Kultus by Richard Ford Read Free Book Online Page B

fantassins, showing them the tattoo.
    ‘Do either of you recognise this?’ she asked, hoping that the insalutary circles Bounder and Hodge were wont to move in might explain something about the marking. Both men looked at her with bewildered expressions. She made a mental note not to ask for their input in future – they were good at their jobs, but as sources of information they were as much use as a blank notepad.
    Then she saw it. On the ground surrounding the body, what at first had appeared to be detritus on the ground was, on closer examination, a collection of man-made impressions. Amelia leaned forward, her head inches from the floor as she tried to decipher the strange devices. They were like nothing she had ever seen, and at first she thought they were part of some exotic language.
    ‘Transmundane script,’ said a voice she recognised.
    Surrey was still here.
    She stood and glanced at him, trying her best to disguise the fact that she had no idea what he was talking about. ‘I thought we had established this was my investigation.’
    ‘The writings of the occult,’ he continued. She wanted to punch him, right in that smug smile of his, but it would be most ungracious at this point. ‘I just thought you might not be familiar with it. Not to worry, most people aren’t. They find the whole ‘preternatural science’ thing a little disconcerting.’
    Bounder and Hodge took a step towards Surrey, but he did not move, instead widening his smile all the more.
    ‘All right,’ said Amelia. At her words the fantassins stopped moving. ‘Are you suggesting this was done by a group of raving cultists? Or perhaps even a demon? Did it rip the Earl’s heart out and eat it?’
    Surrey took a step forward, squeezing himself between Bounder and Hodge to stand beside her. ‘There are all kinds of depraved sects within the Manufactory, my dear Amelia. You know as well as I do that in our job we get to see all the best kinds of maniac. However, some say that there are those who can actually commune with the netherplanes. Able to call upon demonic agents to come forth and do their bidding.’
    Now it was Amelia’s turn to smile. ‘There is nothing that occurs in the Manufactory that can’t be explained by bioscience and conventional wisdom, Surrey. You know that as well as I.’
    ‘What I know is that the Lexiconium does not just detail murders, rapes and robberies. There is a certain strongroom with journals piled to the rafters full of the weird and wonderful. Arcane mysteries, ancient manuscripts, forbidden dossiers detailing every aspect of this city’s secrets. Things that cannot be explained through the precepts of bioscience.’
    ‘You’ve been spending too much time at the Repository of Unnatural History. Either that or reading too many children’s tales.’
    ‘No,’ said Surrey, suddenly forceful. The mirth had gone from his face and he seemed deathly serious. ‘This is real. The infamous Earl here has quite obviously been partaking of the wrong kind of medicine, and he’s come a cropper. You would do well to heed the evidence before you.’
    ‘So you expect me, with the Manufactory full of crazies and footpads, to start my murder investigation by looking for a rampant demon? Surrey, you’re more stupid than you look.’
    Surrey took a step back, holding up his hands in defeat, the sickly sweet smile back on his pretty face. ‘Have it your way, Amelia. But don’t say you weren’t warned.’
    With that he turned and strolled away, but failed to give either of her fantassins a wink this time. She watched him go, right until he walked out of the door, just to make sure he was not coming back.
    Amelia smirked. Forbidden dossiers? A strongroom in the Lexiconium? Who was he trying to dupe exactly? Surrey was obviously conspiring to throw her off the scent. He saw that this was a high profile murder; an heir of House Westowe. There would be much prestige granted to the Indagator who could bring the