The Demon Collector (20 page)

They left the room, Edgy hopping to put his boot on.

Sally smirked as they passed. ‘Good luck,’ she said.

‘Keep Henry here, will yer?’ he called back with a pleading look. Henry sat at Sally’s feet, his head cocked quizzically.

Edgy’s stomach rumbled and groaned as he followed Janus down the passage to the governors’ room. His throat felt dry and tight. If only he’d had a chance to eat some breakfast.

‘You must mention the book reference and tell them what happened in the tunnels,’ Janus chattered on. Edgy felt so nervous he barely listened. He didn’t want to let Janus down, that was why.

The governors’ room was as stuffy as ever. The governors sat in their usual places; Plumphrey busily cutting into a fried breakfast, Mauldeth sneering over a cup of breakfast tea, Sokket with his fingers interlaced and his lips tight, and Milberry turning the pages of a thick book.

‘Ah, Janus,’ Plumphrey said, egg dribbling from the side of his mouth. ‘What’s all this about an expedition, eh? Moloch? All sounds a bit far-fetched.’

‘Roland,’ Milberry said, her voice quiet but firm, ‘let’s keep this official and not just leap in.’ She closed her book and leaned over it. ‘Envry, you have made a request for funds to mount an expedition to the frozen North. Can you explain?’

Janus’s eyes shone and he gripped his lapels. ‘Indeed I can, Professor Milberry. I intend to charter a ship to take us into the Arctic Circle –’

‘Frozen North, little brother – she already said that.’ Mauldeth stared at Janus over the rim of his cup, his pointed features set and stony. ‘Just tell us what for.’

Janus gave a little nod. Edgy could see the red spots growing on his cheeks. ‘It is my intention to uncover the long-lost remains of the arch-demon Moloch –’

‘Told y’so,’ Plumphrey said, spitting globs of bacon fat across the table. ‘Barking mad, ready for Bedlam – take him away.’

‘Moloch is a myth, Envry, you know that,’ Sokket said, screwing his face up. ‘We’ve no more evidence that he exists than Satan himself!’

‘He exists all right,’ Janus said. He took Edgy’s shoulder and pushed him forward as if he were presenting him to the governors. ‘Edgy has had something of an adventure down in the tunnels. The Skull of Aldorath was stolen and he recovered it. But there’s more – tell them, Edgy.’ Janus nodded at him.

Edgy cleared his throat. He heard his voice, thin and dry, and cringed. Why did he sound so stupid and unconvincing? ‘Well, in Mr Janus’s book,
The Legends of Moloch
, I found a tale –’

‘Not a pointed one, I hope, eh, lad?’ Plumphrey roared with laughter at his own joke and elbowed Sokket, who winced as if he were in pain. ‘Pointed, oh deary me!’

Milberry glared at him, quelling the tide of mirth in an instant.

Edgy gave another cough and continued, ‘The markings on the top of the skull are a map –’

‘I thought you had decided they were mere tribal marks, carved so deep into the thin flesh that they etched the skull, Mauldeth?’ Sokket said, giving his fellow governor a sly grin.

‘They are. This is all total nonsense – one of my little brother’s wild goose chases, you mark my words,’ Mauldeth said, pouring more tea.

‘Show them, Edgy,’ Janus said, passing the book to him.

Edgy flicked through the pages, searching for the right story, praying it would come to him. The book seemed to have a mind of its own, like everything else in this place. Title after title flickered past Edgy’s gaze:
Moloch Creates the Echolites
followed by
Salomé and Moloch
. Despair seeped into Edgy’s heart – there was nothing, no mention of Aldorath. He was going to look a right idiot and Janus would be laughed out of the room.

‘Trouble, lad?’ Sokket smirked at him. Edgy’s fingers felt numb, sweat trickled down his back and the room seemed to close in. He gave a squint and a shudder.

‘Really, Envry, you didn’t tell us the lad was illiterate when we let you take him on,’ Mauldeth drawled, stirring his drink and grinning at Edgy.

A stab of annoyance tightened Edgy’s lips.
Illiterate? Cheeky beggar
, Edgy thought. His thumb slid into the book and he opened the page. ‘Here we are,’ he said, grinning back at Mauldeth.
The Legend of Aldorath and Moloch
. Edgy passed the open book to Mauldeth, who scanned the pages before thumping it on to the table with a snort.

‘And that makes it true?’ Mauldeth said.

Milberry picked up the book and peered closely at it, turning the pages and rubbing the cover. ‘This is an old text. Ancient, I should say. You know how reliable they usually prove to be.’

‘Old texts are ones written by demons themselves, Edgy,’ Janus explained. ‘They’re often histories.’

‘But extremely accurate in certain details,’ Milberry added. ‘Very useful. It’s funny, I have a similar copy but I’ve never seen that passage. Very curious.’

‘Well, it doesn’t help us to decide about the damnable expedition,’ Plumphrey said with a belch. ‘It’ll cost a pretty penny.’

‘As my illustrious brother is forever pointing out,’ Janus said with a humourless grin, ‘we aren’t short of money, Plumphrey.’

‘An’ with all due respect, sirs, and ma’am,’ Edgy croaked, ‘the map on the top of Aldorath’s skull – it matches Mr Janus’s charts.’

‘It’s a fool’s errand, I say,’ Sokket murmured, turning his mouth down. ‘Better staying close to home and not risking all on the high seas. I should know, I was a ship’s doctor for long enough.’

‘On the other hand,’ Milberry said, turning Edgy’s book over and over, squinting at the cover, ‘it may just settle the arch-demon debate once and for all . . . I mean, if he did find the remains of Moloch, then that would be proof perfect.’

‘Some members of the Society speculate that demons are just another species of creature on earth, Edgy, and not supernatural at all,’ Janus explained, seeing his confused frown. ‘No human has ever encountered an arch-demon. Even some demons don’t believe in them.’

‘Or in Satan himself,’ Plumphrey said, raising his eyebrows.

Edgy thought about the snake in the library.
Don’t they know? Was that why the snake made me promise to keep quiet?

‘Edgy also managed to bind Belphagor with a riddle and he told us that Moloch’s corpse lies in a land of ice and snow,’ Janus said.

For a moment the governors studied Edgy closely – all except Mauldeth, who steadfastly glared into his tea.

‘Suppose you did find Moloch,’ Sokket said, closing one eye and sucking his cheeks in. ‘What do you propose to do?’

‘Bring him back,’ Janus said, staring at Sokket. ‘Bring him here to the Society.’

‘Bring him back here to show off to all and sundry, no doubt,’ Mauldeth spat. ‘It’s all for glory, isn’t it? You just can’t accept that I made the discovery of the century and that it will never be bested.’

‘How dare you? I would bring Moloch back for scientific study,’ Janus shouted, banging his fist on the table. ‘I’m not interested in your petty glory-seeking.’

‘Gentlemen, please!’ Milberry snapped, jumping to her feet and raising her hand. ‘This has to stop!’

Janus froze, glaring at his brother. Edgy stared from one to the other.

Mauldeth dropped his gaze and clinked his cup back into its saucer. ‘I propose to the governors that Envry’s request to lead an expedition be rejected –’

‘Wait,’ Milberry interrupted. ‘The enterprise does have its merits, even though it is bold and probably reckless.’ She eyed Janus and then continued, ‘However, if the Society is funding it, then more than one fellow should go.’

Janus’s eyes widened. ‘Professor Milberry, I must protest –’

Mauldeth’s eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet. ‘Of course! Such an undertaking needs the close super­vision of more than one fellow. As chancellor, I nominate myself to accompany Envry!’

‘You’ll kill each other,’ Sokket said, his face grey and drawn.

‘Which is why you should accompany them also,’ Milberry said. Janus and Mauldeth turned to her in disbelief.

Sokket tried to speak, gaping like a landed codfish. ‘Me?’ he gasped at last.

‘Why not? After all, you do have experience of the sea, Mortesque,’ Milberry said archly. ‘Didn’t you just mention that you were once a ship’s doctor?’

Edgy didn’t know where to look – at Janus’s furrowed frown, Mauldeth’s gritted teeth or Sokket’s slack-jawed stare.

‘We’ll all drown within the first week,’ murmured Sokket.

Part the Second

Lord Byron
’
s Maggot

Our mate, he is a bully man.

Leave her, Johnny, leave her,

He gives us all the best he can.

And it’s time for us to leave her .

‘Leave Her, Johnny’, traditional sea shanty

Chapter Twenty
-
Six

Setting Sail

Edgy’s stomach churned as he stared from the side of the ship. The docks way below buzzed with activity as an army of workers scurried back and forth bringing last-minute items, checking ropes, shouting and whist­ling to each other. Edgy wrinkled his nose. The stink of the Thames mingled with tar and rope. The dock warehouses loomed above them. The blackened brick walls were dotted with square eyes and shuttered by metal doors. Here and there the swinging arm of a winch poked out as sacks and bales were heaved up to the darkness inside.

The ship bumped gently against the rope buffers that hung the length of the dockside. Its massive steam engine breathed slowly somewhere deep within its bulk.
A huge, black monster
, Edgy thought.

‘Welcome aboard
Lord Byron’s Maggot
,’ Janus had declared, waving his arms to indicate the ship.

‘Lord who’s what?’ Edgy had replied, forgetting himself. ‘Beggin’ your pardon, sir.’

‘A strange name, I’ll grant you, Edgy, but no finer ship could you find to take us on our mission!’

Janus had taken Edgy the length and breadth of the ship explaining each part but all Edgy could remember was that the front was called the bow and the back the stern. The other terms tangled together in Edgy’s mind, a mass of bowsprits, mizzens and top gallants. The only thing that did make sense to Edgy was the huge funnel that jutted out of the centre of the ship.

‘A steamship, Edgy,’ Janus had beamed. ‘One of the fastest and finest. With a hold big enough to carry a . . . well, you know what. An engineering marvel, boy, mark my words.’

‘Like a railway engine, Mr Janus,’ Edgy had said.

‘In a manner of speaking,’ he replied, putting his finger to his bottom lip. ‘A steam engine turns the mighty paddles at the side of the ship. It still uses sail power too. We’ll be at our destination in no time.’

Now Edgy sighed and stared down at the bustling dockside. He wondered what Henry was doing. If only he could have come – but Janus was strict on the matter.

‘No place for a dog on a serious scientific expedition, young man,’ he had said.

‘Don’t worry,’ Sally had said, hugging the dog to her gaunt form. ‘He’s used to me now, he’ll be fine.’

‘Can’t you come and wave me off?’ Edgy had asked.

Sally’s silver eyebrows had creased into a worried frown. ‘You know I can’t, Edgy. I’m tied to this place somehow. I can’t set foot outside much as I’d love to wave you off.’

Milberry had come to see him the night before the voyage. She spread a thick fur coat across his bed.

‘Finest reindeer skin,’ she said. ‘I had it imported. It’ll keep you warm as toast. Take care, my dear.’

She had pulled Edgy to her and embraced him until he’d given an embarrassed cough.

‘Yes, ma’am, I will,’ he said, pulling away. Then he stopped, adding, ‘And thank you for the jacket.’

But to think! A serious scientific expedition, and Edgy was going. Edgy, who just a couple of months ago was only good enough to scoop dog droppings from the street. The governors had all grumbled, of course.

‘And why do you need the boy to go, Envry?’ Sokket had said, massaging his temples and trying to regain his composure after Milberry had nominated him for the voyage.

‘Edgy is crucial to this expedition.’ Janus patted him on the back. Edgy couldn’t help grinning. A warm glow of pride spread up from his stomach. Janus continued, ‘The boy has shown his ability to riddle and to spot disguised demons. He outsmarted Salomé herself not too long ago. I need Edgy on this trip.’

Edgy had felt so proud then but now he felt nervous and lonely. The deck glistened black, worn by a thousand scuffing feet. Everything was black – the ropes, the wood, the warehouses, even the Thames. Soot, tar and the stinking, black river.

‘Ye look a bit lost, young feller,’ a soft voice said, making Edgy turn.

‘Just takin’ this case to Mr Janus’s room, erm, cabin,’ Edgy muttered, nodding down to the trunk by his feet.

A weathered, brown-faced man leaned against some packing cases, hands in the pockets of his stained, white trousers. A short blue jacket told Edgy that this man was a sailor. A round cap covered his greying, slicked-back hair. He looked thin, hook-nosed and seagull-eyed. Thick sideburns fringed his sunken cheeks.