The Word of God (38 page)

“Quick!” Joy cried. “After them!”

Inspector Goldstein held her but signalled the sergeant. He raced forward, jumped the fence and ran to the other side of the house. He vanished from sight. As he did a car started up and was heard to drive off along the next street.

Joy tried to break free. “Oh quick! They are getting away!” she wailed.

Chapter 24

GET IN!

I
nspector Goldstein gripped Joy's arm to restrain her. At the same moment he yelled at the top of his voice: “Constable Price!”

There was an answering yell from next door. Inspector Goldstein released Joy's arm and took out his mobile phone. By the time Senior Constable Price appeared Inspector Goldstein had made contact with Police HQ in Atherton and was passing information.

Price dashed up. “Sir?”

“Car, old saloon, Vauxhaul I think, in the next street going that way. After it. Follow and report. Don't try to close or stop them as they have a hostage. Quick! Go!”

Price dashed off. As he did the Detective Sergeant came running back. “Same car sir,” he yelled. “They went off along that street and turned left.”

“You join in the chase. Go the other way out of town in case the Senior loses them,” Inspector Goldstein ordered. Then he turned to the others, who were standing in an agitated group. “I am going to search this house. You are to come in and sit in a group while I do it. Two of you: Kirk and Bronsky, are to keep watch out the front; and the other two are to watch the back. Sir Miles, I'm sorry but I must ask you to remain.”

Followed by the cadets he walked around to the front door, all the while talking on his mobile, asking for information and extra officers. At the front he did not hesitate but, with the skill of long practice, kicked the door in. He then held his pistol ready to use. “Wait here.”

The friends stood in a distressed and anxious group at the front while Inspector Goldstein went into the darkened house. After a minute a light clicked on, then another. The Inspector made his way from room to room, switching on all the lights.

From the front came a voice. “What's goin' on eh?”

Peter turned and saw a hillbilly-looking man in his early twenties leaning over the side fence. Two more joined him and a fat woman and two children could be seen on the steps of the next house. Peter realized that the commotion had attracted the attention of several other neighbours as well.

“The police are looking for Mr Durward,” he replied.

The ‘Hillbilly' laughed and pushed his battered cowboy hat back on his head. “The cops lookin' fer Old Ned! Bloody hell, that's a first! I never thought the old wowser did anything but weed the bloody garden and go to church.”

“Have you seen him today?” Peter asked.

“Not since yesterdee. ‘e went orf with the two blokes from over the road in their Land Cruiser.”

“What time was that?” Peter asked.

“'bout five O'clock I reckon. What's ‘e done the old bugger? Wot do the coppers want ‘im for eh?” Hillbilly asked.

Peter didn't answer but called Inspector Goldstein who came out and questioned the man at some length. The man became very truculent and reticent so the Inspector gained little more than Peter had already gleaned, except that the two men who lived over the road were Americans who spent a lot of time in the bush prospecting.

“Americans?” Joy queried. Peter shrugged. He had no answer to that.

The group were then shepherded into the front room of the house. “Stay here please so you don't touch anything,” Inspector Goldstein ordered. He then began another, slower, more systematic search of the house, stopping from time to time to talk on his mobile phone. During one of these conversations they heard him say quite distinctly: “Damn and blast! Where did he lose them?”

That sent a shaft of despair through Peter. Joy looked very distressed. Without thinking about what he was doing Peter moved and put his arm around Joy's shoulders and hugged her to him. “Gwen will be alright. We will get her back safely,” he said, but without much conviction. Images of the rotting corpses on the Pyramid swirled in his consciousness, making him even more upset.

Inspector Goldstein came into the room. “Bad news I'm afraid. We lost them.”

“Where?” Graham asked.

“They went west along the road past a place called Bromfield Swamp and turned off towards the Kennedy Highway near Mount Weerimba,” Inspector Goldstein replied. “If those names mean anything to you.”

“Yes, they do,” Graham replied. “We hiked across near there last year. So they went off towards either Atherton or Ravenshoe?”

Inspector Goldstein shrugged. “Don't know. Never mind, the police are setting up road blocks in every small town and we are having extra officers called in. We will find them, don't worry.”

“Don't worry!” Megan wailed. She burst into tears and Joy moved to comfort her, looking very strained herself.

Graham turned to Peter. “Did you hear what the Black Monk called Sir Richard?” he asked.

“Yes, what did it mean?” Inspector Goldstein asked.

“Der Schwarze Ritter,” Graham said. “It's German for The Black Knight.”

“That figures,” Inspector Goldstein replied.

Sir Miles pursed his lips. “Black hearted traitor more like!” he hissed savagely.

Inspector Goldstein went back to his search. When asked he allowed Joy and Megan to use the toilet. Time went by. Peter began to really feel the effects of the day's exertions. His muscles tightened up and he could hardly keep his eyes open. Sir Miles stretched out on a couch and dropped off to sleep, his face white and drawn.

A police car arrived and a uniformed sergeant and two constables came in. They were briefed and set to work searching. Inspector Goldstein came out scratching his head. “Beats me. I can't find any sign of a struggle, nor any papers which might shed light on where Old Ned has gone.”

Peter pointed through the front door. “What about the men over the road, the Americans?” he suggested.

“I'm just about to investigate them,” Inspector Goldstein replied. He called the sergeant and one of the constables and went off across the street. The friends watched through the windows but saw little. They did hear knocking, then a crash as the door was forced. Lights came on in the house.

A white 4WD arrived. It was the Detective Sergeant. He had nothing to report and was directed to where the Inspector was.

Half an hour went by. Peter went to the toilet, then stretched out on the floor, feeling both very tired and very hungry.

At length Inspector Goldstein returned. “Nothing,” he reported. “The house is quite empty, as though it hasn't been lived in for weeks.”

Joy looked puzzled. “Did you find out who the men are?” she asked.

Inspector Goldstein shook his head. “Not a clue. We are doorknocking the neighbours now and will have a check done with the Council and the Real Estate people to find out who was renting the place, or who owns it. But we won't be able to do that till tomorrow unfortunately.”

“What about Old Ned's daughter?” Joy suggested.

“And his priest,” Graham added. “If he was very religious his priest might be able to add something.”

Stephen polished his glasses and put them on. “The old coot might have just gone orchid hunting. If he was pinching orchids from a national park he would keep that quiet.”

Joy looked scandalized. “Stephen! Don't be horrible! You don't know anything about him,” she scolded.

Stephen shrugged. “No, maybe not. Anyway Inspector, what about us?”

“I think I'd better keep you at the police station for the night. Then, when we have more information in the morning, I will decide if you go home; or into protective custody.”

“What about our parents?” Megan asked anxiously.

“We will keep them informed but out of it for the moment,” Inspector Goldstein said.

That made Peter's mind function. “Poor old Captain Conkey! He will be expecting us to be at Kearneys Flats, down in the Mulgrave Valley; and here we are up on the Tablelands.”

Graham laughed. “I thought you said we weren't coming here?” he said.

Peter managed a weak grin. “I hope it doesn't get any colder. We left our packs half way up Robsons Track!”

That made them aware that it was getting cool. Inspector Goldstein made another phone call, then said: “I have called Senior Constable Price back. He will take you to the police station and arrange for you to be bunked down for the night. When you get there you can phone Captain Conkey. Wait till I arrive before you call your parents though.”

They had to wait another fifteen minutes before the Senior Constable arrived. Under the curious gaze of the neighbours they were led out.

Graham pointed. “Can we get our gear out of that other vehicle?” he asked.

Inspector Goldstein nodded. “Yes, but leave that rifle in there,” he replied.

As the cadets extracted their webbing they found Gwen's. That was an emotional moment. Peter grabbed it and slung it over his shoulder.

Joy asked: “What about that man who was shot, the Mad Prophet, is he alright?”

Inspector Goldstein nodded. “He is in surgery at the moment but the doctors are confident he will live.” he answered.

“What about the snake bite victim?” Peter asked.

“He will live. We got him there on time. Now get in,” Inspector Goldstein replied.

They climbed in the back of the police 4WD. Inspector Goldstein gave
a few instructions to the officers at the house, then climbed in the front. The vehicle started up and they drove down to the main road. As they drove along the main street Stephen pointed to a Cafe. “Food. Can we get a feed please sir? I'm starving.”

“Yes, I suppose so. Have you got any money?” Inspector Goldstein asked.

“Yes sir.”

At Inspector Goldstein's instructions Senior Constable Price braked the vehicle. “The Police Station is just along there another three buildings. You can see the sign from here. Don't be long, half an hour,” he said.

“I see it,” Peter replied, noting the bluish fluorescent light on a pole further along the footpath.

Megan looked anxiously along the quiet street. “Is it safe?” she asked. “Do you think the Black Monk might come back for us?”

Inspector Goldstein barked a short laugh. “I doubt it very much. He was last seen driving very fast away from here.”

“What about other Devil Worshippers?” Joy asked.

Inspector Goldstein shook his head. “You are getting paranoid. We have captured the rest of his gang. He and that Sir Richard fellow are on the run; the hunters, not the hunted. Just stay together in a group and you should be safe enough. Now get some food and don't take too long. Buy it and bring it to the station to eat. And don't leave your gear in this vehicle. It is going straight out on the search.”

The cadets climbed out, hauling their webbing out with them. Peter kept a grip on Gwen's gear as well as his own. Sir Miles joined them on the brightly lit footpath. They dumped the webbing on the footpath. It seemed to be colder then and they were glad to make their way into the warmth of the cafe. Peter didn't think he would be able to eat as he was very upset and overwrought but the moment he smelt the hot food he felt ravenous. He persuaded Joy to buy something as well.

A cheerful, middle aged lady served them. “It will take a few minutes to cook these hamburgers dearies,” she said.

With nothing better to do the group drifted back outside to where two tables and eight chairs allowed them somewhere to sit. While they waited they talked and drank fruit juice or flavoured milk. The town was very quiet. There were noises of voices and the clink of glasses from the hotel on the corner and there was another shop open over the road but hardly any traffic and not a pedestrian to be seen.

“Malanda by night eh?” Stephen offered.

Peter smiled. “Like it was when we were here for New Year's Eve a couple of years ago.”

The boys all laughed at the memory. Graham chuckled. “It has its moments I'm told,” he replied. “Now you lot, give us the details of what happened on the mountain.”

They began to discuss and recount the events of the day. As they talked something that Inspector Goldstein had said niggled in the back of Peter's mind, but he couldn't pin down what it was that was worrying him.

A car went past and he watched it idly. Then a dog walked across the road further along. A truck roared past, slowed, then went around the corner near the hotel. Sir Miles was required to explain the quest for the scroll to Graham and Megan. Peter could tell instantly that the idea of helping the knight on his quest appealed strongly to Graham.

Too romantic for his own good!
Peter thought fondly.

A truck came slowly along the street from the direction of the police station.

Peter took no notice of it until it pulled in to the kerb next to them. Then he glanced at it idly. It was of the sort used to deliver milk or bread with a cabin on the tray. The driver and another man climbed out on different sides. The passenger was a lean, hard looking man in his thirties, dressed in greasy brown trousers and a grey woollen shirt. On his belt was a huge bowie knife.

The man walked straight over to them. Peter thought he was going to ask a question but found himself staring at a huge revolver that the man produced from behind his back. He pointed this at Joy. Fear and shock froze the group.

Peter found he was quite calm, though utterly surprised.

The man spoke, his voice a sharp American accent. “Not a sound folks, or this little lady gets it. Now grab your gear and get into the back of the truck. Nobody call out or make a fuss. Be quick about it.”

The revolver looked positively enormous. It also looked very old fashioned.

A Navy Colt .44?
Peter wondered.