Doctor Who - The Smugglers by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks [Dicks, Terrance]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2011-02-05T06:48:15.839934+00:00

7

Captured

Pike and Cherub were waiting, a little uneasily, in the unaccustomed splendour of the Squire’s hall.

The Squire’s big house stood on the clifftops just outside the village, and their ship’s boat had landed them on the beach just below. After a steep climb up the cliff path, and a long trudge up the Squire’s gravelled carriage drive, they had given their names to a supercilious footman and were now waiting to be summoned to the presence of the Squire.

Pike looked round enviously. Marble floors, tapestried walls, polished tables bearing fine ornaments, ancestral portraits on the walls... ‘Here’s style, Cherub, lad,’ he whispered reverently. ‘Aye, style...’

Cherub was looking round with a professional eye.

‘There’s stuff here as’d fetch a pretty penny...’

‘Belay that,’ ordered Pike fiercely. ‘We’re poor honest sailormen, remember - till we’ve found out all we need to know about these petty villains. Then we’ll take their store of smuggled goods and their money - and find Avery’s treasure into the bargain!’ He put his finger to his lips as the footman returned and ushered them into the study, where the Squire stood waiting for them.

He came forward to meet them, bulky and impressive in his fine clothes. ‘Good day, gentlemen. Will you take wine with me?’

Cherub opened his mouth to accept, and gasped as Pike’s elbow took him in the ribs.

‘Nay, Squire,’ said Pike earnestly. ‘We come on business, d’ye see? We was sent by a friend of yourn. Jacob Kewper by name.’

‘Kewper, eh?’ The Squire raised an eyebrow. Their usual supplier’s ship had been captured in an unfortunate encounter with a Revenue cutter, and he knew that Kewper was looking for a replacement. ‘I see. Then you gentlemen must be...’

‘Merchants, sir,’ said Pike hastily. ‘Just honest merchants.’

The Squire chuckled. ‘Honest merchants, eh, come on a matter of business... That’s rich, I swear!’

Pike laughed. ‘The very words your friend Kewper used, sir!’

The Squire looked shrewdly at him. ‘By the way, where is the fellow? Why is he not dealing with this matter himself?’

‘That he is, sir,’ said Cherub heartily. ‘He’s on board our ship, making account of all our merchandise.’

‘Ah, such silks, sir,’ sighed Pike. ‘Such brandy and tobacco. A treasure indeed, Squire!’

The Squire’s plump face was alight with greed. ‘This is worthy of a toast. I insist you drink with me, gentlemen.’

He poured brandy from a decanter into crystal glasses and passed them round. ‘Brandy, silks and tobacco, eh?’ He raised his glass. ‘To gallant sailors and their fine cargo!’

Pike swigged his brandy. ‘To a fair landfall and no tales told!’

‘Aye, and so say I,’ said Cherub, gripping his glass so fiercely that it shattered in his hand.

‘Forgive him, Squire,’ said Pike. ‘He’s a poor rough sailorman, unused to such fine things.’

‘It is of no consequence,’ said the Squire, wincing a little. He poured Cherub another glass.

‘Now, sir Squire,’ said Pike. ‘To the business in hand.’

‘Indeed yes... But what would Kewper have me do?’

‘He thought you might have time to indicate such details as trouble we poor sailors. Where to land the boats, where ye store the merchandise.

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