Fiendish Schemes by K. W. Jeter Read Free Book Online Page A

situation was to a small degree improved, this distraction having given Stonebrake an opportunity to regain his composure. A simmering anger still hardened his features, but he no longer seemed intent on murdering me. He released me and stood back, attending to various fastenings of his diving garment that had become disarranged in our one-sided scuffle. For my part, I managed to push myself into a sitting posture against the wall, as I wiped the blood from my mouth.
    “Do you know what this is?”
    I looked at the bright bit of metal caught between the other’s thumb and forefinger. “A crown,” I said. My ability to speak was restored to a small degree. “Coin of the realm.”
    “Indeed.” Stonebrake returned the item to the pouch on his belt. “You need such. Don’t attempt to deny it. And I want such. A great many of them.”
    “I thought you were a man of the cloth. Or at least affiliated—”
    “That might be,” spoke Stonebrake grimly. “But I am not a bloody idiot. An opportunity has arisen to garner wealth beyond your dreams—though not beyond my desires. The mere fact that you are essential to that acquisition will not deter me from the pursuit. You will aid me, and profit thereby, whether you choose to or not.”
    His words baffled me. “What assistance can I provide?”
    “I have come to tell you as much. The relation will take some time, as the matter is unusually complicated, with aspects I anticipate will be unfamiliar to you. We had best begin at once, as my journey here was accomplished in secret, and I must return before the morning light reveals my absence.”
    “Indeed.” I was thankful that my lip had stopped bleeding, though the side of my jaw still ached a bit. “Matters of which I know nothing, yet to which I am essential—can you provide a reason I should believe you about this?”
    “You will find my exposition convincing, I assure you.” Stonebrake brushed his hair, disarranged during his attack upon my person, back from his brow. A thin smile flitted to one corner of his mouth, signaling the resumption of his pretense to gentility. “Or convincing enough. You have a skeptic trait about you—not a bad thing at all; I share as much—so I anticipate that you will not believe completely until you have a letter of credit at the Bank of England that can levitate itself and raise the dead, so great are its powers.”
    The passion with which he spoke I found both intimidating and oddly beguiling. As I had indicated previously to the reader of these lines, my thoughts had become somewhat disordered due to my trying circumstances. The speaking aloud to myself was one telling indicator. But there were others, more serious—as a rule, self-destruction is not embarked upon with a cheerful demeanour, nor with everything perfectly straightened and in place within one’s mind.
    “Hear me out, at least.” Stonebrake discerned the direction of my thoughts. “Set aside your plans of suicide for the balance of the night. I would sooner have you willingly offer your aid, than force your coöperation in this glorious scheme.”
    That seemed a point reasonable enough. What was there for me to lose, that I had not already determined to discard forever? The prospect of my annihilation, achieved by my own initiative, had the liberating effect of placing me beyond the usual earthly cares. If nothing the man had to say was of interest, then I could simply proceed upon my previous course of action without qualm.
    “Very well,” I said. “Tell me what you will.”
    “Not here.” Stonebrake reached his hand down toward mine, to draw me to my feet. “Let us go for a little walk.”

CHAPTER
4
A Low Proposition Is Offered,
Then Accepted
    I NSPIRING—DON’T you think?”
    I wrapped my arms more tightly about myself, shivering inside my thin jacket. The offshore winds had quickened, driving away the rain clouds, but also chilling the flesh on one’s bones.
    “To a certain degree,” I replied