Read Online The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Robert Appleton
Ads: Link
there—and across the final, uncovered forty yards that leaked wispy steam and a noxious petroleum odour.
She urged the elevator, “Come on, come on, you bloody thing.” But its squeak was out of earshot, its hiss so low she couldn’t even tell if it was running up or down! What the hell was happening? Where had everyone gone? First Al and now the docking staff?
A faint clank, clank, tap, tap had her spinning around so fast she slipped and crashed hip-first into a mooring cleat. The tautening stay rope scraped and tore skin from the back of her neck. Julia winced and scrambled to her feet. He’s coming. But what to do? There was still no sign of the elevator or of the Pegasus crew. Think, quick. This could all be a figment of my paranoia. The man in the bowler hat might be a deaf-mute and I could be running from nothing. She sucked in a lungful of icy air. The hatchway exit was now sheathed in light grey fog. No, no. It was too much of a coincidence.
Aquiver, she scanned the gangway for another way down. Nothing practical…except to jump into the Thames and that would likely kill her. It was too high. What else?
Tap, clang, tap, tap.
Erratic footsteps…nearing, quickening. Right. It was either wait until the very last second for the elevator, or stand her ground and—
The mooring cleat?
She considered the idea and immediately tossed her purse aside and pounced on the four-hooked iron anchor. Unscrewing it from the gangway took all her strength but it soon lifted free. The rope’s loop slipped loose when she heaved the cleat up onto her shoulder. Julia daren’t breathe. The iron thing weighed a ton and the major mooring rope, connecting the Pegasus to the ground, was only several yards away.
With a final shoulder-buckling effort she hooked the cleat onto the declining rope, slid it over the railing, and used its weight to steady herself while she climbed up. Crazy perhaps, but she’d seen acrobats perform this feat more than once. She couldn’t see the ground through the smog. God, please let there be no obstacles.
The railing rattled while she teetered, plucking the courage to fall.
Hissss! Squeeeeak!
Her heart froze and she gripped the railing at her feet with a free hand. Thank God. The elevator. What a reckless thing she’d almost—
The man dashed at her from behind. His bowler hat flew off during his terrifying spurt of acceleration. He lunged with an outstretched blade and slashed at her thigh. She felt a tight, curling pain, but only the hilt had caught her. He attempted to drive the knife into her stomach but Julia kicked off from the railings, out into nothingness, her fists clenched for dear life. She watched as he peered after her and then bolted for the elevator.
Julia slid backwards as she clung to the swaying curved prongs of the lopsided cleat. It fed her down, down to a mouth she couldn’t see. A never-ending descent. The muscles in her arms and fingers and shoulders leaked something flammable into burning blood. Through the mist below she spied concrete, a brick wall, grass.
Almost…there. Her soles slid for balance, she let go of the cleat and thump! —her backside landed on the grass and she bounced and fell sideways.
Her mooring cleat clashed with the one on the ground inches from her right ear. She flopped onto her side. A light-headed desire to lie there waiting for morning tempted her for a moment. The constant hiss of the steam elevator sputtered. Moments later, a faint metallic crack woke the mist. Someone slamming the elevator cage doors open? Julia stopped untangling her petticoats and staggered to her feet.
Please, Al, where are you? There was no time. She turned inshore and headed for the nearest light she could see. The ticket office? The Leviacrum? No. Her heart floundered. Lit by a wharf fog lamp, the silhouette of a man stalked the path between them, his blade protruding, questing for his prey through the smog.
Oh my God.
Away to her left, she couldn’t tell
She urged the elevator, “Come on, come on, you bloody thing.” But its squeak was out of earshot, its hiss so low she couldn’t even tell if it was running up or down! What the hell was happening? Where had everyone gone? First Al and now the docking staff?
A faint clank, clank, tap, tap had her spinning around so fast she slipped and crashed hip-first into a mooring cleat. The tautening stay rope scraped and tore skin from the back of her neck. Julia winced and scrambled to her feet. He’s coming. But what to do? There was still no sign of the elevator or of the Pegasus crew. Think, quick. This could all be a figment of my paranoia. The man in the bowler hat might be a deaf-mute and I could be running from nothing. She sucked in a lungful of icy air. The hatchway exit was now sheathed in light grey fog. No, no. It was too much of a coincidence.
Aquiver, she scanned the gangway for another way down. Nothing practical…except to jump into the Thames and that would likely kill her. It was too high. What else?
Tap, clang, tap, tap.
Erratic footsteps…nearing, quickening. Right. It was either wait until the very last second for the elevator, or stand her ground and—
The mooring cleat?
She considered the idea and immediately tossed her purse aside and pounced on the four-hooked iron anchor. Unscrewing it from the gangway took all her strength but it soon lifted free. The rope’s loop slipped loose when she heaved the cleat up onto her shoulder. Julia daren’t breathe. The iron thing weighed a ton and the major mooring rope, connecting the Pegasus to the ground, was only several yards away.
With a final shoulder-buckling effort she hooked the cleat onto the declining rope, slid it over the railing, and used its weight to steady herself while she climbed up. Crazy perhaps, but she’d seen acrobats perform this feat more than once. She couldn’t see the ground through the smog. God, please let there be no obstacles.
The railing rattled while she teetered, plucking the courage to fall.
Hissss! Squeeeeak!
Her heart froze and she gripped the railing at her feet with a free hand. Thank God. The elevator. What a reckless thing she’d almost—
The man dashed at her from behind. His bowler hat flew off during his terrifying spurt of acceleration. He lunged with an outstretched blade and slashed at her thigh. She felt a tight, curling pain, but only the hilt had caught her. He attempted to drive the knife into her stomach but Julia kicked off from the railings, out into nothingness, her fists clenched for dear life. She watched as he peered after her and then bolted for the elevator.
Julia slid backwards as she clung to the swaying curved prongs of the lopsided cleat. It fed her down, down to a mouth she couldn’t see. A never-ending descent. The muscles in her arms and fingers and shoulders leaked something flammable into burning blood. Through the mist below she spied concrete, a brick wall, grass.
Almost…there. Her soles slid for balance, she let go of the cleat and thump! —her backside landed on the grass and she bounced and fell sideways.
Her mooring cleat clashed with the one on the ground inches from her right ear. She flopped onto her side. A light-headed desire to lie there waiting for morning tempted her for a moment. The constant hiss of the steam elevator sputtered. Moments later, a faint metallic crack woke the mist. Someone slamming the elevator cage doors open? Julia stopped untangling her petticoats and staggered to her feet.
Please, Al, where are you? There was no time. She turned inshore and headed for the nearest light she could see. The ticket office? The Leviacrum? No. Her heart floundered. Lit by a wharf fog lamp, the silhouette of a man stalked the path between them, his blade protruding, questing for his prey through the smog.
Oh my God.
Away to her left, she couldn’t tell
Similar Books
