“You were the surgeon Butler worked for in the hospitals.”
“Well done, Sawney. Butler thought you would catch on eventually. That was one of the reasons he recommended you; because of our previous association, indirect though it was. If you cannot trust your former comrades-in-arms, who else is there? After all, that’s why you and Butler went into partnership together, was it not?”
“You ain’t in uniform now,” Sawney said.
“No. Those days are long past.”
“Don’t recall Butler mentionin’ any surgeon called Dodd neither.”
“No, you wouldn’t have,” Titus Hyde said.
“It ain’t your name. Why’d you change it?”
“Oh, reasons. The nature of our work, both yours and mine, dictates that we must conduct our business beyond the view of prying eyes. People are afraid of that which they do not understand. There are many who look upon our work as sorcery, branding us as heretics. They’d burn us at the stake if they could, even if
Sawney said nothing.
“You can see that, can’t you?”
There was a silence. “S’pose so,” Sawney admitted grudgingly.
“I still require your assistance, Sawney.”
“Is that right?”
“A revolution is coming, Sawney; in medicine, in science, in so many things. It began with Harvey and Cheselden and John Hunter; men who weren’t afraid to turn away from the old traditions and step towards the light; brave men who were prepared to risk their reputations to explore beyond the existing boundaries of knowledge. The only thing that limits us, Sawney, is the breadth of our imagination. There’s a new way of thinking we call natural philosophy, and it’s going to change the world.”
“An’ you openin’ this new school ’as to do with it?”
“School?” The question was accompanied by a frown.
“This place,” Sawney said, indicating the room and, by inference, the house.
“Ah, yes, I see. Indeed it has. More than you will know.”
“So you’ll be wanting us to bring you another one, then?”
“Correct.”
Sawney considered the answer, and nodded. “All right, I can do that.”
“There is one thing, however,” Hyde said. He moved to the table and sat down. “While the last specimen you supplied far exceeded the quality of the first two, I do have a more … specific … requirement.”
“There was something wrong with it?” Sawney frowned.
“Wrong? No. Butler’s faith in you is well founded. As I said, the previous specimen was most satisfactory. I’ve made excellent use of it.” Hyde leaned across the table. “No, my only concern is that it was – how shall I put it? – still not as fresh as I would have liked.”
Sawney’s brow creased. “Fresh? You ain’t going to get them any fresher. Jesus, any fresher, and they’d be walkin’ and talkin’. Christ, they’d be knockin’ on your bleedin’ door, askin’ to be let in.” Sawney grinned, shook his head in amusement and let go a coarse chuckle. Then he saw that Hyde wasn’t sharing the joke. In fact, there was no humour whatsoever in the doctor’s gaze. What there was looked more like … expectancy. A little bird began to trill and flutter its wings deep inside Sawney’s chest.
Hyde remained silent. His gaze was unwavering, and unnerving. Time seemed to slow down.
Then, suddenly, Sawney understood. He sat up. “You serious?”
At first, Hyde said nothing. He was as still as a statue. Then he said, “Can you do it?”
“Well, it ain’t like pullin’ a rabbit out of a bleedin’ hat,” Sawney said. “It’ll cost you extra, and it won’t be pennies.”
Hyde nodded. “I understand. I’ll pay you twenty-five guineas, and no questions will be asked. It will be at your discretion.”
Twenty-five guineas. Three months’ earnings for the average working man; the equivalent of six or seven retrievals – not counting pregnant women, children, and cripples, of course.
Sawney stared at the doctor, at the sharp widow’s peak and the dark, raptor’s eyes. The seconds ticked away; one, two, three …
“Thirty,” Sawney said, and waited.
Hyde reached into his apron strings and took out the cloth. He began to wipe his hands as he had done before. “Half the payment now, half on delivery.”
Sawney let out a slow breath, and nodded.
“I’m relying on you, Sawney. It’s important that I complete my work. An early delivery would be appreciated.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Sawney said, thinking that maybe he should have asked for more. He noticed the doctor’s hands were turning raw from the chafing of the rag. “What about the last one? You goin’ to ’ang on to the remains, or do you want ’em taken away?”
“My space is limited. I’d like it removed.”
“I’ll send someone round.”
“There is one other thing,” Hyde said.
“What’s that?”
“I mentioned before that there are those who would view seekers of the truth, such as myself, as dabblers in necromancy. It’s come to my attention that they may have enlisted the services of a base member of the constabulary. While I’m sure a man in your line of work is adept at avoiding the attention of the authorities, I would urge you to be extra vigilant, especially given the terms of our intended transaction. Though, as someone who managed to evade the clutches of the army provosts for so long, I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty maintaining your anonymity.”
Sawney had no idea what necromancy was – probably another word for trading in the dead, he guessed – so he just nodded. “Don’t you worry, I won’t have no problems giving the Charleys the slip. They couldn’t find their own arses in the dark if they used both hands. Do you know the bugger’s name?”
“Hawkwood.”
Sawney didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. He knew the shock was written across his face.
Hyde’s fingers stilled. “You know him?”
Deny everything, was Sawney’s immediate instinct, but it was too late for that. “Yeah, I know ’im, sort of. But he ain’t no Charley. He’s a Runner.”
“Indeed.” Hyde’s eyes darkened. “You’ve had dealings with him?”
“Indirectly,” Sawney said cautiously. “He crossed paths with some business associates.”
“Recently?”
“Recent enough.” Better not to mention Tate or Murphy, Sawney thought.
“How much of a nuisance is he likely to be?”
Sawney hesitated and then said, “Word is he’s former military, and a bastard.”
“Really?” Hyde fell silent. His expression was noncommittal.
“How come you know about him?” Sawney said.
“What?” Hyde snapped out of his reverie. “Oh, just some information that happened to come my way.” Hyde tucked the cloth back into his apron and rose to his feet. “Wait here.” He left the room.
Sawney got up and moved quickly to Hyde’s black bag, opened it and peered inside. Three seconds later the phial containing the clove oil was in his pocket. He closed the bag and sat down.
Hyde returned carrying a small cloth pouch. There was a dull chink as he placed it in Sawney’s palm.
“I assumed you’d prefer coin of the realm.”
“That’ll do nicely,” Sawney said, getting to his feet. He opened the bag’s drawstring and tipped the money into his palm. It was a fair weight, and immensely reassuring. Coinage was always best. Easier to divide up, easier
