City of Devils: A Novel by Diana Bretherick Read Free Book Online Page B

but of what, he wondered. Finally Sofia paused at a doorway, knocked and ushered him into a room then left.
    It was not the one he had found himself in the day before, although it too had shelves from floor to ceiling, but instead of the various artefacts that he had examined, there were what seemed like hundreds of skulls, staring down at him, each with a label attached.
    In the centre of the room was a contraption that in some ways resembled the one he had assisted Professor Lombroso with the day before. This one, however, had no straps. There was a platform in the centre and some dials and metal rulers. James had started to examine it, lifting each piece with care and trying to work out exactly what it was for, when the door opened and Lombroso bounded in. He slapped him on the back with such enthusiasm that he almost lost his footing.
    ‘Ah, Murray, you have returned. I thought perhaps you might have changed your mind and abandoned us!’
    ‘Not at all, Professor,’ he replied truthfully. ‘If anything I am even more determined to stay, if you will have me, that is. I wanted to ask you about yesterday—’
    ‘Young man,’ Lombroso interrupted, ‘I am delighted that you are still wishing to assist me! Welcome to my laboratory.’ He beamed at him and shook his hand energetically.
    James was somewhat taken aback. It was almost as if the murder had never happened. He wondered whether to mention it again but decided against it. Clearly Lombroso did not wish to talk about it at present and he was hardly in a position to force the issue. He resolved to bring it up later, perhaps over lunch.
    Lombroso guided him towards the door. ‘Now, allow me to show you round properly. I will take you through each room and I hope that by the end of the tour you will have reached a full understanding of what I am trying to achieve.’
    James nodded. All doubt finally left him. This was where he was meant to be; he had a purpose, and in order to achieve it he knew that he needed to be single-minded in its pursuit.
    He looked over to the contraption that he had begun to examine a few moments before. ‘Could I ask you first, Professor, is that machine a Benedikt craniophore?’
    Lombroso smiled at him. ‘It is indeed. I am delighted that you recognise it.’
    ‘I have only seen drawings before, Professor. Do you use it often?’
    ‘We do, Murray, we do,’ Lombroso said proudly. ‘In fact I would say that this is perhaps the most significant item in the museum.’ He went over to it and began to stroke it, almost as if it were a family pet. ‘As I expect you know, it is used for holding and orienting skulls in order to measure them. I find it rather difficult to use, like so many other instruments. That is one of the areas in which I am hoping you will be able to assist me.’ He paused for a second and looked dreamily into the distance, a soft smile on his face as if he was remembering something fondly. Then all of a sudden he turned and walked away, beckoning to James to follow. ‘Come, young man, let’s us start our tour. There is much ground to be covered!’
    The first room contained a number of oversized models of carnivorous plants and Lombroso took great delight in declaring each and every one of them a murderer. James began to laugh and then, seeing the professor’s serious expression, wished he hadn’t.
    ‘You see this reprobate here, Murray? This is the drosera. When an insect lands here . . .’ He indicated a small leafy disc. ‘Snap! It is immediately enfolded by these tentacles. They compress the poor creature, sucking the life out of it. Lured by a sweet and honeyed promise and then digested to death – it is not a pleasant way to die. If that is not murder then I do not know what is!’
    James frowned. He was not entirely convinced by Lombroso’s argument. ‘Don’t plants eat insects in order to survive, Professor? Is that really murder?’
    Lombroso peered at him. ‘Survival may be the motive but the