Dark Fire полностью

BARAK AND I SAT IN a corner of the Barbary Turk. The tavern where Barak had arranged to meet the sailor from the Baltic was a gloomy, cavernous place, smelling equally of stale beer and salt water, for it was right on the river front. Through the small window I could see Vintry Wharf, crowded with warehouses. I was reminded that the warehouse whose conveyancing I had lost was nearby, at Salt Wharf.

It was early evening and there were few other customers as yet. In the middle of the room a huge thigh bone, thrice the size of a man's, hung in chains from the high rafters. When we had arrived, Barak went to fetch some beer and I looked at the plaque fixed to it: The leg of a giant of old times, dug from the Thames silt, anno 1518. The year I came to London. I touched the thing lightly, causing it to swing gently in the embrace of its chains. It felt cold, like stone. I wondered whether it could indeed be from some gigantic man. Certainly humankind took some troubling forms. I thought of my own bent back and the king's diseased leg, which perhaps was the cause of all his marital troubles. A touch at my arm made me jump, as though someone had divined my dangerous thoughts. But it was only Barak pointing me to the gloomy corner.

WE HAD HAD AN unsuccessful afternoon, all the more frustrating after Cromwell's demand for urgency. We had taken a wherry back to Temple Stairs, then walked up to Chancery Lane.

Leman was waiting there, a little the worse for drink, I saw, and we walked him up to Lincoln's Inn. Once through the gates he looked round nervously at the imposing buildings and the black-robed barristers walking by, but perhaps the thought of the money to come gave the red-faced stallholder a measure of courage, for he allowed us to lead him to Bealknap's chambers.

We climbed the narrow steps to Bealknap's door only to find it closed, a heavy padlock through the handle. Enquiry of the barrister who occupied the chambers below brought the curt response that Brother Bealknap had gone out early that morning and that he preferred not to enquire after his doings.

Frustrated, we went across to my own chambers. Godfrey was in the outer office, going over some papers with Skelly. He looked up in surprise as I came in with Barak and Leman in tow. I left them in the office and went with Godfrey to his room.

'No problems with your work,' he told me, 'but I'm afraid you've another case gone. The house conveyance down by Coldharbour.'

'God's death, as if I haven't enough to worry about.' I ran my hands through my hair. 'These are all new matters that are going too, new clients.'

Godfrey looked at me seriously. 'You ought to look into this, Matthew. It seems that someone is putting out bad words about you.'

'You're right, but I haven't time now. I won't have before next Thursday.'

'You'll be free then?'

I smiled wryly. 'Oh, yes. One way or another.' I noticed that Godfrey looked tired and felt a twinge of conscience. 'Are my matters taking up much time?'

'No, but I had some news this morning. I'm to be fined ten pounds for my insolence to the duke.'

'That is a heavy load. I'm sorry, Godfrey.'

He looked at me seriously. 'I may have to take up your offer to loan me money. Though it will do you no good if it gets out you are supporting me.'

I raised a hand. 'That is the least of my worries at the moment. You shall have it.'

He leaned forward and grasped my hand. 'Thank you.'

'Let me know what you need.'

He looked relieved. 'I must work out how much I can raise myself. So far as I am concerned it is all money spent on God's work,' he added piously.

'Yes.'

'How goes it with the Wentworth case?'

'Slowly. Everything goes slowly. Listen, Godfrey, I need to speak to Bealknap, but he's out. Can you watch for him, tell him I wish to speak to him urgently? Tell him it is the business we discussed before and I want him to contact me at once.'

'Ay, all right.' He looked at me curiously. 'Is this the other matter you are working on?'

'It is.'

He nodded at the door. 'You have acquired some odd work fellows.'

'Yes, I'd better get back to them. Pox on Bealknap, he's probably drumming up shady business in the City. That bottled spider has such a reputation his neighbour downstairs won't even take messages for him.'

'He is a worshipper of money, a slave to Mammon.'

'Him and half of London.'

I went back to the outer office. Leman sat at the window, looking idly at the lawyers' comings and goings. Barak was standing at Skelly's desk, listening with interest as the clerk explained how copying was done.

'Come, gentlemen,' I said, 'Godfrey will let us know when Bealknap arrives.'

'I should be at my stall,' Leman said. I agreed to let him go, for I could hardly keep him all day and the Cheapside stalls were near enough to send Simon to fetch him. Barak and I walked back to my house.

'You work poor Skelly hard,' Barak said. 'He told me he's been there copying since seven.'