The Jade Boy (16 page)

They were all silent.

After a moment, Ann sighed.

She looked across the table. Her expression was unreadable. “Do you know what an androtheos is?”

“What do you think?” It was his turn to snap.

Ignoring his sulky tone, Ann continued, “The night before he went to France, my guardian communicated with my mother.” She flinched, before continuing, “I didn’t expect him to come to my chamber as he had made the blood bridge just days before.”

She broke off and loosened the ties on her cuff. Rolling her sleeve to the elbow, she exposed the soft
scarred skin of the underside of her arm. A new wound stretched from her wrist to her elbow. It was vicious, deep and jagged and only just beginning to heal. Jem’s throat tightened.

“He did that?”

Ann nodded, unable to continue. Tolly spoke instead. “It bled for hours, Jem. I thought it wouldn’t stop. I– I thought she might…”

Tolly bit his lip and looked down.

Ann rolled back her sleeve and retied the cuff. She sat upright on the bench and shook her head as if trying to clear her mind. “When he made the bridge last time, one word – androtheos – kept ringing in my mind for hours afterwards. My mother planted it there for a reason. I heard it again and again, like an echo.”

She flicked through her little notebook. “I looked it up in the library. It appears in some Roman accounts of Caesar’s invasion of Britain. Apparently, the great emperor was terrified of our primitive pagan ways.”

She smiled tightly. “Ah, here it is. The book was damaged and the page was stained. I couldn’t read it all because some of the words were missing, but this is what I was able to copy and translate.

“‘Androtheos: the man reborn as a god. In ancient
tradition the druids of Britain were said to derive their great power from the Androtheos of their making and their choice. A willing human sacrifice was necessary for the arch-druid to achieve this transformation.’”

She looked up at the boys. “I think there was more about finding the right person and the qualities that person should possess. And there was something about awakening the place of sacrifice, but I couldn’t read it all because the page was badly stained.”

Ann looked back at her notes. “This is how it finished: ‘The druid priests believed that if all this was properly achieved at the appointed place, then all the powers of a god would be granted to their Androtheos.’”

She looked up at Jem and Tolly. “I believe that Cazalon intends to make himself the Androtheos. But who will be his willing human sacrifice?”

She paused for a moment and then, quietly, she answered her own question. “I think it must be you, Jem. Why else would Cazalon have sought the boy of jade for so long unless he needed him for some very particular reason… I think Cazalon is trying to bind you so he can control your mind and make you a
willing
sacrifice.”

Jem clenched his fists. He would let Cazalon do nothing of the kind.

The children sat in baffled, fearful silence. When the trencher of bread and cold meats arrived, none of them felt hungry. It was now early evening and the tavern was becoming noisy and busy. Tolly looked towards the door where a group of rowdy young men were jostling one of the serving girls. His eyes narrowed. “It’s getting late, Ann. We must go.”

He tucked the reluctant Cleo deeper into the folds of his shirt.

“You’re right. I’m certain Tapwick’s still sleeping, but we must be there when he wakes.” Ann stood and put the four shiny coins on the table. As she rose, a ripple of white hair fell back over her shoulders.

Several men stared at her as the little party picked its way through the tavern. They were still several yards from the door when there was a furious shout.

“Oi! You three! Pay me in pebbles, would ya?”

Jem turned to see the tavern keeper lumbering towards them. Her face was red and as she pushed through the crowd she started to roll her greasy sleeves up to her elbows.

“Hold it right there, you thieving vagabonds. Stop them!”

“Run!” Jem yelled at Tolly and Ann, who were ahead of him. “I’ll give you a chance to get clear.”

“But Jem, what about you?” Ann’s voice was full of panic.

“Just go – and don’t look back.” He leapt up onto a long trestle table and let out a loud mocking whistle. Everyone in the alehouse turned to look at the boy on the table and Jem was relieved to see that the momentary distraction gave Tolly, Cleo and Ann the chance to slip through the door up ahead.

He looked at the hostile faces staring at him and took a deep breath. Now what?

He felt excitement and fear flood through him as he made a snap decision.

“Good evening gentlemen,” he shouted, then grinned, bowed and began to race along the table top, jumping easily from table to table and kicking out at the foam-topped tankards in front of the customers. He felt as if he was flying. He revelled in the fact that he moved so fast and leapt so nimbly that no one was able to stop him. Men who weren’t dabbing at their ale-spattered clothes and sodden wigs tried to grab his feet, but he was too quick for them.

Jem had never felt so elated. After years of taking orders in the kitchens and being at everyone’s beck
and call it was as if something in him had been set free.

But when he reached the end of the next trestle table, a group of city men were waiting for him. A rotund alderman with tiny piglike eyes removed his wig, wiped his sweating pate with it and rubbed his hands in anticipation.

“You’ve had it now, my lad.” He started to clamber up onto a bench beside the table so that he could catch hold of the boy, but Jem launched himself into the air and grabbed hold of a metal hoop hanging from chains attached to a beam running across the ceiling. If he could clear just a few feet more he’d almost be at the door.

The hoop held several metal cups set with stinking tallow candles and as Jem swung out over the men at the end of the table, greasy dollops of thick yellow wax rained down on them.

The fat alderman yelped as the hot wax splatted on his bald head and he toppled from the bench, knocking over several of his comrades who floundered around in the damp rushes.

When he had sailed clear, Jem dropped to the floor and darted to the door. The sound of angry shouts rang in his ears as he sprinted down the street.

Bumping and blundering into finely dressed gentlemen, scented ladies, merchants, traders and beggars, Jem ran and ran until it felt as if his heart would burst, and then he ran some more.

When he couldn’t go another step, he staggered into an alleyway and collapsed, choking and gasping for air as he leaned against a stone wall.

After a minute he slid down to a sitting position and rested his head on his knees. His damp curly hair flopped down over his face.

“Ah, here he is!”

Jem heard the sound of clapping and looked up to see Ann and Tolly beaming down at him.

“That was brilliant!” said Tolly, offering a hand to pull Jem to his feet. Cleo was perched on his shoulder. She chattered with excitement and performed a little salute with her good paw.

“That was quite a performance,” said Ann. “We might have ended up in prison tonight if it hadn’t been for you. I’m sorry – I hoped my spell on the pebbles would last longer than that!”

Jem performed another elaborate bow. “It was nothing,” he grinned. “Actually, I really rather enjoyed it!”

The evening was bright and warm as the trio made
their way back to Cheapside, where they would go their separate ways. A man carrying a large square parcel pushed past as they turned into a cobbled side street.

“That reminds me! I forgot to mention the cases,” said Jem. “Huge wooden cases for the duke have been delivered to Ludlow House from Paris. We’re not allowed to open them.”

“They must have come from the count,” said Tolly.

Jem nodded. “They’re all being kept in a locked room and no one is allowed to go in.”

“Can you get in there, Jem?” asked Ann. “Whatever’s inside those boxes it’s obviously something important – and you are the only one of us who can find out what it is. I can give you a charm to—”

“No. I won’t need that,” Jem cut in quickly. He felt funny at the thought of being turned into something strange, and besides, now he thought about it, he did know how to get in. “I think I know a way. But, er, thank you.”

Ann stared at him speculatively. “As you wish. I suggest that we meet again as soon as possible and then you can tell us what you’ve found.”

“As soon as possible? But what about the plot?
What about London?” demanded Jem, also thinking
What about my father?
, but deciding to keep that to himself. “We might be running out of time. We don’t even know what they are actually going to do or when they are going to do it.”

Tolly looked at him intently. An odd expression flickered over his features, before he replied. “Look, we know the count isn’t due to return to London until the end of August and that’s still weeks away – we can be very sure that nothing is going to happen without him. There’s still time, Jem.”

Ann nodded. “And we can’t risk raising Tapwick’s suspicions, so I dare not send him into a long sleep again for several days. But we promise we will send Cleo with a message about another meeting as soon we can.”

Without allowing Jem chance to reply, she continued decisively, “Whatever the day, we will meet at the same hour, at the back gate to Ludlow House. Come on, Tolly, we really must go back. Keep Cleo hidden!”

The children walked together to Cheapside. It was still thronged with people. Dust thrown up by horses and carriage wheels filled the air.
Cracked-voiced
street-sellers carrying broad trays that swung
on leather straps from their necks still tried to attract customers.

A booming voice sounded suddenly from somewhere above them. “Ann! Ann Metcalf. Where the devil have you been?”

A huge hand came down and gripped the girl’s shoulder.

Jem looked up in panic. A dark, broad-shouldered man was leaning down from a covered wagon above them. Ann shrieked and twisted, trying to free herself from the man’s grip. She tried to bite at his stubby fingers, but could not get away.

“She always fought like a tiger, this one.” The booming voice rang out again, but this time, with a chuckle.

“Calm yourself, girl,” the man said, releasing Ann from his grip. “It’s me, Gabriel. Gabriel Jericho.”

“Gabriel! You frightened the life out of me! What on earth are you doing here?” said Ann, finally managing to free herself from his hand. She stood in the street with her hand on one hip, staring indignantly up at him.

Gabriel leaned back on the wooden plank that formed the driving seat and handed the reins to a ruddy-faced boy sitting next to him. Turning to someone behind him in the depths of the wagon he called out.

“Peg, lass. Pass me out a handful of the bills.”

A skinny hand appeared through the flap, thrusting a sheaf of papers at him.

The man leaned over again and handed the children a sheet each.

It was a playbill:

“What do you think of that then, my lady?”

Ann smiled broadly. “I think it shows that your
well-deserved fame has spread far and wide – even to the very highest persons in society.” She laughed, adding, “So, you are to perform before the king himself?”

Gabriel nodded. “But not until the first weekend of September, mind. We’ve been asked to perform at His Majesty’s end-of-summer revels, no less. Before that we thought we’d set up camp in the fields just beyond the northern wall. Reckon we can make a pretty penny from the city folk in the long evenings.”

He pointed with his whip to a dozen or so brightly painted covered wagons halted in a long line behind him, blocking the road. Behind them came of row of heavy flat carts carrying huge rectangular boxes covered with oil skins.

“And how did the king come to hear of you?” Ann asked.

Gabriel shifted his large frame on the narrow seat. “Well, that’s something of a long story. Let’s just say that one of my young actresses has done rather well for herself and is now in a position to do me a bit of good. You might call it a very… personal recommendation.”

Ann grinned and clapped her hands. “Bravo! The king will love you, I know it!” There was a wistful
note to her voice as she continued, “It’s wonderful to see you.”

The man’s eyes crinkled with affection, but then a shadow crossed his face. “And you, little one? How goes it? After your mother and grandmother…” He stopped and then continued, quieter this time. “We looked everywhere for you. Asked in all the towns and villages from Colchester to Norwich and no one knew where you were. It was as if you’d been spirited away.”

Ann looked at her feet. When she looked up again her eyes were brimming with tears. “That’s a long story too, Gabriel. Not one for the street.”

The man nodded and bent to put a hand to her shoulder. “In your own time, my love,” he said. “You come and find us at the Spital Fields and we’ll speak. You’ll find some familiar faces here, lass.”

He looked at Jem and Tolly properly for the first time. “These your friends then?”

At that moment Cleo stuck her nose out of Tolly’s shirt. She sniffed the air suspiciously and looked down the road at the wagons and carts before leaping deftly onto the boy’s head, where she balanced delicately, craning her neck for a better look at the procession.

Gabriel gave a huge laugh of surprise. “A moor and a monkey? Well, I never. There’s always a place for you two in my troupe, lad – just you remember that.”

The city church bells began to ring out. It was six. Gabriel frowned and looked back at the wagons, before turning to Ann again. “We’d best be off, lass. They close the Bishop’s Gate at seven, and we’ll be fined if we end up locked inside the city. You come and find us.”

It was definitely time to move on. The odd procession was blocking the road and angry voices could be heard calling out in complaint from the rear.

The man cracked his whip and the cart rumbled forward.

“Wait! Wait!” Ann ran until she was level with him again. “Take us with you.”

Jem and Tolly exchanged astonished glances.

Gabriel reined back the horses and Ann continued in a rush. “You said there was a place for Tolly and Cleo here in your troupe?”

The big man nodded. “He’s a fine-looking lad and the monkey is a little beauty. We could work them into the act with no trouble. And you don’t need to ask for yourself – your mother was a dear friend,
it’s the least I can do, to look out for her beloved daughter.”

Ann turned excitedly to Tolly, her eyes were sparkling. “Don’t you see? We don’t have to go back to Malfurneaux Place at all, Tolly. Jericho will give us a home. We will become players and we will be safe among friends. Cazalon won’t ever be able to experiment on you or Cleo, or… well, you know…” She rubbed at her arm before continuing, “and with Jem’s help we can still stop the plot against the city.”

Tolly looked confused. “But what about your things, your mother’s books? Perhaps we should collect them and then…”

“There’s no need,” Ann smiled. “Everything I’ve ever cared for in that hideous house is here on the street with me now. We can be free at last and we can make a new home with Gabriel here.” She grinned shyly up at the man on the wagon. “It’s… it’s all right, isn’t it?” she asked.

He laughed and simply offered her his huge hand to pull her up beside him. “And you lad, too. Up you come,” he added, shifting on the seat to make extra space for Tolly. “What’s the monkey’s name, then?” he asked as the boy clambered aboard.

“She’s called Cleo,” said Tolly. He frowned for
a moment and then asked, “Sir, that smell. Do you… are there any… lions with you?”

Gabriel slapped his thigh and his huge booming laugh echoed across the street.

“Indeed there are, lad. And you’re a sharp one to notice it. I’ve got two of them under wraps in the last wagon there.”

He pointed back with his whip. “But I don’t like to let people see them until they’ve put money in my pocket. How did you know?”

“It was the smell,” Tolly said. “When I was small my father gave me a lion cub as a pet. I recognised the scent, immediately.” Tolly sounded happier than Jem had ever heard him.

More angry yells reminded them all that they were blocking the way. Gabriel twitched the reins and his wagon jolted forward again.

“What about you, young sir? You coming too?” He smiled warmly at Jem.

The boy shook his head sadly. “I can’t. But I’ll come and find you all soon,” he called as the wagons rumbled away.

Ann and Tolly leaned out over the side and looked back. Their faces shone with excitement.

“It’s up to you now, Jem,” Ann called back. “If we
can fit all the pieces of this puzzle together, then we’ll see the whole picture. Find out what’s in those boxes…”

She and Tolly waved until the wagons reached the end of the street and turned left in a cloud of dust. The thought that his friends would never again have to face the horrors of Malfurneaux Place made Jem smile. He turned and headed in the opposite direction.

But as he entered the street leading to Ludlow House he didn’t notice the huge white bird that circled overhead. The raven performed another lazy circuit of the sky before flapping its enormous wings and soaring off to the south.