The Two Confessions by John Whitbourn (good books to read for adults .TXT) 📕

enough to deceive and complete its interrupted mission. Fornecromancer-magicians had discovered that, however small the animal residuethey worked with, the primal urge (like homing instincts) always remained.Which just went to prove the old country adage: ‘what’s bred in the bone,comes out in the meat’. Which in turn surely supported some even higherwisdom – but sorcerers were rarely theologians and vice versa. So, the correct,staring-you-in-the-face, conclusions had not been drawn yet.

Meanwhile,mind a relaxed and wiped blank-slate, the avian Lazarus was released to resumeits journey.

************

Trevannever knew the full ins and outs of it, but he'd expected something similar.He’d given the pigeon mock last rites before setting it free.

Histrue message to the Sicarii; an expression of readiness authenticated bypre-arranged mark, was all this time wending its uncunning (and thus so verycunning) way to Llanthony by ordinary post.

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cHAPTER 35

‘One day and one hour:that is all. Then the cap goes on. Recall that your purpose is limited. Wasdeconsecration achieved? Discern that and be content. Smooth the path forothers better fitted to follow. Do not think that because you carry arms-....’

‘We'vebeen through all this,’ Samuel told the Sicarii. Had anyone ever interruptedhim before he wondered? Possibly not, judging by the resulting rare twitch ofthe lips. That persona of lightheartedness was wafer thin.

‘Thisis as much for me as you, Trevan. I shall be able to say you were instructed tothe last.’

‘ThenI don't actually need to be around to hear it, do I? Lower away.’

Thepriest that accompanied the Sicarii said a blessing. Some of the men in the tubwith Samuel crossed themselves.

Infact, it was the unacknowledged air of finality that fuelled his daring. Ifthis was to be his last glimpse of the light he wished that look to be hisusual stroppy one. It was only fitting.

Thewinding gear dropped them down, its cacophony drowning any other farewell.Samuel stared up at the dwindling circle of dusk above and said his ownprovisional goodbye. It comprised, he recognised with some shock, more cursesthan thank you's.

Therewere twelve of them in total, split into tub batches. Some had even been honouredwith the truth, though none now remained deluded that this was just normal minework. Wulfstan said he'd known all along. Allegedly, Trevan’s generous wageshad sedated his and others' suspicions.

Samuel’stub was the last down. Those who'd gone before were waiting bunched up in thesmall space available at the former pump station. With that engine's demise thewater level had risen again and now almost lapped the tunnel's edge. Samueldidn't mind: he'd despaired of finding an unguarded delving, even if theydrained down to the earth's core. There were grounds for confidence that othershad already obligingly cleared a dry-shod path.

TheWizard was with them, taking up more space than he ought. Samuel had takenpleasure in ensuring that and in seeing the Sicarii crush the man's mutiny witha single word. Wulfstan and an assistant were also present to advise and maptheir progress. The rest were just muscle and light-shedders: familiar facesfrom London or strangers from Llanthony, all mixed up. Mere orders had put thesoldiers down below but Samuel's employees required dousing with coin. Then, toprevent trouble and forge a team, he'd had to treat the military likewise. Itgrieved Trevan's heart to be so spendthrift and the coffers were almost emptynow. Thinking of it, he was semi-reconciled to not returning.

Therewas no room in the tunnel. This last group of four had to wait on the plankjetty. Even the short carbines and half-pikes were getting in the way in suchconfinement.

‘Comeon then, Wizard, I shouldn't have to tell you.’ They had indeed rehearsed it toexhaustion. Trevan wanted to minimise the need for noise and orders.

‘Wewere waiting for you,’ the man wheezed back, but left it at that, thoughmore was plainly said in his head. Already to the fore, he stepped up to theunseen barrier and drew out a set of pince-nez to study it more closely.

‘Wonderfulwork,’ he said admiringly, to both everyone and no one. ‘It's geometry of beingis perfectly flush with our world's prosaic atoms. You'd never see it.’

Absenceof response told him his appreciation wasn't appreciated. He moved on.

Rollingup his sleeve right to the starry armband denoting his magical school, theWizard slowly extended a thick right arm, palm outstretched.

‘Godis great!’ he reassured himself - and then dived his hand in.

Theup to now unseen was flushed out and agitated into frenzy. What appeared to bea wall built of slurry began, first sluggishly, then with baffling speed, toturn; spiralling in on the Wizard's arm. A vile smell emerged, like the openingup of a long-sealed slaughterhouse. They all gagged on it.

Eyesclenched tight, the Wizard was sweating from the hairline down. The barrier wasdraining up into his arm, causing the flesh there to bubble and swell,attempting escape from the bone. He sought solace in description of theexperience.

‘Acesspit...,’ he told them, ‘full of fat scorpions…. Be quick, please....’

Assoon as there was a gap between the barrier and tunnel wall they slippedthrough, shrinking away from the spinning edge. In his desperation, the Wizardurged them past with sweeps of his foot. ‘Go! Oh God! Go....’

Hecouldn't wait for the last one to be fully past, but spun himself round thegap, shoving the man forward with his bulk. He came to rest, chest heaving,against the wall and vomited the absorbed material back out. It left his arm atfurious speed, re-seeking its proper place. The spiral formed again, fillingthe tunnel, then slowed, then vanished.

‘Realignment,’puffed the Wizard, and hawked some nasty taste from his mouth. ‘If we can't seeit then it went back just right.’

‘Terrific,’said Trevan, sarcastically. He couldn't enthuse about having thatbetween them and home. It was the agreed plan but even so....

‘Wego,’ he told them, and led the way.

Theglass-bubble tar-torches slow roasting the back of his head shed light aboutfive paces into the future. Held perfectly still by bearers with both handsfree, they might just have been adequate. As it was, Samuel had entrusted themto men with other duties as well. There was room for two to walk abreast.Wulfstan was beside Trevan, making close study of their path and assessing itssafety. He made frequent reference to a handheld compass. Behind