Chapter 54 - The Kraken Gate
Lockhouse’s briefing took place in the hunting lodge’s dining room. When Ellen and I arrived, one of the parlour maids was clearing used plates and coffee cups from our usual table. James and Inigo valiantly defended a toast rack from the woman’s predations, so that when she was gone, they could resume their own battle for the last of the marmalade.
Ellen managed to acquire a plate of sliced cheese and ham, putting them down between us, along with a small basket containing biscuits. I emptied the remains of a coffee jug into two cups and we settled down to hear what everyone had to say.
‘Why we let the chancellor go.’ Na-Su looked very disappointed. ‘I saw his airship fly away.’
‘Well, he does run the country, and we didn’t have enough evidence to pin anything on him.’ I was disappointed too. Chancellor Gordon had brought the marines in, and so, either unwittingly or otherwise, he was connected with the attacks we had suffered.
One-by-one, the team recounted all that they had seen and heard the night before. There was little new to improve our understanding until it was Ankush’s turn to speak. He had made it to the ha-ha just after dusk.
‘Why is there so much rain and snow in this country? I was very cold, but your guess was correct, boss. I was only there a short while before someone started signalling from the mansion.’
‘Are you sure no one observed you?’
‘I’m sure,’ the Gulreimian replied. ‘The main drain that empties into the ha-ha is overgrown. I heard that the groundsman who usually maintains it is ill, and none of the others have found time from their usual work.
‘Also, my brother lent me his sniper’s periscope so I could keep my head down.’
I nodded. ‘What time was it when you saw the signal?’
‘Just after nine bells.’
‘Which window did the signal come from?’
‘One of the upper floor ones on the eastern corner of the building.'
Ankush handed me a piece of paper which held his transcript of the message. It was tap-code, the standard method for sending messages via heliograph or heliogram, but even decoded, the contents looked like gibberish; half-sentences on the theme of construction, but mashed up with numbers and unnecessary hyphenation.
‘Encrypted,’ I said, adding ‘looks like Russman’s Polyphase.’
‘Yes. Sorry boss. We won’t be able decipher it without the key.’
I was not surprised that the transmissions were encrypted, but I was still disappointed. It might not tell us who sent it, but it would be useful to confirm that it was the order to attack the observatory. I had hoped for more clues that would lead us to the traitor. For now, all we had to go on was the location from which the message was sent.
‘All the rooms at the front of the mansion are bedrooms, are they not?’
‘Yes, boss. I already talked with Inigo about this and we narrowed it down to one of two rooms; Lieutenant Scott’s and Dr. Evershed.’
‘Ha!’ exclaimed Na-Su, so loud was the outburst, I thought she’d sneezed. Ellen nearly jumped out of her skin and Inigo spilled coffee in his lap. ‘That ridiculous man Evershed not knowing encryption. He barely know one end of goat from other.’
‘Well, that turns up the heat under Scott, doesn’t it?’ I said, then caught sight of Ellen’s raised eyebrow, ‘…but we mustn’t jump to conclusions. Anyone could have gone into those rooms. Can we narrow it down some more?’
‘Maybe,’ was Ellen’s response as she got up and dashed out, still holding a salted cracker in one hand.
James, who had been gazing thoughtfully at the empty toast-rack, suddenly spoke. He’d waited for this moment to air his views, reluctant for Ellen to hear his opinion lest she make fun of him. I felt a touch of sympathy. He was a strong man, the kind you want beside you when a bar-room brawl kicks off. I’d witnessed him bowl three men down like skittles using a chest of drawers, but all it took was for Ellen to arch an eyebrow to make him look like a whipped cur.
‘The ripples from a dropped pebble fade as the circles grow,’ he said, in his deep voice.
Everyone was nonplussed. Inigo and I looked at each other, hoping for a clue.
Na-Su was the first to break the silence. ‘This first time you talk in riddles, Mr. Dunn. Are you feel sick?’’
Ankush motioned for silence. ‘A big man may have big thoughts. Let him speak.’
James gazed back at each of us in turn, hoping one of us understood and would help him to explain. At last he realised he would have to do it alone.
‘It’s an old saying they have in Lyhsten. I heard it in Port Kale.’ He spoke haltingly to begin with, but the pace gradually increased when he realised no one was going to interrupt him. ‘Well, in that country, they use it to explain how little they care about news in the next town. Something happens…maybe something bad. The word spreads. It’s horrible for the family. It’s terrible for the neighbours. You see where I’m going?’
‘I do,’ replied Ankush. ‘For the village, it’s sad news, but it didn’t happen to any of their family, just someone they knew…maybe.’
‘You are not sick, Mr. Dunn. I am sorry,’ Na-Su bowed her head. ‘The next town away hear this bad news and shake heads, then forget.’
James nodded. ‘Exactly! The further away you are from something important, the less you care.’
‘Right,’ I said. ‘That, I understand, but how is it relevant to our situation. I’m sorry James. I must be tired.’ I was tired. The half-bell sleep in my bath already seemed a long time ago. It was Inigo who came to my rescue.
‘I think what James is telling us is that the pebble represents the information we gave out. Drop the pebble and it makes a splash, but the further the information spreads from where it’s dropped, the less interesting or relevant it is for the receiver. Is that it, James?’
‘Thank you, Inigo. That’s it, I suppose, but in my head, what I thought was, “where would a spy be most effective?”, well, close to Chancellor Gordon.’
‘Of course, James!’ I exclaimed. ‘Professor Rennie was Maddison’s right-hand man, which is why the Nallians went to him. In the same way, they wouldn’t bother trying to turn one of the privates in Lieutenant Scott’s company.’
‘Mr. James Dunn! You are an Aripole-blessed genius,’ I exclaimed, to which the man actually blushed. Everyone noticed it, which made him even more embarrassed, until his discomfort was so great, the only way he could let it out was a huge grin. It was such a stupid, big grin that Ankush laughed; a sound of such simple and honest delight that it was infectious. Mahkran and Inigo clapped as they laughed, and Na-Su hooted with joy. Inigo punched James on the shoulder, which was like a fly bumping into a horse.
We were still laughing, and I was wiping tears from my eyes when Ellen returned, clutching a stack of notes under one slender arm. She was utterly bemused at the sight. Na-Su was still helpless. The Omolit woman was clutching her stomach and her shoulders were shaking helplessly.
I waved Ellen back to her seat. ‘Sorry, Ellen. We’ve got our shortlist of suspects thanks to James. You didn’t know he’s an expert with Lyhstener proverbs, did you?’
Ellen frowned, vexed that she wasn’t in on the joke. James was forced to explain about pebbles and ripples again, but made a hash of it, tongue-tied in Ellen’s presence. Eventually, she understood, but was still unable to fathom why this should have been so funny.
‘Congratulations!’ she said, a little tartly. ‘Your list is very nearly correct. If we cross-reference it with the list of those who have experience in cryptography…’ Here, Ellen waved several sheets of service records at us. ‘We can eliminate Chancellor Gordon, who has none, leaving us with Lieutenant Scott, Captain Banks, Second Lieutenant Overstrand and Secretary Lampton!’
We practically all shouted, ’Secretary Lampton?’
‘Yes, he’s a comms expert.’ Ellen was serene, now that she was in control. ‘The army needs to communicate with its troops. Every squad needs at least one helio-head who can send and receive messages.’
‘And they encrypt their signals?’ asked James.
‘Usually, no,’ replied Ellen. ‘But all the comms people still get some training in case special circumstances arise.’
‘And what about Overstrand?’
‘Exactly the same. He’s specialising in the same thing.’
‘Thank you, Ellen.’ The coffee was wearing off. I made a note to visit the Morning Room where beverages and light snacks were available until eleven bells. ‘Alright, it’s Scott, Banks, Overstrand or Lampton. What we need to do now is quiz all four of them and see if they have an alibi for last night. Could any of them have been in the south-east corner of the manor at nine bells of the evening?’
‘I’ll take Lieutenant Scott,’ Ellen said. ‘There’s no point you going to see him, Connie. You’ll just pick a fight with him and get sidetracked.’
I grimaced at Ellen, but had no clever retort. ‘Fine then! I’ll tackle Banks. He seems to like me, for some reason.’ Ellen gave me a strange look that I couldn’t interpret and didn’t have time to consider.
James volunteered to question Overstrand. Inigo said he would get to Lampton somehow. I thanked them and charged the remainder of the team to recheck the failsafe and prime it for the following day. I left Na-Su in charge. She knew the drill well now, and it was one way to make sure that she continued to rest her shoulder.
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