Night Train to Napier by Wendy M. Wilson

Author:Wendy M. Wilson [Wilson, Wendy M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wendy M. Wilson
Published: 2021-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

When he regained consciousness, two men were manhandling him into the buggy he’d seen outside the stables.

“Are you alright, sir?” said a voice in his ear. He sounded concerned but cautious as if he expected Frank to lash out. “Stay calm. We’ll get you back home, you’ll see. You’ll feel better at home.”

He tried to speak, but his throat hurt and talking was difficult. He managed a raspy, “Help me.”

“He’s been drinking,” said a voice on his other side, an American voice, quiet and assured, the voice of a confident young man. “Unfortunately, he hasn’t had anything sensible to say since his accident. Bumped his head when he fell out a window, three sheets to the wind. I’m taking him back to the asylum in Napier. I booked a horse car for him on the Napier train so he doesn’t bother the other passengers.”

“Are you sure you’ve got the right man?” The wood splitter must have come around from the back of the stables and found the highbinder and Frank struggling together. He appeared to have some doubts about this American who claimed he was catching a lunatic to return him to an asylum. He was Frank’s best chance at getting out of this mess.

He turned towards the stable keeper and croaked, “Help me. Police.”

“Ignore him. He always tries to talk his way out of it when I catch him,” said his captor, forgetting he’d said that Frank couldn’t say anything sensible. “I’m used to him now. I’m a porter at the asylum and they sent me after him because I’m one of the few people who can handle a big man like him.”

“He’s done this before then?”

“Escapes all the time. I’ve had experience with lunatics in California, so they hired me to keep control. Not the job I was looking for, but what can you expect when you’re a Celestial?” The highbinder’s lip curled slightly. He let go of Frank’s arm and pulled down the step to the buggy. “Up you get, now, my man. Time to go home.”

Frank’s strength was returning. He braced his feet against the buggy step and waited for the stable keeper’s grip to loosen; then he pushed himself away hard. He’d taken two shaky steps towards the road when he saw a quick flash of something long and black — a police baton he thought. Everything went black.

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