Read Online The Broken Sun by Darrell Pitt - Free Book Online Page A

his life.
    â€˜Where are we headed?’ Scarlet asked as Mr Doyle angled the Lion’s Mane towards the
coast.
    â€˜To a small town called Wick. Professor Stein was one of the experts to discover
the Broken Sun. Originally from the United States, he now resides in a castle known
as Castle Wick.’
    â€˜Castle Wick in the town of Wick,’ Jack said.
    Mr Doyle winked at them. ‘Let’s hope he’s not wick-ed.’
    Jack and Scarlet groaned.
    â€˜It was a ruin,’ Mr Doyle went on, ‘until it was restored several years ago. Hopefully
it will still have the same fortifications.’
    They travelled on in silence. Mr Doyle followed the shoreline until they were almost
at the most north-eastern point of the mainland. Beyond here Jack could see only
the specks of land that made up the Orkney Islands.
    Mr Doyle gave a grunt of satisfaction and brought the airship down in a meadow. Castle
Wick was a large square structure with battlements, perched perilously close to a
cliff face overlooking the sea. To Jack’s eyes the building looked authentic; whoever
had done the restoration had done a fine job of it.
    Scarlet pointed to one of the windows. ‘I just saw a curtain move.’
    â€˜They probably don’t get many visitors in this part of the country,’ Mr Doyle said.
‘I hope the professor is gracious.’
    The entrance was an oak door set into the stonework. It swung open as they approached
and a gaunt man, reminiscent of a praying mantis, appeared. ‘State your business!’
he snapped, with the trace of an American accent. ‘My time is precious!’
    â€˜Are you Professor Stein?’
    â€˜I am.’
    â€˜We believe you may be in great danger.’
    â€˜Danger? What kind of danger?’
    â€˜A piece of the Broken Sun has been stolen from the British Museum.’
    â€˜That’s garbage! Impossible!’
    Jack shot Scarlet a look.
    And we came here to help this man?
    â€˜I’m afraid it is the case,’ Mr Doyle said.
    The professor’s eyes narrowed. ‘I see. And you think someone may be coming here to
steal my piece of the map? Castle Wick is impregnable. Nothing can breach its defences.’
    â€˜Yet you have been worried,’ Mr Doyle said.
    Stein folded his arms. ‘What gives you that idea?’
    â€˜You were cleaning your gun this morning.’
    The professor blinked. ‘How the hell—’
    â€˜It is simplicity itself. There is a distinctive mark on your left hand that results
from the cleaning of a revolver. In addition, I can smell the oil used on such a
weapon.’
    For the first time, Richard Stein’s confidence was shaken. His eyes searched the
open fields behind them. ‘I am simply being cautious,’ he said. ‘The Broken Sun is
a priceless artefact.’
    â€˜Have you checked it today?’
    â€˜There is no need.’
    â€˜I suggest you do so.’
    â€˜The impudence—’ Stein almost bounced up and down with anger. Somehow he regained
control of himself. ‘Wait here!’
    The door slammed.
    â€˜What a lovely man,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘We must invite him for Christmas.’
    â€˜What will we do now?’ Jack asked.
    Mr Doyle sighed. ‘Helping a man who claims to not need assistance is rather problematic.
It would seem—’ But he did not finish. A shot rang out. ‘What the devil!’
    There was a cry, and another shot from inside. Mr Doyle pushed against the door;
the professor had not bolted it. They rushed through a cloakroom into a foyer decorated
with armour and family crests. Up a winding staircase, they found Professor Stein
on the floor in the hallway, his face white with terror.
    He pointed into a room with a shaking hand. ‘There!’ he cried. ‘There!’
    Jack caught a glimpse of a figure disappearing through the window—the black-haired
man from the museum. Jack tore to the window, only to see