The Silent Pool (42 page)

Pete moved, even though his stomach was sending flashing pangs of pain that nearly made him pass out, and ran towards the flailing figure of Barry under the flag. He punched hard and fast at Barry's head area hidden under the flag. The kicking and flailing stopped but Pete didn't. When you loaded a weapon, you used it and Pete wasn't taking any chances. Using every last reserve of strength left in him he picked up the flag and bundled it and Barry over the parapet.

***

Erasmus began to move but as he did so something caught his eye. High above the city at the top of the Anglican tower something had happened to the flag, it was falling slowly, twisting towards the ground. A hooded figure was waving from the tower.

He spun on his heels and faced Cooper.

‘What are you doing?’ squealed Cooper.

Erasmus punched Cooper hard in the face and he collapsed.

As he was laying there dazed and bloody, Erasmus knelt down next to him. ‘Hold this!’

Erasmus grabbed Cooper's right hand and prised open his fingers. He placed the pen in it. He let go of the pen plunger so that the bomb was armed and would detonate unless the top of the pen was pressed down again. Cooper instinctively pressed down on the pen's top preventing a detonation.

‘It's your choice now. What are you going to do?’

Cooper had turned pale.

Erasmus took off the jacket and placed it on the floor. The wire between the pen and the vest was taut.

‘I thought as much. You better take that along to the bomb disposal unit then.’

He threw the explosive vest on top of Cooper.

Above them the Mayor was reaching the climax of his speech. ‘I will be the friend of the faithful of all denominations and friend to those of no faith. As some famous sons of this city once said, “Money can't buy you love,” and I have no love for Kirk Bovind. He has been seeking to buy this city for his faith and I say no more!’

There were cheers from the secularists and catcalls from the Third Wavers.
Nothing would change
, thought Erasmus. No one's opinions would be swayed. Each side would look at the Mayor and place his actions within the context of their own arguments and prejudice.

Erasmus ran through the crowd and then spotted a police officer standing next to his motorcycle. Erasmus didn't alter his pace, he ran over to the policeman pushed him to the floor and jumped on his bike.

‘Sorry, pal. I just think I'll get this done quicker,’ he said to the prone policeman who was looking at him in disbelief.

‘By the way, your Officer Cooper, he's a suicide bomber. He's wearing a vest back there. You better call the bomb disposal guys.’

CHAPTER 61

Erasmus covered the distance to Miranda's house in Allerton in less than ten minutes. He knew Bovind would have realised that something was wrong but his gamble was that he would rely on the Pastor to take care of the more gruesome part of business.

Erasmus coasted the bike right up the path to the porch and jumped off. In the same movement he put his foot to the door and crashed through the small hall into the lounge.

The video feed from Abby and Miranda's house had shown only one man and Erasmus’ tactics depended on that still being the case.

Abby and Miranda were laying on the floor, asleep or dead he couldn't tell. There was no sign of anybody else.

In despair, Erasmus leaned down and then almost cried out with relief as he saw Abby's little chest move. Her hands were tied to Miranda's and in turn tied to a leg of the heavy oak table in the living room.

Abby gave a little cough and her eyes opened. ‘Daddy!’ she exclaimed.

He hugged her tight to his chest.

Miranda woke up, her eyes full of fear and relief. He quickly untied them both.

‘You bastard, Erasmus,’ she sobbed. She hit on the chest and then Miranda broke down crying.

Erasmus hugged her tight to him.

Suddenly she cried out, ‘Watch out!’

Erasmus would have dived out of the way but he couldn't put Abby in the path of the blow he knew must be coming. Instead, he stood up hoping that the blow already on its way wouldn't find his head.

Luckily, he was right, but the machete that had been aimed at his carotid artery instead found the meat of his back, slicing open flesh and muscle.

Erasmus realised that the scream he could hear was his own, that of a wounded animal. He heard the blade lodge with a sickening wet thump in the table. Erasmus looked down to see it covered in his blood and lumps of flesh.

He reacted, spinning backwards and pivoting on his right heel, bringing his right elbow swinging round at what he hoped was neck height. His assailant was tall and the point of his elbow slammed into the man's chest bone.

A neck blow would have incapacitated and maybe killed the man but the chest hit merely sent him flying backwards.

Erasmus completed his turn, his knee hitting Miranda hard on the side of the head. She passed out and Erasmus came face to face with the Pastor. The Pastor hissed at him and then pulled a black switchblade from his inside suit pocket. Erasmus could see the handle was decorated with a mother of pearl crucifix.

He thought about the machete but to turn his back on the Pastor and try to get it would be suicide.

The Pastor was quick, lightning quick. He shot forward and lunged at Erasmus. Erasmus didn't take his eyes from the blade and at the last second he stepped to the side, the knife missing his torso by millimetres.

Keeping his eyes on the blade came at a cost. The Pastor's forehead smashing into Erasmus’ already broken nose. There was a crack of bone splintering and bright, white light flooded Erasmus’ vision. It was only Abby's screams that kept him from passing out.

He shook his head and spat out the blood that was flooding his mouth from the break. He assumed a piece of bone had pierced his nasal cavity. He hadn't noticed the pain from his back yet, the endorphins and adrenaline doing their work but now, as he turned towards sounds of the screams, the fury of his back wound erupted. He cried out in pain.

The Pastor smiled. He could see Erasmus was badly wounded.

‘You can't fight against God,’ said the Pastor, his long fingers playing on the knife's handle expertly.

The Pastor charged again but this time Erasmus was ready. He quickly stepped forward between the Pastor's arm and his body. Erasmus slammed his right fist into the solar plexus of the Pastor causing him to double up as the wind was knocked from him. As he sank towards the floor Erasmus brought his fist down in a blow to the back of the Pastor's neck. He collapsed in a heap at Erasmus’ feet.

Erasmus, bloody and battered, staggered towards Abby. She was crying.

‘Are you OK, darling?’ he asked her.

‘You're bleeding, Daddy.’

‘I'll be fine. I just need you to go outside until the ambulance arrives. Is that OK?’

She nodded.

Erasmus picked her up and carried her outside. ‘Sit here and whatever happens don't come into the house. Do you promise, Abby?’

‘Will you come and get me, Daddy? I'm scared. Will that man try to hurt us again?’

‘I'll be a minute, darling. And that man will never, ever be able to hurt you again.’

Erasmus left her on the doorstep and closed the door behind him as he re-entered the house. He went to the table and pulled out the machete. It was lodged in deeply and covered with pieces of his flesh. It felt heavy in his hands.

He walked over to the prone form of the Pastor and pulled back the collar of his shirt. He raised the machete.

‘Don't.’ It was Miranda. From under the table she was looking at him with terror and disgust in her eyes.

He looked at this woman, the woman he loved. For a second he stood like that, swaying from blood loss and fatigue.

Miranda stood up and came across to him. ‘For Abby's sake, for your own, please don't.’

He felt weary, exhausted with it all. Didn't she see that if he didn't do it then Abby would never be safe? He had promised Abby.

‘Don't Erasmus. You can't be this way.’

‘Daddy?’

He looked towards the door. Abby stood there, eyes wide in fear.

‘Don't hurt him. It's wrong to kill. It's a commandment.’

He swayed on his feet. Battered and bloody he may be, but he knew that what he did next, would define the rest of his life.

He roared and brought the machete down with a thump lodging the blade deep in the table.

‘Thank you,’ said Miranda.

‘I did it for Abby. Now let's tie him up.’

They hog-tied the Pastor using Miranda's plastic washing line.

Outside the house Erasmus sat on the step with Abby. He put his arm around her.

‘Are you OK, honey?’ he asked her.

She lent into him. ‘It was horrible, Daddy. He had a knife.’

‘I know, honey, I know. He can't hurt you though. No one can. How are you though? How are you feeling?’

She looked up at him. ‘I feel better now you've rescued us. It's just like in the movies. You saved us but you look bad. Does it hurt lots?’

For once Erasmus felt grateful for the desensitising effects of television. If Abby could so soon afterwards place events in that context maybe, just maybe the she would be all right in the short term. As for the long term effects, God only knew. The guilt was overwhelming.

‘Only when I smile,’ he said.

Miranda sat down next to them.

‘I called an ambulance and the police,’ she said.

Erasmus placed his arm around both of them and held them silently until an ambulance turned into the close.

‘How do you know the man won't hurt me, Daddy?’

Erasmus looked at Miranda. ‘Because he's tied up inside and he will be going to prison for a very long time.’

Abby hugged him harder. ‘Thank you, Daddy,’ she said.

Erasmus took the more senior paramedic to on aside and explained he was waiting for the police. The paramedic took one look at Erasmus and told him that as far as he could see the person most in need of treatment was Erasmus.

‘Just get my family to the hospital,’ was Erasmus’ reply.

Erasmus knelt down and spoke to Abby. She was laughing, a good sign, hoped Erasmus. ‘What's funny, darling?’ he asked.

‘You've got a silly face.’

She giggled even more. He tickled her.

‘Well, you've got a silly Daddy.’

‘No, Daddy's not silly.’

‘Listen, honey. These people are doctors and they are here to take care of you and Mummy. They are going to take you to the hospital and look after you. Mummy is a bit sad so I will need you to look after her. Can you do that?’

‘Ye, Daddy. Will you be with us? I want you to be with us.’

‘I will in a bit. I have to speak to the policeman first and then I will be with you and I will never let you go.’

‘Is that a promise, Daddy?’

‘Yes, that's a promise, princess.’

He kissed Abby on her forehead.

Truth was that Erasmus was concerned about Miranda. She looked terrible and he suspected that she was in shock. He helped them into the ambulance. He had explained to the paramedic in no uncertain terms that the Pastor would not be travelling in the same ambulance and the paramedic had agreed and had called another ambulance to the scene.

Erasmus watched the ambulance go. He decided that he deserved a cigarette more than at any other time in his life and cursed the fact that he didn't have any. He sat and waited for the police to arrive.

CHAPTER 62

Mayor Lynch felt free.

He left the stage to boos, jeers, even some missiles which he suspected were pint glasses full of urine but he had done the right thing and his soul was singing. His political career was over, he was sure Bovind would see to that, and his marriage was on the rocks. But a shadow had gone. He was his own man again.

Professor Cannon gripped him by the elbow as they left the stage. ‘Marvellous! We will wipe these superstitious idiots out yet, eh, Mayor, with more people like you!’

The Mayor took hold of Professor Cannon's hand and removed it from his elbow.

‘There is no “we” Cannon. Some people need, want faith and you need to recognise that humans are bloody well just that, human!’

He didn't look back at a stunned Professor as he descended the steps of the rear of the stage.

Anthony was waiting at the bottom of the steps. He looked terrified.

‘What the fuck have you done! You've ruined everything!’ he screamed at the Mayor.

The Mayor didn't break stride as he punched Anthony in the face. Anthony fell back onto his backside and began to cry.

The Mayor was about to ask if him if was all right when a gaggle of police officers appeared. A worried looking sergeant announced in an authoritative tone that the area was being evacuated and they all had to leave at once.

The Mayor pulled him to one side. ‘What's going on?’

The sergeant leaned in towards the Mayor. ‘We just found one of our men with a suicide vest. He was going to kill you, Mr Mayor, but you're safe now.’

The Mayor gripped hold of the metal handrail.

‘Are you OK, sir?’

The Mayor swayed for a second and then regained his balance. ‘I am now, yes, Sergeant. Now, get this people out of here.’

‘Yes, sir!’

The sergeant turned on his heels and began to move the few people still remaining away from the backstage area. The Mayor watched Anthony scurry away. He looked up at the crisp blue November sky and for the first time in a long time he felt at peace.

CHAPTER 63

Erasmus didn't have long to wait until a car turned into the cul-de-sac. It was a BMW and Erasmus presumed it must be CID. But as it came closer Erasmus recognised the car: it wasn't the police.

It pulled up and out stepped Jenna and Dan.

Jenna ran up to Erasmus and wrapped her arms around him.

‘I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about the letters. I just wanted you to find Stephen. You look terrible. Are you OK?’

‘It's OK and I'll live,’ said Erasmus. ‘No one was to know about Bovind's plans, what he was capable of. How did you know I was here?’

Dan coughed.

‘Pete called me told me the score. I was already on the way to Jenna's so I stopped and picked her up. Are Abby and Miranda OK?’