Part 9 (1/2)

Thinking of survival in unfamiliar environments provoked a memory of New York, and his arrival in that city a year or so before He'd been amazed then at the number of newspapers that had been on sale on street corners Thinking about it now, he wondered how many different newspapers there were in London, and whether they all printed the same story Presumably not a each must have its own style and its own bias If he really wanted to know round and the details of this ht as many different papers as he could, cut the relevant stories out and co for differences and for things that one report nored

The train was some distance beyond Guildford now, and he had lost the opportunity to dive back out and pick up some more newspapers He made a mental note to do it at Waterloo when they arrived

Finishi+ng the newspaper, he made sure that he carefully tore out the report of the Edinburghit in his pocket If nothing else, co exercise

Matty was curled up on a seat, head against the , fast asleep Rufus Stone had his eyes closed as well, but judging by the way his hands were twitching he wasthe violin part of the ain, but the countryside flashi+ng past held little to interest hiht with him and pulled out a book It was all about theatrical make-up a how to make it, and how to apply it to produce various effects

He buried hi the details of how to make your own theatrical putty and make-up, and how to apply it so that nobody could tell unless they ithin a few inches of you The book also talked about changing posture a the way you stood a to ot about the train, and the journey, until they clattered over a particularly noisy set of points, and he looked up to find that Rufus Stone was staring at hi of a career in the theatre?' Stone asked, indicating the book 'I advise against it, the way I would advise against sticking your hand inside a dog's ue The pay is bad, the hours are long and unsociable and society does not value those who entertain it I should know a I've spent more ti for small, unappreciative audiences'

'I don't knohat I want to do when I grow up,' Sherlock said honestly, 'but I like the idea of being able to change my appearance so that nobody knows that it's me'

'To be honest,' Stone adrateful for the ability to slip past an irate landlord or a for'

'You know about theatrical s up, over the years, working in theatres a or,and beautiful actresses Working for your brother, as well There are so' He smiled, but there was little hue in front of an unappreciative audience is nowhere near as painful as dying in a back alley of a foreign city with a knife between your ribs'

'Can you teach ive it a go You'll need a certain amount of raw artistic talent, and a lot of practice a not a million miles away from what you need to play the violin properly, in fact Tell me what you already know, and I'll see what I can add'

They spent the rest of the journey with Stone giving Sherlock tips on the art of theatrical ht the dry facts in Sherlock's book to life with funny anecdotes of times when he'd seen false moustaches slide off actors' faces or watched their make-up streak as they perspired until they looked like so, but also learning at the same time, and the rest of the journey seemed to flash past in ular occurrence for Sherlock by now The station, with its soaring iron arches and its glass panels, was a faht, as were the crowds of people in all kinds of clothes, froht red-and-yellow checked jackets

Rufus Stone led the way outside 'We need to get to King's Cross,' he said over his shoulder 'It's on the other side of London Trains leave there for the north of the country'

Sherlock looked back over his shoulder, wondering if he would see the two Americans, but if they had been on the train then they were hanging back, keeping out of sight Perhaps they had stayed at Guildford to ask questions about a big A a day or two before

A cab aiting directly outside the station, ignoring the traffic that was struggling to get past Its driver kept shaking his head at the various people who tried to hail it or cli for soht past it, but Rufus Stone walked straight up and opened the door Instead of waving hi at hi, then looked at Sherlock and Matty expectantly, obviously wanting to take their bags as well

Sherlock had been encouraged by his brother Mycroft never to hail the first cab that he saw a just in case it was a trap or a trick of some kind a so Stone's behaviour surprised him The violinist was so confident, however, that Sherlock found hi hi beca himself opposite the impressive bulk of Mycroft Holmes

'Ah, Sherlock,' Mycroft said 'Welco Mr Arnatt a perhaps you could squeeze yourself in besideyourself up against the far side Do be careful of raly to Rufus Stone as they sat Fros on to the back of the carriage

Stone's face was impassive 'I had to,' he said 'I work for your brother, and if he found out that I had let you go to Edinburgh without notifying him, there would be hell to pay'

'There would indeed,' Mycroft confiroes on around me If I discovered that h the city, I would be h,' Sherlock said levelly

Mycroft nodded 'Of course you are' He reached up and rapped with his cane on the carriage roof 'King's Cross!' he called

'What?'

The carriage jerked and began to move away from the kerb

'Do you think that the disappearance of Amyus Crowe is of no interest tothe closest thing I have to a personal friend, a reat deal of professional respect If he has disappeared suddenly, then there must be a reason, and I wish to knohat that reason is The presence of these two Aiven that we do not knohether they are friends or foes Like you, Sherlock, I am puzzled, and that is a state of mind that I find particularly painful'

'What about you?' Sherlock asked 'Will you be co are past,' Mycroft replied 'Our Russian expedition convincedin London, where I a others actually seek out evidence and answers But I shall be doing hter, I shall beenquiries about these two American visitors'

Sherlock felt his heart sink He wasn't surprised at Mycroft's decision, but he would have felt more confident with his brother at his side

'Oh,' Mycroft continued, 'I al exactly where Mr Croas headed I cannot fault your logic, although I can fault Mr Crowe's use of a rabbit's head Thereless likely to have been stolen by a passing carnivore' He peered around the inside of the cab 'Do you think,' he ent, 'I could have a carriage panelled, upholstered and carpeted to look like enes Club? That way I could travel in perfect coe of location'

'But ould bring yourcup of tea or your afternoon sherry?' Rufus Stone asked with a sed,' Mycroft said 'The cab could stop outside certain establishments at pre-planned tih theI could have entire meals delivered for me to consume on the move Think of the time saved!'

'If you were allowed to eat and drink in here,' Sherlock pointed out, 'then you would grow so fat that you would never be able to get out again, which would undere in the first place You would be like a snail in its shell'

Mycroft nodded 'A fair point,' he conceded

'If you're not going to stop us going to Edinburgh,' Matty piped up, 'then why are you here, Mr Hol ht to the heart of the er brother, of course a so that hasn't happened for a while now a and I am also here to warn the three of you to be careful It has presu which could cause Aer and arded Mr Crowe as athat scares hi out that the moon is entirely hollow at the back, like a dish, rather than a ball, like the Earth' He sighed 'I ah is an unusually dark and violent city The Scots themselves are a Celtic race, which e froer Do not think Scotland will be like Farnhah you will not cross water a apart froh the people you lish a of a sort a you should treat Scotland as you would a foreign country' He handed across an envelope 'I have taken the liberty of ements Here are your tickets, and the address of a hotel into which you have been booked Keep ret to say that I have no agents of h, otherwise I would ask thehter, and to keep the three of you fro the envelope 'Mycroft'

'Yes, Sherlock'

He paused before going on 'I think you should know that Mrs Eglantine has left the employ of Uncle Sherrinford and Aunt Anna'

Mycroft stared at Sherlock for a long moment 'Has she indeed?' he murmured eventually 'Do I take it that this sudden reversal of fortune for that re to do with you?'

'It has a lot to do with him,' Matty said proudly 'And et back' Mycroft kept staring at Sherlock There was a strange look in his eyes, as if he was si soer 'You haveable to see a seed and extrapolate the flower,' he said eventually, 'but you also have soard for flowers, and a dislike of weeds I adreatly'

Sherlock looked away, suddenly feeling a lus flow past the s until he had his feelings under control

'I shall write to our mother,' Mycroft announced suddenly 'I shall ask her to invite our aunt and uncle to stay with her for a few days This fa passed the point where it should have been forgotten By the tiotten'

'Mother isall right?' Sherlock asked hesitantly

Mycroft's lips tightened alood days and bad, but I think she is on the mend'

'And Emma?'