A Raucous Time

  Chapter Thirty-One

   

  Wren called over ‘Annie – come on! We need you.’

  Rhyllann waved impatiently. He’d lost it. He’d lost the next line. He’d have to start over. “Gay go up gay go down, ring the bells of London Town” – better. “Oranges and lemons say the –" no! not again! This time a figure loomed into view.

  ‘Son – come on – I need your help. I need to get you and your cousin out of here.’ Rhyllann shook him off and started his rhyme over from the beginning.

  ‘Detective Crombie – what’s wrong with him?’ Wren wailed.

  ‘It's alright son. Nothing to worry about.’ Crombie waved a hand in Rhyllann’s face. He swatted Crombie aside and started again. If he didn’t recite the rhyme in the correct order the ground would open again for the third time. He couldn’t risk one wrong word. Rhyllann fixed on the small crevice high up in the wall, blotting out the irritants in front of him.

  ‘Wren stop that.’ The sobbing continued. ‘Come on now. You can’t go to pieces as well. Your cousin’s going to be okay. I’ve seen this before. He’s in shock. But he’s going to be ok. He’s strong. He won’t sink … like an overloaded computer – he needs to reboot. Let’s get you up the steps – I’ll come back for him.’

  Rhyllann let words wash over him, he wanted to reassure Wren, but it seemed much more important to get the rhyme right. He watched listlessly as Crombie checked on his brother once more. Wren limped over to stand beside him, then stooped awkwardly to pull a battered leather book from Declan’s back pocket. Wren spoke tonelessly to Crombie.

  ‘He didn’t know about the bomb. I thought he was going to kill Stern when I told him. He wanted to send a couple of men onto the moors. To move the jeep from the tracks. They wouldn’t … they’d taken pictures on their mobile. Hewes had. Said Rhyllann would be on the train if I didn’t … I’m sorry Detective Crombie.’

  Crombie put an arm around Wren's shoulder. ‘You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. Rhyllann worked it out. We stopped the train.’ Crombie said simply. Wren sagged against him. After a moment or two Crombie half carried him across the cavern and rested him against the steps.

  ‘Rhyllann. Rhyllann son.’ Crombie sighed, but this time didn’t attempt to touch him. ‘I’ll be back. Don’t move.’ And turned to help Wren up the steps.

   

  *

   

  “When will you pay me, say the bells of old Bailey. I’m sure I don’t know, say the great bells of Bow.” He’d made it … “Here comes the candle to light you to bed – here comes the chopper to chop off your head –“ the world began tuning in like a faint radio signal – Rhyllann could allow that now – almost there –

  “Chip, chop. The last man’s …

  At that precise moment Wren screamed, and a single shot rang out.