Page 19 of Fair Weather Enemies
“Agreed.” She opened her letter and read the first line, already familiar to him. “Liverpool, Leeds, a fortress unseen.”
He followed suit. “Edinburgh, Glasgow, the castle between.”
“A cross to denote the point to set sail.”
“An arrow revealing the start of the trail.”
“The way of the journey the ancient keep knows.”
“The prints of retreating invaders it shows.”
“Prostrate to pray where a king’s soul took flight.”
“Withdraw from the darkness, return to the light.”
“Pivot to ponder the radiance of day.”
“Look to the archer revealing the way.”
“To long-hallowed ground of ancient giants.”
“Who offered to men and to kings great defiance.”
“From tower to ruins now set a due course.”
“To witness the kingdom bereft of a horse.”
“Strike toward the land where the day comes undone.”
“A rise, a circumference, an army of stone.”
“On from the midst of the sentinels sally.”
“Forth and forthwith along five o’clock valley.”
“Betwixt water’s edge and the hip of Goliath.”
“Make for the marsh where the ancient fort lieth.”
“Ford and run southward, a westerly way.”
“Find all angels surveying a proud bird of prey.”
“Seek, then, thereafter the pockmarked old man.”
“And trust unto Chance for the rest of the plan.”
As Adam read the final line, he glanced up to find Jane smirking. Simultaneously, they burst out laughing.
“Do you understand any of it?” he asked.
Her laugh faded into a sigh. “Not a word. It seems the ramblings of a madman. I only pray that context will reveal the meaning.”
“I quite agree.”
Before either could say another word, Mr. Gormley cried out with panic. “A coin! A coin! I need a coin!”
Adam jumped to his feet in alarm to find the man standing on the driver’s seat facing them while the mules continued forward, oblivious of their addled driver. Struck by Mr. Gormley’s urgency, Adam fished a thruppence from his pocket and tossed it to him. Gormley peered at the coin, scowled, and tossed it over his shoulder in disgust.
