Holmes and Watson by June Thomson

Author:June Thomson [June Thomson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749012816
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2012-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

Holmes was expecting Moriarty. He had already guessed that the letter was a decoy, designed to lure Watson back to the hotel, and he was prepared for this final encounter, knowing it would be a fight to the death. For both men it was a matter of honour. Each was intent on fulfilling their own personal pledges, Holmes to free society of Moriarty’s evil presence, Moriarty to bring about Holmes’ destruction.

Honour played its part, too, in the conduct of that final encounter. It was no mere brawl but was carried out, like a duel, under gentlemanly rules, at least on Holmes’ part. Holmes laid aside his alpenstock so that he would have no unfair advantage over Moriarty, who was unarmed. However, although Moriarty gave his ‘courteous permission’ for Holmes to write his farewell letter to Watson, he failed to mention that Colonel Moran was posted out of sight somewhere above the Reichenbach Falls to act as long-stop in case Holmes escaped alive.

How far the actual contest was fair is questionable. Neither man had the advantage of height or weight as both were tall and of a similar build. But Holmes was certainly the younger and the fitter of the two. Against this should be set Moriarty’s desperation. He was a man with nothing to lose, willing to risk everything on this last venture.

The site, a narrow path, the earth slippery with spray, favoured neither of them. It was largely a matter of chance which of them lost his footing first and plunged over the brink. But even in such a confined and dangerous setting, Holmes had one distinct advantage over Moriarty. He had studied baritsu,* a Japanese form of self-defence in which the techniques of balance and the use of arm and handholds are used against one’s opponent.

As Moriarty rushed forward and gripped Holmes by the arms, Holmes was able to break free from his grasp, throwing his adversary off balance. A few seconds later, like Milton’s Satan, Moriarty plunged screaming over the edge of the falls into the abyss below.

* Readers are referred to Watson’s list of Holmes’ limitations in Chapter Five.

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