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

The least member of the family had finally made his markon the rest. It didn’t occur to him that there were others - bystanders - whodeserved better. His former Whitechapel colleagues, for instance. Samuel couldat least have sorted Egypt out for Jimmy Smith. But he was only thinking of thebigger picture – and himself.

‘Haveyou got all you wish for from it?’

Itwas still a shock for Trevan to realise that the Elf was referring to him, andthat the Sicarii went along with such contempt for his own species. 'It'!

‘Ithink so, thank you: enough for my report to Mott.’

‘ThenI'll take it, as agreed.’

‘Fairenough.’

TheElf reached out to Trevan: who could not prevent a flinching away.

‘Oneother thing - before you go,’ said the Sicarii, halting the pantomime. ‘Justwhat is it down there?’

TheElf, gratefully it seemed, left Samuel alone. He looked down from his great heightadvantage and bared sharp teeth at the papal agent. It may have signalledamusement.

‘Justa modest afterthought,’ he mocked. ‘A casual request for knowledge that haseluded your... Church for a thousand years.’

‘Butworth a try?’ said the Sicarii, smiling.

‘Weare never unawares or careless, human.’

‘No,I know that. Still; is it their god down there?’

TheElf considered blessing the dark, drawn, face with an answer.

‘No,’he said eventually. ‘No, it isn't. They are deluded: not even deceived but deluded.’

‘So,what is…?’

TheElf repented of his generosity and grimaced at the ceaseless opportunism of‘vermin’. Did they never stop writhing about for advantage? Where was their dignity?

Samuel'sshoulder was again grasped in those crab-flesh fingers and they jointly leftthe scene. Once more the touch caused distress to its begetter, made skinslough off, and gold-bearing veins to sunder. The hold was maintained withdifficulty - and not an instant longer than necessary.

Trevansought to free himself, not so desirous of rescue as before, only to findimplacable strength within that grip. He was borne along like a kitten.

Liberationonly came when they were beyond the room, out of the Sicarii's searching gaze.His captor then actually staggered back from him, glad to put distance betweenthem. Samuel noted it and was pleased.

‘Ijust don't agree with you, do I?’ he said.

TheElf steadied himself against the landing balustrade and staunched his nosebleedwith a ragged sleeve.

‘No,you do not. You are inimical, as I've said.’

‘So,why the concern? Am I for the chop now? Is that why he let you take me?’

Thiscaused a wry smile set amidst golden smears.

‘Thepredator-vermin could hardly prevent it. And I am conducting you fromharm, not to it.’

Samuelhid the cavalry charge of relief under a brusque question.

‘Whybother? Why help mere little me?’

Itall seemed terribly clear and simple to his companion.

‘Becauseothers would make you more inimical. Then I would not be safe at any range.’

TheElf set off down the wide staircase. ‘Follow me.’

‘Atwhat distance?’ Samuel queried, determined to push his luck.

‘Fivepaces is optimum. My influence will persist, whereas you will barely nauseate.’

‘Whatabout conversation?’

Trevansaw the elegant shoulders shudder.

‘Onlyif you insist.’

Insultsaside, it was memorable stuff, passing through the Forge; its space and staff and clientele alike, unseen andunperceived.

‘CanI touch?’ Samuel had in mind a parlour maid he'd treated as invisible till now(which was somewhat ironic given his present state). Her soft-palmed charms hadbeen just one of many stern self-prohibitions: secret tests of dedication nowutterly redundant.

‘Notreally,’ the Elf answered. ‘They – or perhaps we - are insubstantial. But thefemale may feel some mild sensation.’

Thatgave Samuel pause.

‘How…how did you know I-....’

TheElf strode on and right through the soon to be former-landlord.

‘Oh,farmyard thoughts are easy,’ he said, a Parthian shot delivered in passing; nocredit claimed for his good guess. ‘They assault the air like shrieks.’

Inthe front courtyard resided an old all-purpose handcart. Samuel's luggage hadtravelled in it when he first arrived. Directly the Elf touched the handles itregained colour and solidity, incorporated into their present realm.

‘Takethis. You will need it.’

Itsounded ridiculous. Come to that, Trevan was sure it looked ridiculous(could anyone see), but he obeyed, trundling the little cart along behind hisleader.

Ittranspired that everything Samuel required had been right in front of his nosefrom the start. The Elves' treasury lay unguarded in open view, dumped by theroadside on the way into Welcombe. Perhaps the name should have supplied aclue.

Mostwas either bullion or gems. The Elf gestured him forward and Trevan needed nosecond prompting. Using his strong arms like scoops, the cart was soon awashwith wealth - much of it antique and/or beautiful, although Samuel didn't pauseto admire. When the first frenzy was past, he took to selecting the morenegotiable stuff, like coin.

Hewas confident of being surveyed with disgust - but reckoned that a price worthpaying. It didn't take a Hebrew goldsmith to tell him he was loading a fortuneper minute.

‘Enough.’

He'dbeen right: the Elf voice was twisted by distaste. Samuel ignored it in favourof packing down and filling odd corners.

‘Nomore!’ Disdain had soured into anger. Trevan turned and caught the departingsigns of associated expression. Then, entire master of his face, the Elfresumed his usual bland mask.

‘CanI keep it?’ Samuel asked, pretending to be innocently touched.

‘Yes.We intend a secure future for you. Now follow.’

Thereseemed no question of the Elf waiting for him. Samuel exerted all his strengthand got the burdened wheels going.

‘It'sa risk, isn't it,’ he puffed, ‘leaving that lovely mountain out in the open?’

Itis removed from your domains.’

‘Evenso....’

‘Andis of no great concern to us. The material is easily acquired.’

‘Legitimately?’

TheElf was amused.

‘Whatdoes that mean? But no, of course not: not in your terms. Do try tounderstand. We only demean ourselves with it for vermin transactions, or forour rare children to play with. Only infants and animals like yourselfattribute value to such dross.’

Samuelincreased the pace to keep up. ‘I really should resent these constant slights,’he said.

‘Butyou will not. Amidst the wider opportunities presented you will find itstrangely easy to be mild. Also, you are no match for me.’

‘Icould always come closer....’

‘Ahyes, I forgot that.’

‘Andyou forgot to explain as well.’

‘No,not at all. The omission is quite deliberate.’

Itwas a dead end. So Samuel turned the conversation round.

‘Istill can't see why you don't knock me off.’

‘No.’Mere agreement.

‘Andthat's something else you'll hide, is it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Likewise,where we're going.’

‘Waitand see.’

Thesterile exchange was elbowed aside by Samuel noting something odd even bypresent standards. Their steps were traversing more