Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon by Robert J. Harris

Author:Robert J. Harris [Robert J. Harris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782504849
Publisher: Floris Books
Published: 2018-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

13. Even More Impossible

Artie launched himself through the window and dropped to the street on the other side. As he started off after the wagon he heard Ham calling out, “Artie, wait for me!”

There was no time to waste. He plunged into the shadowy maze of warehouses and factories, pursuing the wagon through a brick archway. He found himself in a cobbled courtyard with two further exits and no sign of the wagon. Halting, he strained his ears to listen.

Sure enough, from off to his right came the clip-clop of hooves and the rumble of wheels. Pelting across the courtyard, he dived into an alleyway, where he glimpsed the wagon trundling away.

The driver must have seen him for he gave a crack of his whip and the horse broke into a trot. As Artie tried to give chase, he tripped on a loose cobblestone and went sprawling flat on the ground. Bruised and winded, he heaved himself up on one elbow just as Ham arrived, red-faced and wheezing.

“I say, I wish you’d stop bolting off like that,” he puffed as he helped Artie to his feet.

“What else was I to do?” Artie rubbed his bruised shoulder. “We have to get the dragon back.”

He broke off as, with a clatter of hoofbeats, Professor Anderson’s carriage swung into view. He slowed down enough for the boys to leap aboard then demanded, “Which way did the villains go?”

“Up there, sir – that lane to the right,” pointed Artie.

With a flick of the reins, the professor sped his horse in pursuit. They followed a long cobbled road then swerved round a corner, where they were brought up short.

The red wagon with the yellow wheels lay sideways across a narrow lane, blocking the route. The professor pulled up just in time to avoid a collision and gave a snort of exasperation.

“This is the wagon, sir.” Artie gaped in surprise. “Except that the driver, the horse and the dragon have all disappeared.”

“The rogue must have untethered the horse and ridden off,” said Ham, “though I’m blessed if I can see how he took those crates with him.”

“No time to lose!” The professor shook the reins. “You two give chase on foot while I try to find another way around.”

The boys hopped down and raced off down the tangle of streets, but the thief was long gone. When the professor caught up with them Ham was doubled over, sucking in breath.

Anderson grimaced. “He’s made good his escape. But how did he carry the crates? There are at least a dozen of them and it would take two strong men to lift even one.”

“I don’t see how he could have done it,” Artie agreed.

Ham pulled out a kerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow. “I suppose, then, that this is even more impossible.”

***

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