فصل 43

CHAPTER 43

NO WORSE FATE

HOLDING SOME PAPERS AND sweating despite the chill in the air—a chill he felt whenever Baron von Schatten was near—Simon Revile hesitated at the door to the king’s bedchamber in Buckingham Palace. He raised his hand and rapped twice on the door.

“Enter.” Von Schatten’s moaning voice sounded, as always, as if it came from somewhere distant. Revile stepped inside. Except for the light coming through the open doorway, the bedchamber was dark. Von Schatten and the king occupied facing chairs in the middle of the room. The king sat utterly still, seemingly unaware of Revile’s entrance. Von Schatten turned his head slowly until his dark glasses faced Revile.

“What is it?” he said.

“I apologize,” said Revile. “I know your orders were that you were not to be disturbed. But I felt that, in this instance—”

“What is it?” snarled von Schatten, in a voice that chilled Revile’s blood.

“Chief Superintendent Blake,” Revile said quickly. “He’s just sent a man here with a police report.”

“Concerning?”

“A few hours ago, two officers were called to Victoria Dock to meet a ship and take custody of two stowaways.”

“Why would that interest me?”

“They were children,” said Revile. “A boy and a girl.”

“The world is full of children,” said von Schatten, turning his head toward the king.

“The boy escaped by flying.”

Von Schatten’s head snapped back toward Revile. “Flying? The police are certain?” he said.

“Not exactly. The boy jumped off the gangway, followed by the girl. It was dark. Neither child was seen again. The bobbies commandeered a small boat and searched the harbor, but found nothing.”

“Perhaps the children drowned.”

“Perhaps. But witnesses, including one of the officers, said they saw something flying away from the ship.”

“A bird.”

“Much bigger than a bird. The story has already caused quite a stir in London, sir.”

“What are the names of these children?”

“We don’t know. The ship’s captain questioned them, but they told him nothing.”

“How did they get aboard the ship?”

“Nobody knows that, either. They were discovered when the ship had been at sea for more than a week.”

“They just appeared on the ship? Out at sea?”

“Yes.”

For a few moments von Schatten was silent. Then, in a voice so low Revile could barely hear it, said, “He’s come back.”

“But how would he know? All those years on the island …”

“The Darling girl must have gotten word to him,” said von Schatten.

“The girl who disappeared,” said Revile.

“Yes,” said von Schatten. “We should have taken her when we took her parents.” He thought for a moment, then said, “How many men does Blake have watching the Aster house?”

“Two, sir. Front and back. ’Round the clock.”

“Tell him to send ten more of his best men right now. Tell him they must surround the house, but they must not be seen. Let the boy and the girl think it’s safe. Let them go inside, where the boy can’t fly. Then take them. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Baron,” said Revile, turning to go.

“Wait,” said von Schatten. “Where is the Skeleton?”

“In the Underground. He’s been asking when he may, ah, interview the prisoners.”

“Not yet. I still need them alive. Tell him I would appreciate his help in apprehending the boy and the girl.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. He has skills that can be useful in this situation. But tell him I want the boy alive. Make that very clear: the boy is mine”

“And the girl?”

“He can do what he wants with the girl. Go.”

“Yes, Baron,” said Revile. He backed out of the room and closed the door, leaving von Schatten once again alone with the king, who still had not moved a muscle. Revile hurried down the long palace hallway to carry out von Schatten’s orders. Revile was not one to feel concern for others, but even he could not help but feel a twinge of pity for the two children. He could imagine no worse fate than to fall into the disfigured hands of the Skeleton—unless it was to become the prey of von Schatten.