The Wrath of the Lizard Lord by Jon Mayhew Read Free Book Online Page A

doctor hurried to get Oginski on to a bed.
    ‘Breathing shallow but regular,’ Walbridge muttered, pressing an ear to his chest. ‘Heartbeat fast.’
    ‘He took a rifle ball in the shoulder,’ Dakkar said.
    Walbridge paused and stared at Dakkar over his glasses. ‘I can see that, young man,’ the doctor said. ‘I am just assessing whether or not Count Oginski is strong enough for me to remove it.’
    Dakkar watched helplessly as the doctor undressed Oginski and examined his wasted body. Finally, Walbridge shook his head.
    ‘Is he going to be all right?’ Dakkar asked, feeling the blood drain from his face.
    ‘He is very weak,’ Walbridge asked. ‘He has internal injuries and the wound is infected. There’s nothing for it but to remove the shot from his shoulder.’
    ‘His life hangs in the balance then?’ Cutter said, with a catch in his throat.
    Walbridge nodded. ‘I will do my very best,’ he said, his voice softening. ‘Oginski is an old friend of mine. Now you must leave me to do my work.’

Chapter Nine
    The Old Oginski
    Dakkar followed Cutter downstairs to await the results of Walbridge’s operation. He felt numb and cold.
    They stepped into the tiny living room. A table had been pushed back and men sat on the floor or on the few chairs that stood there. A small fire smouldered in the grate and Piper knelt, trying to add kindling to bring it back to life. Not that a fire was needed; the crush of the men filled the room with warmth. Dakkar sat by the window and listened as they talked about past adventures with Oginski.
    ‘Do you remember the time we blew that ammunition store in Seville?’ Serge said, grinning. ‘Franciszek nearly went up with it himself. Had to run back for Bolton.’
    ‘I’d been shot in the ankle,’ Bolton protested, then he gave a sad smile. ‘But, yes, he came back for me.’
    ‘He wouldn’t have abandoned any of us,’ Cutter said. ‘He pulled me from that sinking ship. We both nearly drowned.’
    Dakkar felt jealous that these men shared a past with Oginski, time Dakkar knew nothing about.
    ‘Different now, though, isn’t it?’ Piper stood up and stared into the fire. ‘Now he’s got his tame little prince.’
    Dakkar looked up. The eyes of every man in the room were on him. Eyes full of menace.
    ‘What do you mean?’ Dakkar said, his voice barely audible.
    ‘We’d never have let ’im get so close to death,’ Serge muttered, scowling at Dakkar. ‘If you weren’t around, maybe he’d have come back to us.’
    ‘Oginski left us long before this pipsqueak turned up,’ Cutter said, spitting into the fire. ‘You can’t blame Dakkar. But what days, eh?’
    ‘I can’t believe Oginski would commit . . . crimes,’ Dakkar said, his voice faltering. The Count Cryptos he’d met killed without a moment’s thought and plotted world domination. ‘Oginski isn’t like that.’
    ‘More’s the pity,’ Piper muttered, looking darkly at Dakkar. ‘But believe us when we say that there was a time when Franciszek would have taken life and liberty from anyone who stood in his way.’
     
    The night dragged on. The men took it in turns to sleep or to keep watch out of the window.
    ‘Those military men won’t get back to their barracks until late morning but we’ll keep our eyes peeled,’ Cutter said.
    Dakkar dozed, startling to wakefulness whenever someone spoke or moved. Sometimes he stole out to the bottom of the narrow stairs and looked up at the candlelight flickering from under the door of Oginski’s room.
    ‘It’s a ticklish business,’ Cutter said, ruffling Dakkar’s hair. ‘You can be a better help by being rested and refreshed in the morning.’
    Dawn broke, grey and watery, as Dakkar waited. Someone put a plate of bread and cheese in front of him but he barely ate any of it.
    Finally, the heavy tread of the doctor brought Dakkar to his feet, sending the chair he sat on clattering to the floor. He ran out to the stairs and looked up at