‘I can hear a “but” coming along here.’
‘Yes, and a big “but” at that. I’ve been talking to Rolle.’
‘He’s here?’
‘He was in the town earlier. I managed to grab a word with him before he left. I don’t know where he was going but he was in a heck of a hurry. But that’s beside the point. Anyway, he told me he’s seen the Bluebeards at work before – but never in such huge numbers. He says this is only the first instalment.’
‘You mean they’re going to come back?’
‘Yes.’
‘But surely they just hit and run like pirates or… or even muggers. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to walk back into a place they’ve just raided?’
‘But what’s to stop them? They know the roads into the outside world are impassable for the next two or three days at least. Even if we could get a messenger out on foot, what could the authorities do?’
‘They could send in the army.’
‘What army?’
‘Hell, Jud, take a look at the maps in the schoolrooms. In 1865 Britain ruled half the world. The maps are all red, showing how much you limeys actually owned. Remember the saying? The sun never sets on the British Empire? You don’t conquer that much without a pretty substantial army.’
Jud gave a grim smile. ‘Exactly. Today, in 1865, Her Majesty’s army comprises around a million troops.’
‘You see. They’ll blitz these barbarians. They won’t know what hit them.’
‘And you’re right about the huge Empire, too, Sam. And that’s where most of the troops are stationed. Out there in the hot spots of China, India and Africa. Our problem is that the garrisons here on mainland Britain probably number only a few thousand men at most – and they’re dotted here and there all over the country.’
‘But surely they can marshal enough troops to stop those Bluebeards dead in their tracks? Our troops would be armed with rifles and artillery. For heaven’s sake, those Bluebeards might be ferocious monsters but they only have axes and clubs.’
‘But the cold fact of the matter is we still have to get word to the proper authorities. Then they’re going to have to bring troops into barracks from Christmas leave. Put them on trains, bring them as close to Casterton as they can. Then either clear the snow off the line or somehow march them here across all those snowdrifts. All that before they can even fire a shot in anger.’
‘Hell.’ The penny had dropped. Sam shook his head. ‘And in the meantime the Bluebeards will have come back and finished what they started.’
‘Exactly.’
‘So it looks as if it’s down to us?’
Jud nodded.
‘How much time does Rolle think we’ve got?’
‘Anywhere between three and four days.’
‘Why doesn’t he think they’ll return sooner?’
‘Well, they’ll have had a couple of hours’ march through the snow to Casterton, then they’ll have had to carry all the loot back with them to whatever time zone they call home. They’ll have taken food and booze with them and, like any army that’s won a battle, they’ll want to rest.’
‘And maybe party?’
‘And party. Remember, they took the women back with them, so…’ There was no need for him to finish the sentence.
‘Christ.’
‘It sounds callous, but that’s going to give us a short breathing space.’
‘So what next? Get everyone out of town before the Bluebeards come back and start murdering and looting all over again?’
‘We could get some out. But there were a lot of people hurt in the last attack. With the roads blocked, you’d have to carry the wounded out on stretchers. We also have young children and the elderly. How could you ask them to walk out across all those snowdrifts and blocked roads? The conditions out there are nothing less than Arctic. They’d drop like flies.’
‘Jud, we seem to be running out of options fast here.’
‘I was thinking we could fortify some of the bigger buildings in town. Perhaps we could hold them off until help does get through or they simply give up and return to wherever they came from.’
‘That might work. But it’s a heck of a risk. Those buildings weren’t designed to withstand a siege. What if the Bluebeards simply set them on fire? They’d slaughter us the moment we ran out into the street.’
Jud sighed. ‘Then we’re out of options.’
‘So what the hell do we do next?’
‘Then, gentlemen, you ask me.’
‘Carswell?’
Sam swivelled his head round in astonishment to see Carswell standing at the kitchen door. Immaculately dressed as a Victorian gentleman, silver-topped cane in one hand, he was smiling broadly as he slipped off his gloves.
‘Carswell,’ Sam repeated, realising his mouth must have dropped open into an astonished ‘O’. ‘How on Earth did you get here?’
‘The river’s not frozen over yet. And no, before you ask, I haven’t yet quite mastered the knack of walking on water. I came by boat.’
Sam watched Carswell set down his top hat, cane and gloves on the table. Carswell looked round at the bare furnishings. ‘Still hanging out with the little people, I see.’
‘Carswell, did you know that Casterton was—’
‘Yes, yes, dear boy. I know all about it. Quite shocking, I’m sure.’
Sam shook his head in disgust. ‘Carswell, you’re a son of a bitch.’
‘Indeed I am, sir. That’s why I’m rich and you’re… well, slumming it, I see.’
‘So why are you here?’
‘Why am I here, dear chap?’ Carswell looked from Sam to Jud, his eyes bright, a smile playing on his lips. ‘What other reason could there be? I’m here to save your necks.’
‘Coffee?’ Jud asked as Carswell sat down at the table.
‘How kind. Thank you. Two sugars, please.’
Sam said, ‘Carswell, did I hear you right? You’re actually here to help us?’
‘Your hearing is perfectly sound, Mr Baker. Ahh, now that coffee isn’t completely awful.’ Warming his hands around the cup he said, ‘Now, forgive my eavesdropping, but I have to say straightaway that both your earlier plans were doomed to failure, as I believe you realised. You can’t evacuate the town through the blocked roads – and no, Mr Baker, don’t even suggest trying to get everyone out by boat. Mine is almost out of fuel, and even if fuel was plentiful and we used both boats to full capacity, we wouldn’t be able to evacuate more than a small fraction of the three thousand or so souls still in the town.’ He sipped his coffee, then wrinkled his nose. ‘Well, a trifle bitter, but hot, which on a freezing night like this is occasionally more important than a fine flavour… Now, your other plan of fortifying key buildings in the town such as the town hall, the police station or whatever is quite out of the question.’
Jud began, ‘But what if we were to barricade the—’
‘No, no. Listen. Sam Baker here is quite right. There is far too much timber employed in the construction of the buildings. And, after all, these barbarians, the Bluebeards, are familiar enough with siege techniques. They’d roll burning barrels or carts against the timber doors. Once those were alight you’d come running out like rats smoked from a nest to be cut down in the streets.’
‘And I suppose you have come here out of the goodness of your heart to explain how we should save ourselves?’
‘Precisely. A little more coffee if you have it, please, Mr Campbell.’
Jud nodded and went to bring the pot. Sam caught Jud’s eye. He would have liked to kick that arrogant son of a bitch Carswell out into the snow, but while the man dangled a solution in front of them like a sweet juicy carrot in front of a donkey all they could do was stay polite and listen.
Jud set the cup in front of Carswell.