Holmes approached the first creature quickly with a confident strike, sword resting on his shoulder, the beast reached out with its right hand to grab at him. Holmes bought down the sword with vigour onto its arm, amputating it at the elbow, blood spurted from the wound, but before it could even tarnish the floor, the sword had struck horizontally to the right side of the beast’s neck.
The sword was embedded in its throat, the creature still curdling and at least partially alive. Holmes with one move snapped the blade out of the wound, and making a full twist over his head before delivering a mirrored strike to the other side of the neck. It took the head clean off, an exceptional display of swordsmanship, and yet I knew he would not have been happy at needing two strikes to decapitate, it was inefficient and not up to his standard. Holmes should have chosen his sword more wisely, for mine was far more forgiving.
Holmes quickly moved on and I approached my first target, just off to Holmes’ right side. Knowing I had chosen the better sword for the task not needing the precision that Holmes possessed. With no finesse I struck a vertical blow onto the beast’s head. The heavy curved blade cleaved into the skull and down to the nose, severing the brain in two and knocking the beast to its knees; a satisfying display of the power this sword could deliver. Blood trailed from the gory face down the fuller of my weapon. Lifting the blade slightly I kicked the lifeless creature in the chest to release its grip on my blade.
Holmes was now making good headway, just ten yards from the gate, only one beast now stood in his way, but two others were closing in on his flanks, soon to be on his back. He suddenly went to a running pace, blade out front as if a lance, closing at the creature. His thrust pierced the left eye socket of the zombi and his hilt ran up to its face. Stopping only briefly, he drew the blade out, swept the blade over his head and hewed down on the creature’s neck, leaving the head tumbling to the ground.
Holmes was now at the gate, but two zombis were now between him and me, shambling as quickly as they were able towards him. With only one priority and trusting me to cover his back, he focused all attentions on shutting the large gate. I quickened to a trot, running up on the back of the first creature I struck it with all my force with the knuckle bow to the back of the head, it tumbled to the ground.
Spinning on the spot I cuthorizontally at full extension, striking the second’s throat but only with the last few inches of the blade. The beast’s neck opened up, and its knees crumbled sending it down. As I approached the body it had already begun to topple to its knees, but in one fell strike I removed the head from its shoulders, it was utterly vanquished. Turning my attentions to the one I had just moments smashed in the back of the head, it still lay face down in the dirt. Without contemplating whether it was dead or not, I aligned myself ninety degrees to its shoulders and cut down on to the neck, removing the head in situ.
Looking up, Holmes had shut the gate and was sliding the heavy iron bolt across. Excellent, we were safe, we turned out attentions back to the courtyard. Cyril and Egerton had slaughtered their way through their foes as efficiently as us, good company was a boon in a tight spot. The two men had already bagged themselves two heads each, whilst each carried on confidently and without hesitation.
Cyril was carrying his beloved 1796 heavy cavalry sword, a brutish and unrefined piece, more a bludgeon than a sword, he used all its mass and power to his advantage. With an upward slash the zombi’s jaw was taken clean off, and immediately moulineted into a downward cut that struck the skull and pierced all the way to the throat, the blade now visible and bloody where the jaw used to lay.
Standing at the gate Holmes and I could do nothing but marvel at the sheer proficiency and fencing excellence that was being displayed before us in a most bloody and ferocious manner. Egerton paced towards his next victim and with enviable form parried off the beast’s arms with a handing parry before delivering a decapitating blow with his 1857 pattern royal engineer officer’s sword, clearly a treasured piece.
Only one beast was left standing, Cyril marking him out before Egerton could respond. Walking confidently but slowly towards the beast, he delivered a ferocious punch with the hilt to the creature’s face, buckling it in on itself. The nose was obliterated, but Egerton struck twice more with the knuckle bow, before finally smashing down on the crown of the skull with his mighty blade, firmly imbedding it into the centre of the skull.
I looked back at Holmes, he was stood triumphantly with sword now sheathed and lighting a straight pipe that protruded from his mouth. Sucking back on the tobacco puffs of smoke casually flowed from his position. Content and pleased with himself, he took the pipe in his left hand and looked up at us.
“Fine work gentleman, now let us wrap up this affair and be on our way,” he said.
Sheathing our swords, a thing we would never do by choice to bloodstained beauties, we moved quickly to the small stable. Entering I instantly saw the two saddles on a shelf covered in thick dust, they had not been used in years, but the horses were at least healthy and fresh.
“There will inevitably be more foes beyond the gate, for no matter how quiet we have been some will be drawn there. Egerton, please make sure that the windows to the courtyard are very secure, and then gather back here with our rifles,” said Holmes.
Egerton nodded and rushed back inside. Finding horses at a time like this was a lucky turn of events. It was only a shame to be leaving three good allies behind, they could be remarkably useful and had already proven as such.
“One man will be needed to open the gate, and you will likely not get it shut again. Therefore, have one man as a runner, whilst the other two of you give covering firefrom the school door. You should be able to get securely back inside before they reach the inner walls,” said Holmes.
“We’ll manage just fine, good luck to you.”
“Thank you. Watson, come with me.”
We headed back to the stable and I quickly saddled the horses, for whilst Holmes had a basic knowledge of riding, he knew nothing of the practicalities of keep a horse, which was typical of him. We eventually led the horses out into the courtyard where Cyril was awaiting us.
“I rather suggest you have the teacher replace Berty on sentry in the house whilst we accomplish this breakout,” said Holmes.
Cyril ran off into the school to carry out his duties.
I asked Holmes what we would do upon reaching Meirengen, was that the end of our path or were we merely hoping to find an answer or the villain himself there?
“Meirengen has been a regularly visited location of Moriarty, and therefore it is unfathomable that we will not find some guidance from the locals there,” replied Holmes.
It was not quite the answer I was hoping for, but at least we would be moving forward. Five minutes later Cyril returned with Berty; he was clearly rather efficient and persuasive with the teacher. We were set to go, but it was not a place where we would ever choose to leave our group of friends.
Berty propped his rifle inside the doorway and moved to the gate to be ready, whilst Egerton and Cyril gathered up their rifles and readied themselves half way into the courtyard, off to the sides of us, leaving us a straight path to the gate.
“As soon as that gate is open and Berty is clear, we ride quickly to the east, and you do not slow until I do. If you get lost, follow the easterly lake along its edge, following signs for Meirengen,” said Holmes.