Year of the Horse by Justin Allen

Author:Justin Allen [ALLEN, JUSTIN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000, JUV001000
ISBN: 9781468307733
Publisher: ABRAMS (Ignition)
Published: 2012-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

“November 14th, 1799. Island of the Manhattos.

“The sloop arrived even as Philip and I were casting our failed spell. We sailed at dawn, with a strong southerly breeze. I enquired as to what had caused the ship to be tardy, and was told that a dense fog had covered the port in Renssalaer, making it impossible to depart on time, and that similar hindrances had cropped up at every port they came to. One sailor said that he thought it was the Devil himself, holding them back.

“No such complications marred our passage this morning. In fact, I have never before experienced so rapid a descent of the Hudson. I wondered if the sailor I spoke to earlier would credit the Devil with the good weather, but did not ask.

“We arrived in port shortly before five, nearly an hour ahead of schedule. After saying goodbye to Philip Traum, I beat a rapid path to the door of my solicitor, that most excellent gentleman, Geoffrey Crayon. I bid his man, Mister Irving, a hearty good evening, and was led to the master’s chambers.

“Crayon offered me tea, for which I have little taste, and toast and jam, which I relish, and then presented me with papers necessary for the withdrawal of a small fortune from my inheritance. After I had signed, Crayon gave me the requisite funds, having withdrawn the money from his own accounts on the understanding that it would be repaid by what he withdrew from mine. Whilst handing me the gold, he asked if I was absolutely sure I wanted to go south. ‘Where will all this chasing lead?’ he asked.

“I explained that I had got some very substantial information, and even told him about my new acquaintance, Mr. Traum. Upon hearing that name, Crayon shuddered. I asked if he wasn’t feeling all right, and he said that he was, but that he’d be staying inside more now that the weather was turning chill. I wished him a fine winter, and then raced to my own rooms, in a house overlooking The Bowery.

“Along the way I purchased a box of chalk, a gross of tallow candles, and a dozen eggs. The shells were a uniform brown, but I took them anyway.

“When I arrived at the house, my landlady was in the downstairs hall waiting. She was upset about a package that had been delivered a few moments before, from Philip Traum. I gave her no explanation, saying simply that Mr. Traum was a friend, and that I would be going to visit him later that evening.

“Once locked inside my rooms, I opened the letter accompanying the mysterious package and read it through. Traum had finished his business with the shopkeeper, to their mutual satisfaction, and would expect me at his house on Whitehall just before midnight. He also said not to open the package until we were together. It is fiendishly difficult to follow his instructions on this last point, but I shall endeavor to do so.

“His letter concluded with a strange statement.

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