Part 28 (1/2)

Jamie swivelled round to face him. 'What's happened, Doctor?'

The Doctor shook his head and crossed his hands over his chest. 'I don't know, Jamie. But I don't like the look of this one bit.'

Cromwell's hard, flushed countenance' suddenly drained as though transfused with milk. He s.h.i.+fted away from Thurloe and sank back into his chair.

'What?' he muttered to himself. Then, again, increasingly louder. 'What? What?'

Blood surged back into his cheeks until he turned almost purple with rage, his bulbous nose wobbling like a great red beacon.

Thurloe bowed his head. 'I'm afraid 'tis true, General.'

Cromwell seemed almost physically afflicted. He pulled himself forward by the arms of the chair but seemed not to have the strength to rise. His eyes stared blankly at the floor for several long moments before fixing themselves on Jamie.

At first he seemed to stare right through the boy, but then he focused more clearly on him. Jamie's hair stood on end.

The general's lip began to curl upward and his breath came in short, stabbing, furious bursts. 'You did not predict this, my Scotch Ca.s.sandra!' he screamed across the room.

The Doctor cleared his throat. 'Predict what, General?' he inquired mildly.

Cromwell seemed about to speak but sank back into his chair, chewing feverishly at his knuckles.

Thurloe turned to the Doctor. 'The King has escaped,' he said simply.

'I beg your pardon?' said the Doctor, genuinely astonished.

Cromwell found his voice and shook his fist at his guests.

'Aye! Escaped! Spirited out of Hurst Castle this very evening as though the walls were made of b.u.t.ter!'

He staggered to his feet and advanced menacingly on the little man. 'You fill my head with talk of flying engines but fail to warn me of this great peril at my very door!'

The Doctor recoiled from the general's wrath and his dreadful breath. 'I explained that the McCrimmon's powers of prediction are not... er, predictable. He sees all possible eventualities. It is up to others to interpret what he sees.'

'Very convenient,' muttered Thurloe, glaring at them with renewed suspicion.

Cromwell swung back to Thurloe and stood with his arms behind his back, his head sunk upon his breast. 'What are we to do, John?'

'I have search parties scouring the city, sir...'

Cromwell held up his hand. 'But it must be kept secret. It must! If Charles escapes abroad there will be another war!'

Thurloe nodded. 'Indeed, General. Only a few commanders know what has occurred. Their men are instructed to seek out an impostor who resembles Charles Stuart and is attempting to stir insurrection among the people.'

Cromwell nodded and allowed himself a little smile.

'You've done well, John. But we cannot waste more time.

Bring Thomas Culpeper to me. I would seek his counsel too.

We must find the King!'

He was about to stomp out of the room when he noticed the Doctor and Jamie again. He growled like a beast at the sight of them.

'And get these two out of my sight. I have had enough of trickery for one day.'

The sound of booted feet approaching made them all look tip and the doors to the room were flung wide. A knot of soldiers marched inside, Thomas Culpeper at their head. The men carried something between them, a figure, its head covered in a cloth sack, kicking and struggling for all it was worth.

'Tom?' said Cromwell. 'What's this?'

Thomas Culpeper saluted Cromwell and then stepped aside.

The figure was flung to the floor where it made renewed efforts to free itself from the ropes that bound it.

'Forgive me, General' said Culpeper, 'but this person was found in the King's quarters at Hurst Castle. She had subst.i.tuted herself for the serving girl employed there and had given drugged wine to the King's guards.'

Cromwell shook his ma.s.sive head. 'What b.l.o.o.d.y treachery is this? She must have had accomplices. What of the other guards?'

'All drugged,' said Culpeper. 'The two she bamboozled say she claimed to be the niece of the old castle retainer, Spufford. But he has flown and must be regarded as the chief suspect.'

Cromwell sighed and slammed his fist into his palm. Then he bent down and ripped the sack from the figure's head.

The Doctor tried to push Jamie back as Polly was revealed but she saw them almost at once, blinking like a newborn lamb.

'Oh, Doctor! Jamie! Thank goodness. I thought '

She glanced quickly round and took in the scene in an instant.

Cromwell's eyes flashed dangerously. 'Well, well. Known to you, eh, Doctor?'

He shook his head disappointedly and then swung his arm over his head wildly. 'Take them all to the Tower!' he screeched hoa.r.s.ely.

Culpeper's men immediately grabbed the Doctor and Jamie. Polly found herself back on her feet and once more in custody.

'You're making a terrible mistake, General,' said the Doctor sadly.

Cromwell didn't reply but turned instead to Thurloe.

'John, you will get the truth out of these people, even if you have to break them in two. Understand me?'

Thurloe nodded. Cromwell swept from the room, his cloak fluttering behind him. 'Captain Culpeper!' he called over his shoulder.

Nathaniel Scrope counted out the last of the coins on to the counter of the merchant's shop and nodded.

'How long's it been, Jabez?' he asked in his cracked voice.

He was standing a dark, low-ceilinged room that bristled with seafaring goods. The walls were thick with coiled rope.