Turton, Stuart - The Devil and the Dark Water by Turton Stuart

Author:Turton, Stuart [Turton, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408889626
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2020-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

39

No sooner was the cell door open than Sammy came scrambling out, sucking in the clean air. Despite the humidity, he was clammy. His eyes were large as plates, his hair lank, his breath rancid. He was clutching the vial of sleeping draught Sara had given him.

‘By God, it’s good to be out of there,’ he proclaimed, using Arent’s outstretched arm to clamber to his feet.

Arent tried to keep the despair from his face.

His only job was to keep Sammy Pipps from harm, but every hour he was locked in this cell was another hour he failed in that task. Yesterday, he’d been convinced his uncle’s affection for him would be enough to win Sammy’s freedom. Today, he knew it wouldn’t even parlay him a cabin.

As he had the night before, Sammy demanded that Arent turn his back when they reached the weather decks, so he could drop his breeches and relieve himself over the side of the ship.

‘Eighth Lantern’s back, I see,’ he said, counting the flames in the distance.

‘They’re putting a yawl in the water to investigate,’ said Arent. ‘If you hurry, we can watch them.’

‘Never rush a man while he’s on the privy,’ scolded Sammy, as a torrent of piss arced over the side of the ship. ‘Tell me what you’ve learned.’

‘I met the leper today. It led me to an altar it had built in the Saardam’s cargo hold.’

‘Is it still there? Can I inspect it?’

‘Captain Crauwels ordered it destroyed.’

‘Of course he did.’ He sighed. ‘Anything else?’

‘We think Bosey built smuggling compartments around the Saardam, and was in business with Isaack Larme, the first mate. We found –’

‘Who is we?’

‘Sara Wessel.’

‘Ah.’ His voice became knowing. ‘Sara Wessel.’

‘Yes, Sara Wessel.’

‘Very good.’

Arent blinked. ‘What’s very good?’

Sammy spread his arms joyfully. ‘You’re as dense as the mountains you were carved out of.’ He peered at his friend, lamenting the lost cause before him. ‘What was inside Larme’s secret compartment?’

‘It was empty. Larme had already got to it by the time we arrived, but he seemed surprised to see the marks of Old Tom around it.’

‘Then Old Tom may have used Bosey to smuggle something without Larme’s knowledge.’

‘And then killed him to keep from talking about it,’ agreed Arent. ‘Oh, and Reynier van Schooten has a secret that’s eating him from the inside out. We almost had it, but …’ He gestured to the Eighth Lantern.

Sammy pulled up his breeches, rejoining his friend. Arent gave him piece of the untouched bird he’d stolen from the dinner table, along with a hunk of bread and a jug of wine.

‘And I think I’ve found a way to make Johannes Wyck tell me why he cut out Bosey’s tongue,’ he said, as they crossed the waist.

‘How?’

‘I have to lose a fight.’

Sammy swallowed the bread he’d been eating. ‘Have you ever done that before?’

‘I think it’s like winning, except you fall over at the end.’

They were close enough now to see the yawl being lowered into the water. It was far larger than it

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