Page 114 of New Storm Rising
I blinked. “Horse theft? What horse? Why horse theft?”
“I would surmise because in this place, horse theft is a crime you can be hanged for.”
“Oh. How…convenient.”
“Indeed.”
“Do we get the horse?”
“I very much doubt so.”
“Furthermore,” the judge announced, “these two vile criminals stand accused of the following crimes: insulting an officer of the law, littering—”
After that, I pretty much decided to stop listening. It didn’t really matter what the man had to say, did it? Any moment now, Mr Ambrose’s secret plan would be enacted, and we would be saved. I had to admit, I couldn’t fathom what it was yet or why we had to go through with all this, but surely, any moment now, we would be rescued.
“Take them away!” the judge ordered. “To the gallows with them!”
Rough hands grabbed hold of us and dragged us towards the door.
Any moment now.
Any moment now!
“To se gallows!” the thugs cheered. “To se gallows!”
“Get some rope!”
Any. Moment. Now!
The front door of the court house flew open, and the light of the morning sun flooded in, blinding me. Before I knew what was happening, Mr Ambrose and I were dragged into the square behind the courthouse, where the gallows had kindly already been prepared. The menacing structure loomed over us.
“Um…Mr Ambrose, Sir?”
“Yes, Mrs Ambrose?”
“Please tell me your plan is about to start?”
“What makes you think it isn’t already in operation?”
I jerked my head at the gallows and the surrounding crowd. “Thisis your plan?”
“Indeed.”
“Spiffingplan. Justspiffing!”
“Thank you.”
“Silence!” our friend the helpful Ambrose-imitator bellowed.
I was just about to respond—but someone else got ahead of me.
“Well, well…not so arrogant now, are we, Señor Ambrose?”
Together, the two of us turned to face the new voice. There, high above the square on a balcony sat the noble De Ravera and De La Fuente, quite literally lording it over us. Victorious smirks spread across their faces.
Mr Ambrose cocked his head. “Pardon? I didn’t catch that.”
The Spaniard’s face darkened. This had certainly nothing whatsoever to do with the snicker that came from some mysterious source in my direction.
