Heart of Gold

Together, they shuffled through the gate, awkwardly, splendidly. Then they inched sideways until they had the fence at their back and an uninterrupted view of the rear door. His heart was pounding, but the sensation was delicious.

The telephone rang, shattering the quiet. Aubrey could make out movement inside, then – while the telephone continued its shrill call – the rear door of the supplier opened. Three men hurried out. One did something to the lock and suddenly the door was closed again.

The three men spoke in soft, guttural tones, then seemed to come to some sort of agreement. Without another word, they separated, two heading toward the main street. The third was very familiar. He darted down the lane.

Aubrey felt the spell dissolving. The waviness rippled more vigorously, then evaporated.

Much to his regret, Caroline slipped her hands out from under his. She stepped away and gazed into the distance, straightening her hat. She glanced at him, then turned away again. 'I . . .'

She seemed to be having trouble speaking, but Aubrey was content to wait and gaze at her. She looked at him, more directly this time, with no words on her lips, but that was agreeable as well.

Then she smiled and said, 'That was very clever of you.'

He sorted through all the layers of meaning in that simple statement, found them all delightful, and it was as if he'd suddenly stepped into a world that was altogether brighter, more colourful, and sweeter smelling than the one he'd previously dwelt in.

Pounding footsteps sounded and the moment was lost, a bubble of time that was too delicate to last.

George burst around the corner of the gate. 'I say, did you see who that was running away?' He stared. 'What's wrong with you, Aubrey?'

'Wrong? Nothing. Nothing at all. Who was it?'

'Von Stralick.'

'Ah.' Aubrey had been considering a spot of burgling to investigate the customer records, but this changed matters. 'Let's see if we can find our valued Holmland friend.' He grinned. 'It's time for him to share.'

DINNER WAS IN A CROWDED LITTLE BISTRO CALLED THE Patriot. They managed to find a booth at the back, away from the chattering drinkers at the front of the establishment. Paintings of riots, stormings of prisons and the trials of aristocrats adorned the walls. Aubrey thought the engravings of various executions were rather grim, but they didn't seem to be upsetting any of the diners.

Aubrey ate his lamb and bean casserole with relish. It was the best thing he'd ever tasted. At least, the best since his last meal.

'So von Stralick isn't telling us everything he knows,' George said after a mouthful of his fish soup.

'I never assumed he did,' Aubrey said. 'He's a spy, after all.'

Caroline had finished her chicken with sausage. She sipped her glass of mineral water. 'So it appears he is after the Soul Stealer too. What for?'

'Let us assume it's for the obvious reason, while agreeing that there may well be an answer that's not obvious.' Aubrey spun a spoon on the polished wood of the table. It flashed as it caught the light. 'Holmland is preparing for a war. Weapons are the key to winning a war. Imagine if the Holmland army had a weapon that could steal the souls of the enemy soldiers.'

'Sounds like a good reason to me,' George said. He munched on a slice of crusty bread.

Aubrey sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. 'Or maybe the Holmlanders are simply going to do a spot of photography. I don't know.'

Caroline tsked. 'Do you think the Holmlanders would be breaking and entering if that were the case? No, they're up to no good.'

'You're right.' Aubrey drummed his fingers on the table. 'The Soul Stealer. The Heart of Gold. These are our priorities, but I think the Heart of Gold is the more important.'

A burly man entered the bar. He was greeted with shouts and cheers by the drinkers, but his face was furious rather than delighted. A beer was thrust into his hand. He swallowed half of it and slammed the glass on the counter. While the others crowded around, he launched into a loud and bitter tirade, thumping the bar regularly to emphasise his points.

Aubrey listened. The man had come from the country, delivering a wagonload of pears, but something had happened.

'Why is he so hot under the collar?' George asked.

'More roadblocks, on every road, more than one in many places,' Caroline said. 'His day has been a nightmare, it's taken him hours longer than usual to get out to the market gardens and back again.'

'The authorities are doing their best to keep the Heart of Gold in the city,' Aubrey added, nodding. 'He says that when he left the city this morning, his cart was held up while Bureau of Exceptional Investigations operatives went over it. He claims that the Bureau has a ring of magical operatives around the city. They boasted that nothing magical could get out.'

'We should come here more often,' Caroline said.

'Really?' George said. 'The food's good, but I wouldn't say it's outstanding.'

'It's not the food. These carters are a wealth of information. One of them just mentioned that a lion was killed in the city today.'

Aubrey had a strong desire to turn around in his seat so he could better hear the gossip, but resisted. 'Where?'

Caroline pushed a wisp of hair back behind her ear. 'Near the military hospital. It was shot by the police.'

'The military hospital is near the Liberty Gardens, isn't it?'

'They're not a mile apart.'

Aubrey was seized by an idea. He patted the pockets of his jacket. 'I need a platter, or a large bowl.'

Caroline straightened and looked toward the front of the restaurant. In an instant, three waiters were hurrying to their table. After Caroline explained what she needed, they vied in fetching it for her.

'They appreciate it when foreigners speak Gallian,' Caroline said when the waiters left, pushing their way toward the kitchen. 'It must be exasperating, being brayed at all day in Albionish by people who think that the way to good understanding is to speak louder.'

The tallest of the waiters wove through the tables. He had a large, oval platter in his hands. With a flourish and a broad smile, he presented the white dish to Caroline, then backed away to crow over his disconsolate colleagues.

Aubrey took some of the magically impregnated brick fragments from his pocket. He placed them on the platter, very carefully, then he sprinkled on some of the brick dust.

The fragments quivered and shifted. 'It's faint,' Aubrey said. 'The Heart of Gold could be a long way away.' He shook his head in frustration. 'We'll have to do the triangulation again, George.'

'Ah. The map.'

'Yes?'

'I think I lost it at the Liberty Gardens. When the lion attacked, you know.'

'Understandable,' Caroline said. 'I'm sure you had other things on your mind.'

Aubrey sat back in his chair, frowning. He crossed his arms on his chest. 'It's not working.'

'Why not, old man?' George said. 'It worked last time. We found the thing, didn't we?'

Aubrey leaned forward again. He held his hand over the brick fragments, as if they were coals in a fire. 'Their power has faded. I can't use them any more.'