The Devil and the Dark Water полностью

‘Why me? Must be hundreds of thief takers in this city.’

‘They don’t have songs written about them. They say you battled half the Spanish army singlehandedly.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘But you fight well?’

‘Aye.

‘And you’re honourable?’

‘On occasion.’

‘And you don’t talk much?’

‘Not too much.’

‘Then come work for me. Keep me safe, and I’ll show you things you wouldn’t believe. And I’ll pay you well while I’m doing it.’

I considered him a long while, the way you might consider a boat trip to foreign parts. He was eloquent and engaging, but I remained uncertain. A few songs didn’t seem reason enough to put your wellbeing in the hands of a stranger. I now know the true reason he sought me out. But that’s a story for another day.

Back then, as the snow gathered on my shoulders, I found myself caught between an uncertain future and an unwelcome past.

Struggling for an answer I nodded at the dead man, trying to stall for time. ‘The murderer could have been her brother?’

‘The ferocity of the assault suggests a husband’s rage. And he took the ring, don’t forget. An item often used as a marriage vow.’ He paused, showing nerves for the first time in our conversation. ‘Will you come work for me?’

‘Tell you what,’ I replied. ‘By your own telling, fate put this body in our way, so let’s see what other cards she has to play. Use those skills of yours to bring us to the murderer. If you’re right about him, I’ll put myself at your service today. If you’re wrong, I’m going on my way.’

A smile lit up his face. ‘A wager, excellent. I love a wager. Very well, let’s go and have a conversation with Gerrit Jansen. His bootprints are clear enough, and he can’t have gone far.’

Whistling, he set off to find a murderer.

A few seconds later, I followed behind. As I have done ever since.

A NOTE ON THE AUTHOR

STUART TURTON is an English author, living in Hertfordshire. He previously wrote The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which was an international bestseller and won a number of awards, including the Costa Best First Novel Award, despite being absolutely nuts. Before becoming an author, he was a travel journalist, and before that, he did every other job you can possibly imagine. Goat farmer was the best. Cleaning toilets was the worst.

Find him on Twitter @Stu_Turton.

RAVEN BOOKS

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First published in Great Britain 2020

This electronic edition published in 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Copyright © Stuart Turton, 2020

Illustrations © Emily Faccini, 2020

Stuart Turton has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN:                               HB:    978-1-4088-8964-0

          WATERSTONES SSE:    978-1-5266-2678-3

                 GOLDSBORO SE:    978-1-5266-2709-4

   FORBIDDEN PLANET SE:    978-1-5266-3232-6

                                       TPB:    978-1-4088-8965-7

                                  EBOOK:    978-1-4088-8962-6

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