Part 10 (1/2)
”Yes, derived from the German oak and fir, a chemical er that the viscera we discovered alongside the body had similar traces of the substance And, here, dear doctor, we are”
Not bothering to try and fathoue's exceptional mind, I return my attention to the tannery Much like the offices down Ossory Road, it is a broken-down and ra
”And what, old boy, do you expect to find in there?”
Holmes' smile loses its warh a side door, noting that its lock has been forced and eventually broken Within, the tannery is gloomy and we proceed slowly and with care down a narrow channel, flanked either side by large copper vats that have long since fallen to disuse Overhead I ed silhouettes of rawhide and other partially cured flesh hanging from stoutThe effect is both grisly and disconcerting Ahead is a set of black iron steps leading to an upper level, where I assume the offices of this establishment are located
Just as I a what has happened to ourfroer on his lips and, pistols drae advance quietly up the steps
Upon reaching the summit, my suspicions about the upper level are confirmed as we are presented with an office area There is a desk and a similar array of papers and scientific paraphernalia asin Victor Frankenstein's study I realise then that this is no office, but in fact a crude laboratory Three , the other tell attired and evidently gentlemen, if in name and not manner The first is wiry, his suit jacket buttoned and pressed, hair slicked back The second is rangier still, but without jacket, shi+rtsleeves rolled up over his elbows, top button loose Dark rings around his eyes suggest fatigue; the sweat upon his brow, stress He is talking anientleman-I take this to be the lawyer, JG Utterson-who listens as the other h the myriad papers on the desk
I as to Holmes, but in the short time it has taken ue hasto advance boldly on the threefor draue first and grunts to the others There's a nervous tic affecting the ht eye and what appears to be deliriuers Still, he appears to have no weapon or I believe he would have already drawn it
Both gentlemen look up but it is the laho speaks first ”This is private property,” he says, reaching for his inside pocket until I glare and slowly shakehere?”
Holmes answers, ”I should like to put the saood man”
The lawyer's eyes narrow ”Who are you?”
The other, as yet unknown gentle to his friend, ”don't you recognise the the papers to the chaos he has side John Utterson The brute is still in the background, but looe over the other two ”This is the inestimable Sherlock Holmes and his redoubtable servant, Dr John Watson”
Utterson stiffens at the revelation, just as ns the unknown man with a short bow
”And you are Dr Henry Jekyll, are you not?” says Holmes, and my eyes widen at the name
The man before us is a wraith, a mass murderer several years dead, or so I had believed I ae case involving Henry Jekyll and anotherhere is, as yet, ain the shadows, good Doctor?” Holmes asks ”Was Bartholoht where you could not for fear of being recognised? Did he baulk at what you were doing here and refuse to assist you further? Is that why you had one of your thugs separate his head fro a hand through the feverish sweat in his hair
”How did you find e in his tone and diction that I thought I iined at first
Holmes returns the smile ”It was elementary”
Utterson then turns to Jekyll ”Henry, I cannot be implicated in this”
'Nor I,” Jekyll replies, ”the formula isn't perfected yet” And at this point I note the many vials and philtres set out on a shorter bench behind the two nise an experiment when I see it
Without further conversation, Jekyll steps to one side
”Zeus Kill theing ape, are Holmes and I fire as one, but the brute's sudden speed puts off our airunts in pain as our shots strike hih to slow hi two stairs at a ti the brute until it leaps down in front of us to block our exit
”Please tell me you discussed this with Lestrade before we caue
”Afraid not, Watson,” replies Holressor advances on us
”Can't let you live, Holmes,” Jekyll calls from above us, ”nor you, Dr Watson I am truly sorry, but even with Victor Frankenstein's research my work is incomplete, and I fear your untimely intervention would delay it indefinitely”
”Quite understandable, Dr Jekyll, but I am afraid we shall have to disappoint,” Holmes replies
We are alain, and out of room to manoeuvre
”Oh?” asks Jekyll
He sounds amused and I don't appreciate the hu behind Zeus The thug sniffs the air, realising his error a fraction too late, as Victor Frankenstein's monstrous creation enfolds him in its arms and starts to squeeze
I hear a shout from above us, but can't discern if it's Jekyll or Utterson Most ofHolmes and myself out of harm's way as the monster and the brute wrestle We duck off to the side, hurrying around them until we're at a safe distance, and watch the brawl fro vats
Honestly, I a Frankenstein's monster to tear the other man apart, but I have not considered the sheer depths of turpitude to which Dr Jekyll has sunk in his nefarious endeavours
Face reddening by the second, Zeus breaks the hold of the creature, and is seerown His entire body, his ed Veins stand out on his neck, rope-like and thick His sorilla, he strikes out at the monster, a palpable blow that sends it to its knees
Shaking, growing further, this new aboain Interlacing both hands, it will smash the creature while its head is down
”If he kills it” I mutter
”Then our exit is behind us, John,” Hollances up froht between the two titans ”Co, ”we cannot allow Jekyll or Utterson to escape”
Only half paying attention, I watch as the monster seizes the brute's wrists before his fists can fall
”Go!” it snarls at us ”For ht and decent,” says Holmes, but nods to the creature nonetheless
We run, back up the steps this ti the two massive brawlers
By the tiain, Utterson has fled but Jekyll ree in his right hand that he drops to the floor where it clatters
”Henry Jekyll,” I shout, my pistol held out before me, ”turn and raise your hands”