The Case of the Clerical Cadaver by Howard of Warwick

Author:Howard of Warwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: comedy, historical fiction, humour, medieval, mystery and detective, funny book, historical detective, cozy crime, brother hermitage
Publisher: Howard of Warwick

Caput XIII

The Goddess of Drains

Leaving the library, the volume of Vitruvius was still clasped in Hermitage’s hand. Given the significance of sundials to the demise of Ignatius he thought it sensible to keep it to hand, in case someone tried to remove it. When asked who was likely to remove it, as no one else could read to see what it was, Hermitage explained that it was just a precaution. He hated to admit that having a book from this great library in his possession was a huge pleasure. Just feeling the weight of the thing reassured him somehow that the world still had value and could create great works. It was not full of killers.

Having decided that the tunnels under the monastery were where they needed to go next, Hermitage had assumed that was what would happen. Egbert though, had other ideas; or rather he changed his ideas quite frequently.

To begin with he had just been nervous about the ghosts but had reluctantly agreed to take them to the right spot. Then, as the right spot came into sight he changed his mind and concluded that he was going nowhere near the place as the ghosts and spirits of the dead would rise up from the ground and eat his soul. Despite reassurances that this was extremely unlikely, Egbert promised that they would be able to see the ghosts for themselves when they got close enough, and he would keep his distance.

Dismissing this nonsense, Hermitage led in the direction indicated until they drew near to the far corner of the monastery compound where the walls to the east and the south drew together. Into this space a shelter had been built using the main walls of the place to support a simple roof of wooden tiles. The whole space was about thirty feet square and under the shelter of its roof it did look pretty dark and uninviting.

Doubtless it was the log store or something similar and so Hermitage put his concerns behind him and strode confidently ahead.

His concerns jumped out in front of him again as he thought he saw a white shape in the back of the enclosure. A rather human one, standing tall and still.

‘The ghosts,’ Egbert wailed.

‘There are no ghosts,’ said Hermitage, although just at the moment he was having his doubts. ‘It’s simply a trick of the light.’

‘What light?’ Egbert asked, disarmingly. It was true there was no light in the store, or whatever this building was. And it was getting quite dark now. A good moon was rising in the sky which did nothing for mysterious figures hidden in dark corners.

Hermitage found that his feet wouldn’t move. Egbert’s were taking him slowly backwards and Wat was squatting down to try and see what was there before going further.

‘Oh, for goodness sake,’ said Cwen, snorting at the lot of them as she strode forward and passed under the roof.

‘Eek,’ said Egbert, perhaps expecting her to disappear completely.

After a moment she re-appeared and beckoned them to join her.

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