Rapscallion

Jess Flynn's head came up.

'The gravedigger,' Hawkwood said.

Jago nodded. 'That's him. Abraham told me he was the next man down the line. I tracked him to his local; place called the Blind Hog - a right bloody hovel. He was a bit reluctant to talk at first, but it's amazing how a drop of grog'll loosen a man's tongue, once he's in the right mood.'

From the expression on Jago's face, Hawkwood suspected the 'right mood' might have been helped along by Jago's hand clenched around Higgs's testicles or a threat to cut off his remaining fingers.

'Our Asa,' Jago said, 'let slip all manner of interestin' gossip 'bout how he'd delivered the Yankee and the Frenchman first to here and then to this Ezekiel Morgan's place. What was even more fascinating was that Morgan was now offerin' a reward for the Yankee and his mate. Seems he wasn't a bloody Yankee at all but a poxy Runner!

'Then he told me about a drinking session he'd had with some arse-wipe name of Tyler. Seems Tyler had been all ears when he heard that Morgan was after the blood of the Runner and Frenchie. Started saying it would serve the Frog right for sniffing around our women.'

Lasseur and Jess Flynn exchanged glances.

'Higgs thought Tyler might have had a particular woman in mind, on account of it was his sister-in-law's farm the two captains had been staying at. He said he'd had a feeling, when he came to pick you up, that the widow and the captain were a bit more than landlady and lodger, if you get my drift. And that got me thinking: if I was on the run, looking for somewhere to hide out, where would I run to? Somewhere I'd find a friendly face, that's where. So I decided Mrs Flynn's farm might be worth a visit, even if it was only to see if I could dig up some more information. Turns out it was a sound stroke. Mind you, if we hadn't heard the dog barkin' we might have missed you. We were just about to head back.'

So Higgs had seen Lasseur and Jess Flynn's tactile goodbye, too, Hawkwood thought. One small gesture that had led to consequences unimagined.

'Nathaniel -'

Jago turned. It was Garvey. He was on his own, his face grim. 'You'd better come and take a look at this.'

Jago, Hawkwood and Lasseur left Jess with Tom Gadd and accompanied Garvey towards the barn.

Micah had found a lantern. He held it high so they could see.

The bodies were covered with straw. There were six of them. Three lay face up, the others lay face down.

'That's Tyler,' Hawkwood said, pointing to one of the corpses that was lying on its back.

Tyler's mouth was still wide open, as were his eyes; a man surprised, even in death. In the lantern light, his face was the colour of rancid cheese.

'You know them, Jethro?' Jago asked.

Garvey looked down at the corpses. He nodded grimly.

Hawkwood wondered what Jago had meant by local representative.

'I'm assuming this is all your doing,' Jago said. 'Want to tell me about it?'

'Later,' Hawkwood said.

'They left the horses, too,' Lasseur said. He was standing outside the barn door, looking into the paddock.

'Why would they do that?' Jago asked.

'They were in a hurry,' Hawkwood said. 'They were probably planning to come back for them later.'

'Who's 'they'?' Jago asked.

'A man called Pepper and three surviving members of his crew.'

Garvey's head came round.

An owl called from the nearby woods.

Jago said, 'That wouldn't be Cephus Pepper?'

'You know him?'

'I know of him. Why would they be in a hurry?'

'They had an appointment.'

'With who?'

'Morgan,' Hawkwood said.

'Something else you're not telling me?' Jago asked.

'Plenty, but there's no time.'

'Why's that?'

'I've got an appointment, too.'

'Don't tell me,' Jago said. 'Same place?'

'Yes.'

'And where's that?' 'Deal.'

'An' I don't suppose it can wait?'

'No.'

'You going to need any help?'

'Probably,' Hawkwood said.

'Christ,' Jago shook his head. 'I should definitely be on the bloody payroll. Micah, bring the horses round.'

'Someone has to get Tom Gadd to a doctor,' Hawkwood said.

'That'll be Jethro. Did you hear that, Jethro? I saw a cart round the side. Take the lantern. Go hitch it up. Then collect Mrs Flynn and the old 'un and take them to wherever she tells you.'

Garvey nodded. He took the light and left.

'Good man.' Jago studied Hawkwood's face. 'I meant it when I said you looked like shit. Are you going to be all right? It's a fair ride.'

'You know the road?'

''Course I know the bloody road!'

Jago had been raised in a small village on the Kent marshes. As a young man, he had tried his hand at a variety of jobs - some legal, some more dubious in nature - all over the county before finally accepting the two- guinea signing-on fee from a recruiting sergeant at a Maidstone fair.

'How long?'

Jago looked thoughtful. 'Depends how fast you want to push the horses. Sky's clear and it's a good moon. Our best bet'll be the Dover Road down to Green Street. Then across country through Eythorne. It ain't going to be a stroll in the park. I reckon it'll take a fair while.'

'The horses that Pepper's men left will be fresh.'

'Good point. We'll still have to walk them some of the way.'

'I'll go and pick out the best ones,' Lasseur said.

Jago looked at Hawkwood and raised an eyebrow.

'Best to have him inside the tent,' Hawkwood said.

'Your call,' Jago said. He watched as Lasseur let himself into the paddock.

'He's a good man, too,' Hawkwood said.

'For a Frog, you mean?'

For the first time in a while, Hawkwood smiled.

Micah returned with his and Jago's mounts. There was no discussion as to whether Micah would be riding with them. Hawkwood had had dealings with Jago's lieutenant before and had been impressed with the man's quiet efficiency.

Jago and Micah retained their own horses. Lasseur had picked out the best of Pepper's string: a russet mare and a blue gelding.

Garvey, meanwhile, had taken the cob from the barn and backed it on to the cart, then tied his own horse to the rear. He was now sitting ready with the reins. Gadd was lying on the flat boards, covered up to his chest with a horse blanket. The dog's head lay across his thighs.

Hawkwood went over and took Gadd's hand. 'You did well, Tom. You made a difference. I won't forget.'