Page 86 of No Man's Land

And then there was the gun tucked into the waistband of his trousers. Visible to all.

Good God, no wonder the woman looked alarmed.

Pulling his jacket tighter around himself, hiding the gun, he went and sat down again.

It was a half-hour journey to Kensington, and standing up wouldn’t make the train go any faster. Arms wrapped around himself, he sat back, eyes closed and tried not to think.

***

By the time he reached Kensington, Josef ached all over. Given time to rest, his body had started screaming about every little injury. But never mind that, he had no time for aches and pains. Josef was off the train as soon as it pulled into the station and running up the steps to the street above.

The museum was open, visitors milling around its grand entrance as Josef took the steps two at a time and hurried into the entrance. Knowing how he must look, he didn’t give the museum staff time to stop him, running across the vast hall and up the sweeping staircase.

There were more people in the ordinary corridor where Lottie’s office was located too, and he kept his head down, ignoring their curious looks, as he hurried up to her door and rapped on it hard.

“Hold your horses!” Vi said, pulling open the door. Her expression changed the moment she saw him, eyebrows rising. “Lord above,” she said and held the door wider, letting him in. Cautiously, she added, “Where’s Lord B?”

“Hurt,” Josef said as she shut the door behind him. “I couldn’t get him out.” He took the vial of blood from his coat pocket, holding it out to Violet. “Do what you must but do it fast. I’m going back for him.”

Lottie stood at the table, examining a plate of sandwiches. She looked up at him, alarmed.

“Out of where? Where is he?”

“An abandoned Tube tunnel,” Josef said. “He fell and broke his leg. The bone…” He shied away from the memory of Alex’s injury. “Please, you’ve got to hurry. I need to get that potion to him before…” He couldn’t finish the thought, but he didn’t need to; Lottie’s expression told him that she understood, probably better than he did.

“A potion ain’t something you can rush,” Violet said, exchanging a look with Lottie.

“I’ll prepare things,” Lottie said in response. “Can you get Mr Shepel cleaned up a little? That knee of his looks nasty.”

“Never mind me,” Josef said, “Alex needs—”

“I’ll go as fast as I’m able,” Lottie said, brooking no argument. “Vi, sort him out. I’ll get everything else.”

Josef felt like a fool sitting there while Violet dabbed his hands with iodine and, rolling up his trouser leg, bandaged his knee with professional speed. It felt wrong that he should be treated while Alex—

“I don’t know how I’ll get him out,” he said, more to himself than Violet. “His leg is badly broken. I’d need a splint and dressing, but even then, he won’t be able to put any weight on it. The bone’s through the skin.”

Violet looked up. “Which bone?”

“Tibia.”

She grimaced. “No, he won’t be walking on that. Were you a medic at the front?”

“Only a stretcher bearer. I’ve seen plenty of broken bodies, though, and patched a few up myself.”

“Any chance of getting a stretcher down there?”

Josef shook his head. “Even if there was, how could I manage one on my own?”

“Oi, what do you think I am, chopped liver?”

“You?”

She sat back on her heels, affronted. “And why not? I’m good enough for the London Ambulance Service, aren’t I?”

“Those tunnels are no place for a woman,” Josef insisted. “And thosethings, they’re dangerous and—”

From across the room, Lottie said, “Dangerous, yes. Driven by insatiable hunger, but essentially mindless.” She smiled, a thin and rather dangerous expression. “Violet and I have subdued far stronger and more cunning creatures over the years.”

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