Page 75 of The Armor of Light
At forty-five, Jarge said to Joanie: ‘Now.’
Spade watched as the two of them, brother and sister, pushed through the crowd towards the whipping post.
Jeremiah’s eyes were closed, but he was still crying.
The last stroke was made and Doye said: ‘Fifty.’
Jarge stood in front of Jeremiah. The constables untied his hands and he collapsed, but Jarge held him upright. Joanie unfolded the bed sheet and draped it over the ruin of Jeremiah’s back. Jarge turned him around, then Joanie wound the sheet around Jeremiah’s front to hid his nakedness. Jarge turned him around again, stooped and let the half-conscious man fall across his shoulder, and stood upright.
Then he carried Jeremiah home to his wife.
*
Two days later, Spade was awakened by a loud knocking on his warehouse door at dawn.
He knew who it was. Less than forty-eight hours earlier, he hadtold Alf Nash that subversive leaflets were concealed here in the warehouse. Alf had believed the lie, and – as Spade had intended – had passed the false intelligence to Hornbeam, who had told Sheriff Doye. It was the sheriff’s peremptory knock that had sounded.
Alf was the traitor, and had fallen into the trap.
Spade called out: ‘I’m coming!’ But he took his time putting on his trousers and boots, shirt and waistcoat. He was not going to confront authority half dressed. It was important to look respectable.
The knocking was repeated, louder and more insistent. ‘Be patient!’ he shouted. ‘I’m coming!’ Then he opened up.
As he expected, he saw Hornbeam, Riddick, Doye and Davidson. Doye said: ‘The justices have been informed that seditious and treasonable printed material is stored on these premises.’
Spade turned to Hornbeam, who was glaring at him with an expression that reminded Spade of the phraseif looks could kill.‘You are most welcome, Alderman.’
Hornbeam looked puzzled. ‘Welcome?’
‘Of course.’ Spade smiled. ‘You will search the premises thoroughly and clear my name of this filthy rumour. I will be most grateful.’ He saw Hornbeam’s features shift with unease. ‘Please come in.’ He held the door and stood back as they trooped through.
They began to look around. ‘You’ll need some light,’ Spade said, and he began to light lamps, giving one to each of the four men. They all looked uncomfortable. They were used to resentment and obstruction from people whose homes were being searched, and they could not understand Spade’s amiable reaction.
They examined bales of cloth in the warehouse, pulled the blankets off Spade’s bed, and inspected Spade’s loom and those of his other weavers, as if hundreds of leaflets might have been concealed in the warp and weft.
Eventually they gave up. Hornbeam was so angry and frustrated that he looked as if he would burst.
Spade walked the party to the street. It was full light now, and there were people in the High Street, going to work and opening shops. Spade insisted on shaking hands with the furious Hornbeam, thanking him for his courtesy in a loud voice to attract the attention of passers-by. In a short time everyone in town would know that Hornbeam had searched Spade’s warehouse and found nothing.
Spade returned to his room and made breakfast. As he was washing his plate, Jarge came in. ‘I heard all about it,’ he said. ‘Why did Sheriff Doye think you had subversive pamphlets?’
‘Because Alf Nash told him so.’
Jarge was struggling to understand. ‘But you didn’t have them.’
‘Of course not.’
‘So why did Alf think you did?’
‘Somebody told him so.’
‘Who did?’
‘I told him.’
‘But...’ Jarge looked perplexed. ‘Wait a minute.’
Spade smiled, watching him work it out. Eventually enlightenment dawned. ‘You’re a sly dog, Spade.’
