Section 1 | Chapter 8

Lance and Robert were getting used to their odd looking mounts and finding that they didn’t seem to be as bad as they’d appeared. They’d walked quietly down the road away from the stable and doubled back to AGRs office. They both knew that he’d have gone out the back way, so that seem a good way to go in. They eased the horses into the deserted yard, the building was quiet. Lance tied his horse to a post and walked towards the door. Robert followed. The door wasn’t locked so they pushed it open and went in.

‘Bit careless leaving the door open?’ remarked Lance.

‘He thinks no one knows about this place and that we’ve already left’ replied Robert.

Lance hung the wire up, the screen crackled and hissed. He slid his finger down the screen, selected a spot and opened up the previous communications.

‘Well, well. Look what’s here. Herbert. Umm and look who’s gone rushing off to see him. Do you know where he is?’

Robert nodded his head in agreement. Lance took the wire down and walked out. He untied the horses and mounted his.

‘Lead the way, my friend. I don’t trust those two.’

Robert mounted his horse and walked it through to the lane. He knew why Lance was following him but that was how it always was. He walked his horse slowly down the road. It was a very dark night, the horse pricked up his ears. Robert hoped it was just things in the undergrowth but it was probably the Holy Ghost snooping as usual. Lance jogged along behind, Herbert was some one he wasn’t keen to see again. Get Herbert and Alfred together again and God knows what could happen. One thing was sure GOD, would have to keep an eye on them. But then he always had. That just meant that he and Robert would also be watched. GOD had always wanted to stop him but never quite been in the right place but the pace was slow now and he’d have lots of time.

They couldn’t afford to hang around too long when they got to Herbert’s little hid away. Robert waved his arm in the direction of a change of darkness. Lance assumed this meant they were leaving the road and nudged the horse in the same direction. A narrow path wound between two rows of trees, Robert had stopped and let Lance draw alongside him.

‘It’s just down there,’ he waved in the direction of the trees ‘best get off here and lead the horses through the woods and circle round. They won’t be watching but the Holy Ghost might be and The Horse always knows when someone’s about.’

They both slipped of their horses backs and pulled the reins over their heads, Robert lead the way. The cottage and that was being nice about it. The walls were barely supporting the roof but smoke drifted up from the broken chimney stack. The Horse was leaning against the wall at the back, so it was just the two of them. They looped the reins over the fence and walked across to the door. Lance didn’t bother to knock, he pushed the latch up and walked in, Robert followed.

Herbert and AGR were still sitting in the only two chairs, both looked up. Neither appeared surprised.

‘S’pose you think I’ve got more than I gave you?’ said AGR.

‘Yes’ said Lance ‘and I bet he’s got some as well.’

Herbert grinned. He wasn’t above taking money if it was offered or trying to get anything in exchange.

‘I’ve got a couple but it’ll cost you.’ He stood up and walked across to a chest on the floor. He pulled the lid up and felt inside. He straightened up and pulled the cloth away rubbing the tile with it.

‘No.9. Took this off a body in Turkey on my way back from our little learning trip on the Babylon Road.’

‘Tarik’s’ said Robert ‘ remember him Lance?’

‘Yes. Little weasel, didn’t trust him then. Not surprised you caught up with him so quickly,’ snapped Lance. ‘He was useless with a sword and what he would have a done with a gun I dread to think.’

Lance took the tile and rubbed it on his sleeve. It wasn’t an important tile but it would hold the others in place and make reading it easier, he didn’t offer Herbert anything. He’d wait and see if anything else was on offer or how hard he pushed for money. He put it in the bag with the rest and turned to AGR.

‘You got any others you want to hand over?’ Lance watched AGR carefully. He thought there would be more but he didn’t want to push it too hard they could always come back again if they couldn’t track some down. AGR wouldn’t go far with GOD watching him and the Holy Ghost popping up when he wasn’t wanted.

AGR rattled in the chair, he knew he’d have to hand them over but finders keepers and all that. He’d had them a long time but Lance wouldn’t rest until they were all together again.

‘I’ll have a look around see what I can find,’ said AGR. He looked at Herbert ‘thought you had more than that?’

‘I did but I got a bit careless and lost them’ Herbert grinned. He knew who’d taken them but he wasn’t going to say. He felt a bit foolish; he’d carried them around for

a long time until he got fed up with them weighing down the saddle bag, took them out and left them on the table in some bar. The Holy Ghost had been snooping on him and seen them. He couldn’t move them his self but he’d wasn’t above enlisting help from any source. He would have whispered in the ear of one of the other drunks in the bar and got him to carry them upstairs to GOD. When Herbert had roused himself and looked they and the Holy Ghost were gone. It had seemed reasonable that they’d gone together somehow. He kept quiet.

Lance glowered. These two had always been a useless, sometimes taking a body before it’s time and he’d known times when they took the wrong one altogether. Apprenticeships weren’t all they were made out to be. Now he’d have to haggle with GOD to find out what he had, and get them back. He looked at Robert. Robert shrugged his shoulders, you couldn’t do much with these two. GOD knew what they were like but he would defend them against anyone. That was how it worked. They might be able to do without them but it would depend on which ones they were.

‘Don’t suppose you remember which ones they were?’ growled Robert.

‘No.13. Never did like that one. Don’t know about the other one. You don’t remember do you Alf?’ Herbert rattled again as he thought about No 13 and were he’d got it from, as well as what would happen soon.

‘No, didn’t know you had any more. I’ll leave a message for you if anything turns up’ AGR breathed the words.

Robert and Lance picked up their bags and left. They walked away from the cottage, picking up the horse reins and walking them out to the path. Both looked at one another and lead the horses off the path and under the trees. It might be a long wait but it could be worth it. Once he sorted out these two he could move on, there were still quite a few people to find. Robert sat very still on his horse and whistled softly.

Herbert and Alf stayed were they where. Both knew that GOD would be expecting deliveries but neither wanted to leave. The Holy Ghost stirred and floated down in front of them.

‘GOD will be waiting for deliveries boys. You’d better get going.’ With a flick he disappeared.

Herbert grinned and AGR rattled. Both drew themselves up to their full height and moved slowly to the door. The Horse stirred, things had happened. He knew that Lance and Robert where still around and likely to follow them back.