progress. He knew that from their initial starting position they would have been able to observe his and Faraday’s journey. He was also aware of Gossup’s ability. The former private from the ranks of the British army had been blessed by God’s hand; his friend was a natural at this kind of task. William would have to trust that the others in the group were up to the mission. He looked at the tower; the plan was relatively simple. The tower only had one entrance, and the door would only open when the expected shift change took place. He and Faraday would arrive just before the replacement guards and then take control of the tower. They would await the new guards who would not expect an attack from within the tower. With all four guards neutralised they could move against the smuggler caves.

  William was shaken from his thought as his comrade tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Time to shake hands with the devil,” Faraday whispered in a low growl.

  William nodded as both men rose from the ditch and marched toward the tower. As they got within five paces of their target the unmistakeable sliding of a bolt could be heard.

  “Shit!” William announced as he darted forward.

  As the door opened, a man emerged wiping the tiredness from his eyes. As his hands dropped from his eyes, his head suddenly jerked backwards, and his eyes widened when he obviously became aware of the impressive form of William bearing down on him at pace. The man seemed frozen in panic and before he could recover William’s fist shot forward. Hard knuckles connected with the guard’s jaw. His head was thrown backwards, and his knees buckled. The guard slumped to the floor without the chance to raise the alarm.

  “Poor bastard – I know what it is like to be on the end of one of your blows. I’ll take care of our friend upstairs.” Faraday stepped passed the unconscious man as he spoke.

  The guard had fallen in the doorway and William pulled his body into the interior of the tower and closed the door. He listened to the sound of a scuffle up above, and then Faraday called down that he had completed the task. There wasn’t much room at the foot of the stairway, and so, William hoisted the unconscious guard onto his shoulder and carried him to the upper level. As William entered the top room, he saw the second unconscious guard face down on the floor. He had obviously been sent crashing into a table, which now lay next to him its timbers twisted and splintered. William dropped the first guard onto the floor and proceeded with Faraday’s assistance, to tie and gag their captives.

  William had just tied the final knot when a knock sounded from below. He drew the pepperbox from his jacket. He motioned to Faraday that he should follow.

  “Time to give our visitors a surprise,” William whispered.

  He led the way down the staircase. As he reached the bottom step, a second knock sounded on the wooden timbers of the door. William drew back the bolt, then opened the door and raised his pistol in one smooth movement.

  “I realise that one of you may think of running. However, at this distance, the four barrels of this pepperbox will easily take both your bloody heads off. Can I suggest that you step inside.” William’s eyes narrowed as he made it clear that he would not hesitate to fire.

  “Do you know who runs this place? You will be dead before nightfall,” one of the men replied.

  Faraday grabbed the man by the collar.

  “Which still means you will be dead long before us – now get inside,” he growled.

  The two guards were marched up the steps to the next level. The hands and feet were bound and mouths gagged. Faraday tapped one of them on the head and bent down close to the captive’s ear.

  “Time for you to be clever. If you attempt to notify anyone,” he pulled his pistol from his jacket, “I will blow your bloody head off. Stay here be quiet and when we return you will be free to go about your business. We have no interest in the likes of you.”

  “Faraday, look.” William pointed out of the window.

  The Inspector crossed over and looked in the direction that William had instructed.

  “That’s the signal.” He bent and retrieved a large banner from the floor. He unfurled the cloth and then shoved it beyond the frame.

  “Well, that’s the easy part of our task done. It is time to bring these smugglers down and hopefully take a step closer to the Ripper.” As William stopped speaking, he withdrew his flask from his inner jacket pocket and offered it to Faraday. The Inspector accepted and took a deep lasting drink, and then passed the flask back. William raised the container to his lips, and allowed the liquid to quench his thirst and steady his nerves. He had performed countless similar missions as he served in the army, but despite the frequency, he knew that the next mission could be his last. He was thankful for the nerves, it reminded him to be careful.

  Chapter 11

  Gossup observed the signal from the second tower. Inwardly, he was relieved that William had experienced no misfortune. He turned from the window in time to see one of his captives had partly worked his way free of his restraints. Gossup crossed the room quickly and delivered a well-aimed kick to the man’s groin. The act of violence was not brutal but contained enough force to ensure the man saw the error of his ways. Abberline moved to the man’s side.

  “I am Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard. If you do not want to be spending the rest of your days in chains, you will sit quietly and allow us to go about our business.”

  “Or I could just cut your balls off.” Gossup pulled out the wickedly curved blade, that he always carried on his person, to add weight to his words. The captive nodded that he would behave. Gossup put away his knife, and then re-tied the ropes about the man’s feet and hands.

  “What now?” a voice sounded.

  Gossup recognised it was Jack that had asked the question. Gossup finished securing the captive and then stood to face Jack and
the others. Before him, stood not only the remainder of William’s men, but also an Inspector of Scotland Yard and men that were loyal to Sir Simeon Harkness. Many of them were used to giving orders and not taking them from men of his standing. The former private would usually feel uncomfortable in such company. He was a man from the lowest rung on the ladder of society, but this was his environment. This was, despite the combatants, a military operation and on those terms, he was without doubt, the superior officer.

  “Well Jack, we are going to create bloody chaos. The heathen down that track, are going to think Satan himself has come knocking their door.” Gossup smiled his sparsely-toothed grin. “We will begin slow. We will move as close as possible before allowing the enemy the knowledge that we are coming. When they do, we will become screaming banshees. We will be loud and don’t spare their delicate heads the use of your Billy clubs. We hunt one man and although we do not know the man, we have Faraday’s description. He is a big bastard with flaming red hair. We need him alive and able to talk. We will secure the prisoner and then wait for William and Faraday to join us. Are you all sure of the plan?”

  ***

  The road that led from the tower to the track was little more than a well-used trail. It meandered like a babbling brook in search of coastal waters; it followed the terrain rather than cutting its own path. The group of men were spread out with Gossup at their front. Now and then he would raise a hand, and the watchful group would come to a halt. An expectation of a potential attack would momentarily be heightened, and then he would let his hand fall, and their journey would continue. Gossup estimated that they had covered half of the journey when the mist began to roll in. One moment the track stretched out to his front and then the deathly shroud encased the countryside. He cursed inwardly; he turned and could only just make out the ghostly forms of his comrades.

  “Close up.” He knew that it would be a simple matter for them to become separated. That would mean that the task would fail. It was impossible to contact William, and so, he knew he must press on.

  “Things just got interesting,” Tallow announced as he drew level with Gossup.

  “And damned more dangerous,” Gossup replied. “Stay close.” He was about to press on as Jack came into view. His friend’s face was one of apprehension.” Gossup guessed that the cause was the previous night’s talk of ghost and curses that weighed heavily on his comrade’s mind. He had never seen such uncertainty in Jack. “Out here Jack, there is only one dangerous beast. I have supped ale from the skulls of Afghan warriors. I’d wipe my arse on any ghost captain. Now focus on the bloody task.” Gossup winked at Jack. He turned and began picking his way up the track.

  ***

  The journey had taken far longer than had been expected. However, Gossup now found himself, and most of his comrades, at the side of a large cart. The mists had lessened slightly, giving visibility of around twenty paces. Gossup waited for the remainder of the men to reach the rickety transport.

  “Listen,” he spoke in a low whisper, “remember, we want one man and we want him alive. Use your clubs to make the bastards take note. Only use your pistols if forced. We will work in pairs – either men haven’t arrived for work, or if they are here, then they are still in their beds. Let’s go!”

  He did not wait for an answer but immediately walked into the failing mist. His men followed him; naturally falling into pairs. As Gossup rounded a pile of crates, he came face to face with a bleary-eyed inhabitant. Before the man could raise the alarm, Gossup kicked him in the groin. The man let out a agonised grunt as he slipped to the ground and grasped at his genitalia.

  Gossup bent down and seized the man by the collar. “If you want to keep what’s in your hands then you best open your sauce box. Tell me where Chides is.” Gossup was rewarded with a look of defiance. He sighed and shook his head. Then in one movement he clasped a hand over the man’s mouth, drew the blade from his jacket and plunged it into the man’s thigh. The muffled scream did not travel, and Gossup refused to remove his hand until the man’s scream turned to pitiful sobs. “Everyone deserves a second chance. Tell me what I want to know?”

  “Chides will tear your bloody head off,” the man replied through gritted teeth.

  “And he will get that chance if you tell me where he is – or do I have to convince you further?” Gossup held up his bloodied blade.

  “No… he is in the caves.”

  “Good lad.” Gossup tore a strip from the man’s shirt. Ripping the piece of fabric in two, he placed a gag over his captive’s mouth, and then tied a cloth around his thigh. “Don’t be concerned, the wound is not serious.” Gossup gave his victim belittling ruffle of his hair, meant to insult. Satisfied that the bastard was well and truly humiliated, he then waved his men forward.

  ***

  The rolling mist hampered William and Faraday’s progress. William however, wasn’t overly concerned. He knew that Gossup would continue with his mission and so, the option of returning to a place of safety was never realistic. Faraday suddenly placed a hand across his chest.

  “We are getting close. There shouldn’t be too many people at this end of the caves but it is used as a route to transport smaller loads, and we should be vigilant.” The Inspector ensured that his bulldog pistol was fit for purpose. He pulled down the loading gate and span the barrel to check that each chamber contained a round. Satisfied, he flipped the loading gate back into position.

  “That may change when Gossup reaches his target. I imagine some will doubtless flee our way.” As he spoke, William drew his trusted pepperbox from his jacket. He allowed Faraday to take the lead. He followed the inspector without making another sound. His focus was on any possible movement or sign of an enemy. The track narrowed and began to decline sharply. William started to feel too restricted as the track meandered through impressive rock formations on both sides. On more than one occasion he was forced to grasp at the unforgiving surface as the trail plunged downwards. The soldier in him knew that his position was impossible to defend. If their approach was detected, then an enemy would find it all too easy to pick the moment of battle and retreat would be virtually impossible.

  Suddenly, the ground levelled out. William felt the old wound to his thigh growling its discontent. His feet sank slightly into the pebbled beach.

  “This way,” Faraday whispered.

  The Inspector turned to his left and walked towards the cliffs that William realised, were the same ones, they had just walked alongside as they descended the trackway. He also began to question how the cliffs could play host to any substantial smuggler activity. When the tide was in, the waters would race into those caves and ruin any ill-gotten gains. It would also pose a severe threat. The entrance to the cave looked devoid of any life. The darkness was a concern to William. His inner voice screamed for him to take care. He licked his lips and tasted the salt deposited by the breeze from the Channel. Faraday was already disappearing into the gloom and William had to force his pace.

  The cave interior brought no surprises. It was cold, damp and even with so little light, William knew that it was devoid of life. Twenty paces in and he was navigating only by the sound of Faraday’s footsteps.

  “Mind your head,” Faraday whispered.

  William held his weapon free hand out as he moved forward. It wasn’t long before he felt the cold, slime-covered wall of the cave. For a moment, he thought that he had come up against a dead end. Then, as his hand moved downwards, the initial resistance disappeared. He crouched low and with his hand outstretched, he stepped forward. William could tell that he was in some kind of tunnel and that the ground beneath his feet was rising. After about fifty paces a small light in the distance began to appear. William fixed his eyes on the illumination, which as he drew closer, he discovered it was the light of the day. The brightness suddenly disappeared as the shape of Faraday, briefly came into view. William pressed on until the Inspector’s breathing could clearly be heard.

  Faraday held up his hand, and
said, “Don’t move. The next cavern has guards.”

  “What in the name of God are they guarding,” William replied.

  “You will see soon enough. Wait for my signal.” Faraday slipped from the tunnel into the awaiting light.

  William inched forward. His eyes squinted against the light; the form of the nearby cavern came into view. As the cavern came into focus, he could not help be impressed by the ingenuity of the smugglers. The cavern had been prepared to accept small boats from the channel; a small dock hidden away from outside prying eyes. The light did not come from the front of the cavern, but from an opening high in the cavern’s wall. Anything resembling man-made was set back from the cavern’s entrance. William glanced around and saw Faraday crouched low next to some crates. The Inspector was motioning for William to look in a specific direction. William did as he was instructed and spied two men enjoying a game of flats.

  The men were oblivious to his presence and were unaware of Faraday gradually flanking their position. William ventured from the tunnel. He closed on the position of the guards. When he was no more than two paces away, one of the guards turned. The man’s eyes widened, clearly shocked to see a stranger in the cave. William jumped forward and took the man at waist height. He had to trust that Faraday would take care of the second guard because his opponent was no weakling. He felt the raw strength of the man as he struggled to maintain his advantage. William struck the man’s head with his pepperbox. William’s opponent was strong and it was only the fourth blow that stemmed the man’s resistance, sending the pepperbox spinning from William’s grasp. William crouched over him and checked if he still lived. He felt slightly relieved that the guard was unconscious and not dead.

  “I thought he was going to get the better of you,” Faraday announced.

  William turned to see that Faraday had left his opponent sprawled across the cavern floor. The man’s nose was far wider and bloody than God had intended.