adams, robert - castaways 6 - of beginings and endings

7/26/2019 Adams, Robert - Castaways 6 - Of Beginings and Endings

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S cann ed b y H ig hr ol ler and p ro of ed m or e o r l es s b y H ig hr ol ler.

PROLOGUE

W in d h ow led and w ai led abo ut t he s to ne w al ls and l of ty s pi res o f ancient E bo racu m- on ce cal led

J or -v ik , n ow c al le d Y or k. T he d ay p re ce di ng h ad b ee n a s b ri gh t a nd s un ny a nd b al my a s a s um me r' s d ay

m igh t b e, bu t i n t he n ig ht t hi s t oo the d s to rm h ad b low n i n f ro m T hu le by w ay o f t he N or th S ea ,

t em peratu res i n t he env ir on s o f t he epi scop al cit y h ad d ro pp ed p recip it at el y, and s o m uch w at er h ad

been dumped, that the streets had begun, by wan daybreak, to run as swiftly if not as deep as the current

o f t he r iv er .

Within the complex of buildings which constituted Yorkminster, in a sizable chamber which still seemed

c ra mp ed a nd c lu tt er ed d ue t o t he h ig h s he lv es p ac ke d w it h j ar s, c as ke ts , b ox es , a mp ho ra e, v ia ls , f la sk s,

bowls, trays, kettles, small caldrons, bags and cases of a plethora of sizes, shapes and descriptions, a

c ow le d a nd r ob ed m an s at b ef or e a h ea vy , s la te -t op pe d t ab le . D ee p i n t ho ug ht , h e o cc as io na ll y r ou se d

h im self s uf fi ci en tl y t o s cr ib bl e n ot es and r em in ders t o h im self w it h a q ui ll o n a s heet o f f in e v el lu m.

Wool clothing lined with silk, old-fashioned trunkhose, and ankle-high shoon of quilted doeskin were not

e nough t o ke ep t he c hil l f rom hi s ol d bone s t hi s da nk, di sma l da y, s o he ha d ha d a fi re l ai d a nd l it on t heh ea rt h a nd a ls o h ad f ir ed a s ma ll b ra ss b ra zi er n ea rb y o n t he t ab le to p o ve r w hi ch t o w ar m h is h an ds f ro nj

t im e t o t im e.

A nd o ld h is b on es t ru ly w er e, t hi s m an n ow c al le d H is G ra ce H ar ol d, A rc hb is ho p o f Y or k. A n ew -c om e

stranger, knowing nothing of him, would have seen the high-ranking churchman and probably have

g uess ed h is age t o b e abo ut l at e s ix ti es o r ear ly s ev en ti es -v en er ab le eno ug h f or t hese t im es i n w hi ch m os t

m en , even t ho se o f n ob le and exal ted r an k, con si der ed t hems el ves f or tu nate, l ucky , and b less ed b y G od

t o s ee f if ty w in ters -and t hat s tr an ger w ou ld h av e b een w ro ng , v er y, v er y w ro ng . I n t he n at ur al , t hee xp ec te d o rd er o f t hi ng s, c re at ur es a re b or n i n t he ir p re se nt a nd l iv e o n i nt o a f ut ur e u nt il t he ir d em is e;

t hi s o ld m an , h ow ev er , w as com e i nt o t hi s w or ld h e p resent ly o ccup ied n ot o nl y f ul l- gr ow n b ut m or e t han

a h al f- cent ur y o ld -alt ho ug h, d ue t o an art if iciall y p ro du ced l on gevi ty d ru g h e h ad , h e t hen l oo ked n o m or e

t ha n t hi rt y t o f or ty y ea rs o f a ge .

B or n i n A .D . 1 96 8, H ar ol d K en mo re h ad b ee n e mp lo ye d a s a r es ea rc h s ci en ti st i n a

g ov er nm en t- sp on so red and - op er at ed p ro ject i n a f acil it y cal led G am eb ir d b y t he m id dl e o f t he t hi rd

de ca de o f t he t we nt y- fi rs t c ent ur y. M or e t ha n a de ca de e ar li er , he h ad be en o ne o f t he me mbe rs of t he

t ea m o f s ci en ti st s w hi ch h ad a t l as t d ev el op ed a m ea ns t o r et ar d t he e ff ec ts o f a gi ng o f t he h um an b od y.

T he re fo re h e r an ke d q ui te h ig h i n h is p ro fe ss io n a nd e ve n o wn ed t he g ru dg in g r es pe ct a nd r eg ar d o f t he

military bureaucrats in charge of the Gamebird Facility.

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Pa rt o f t he w or k o f t he Ga me bi rd P ro je ct w as t he a tt em pt t o f ind o r d eve lop a m ea ns of t im e t ra ve l;

previous generations had so far depleted that world of fuels and raw materials that even the vast

expenses of the possibly impossible would be considered justified if said expenditures would only result

i n a n a ve nu e w he re by t he v ir gi n r es our ce s o f p as t t im es m igh t b e pl un de re d t o t he be ne fi t o f t heimpoverished present.*

* R ea d C as ta wa ys i n T im e S ig ne t B oo ks , 1 98 2

A d ec ad e a nd a h al f o f w or k r es ul te d i n a d ev ic e t ha t, w hi le e xp en di ng h or re nd ou s a mo un ts o f p re ci ou s

energ y, w ou ld p ro ject i nani mate o bj ects s om ew here o ut o f s ig ht and r et ri ev e m os t o f t hem u nd am ag ed .H ow ev er , l iv in g ani mals all s eemed t o com e b ack d ead, m an y o f t hem t er ri bl y m ut il at ed and /o r

d ec om po si ng a s w el l. E ve n s o, s o c ri ti ca l w er e t he n ee ds f or f os si l f ue ls a nd c er ta in o re s b ec om e t ha t t he

g ov er nm en t b ro ug ht i nexo rabl e p ress ur e t o b ear o n t he p ro ject d ir ect or s s o t hat , again st t hei r b et t er and

more informed judgment, a series of human experiments were then commenced.

T he f ir st m an p ro ject ed w as d ead w hen r et ri ev ed , b ut t ho ro ug h exami nati on o f h is cor ps e and clo th in g

est abl is hed t hat h e h ad b een i n t hi r teen th -cen tu ry F rance o r, p os si bl y, S av oy . T herefo re, t he s econ d

h um an v ol un teer h ad b een s teep ed i n m ed iaev al R om an ce l an gu ag es , g ar bed i n r ecreat ed

t hi r teen th -cent ur y E ur op ean att i re, and p ro ject ed. H is b od y, h id eo us ly m ai med and d ead, h ad b eenn ea r- na ke d w he n r et ri ev ed , w it h a p ie ce o f p ar ch me nt n ai le d t o i ts f or eh ea d w it h a l eg en d s ta ti ng i n L ow

L at in , " I a m a de ad s py .' '

F or a ll t ha t a t ig ht l id o f s ec re cy h ad e xi st ed f ro m t he v er y b eg in ni ng a nd h ad b ee n s cr ew ed d ow n e ve n

m or e t ig ht ly as t he h um an exp er im en ts h ad p ro gr es sed, s ti ll w or d o f t he d is as ters h ad g ot ten o ut

somehow, and volunteers of the proper calibers had become virtually nonexistent. But the governmental

pressure had not slacked off at all, and so, when one of the most promising of the younger scientists, Dr.

L en ny V in ce nz o, h ad v ol un te er ed t o b e t he t hi rd p ro je ct ee , t he p ro je ct d ir ec to rs h ad f el t t ha t t he y h ad t oa cc ep t h im , h ad t o u se h im , ha d t o m ak e t he s ac ri fi ce a nd s en d h im t o h is v ir tu al ly c er ta in d ea th.

A r eal p ro di gy , h ol di ng , d es pi t e h is y ou th , s ev er al adv an ced d eg rees , D r. V in cenzo h ad n ot r eq ui red as

much preliminary hypno-education as had either of his ill-fated predecessors, which fact had allowed

t hem t o m ov e f as ter- th ou gh n ot n earl y s o f as t as t he i mp at ient g ov er nm en t m ig ht h av e w is hed.

A ft er a r et ri ev al d ev ice h ad b een s ur gi call y i mp lant ed u nd er t he s ki n o f o ne t hi gh , V in cenzo h ad b een, at

his request, dressed in late-fifteenth-century clothing, provided with reproductions of period coins in

c op pe r, b ra ss , s il ve r, a nd g ol d, t he n p ro je ct ed . H e h ad n ev er b ee n r et ri ev ed . A r ot ti ng c ad av er , t he



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r et ri ev al n od ul e p ro perl y p laced u nd er t he s lo ug hi ng s ki n o f o ne t hi gh , h ad i nd eed arr iv ed b ack at

G am ebi rd, l ac ki ng he ad, ha nds , f ee t, a nd e xt er na l s ex ua l o rga ns . . . but i t h ad no t be en t he bo dy o f Dr .

L en ny V in ce nz o; t he b lo od t yp e a nd a h os t o f o th er t es ts h ad p ro ve d t ha t. A nd s in ce , w it ho ut t he n od ul e

o n w hi ch t he e qu ip me nt i n t he l ab c ou ld h om e i n, t he re wa s no w ay of t ry in g a ga in t o r et ri ev e t he y ou ng

m an , h e w as com pl et el y l os t s om ew here i n p as t t im e.

The project director, still under unbearable pressure from the increasingly threatening government,

r eali zi ng t he y ou ng m an 's i rr et ri ev ab le l os s and s uf feri ng d eep p an gs o f g ui lt o ver h is p ar t i n s o d oo mi ng

h im , h ad s ui ci de d, p ub li cl y a nd v er y m es si ly . H e h ad b ee n r ep la ce d b y a D r. J an e S to ne , w ho , i n a dd it io n

to holding scientific degrees commensurate to the position, was a lieutenant colonel in the government

security service.

W it hi n h is o wn l if et im e, D r. H ar ol d K en mo re h ad s een h is cou nt ry o f b ir th chang e f ro m a r ep ub li c r ul edover by popularly elected representatives to a dictatorship in all but name-tightly regimented, savagely

policed; even the most intimate aspects of every citizen's life were spied upon, lest the unhappy,

d ep ri ved, and b ru tall y d ow nt ro dd en p eo pl e r is e i n r ev ol t again st t he f am il y d yn as ty w hi ch h ad s to len

away t heir f reed om s and t he cou nt ry . T herefo re, d es pi te h is r el at iv el y p ri vi leged s tatu s, K en -m or e w as

not a t a ll ha ppy w it h hi s p re se nt l if e, t he re a nd t he n . . . n or ha d he be en t he onl y s uc h m an o n t he pr oj ec t.

D r. E mm et t O 'M al ley h ad b een ano th er s uch. Y ou ng er t han K en mo re and s o n ot r eall y r em em beri ng t he

U ni te d S ta te s o f A me ri ca t ha t o nc e h ad b ee n, h e s ti ll k ne w o f t he e xp er ie nc es o f f ri en ds a nd e ve n

r el at iv es w ho h ad s uf fered cru el ly at t he cal lo us h an ds o f t he d ictato rs hi p' s m in io ns and t herefo re h adbecome willing to risk as much as his life to escape.

A t hi rd of t hi s wa te r ha d b ee n Dr . L enny Vi nc enz o, a nd no m at te r wha t ot he rs i n t he pr oj ec t or t he

g ov er nm en t m ig ht w on der o r g uess o r s up po se o r s us pect, K en mo re and O 'M al l ey k new. T heir t ru e,

t ho ug h s ho rt -t er m, f ri en d and col leag ue L eo nard D av id V in cenzo h ad n ot o nl y escap ed , h e h ad u sed t he

G am eb ir d P ro ject and t he d wi nd li ng energ y s up pl ies o f t he h el li sh g ov er nm en t i ts el f t o s peed h im o n h is

w ay t o f re ed om . E ve n t hi nk in g o f w ha t t he b ra ve , d es pe ra te y ou ng s ci en ti st h ad d on e w as a h ea dy

exp er i en ce f or K en mo re and O 'M al ley.

H ow ev er , s ub sequ en t t o t he l os s o f V in cenzo and t he s ui cid e o f t he r es po ns ib le d ir ecto r, h is s ucces so r

had suspended human-type projections, though still sporadically experimenting with certain attempts to

r ev er se t he act iv it y o f t he equ ip ment and b ri ng t hi ng s f ro m p as t t o p resent , s ki pp in g f ro m y ear t o y ear,

century to century, geographical location to geographical location; the success of her experiments had

been spotty at best.

B ut h op e s pr in gs etern al i n t he h um an b reas t. D es perately cer tain t hat s om eh ow , s om ew ay , s om et im e

t he y c oul d a nd w oul d f ind or m ake a w ay t o ga in a cc es s t o t he l oc ke d a nd gua rde d f ac il it y, l ea rn how t o



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o per at e t he r eq ui s it e d ev ices, and t hu s p ro ject t hems el ves t o a s om ew here, s om et im e t hat t hey cou ld n ot

i magi ne cou ld p os si bl y b e w or se t han l if e u nd er t he exi st in g r eg im e, t he t wo con sp ir at or s t oo k u p t he

s tu dy o f h is to ry . A ft er s om e t im e, t hey at l en gt h agr eed u po n n or th west er n E ur op e i n t he s econ d h al f o f

t he f if te en th c en tu ry . T hi s d on e, t he y b eg an s tu dy in g b oo ks , t ap es , a nd p er io d m ap s a nd b eg an t o u se t he

easily available hypnostudy system to acquire languages and skills of various archaic sorts, passing off

t heir i nt er es ts and cou rs es o f s tu dy as j us t h ar ml ess h ob bi es .

Meanwhile, being very careful, fully realizing the deadly danger of it all, Dr. Emmett O'Malley-

young-looking (the longevity process having more or less frozen his age at mid-twenties), handsome, with

a w el l- develo ped g if t o f t he b larn ey -ent er ed i nt o a s ex ual l iais on w it h C ol on el D r. J an e S to ne, t hereby

eventually gaining access to the projection labs and knowledge of the equipment therein contained.

I n add it io n t o u si ng h is o wn l ab t o s ur rept it io us ly com po un d l on gevi ty b oo st er cap su les d is gu is ed ash ea da ch e r em edy a nd t ak en a f ew a t t he t im e b ac k t o h is q ua rt er s, t he re t o b e h id de n a wa y, Ha ro ld

Ken-more had hypnotrained himself in antique jewelry-making methods, signed out on loan a quantity of

bulk gold, silver, and copper, and set up a small workshop in a corner of his bedroom. There he actually

ha d ma de s om e j ew el ry , a nd t ho se wh o s aw i t h ad pr ai se d h is s ki ll s, b ut he ha d a ls o c as t t he p re ci ous

m et al s i nt o coi n s hapes and i nt o p lain f in ger r in gs o f v ar yi ng w ei gh ts . H e als o h ad h yp no ed a cou rs e i n

cos tu me d es ig n and h ad f ab ri cated com pl et e s et s o f clo th in g t o h is and E mm et t' s m easu res i n f as hi on s o f

the times they were contemplating.

O ne o f E mm et t' s d eg re es w as i n t he f ie ld o f f er ro us m et al lu rg y, a nd t o t hi s h e a dd ed h yp no co ur se s i nd ep th a nd b re ad th , s ee ki ng a nd a t l as t d ev el op in g a w ay t o f ab ri ca te s up er io r s te el f ro m c ru de p ig i ro n

and certain common elements under very primitive conditions. He had proved this theory by fashioning

t wo b ro ad sw or ds a nd a b ra ce o f d ag ge rs , p lu s s ev er al s ma ll er k ni ve s.

F ro m t he v er y o ut se t o f t he p re pa ra ti on s f or t he ir p ri va te s ch em e, t he ir f or lo rn h op e o f e sc ap e f ro m t he

h at ef ul , h at e- fi ll ed m ad ho us e o f t heir w or ld , t he t wo m en h ad s eemi ng ly b ecom e f an at ics i n t he cat eg or y

of ph ys ic al e xe rc is es of a ll s or ts , a nd s o f ew i f a ny o f t he ir pe er s a nd ke epe rs c ons id er ed i t odd t ha t t he y

at l as t t oo k u p f encin g, t oo , p ro ceedi ng -aid ed , o f cou rs e, b y h yp no st ud y- fr om f oo tw or k t o f oi l, t hene "p ee , t he n s ab er . A t l en gt h, t he y b eg an t o f en ce w it h t he b ro ad sw or ds ; i n t he b eg in ni ng o f t hi s, t he y u se d

t he se w ea po ns a lo ne , a nd a s t he y b ec am e m or e a de pt a t h an dl in g t he h ea vy , i ll -b al an ce d b la de s, t he y

began to try fencing Florentine, with a dagger in the left hand.

A ll t hese d is ci pl in es , m an uf actu res, and s tu di es t oo k t im e, o f cou rs e, s an dw iched i n as t hey p er fo rce

w er e b et ween t he n eces si ti es o f w or k, t he G am eb ir d r ou ti nes o f end less m eeti ng s, con ferences ,

evalu at io ns , and t he l ik e, n ot t o m en ti on t he t im e n eces sari ly con su med b y E mm et t' s t or ri d aff ai r w it h

C ol on el D r. J an e S to ne . I t t oo k t im e, y ea rs p as se d, b ut t he n H ar ol d a nd E mm et t h ad t he t im e, f or t he ir

l on gevi ty -t reat ed b od ies aged o nl y m in ut es w hi le t ho se n ot s o t reated aged d ay s and w eeks . L en ny

V in ce nz o h ad b ee n g on e f ro m t he ir w or ld f or a lm os t f ive y ea rs b ef or e t he t wo m en d ec id ed t ha t t he t im e

a t l as t wa s r ipe f or t he ir e sc ape t o t he y kn ew no t wh at .



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O ver t he y ears o f i ncreas in gl y h ar sh and r eg im en ted d ictato rs hi p, m os t o nce- ho no red h ol id ay s o f all

n at u res h ad b een ab ol i sh ed an d t h e av er age w or k er l abo red s i x- d ay , s event y -t w o- h ou r w eek s, w eek

a ft er w ee k, f or t we lv e m on th s o f e ve ry y ea r, p ai d l es s a nd e ve r l es s r ea l i nc om e, t he p ur ch as in g p ow er o f

w hi ch a t t he b es t p ro ve d n ev er e no ug h t o b uy t he n ee de d a mo un ts o f t he i nc re as in gl y s ca rc e a nd d ea r n eces si ti es o f l if e. N ot even t he s li gh test s ur ceas e w as avail ab le. U se o f t ob acco w as i ll eg al . T ho ug h

rigorously discouraged and under constant surveillance, religious practice was allowed on one day each

work week. Uses of alcohol, hallucinogenics, or narcotics invariably brought lengthy stays in government

l ab or a nd r ee du ca ti on c am ps i f u se d o th er t ha n u nd er a p hy si ci an 's o rd er s o r, p re fe ra bl y, h is d ir ec t

s up er vi si on . T ho se adj ud ged i ns an e o r u nabl e t o w or k d ue t o i nj ur y o r p hy si cal i mp ai rm en t w er e k il led.

Only the elite-bureaucrats, military, higher echelons of police and overlapping internal intelligence

d ep ar t ment s , v al ued p eo pl e s equ es ter ed away i n cert ain g ov er nm en t r es ear ch p ro jects s uch as

G am eb ir d, o r a v er y f ew o th er s- were all ow ed t o l ead l iv es o f any th in g s av e end less d ru dg er y,

mal-nourishment if not outright starvation, hopelessness, and unceasing terror.

H ow ev er , w it hi n a f iv e- da y p er io d- th e l as t t wo d ay s o f a n o ut go in g y ea r a nd t he f ir st t hr ee d ay s o f t he

incoming one-designated the President's Birthday Celebration, most if not all strictures were eased

n at io nw id e. G ov er nm en t o ut lets g av e away n ot o nl y f ree f oo ds tu ff s t o all com er s, b ut t ob acco , s pi ri ts o f

m an y s or ts , i tems o f f oo tw ear and clo th in g, and even s up pl ies o f h al lu ci no gens . D ur in g t hese w il d D ay s,

public appearances in chemically altered states not only went unpunished but were aggressively

encou raged. T ravel, n or mall y v er y m uch r es tr icted, n ot o nl y w as eas ed d ur in g t hese D ay s b ut w as f ree t o

t ho se w it h p ro of o f f am il y els ew here i n t he cou nt ry i f t he r ou nd t ri p cou ld b e accom pl is hed b ef or e t he

D ay s ha d e nde d. Ma ny , d ru nk o r s pa ce y, w ent f or th a nd a bo ut i n od d a tt ir e or n one a t a ll , un not ic ed a nd

u nr em ar ked b y any . T here w er e alw ay s s om e k il li ng s and o th er v io lence d ur in g t he D ay s, b ut u su al ly t hethen-short-handed police ignored the smaller instances of violence-though they were always quick to put

d ow n m ob s b y d ea dl y m et ho ds . T he b od ie s, h ow ev er s la in , w er e j us t c ol le ct ed a nd d el iv er ed t o t he

nearest rendering plant.

A t t he G am eb ir d Pr oj ec t, on t he ba nk s of t he Po to ma c R iv er , a s a t a ll t he ot he r pr oj ec ts r un b y t he

government, the resident workers were, though comparatively lavishly provided for and kept in luxury,

s eq uest ered, n ot al lo wed t o l eave t he com pl ex and g ro un ds s ave i n s up er vi sed g ro up s f or v er y n ecess ar y

f ield t ri ps o r v is it s t o t heir s up er io rs els ew here. T heir f am il ies, i f t hey h ad t hem, w er e s up po rt ed andh ous ed , b ut t he ir o nl y c on ta ct s w it h t he m t hr ou gh t he ye ar l on g w er e i n t he f or ms o f l et te rs ( al wa ys a nd

thoroughly censored, incoming and outgoing), videotapes (ditto) and the exceedingly rare vision-phone

cal l. T he D ay s r ep resent ed t he o nl y chance avail ab le t o t he s eq uest er ed m en and w om en f or p hy si cal

con tact w it h t heir l ov ed o nes, and t ho se w it h f am il ies i nv ar iabl y t oo k adv an tage o f t he o pp or tu ni ty ,

k no wi ng t hat t heir t rans po rt at io n w ou ld b e ass ur ed and f i rs t- cl as s. F or t hi s r easo n, t he p op ul at io n o f

G am eb ir d d ur in g t he D ay s d ro pp ed d ra st ic al ly , a nd f or m os t w ho d id s ta y o n a t t he P ro je ct , t he re w as

n o w or k and alm os t u nl im it ed l icen se. T ravel abo ut t he v ar io us s ecto rs o f t he v as t com pl ex , u su al ly

strictly forbidden without necessity and authorization from some lofty source, was permitted, while

o bv io us d ru nk en nes s and o dd b eh av io r w as exp ect ed .

F or t he se m an y r ea so ns , H ar ol d K en mo re a nd E mm et t O 'M al le y h ad f el t t ha t t he ir b es t, i nd ee d t he ir



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o nl y d ec en t, c ha nc e t o c ar ry o ut t he ir e sc ap e s ch em e w ou ld b e u po n o ne o f t he D ay s. O ve r t he ir s hi rt s

and t ru nk ho se, t hey h ad d on ned t he cov er al ls i ss ued t hem f or o ut si de w or k i n col d o r w et w eath er , f il li ng

t he carg o p ocket s o f t hes e w it h p recio us m et als , l on gevi t y- bo os t er caps ul es, f oo d con cent r at es, and

o th er s mall i tems . T heir p ar ka p ockets w er e l ik ew is e cramm ed f ul l, t hen t hey s lu ng o n t heir b al dr ics,

buckled their dagger-belts and slung their cloaks over all. They slipped their sheathed broadswords into

place in the baldrics, rinsed out their mouths with grain alcohol, and splashed the rest of the stuff over

t heir clo th in g b ef or e s et ti ng o ut f ro m t heir q uart er s- ar m i n arm , s in gi ng a l ew d s on g, and clu tchi ng ahalf-empty liquor bottle.

D es cend in g t o t he l ow es t l ev el o f t heir p ar t o f t he com pl ex , t hey f ou nd t he g uard cub icle com pl et el y

u nt en an te d, s o t he y j us t b oa rd ed o ne o f t he s ma ll e le ct ri c r ai l c ar s a nd l et i t t ak e t he m t hr ou gh t he t un ne l

u nd er t he w id th o f t he r iv er a nd i nt o t he l ow es t l ev el o f t he s ou th er n s eg me nt o f t he G am ebi rd P ro je ct ,

wherein was located the experimental time-travel facility.

I n t he s ou th er n t er mi na l, t he g ua rd c ub ic le w as t en an te d, b ut a ll t hr ee o f t he g ua rd s t he re in w er e

s no ri ng -o ne i n a c ha ir , t wo o n t he f lo or . B ot tl es i n v ar io us s ta ge s o f e mp ti ne ss w er e s ca tt er ed a bo ut t he

cub icle, and a p un gent s mell o f b ur ni ng r op e h un g t hi ck ly i n t he air . E mm et t cas uall y h el ped h im self t o t he

k ey t o t he l if t, a nd t he t wo s ci en ti st s a sc en de d s wi ft ly t o t he l ev el t he y s ou gh t, a l it tl e s ho ck ed a t t he e as e

of i t al l.

B ut t ha t ha d a ll e nde d a t t he do or t o t he f ac il it y i ts el f. T he gua rd on dut y t he re ha d no t be en a sl ee p or

d ru nk o r o th er t ha n f ul ly a wa ke a nd a le rt . H ow ev er , h e h ad k no wn E mm et t b y s ig ht , h ad b ee n a wa re o f t he m an 's r el at io ns hi p w it h t he d ir ecto r, and h ad s tayed u ns us pi ci ou s l on g eno ug h f or E mm et t t o g et i n

sufficiently close to deprive him quietly of consciousness.

U si ng t he ent ry car d h is h ig h- rank in g s om et im e l ov er h ad g iv en h im , E mm et t h ad l et t hem i nt o t he h ug e

r oo m a nd , a ft er p os it io ni ng H ar ol d o n a s il ve ry , c ir cu la r p la te s et i n t he f lo or , h e h ad r ac ed a bo ut t he

r oo m, g oi ng f ro m o ne b ul ky d ev ice t o t he n ex t o ne, p us hi ng b ut to ns , p ul li ng l ev er s, t ur ni ng d ials , and

s cr ut in izin g d is pl ay s. A t l en gt h, h e h ad w heel ed o ver a m et al -cov er ed con so le abo ut f ou r f eet h ig h b y t wo

f ee t or s o s qua re , c ent er ed i t on t he s il ve ry di sk, a nd b egun t o pl ug i ts t hi ck c abl e i nt o a l ar ge r de vi cen earb y, w hi le H ar ol d g azed b lank ly at t he j un gl e o f d ials , k no bs , b ut to ns , g au ges, and s mall l ev er s o f

v ar yi ng col or s and s izes w hi ch cov er ed t he t op s ur face.

D r. E mm et t O 'M al le y r et ur ne d t o s ta nd b es id e K en mo re o n t he d is k, a nd h is b ig , f re ck le d h an ds m ov ed

q ui ck ly a nd s ur el y o ve r t he c on tr ol s. A d ee p h um t ha t s ee me d t o c om e f ro m e ve ry wh er e a nd f ro m

n ow he re h ad b eg un s om et im e w hi le O 'M al le y h ad b ee n b ac k a mo ng t he b an ks o f d ev ic es a nd w as

i nc re as ing s wi ft ly i n l ou dn es s, e ve n a s a b lu e- gr ee n g lo w t ha t di d n ot s ee m t o h av e a v is ib le s ou rc e

became brighter and greener all about the chamber.



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At a lmo st t he l as t m ome nt i n t ha t w or ld , C ol . Dr . J ane S ton e ha d a pp ea re d f ro m o ut of t he s ha do ws ,

l ev el in g a t t he m a s on ic w ea po n w hi ch c ou ld h av e b ee n t he ir d ea th s s av e t ha t E mm et t h ad p re se t t he

d ev ice t o p ro ject t hem i mm ed iately , s uf fi ci en t p ow er h ad b een ach ieved, and t hey h ad w in ked o ut o f t he

f ur io us w om an 's w or ld even as h er f in ger h ad t ig ht en ed o n t he t ri gg er .

Th e t wo e sc ape es h ad a rr iv ed no t i n t he p as t o f t he ir o wn w or ld bu t i n t ha t of a pa ra ll el one , or s o

H ar ol d K en mo re h ad c om e t o b el ie ve a ft er m uc h s tu dy a nd t he p as si ng o f m an y y ea rs . T he y h ad c om e

t o e ar th l it er al ly , a rr iv in g o n t he p ac ke d- ea rt h f lo or o f t he l ow es t l ev el o f a s to ne d ef en si ve t ow er n ea r t o

t he b lo od y b or de r b et we en t he k in gd om s o f E ng la nd a nd S co tl an d. T he y h ad c om e e ar ly i n t he r ei gn o f

K ing He nr y VI I Tu dor , A .D. 14 86 o r 14 87 , i n wi nt er a s i n t he ir o wn w or ld , a nd s oon a ft er a pa rt y of

L ow la nd S co t r ie ve rs h ad c ap tu re d t he f ir st f lo or o f t ha t t ow er . A p ar ty o f t he se r uf fi an s w er e e ve n a t t he

m om en t o f t he s ci en ti st s' cor ni ng i n t he p ro cess o f b ru tall y t or tu ri ng and m ai mi ng an alr eady w ou nd ed

m an i n h op es t ha t h is s cr ea ms of a go ny w oul d br ing d ow n t he r em ai nd er o f t he ga rr is on f ro m t he f lo or s

above.

I nf ur ia te d b y w ha t t he y w it ne ss ed b ei ng d on e t o t he c ap ti ve b y t he s av ag e c ap to rs , H ar ol d a nd

K en -m or e h ad u sed t went y- f ir s t- cen tu ry w eapo ns - heat - st un ner s, p ro ject or s w hi ch m ad e u se o f s on ics t o

cause conflagration or bring unconsciousness, depending entirely on the setting-to not only eliminate the

t or tu rers , b ut s en d t he ent ir e f or ce o f r ievers s pu rr in g h ar d b ack t ow ar d S co tl an d, s cr eami ng m in dl es sl y

o r p rayi ng , t er ri fi ed at t he s ig ht o f t he t wo g reen -g lo wi ng m an -s haped d em on s w ho h ad app eared f ro m

nowhere.

T he t or tu red m an , w ho h ad b een l or d o f t hi s p lace cal led W hy ff ler H al l- th en an o ld -f as hi on ed

motte-and-bailey residence-fortification, though with a stone tower and a stockaded bailey-had died

u nd er h is t or tu re, and h is w id ow , h ei rs , and r et ai ners h ad ass um ed t he t wo f or tu it ou sl y arr iv ed

n ew co me rs t o b e a t l ea st g en tl em en d ue t o t he r ic hn es s o f t he ir a tt ir e a nd t he f in e s wo rd s t he y b or e a nd

c oul d us e s o we ll . And i n t hos e t ime s i t wa s we ll t o ha ve t he s tr ong a rms a nd s ha rp bl ade s of a ny f ight er s

a va il ab le , f or t he L ow la nd s t o t he n or th w er e a ll a bo il a nd t he b or de r w as a ll a fl am e f ro m e nd t o e nd .

I n s om e h id den g len o f t he H ig hl an ds , a d ar k r el ig io n h ad b een b or n, and h ad g ro wn h or ri fi call y amo ngt he w il d clans men. A lt ho ug h i ts p ract it io ners p resu mabl y h ad o nce b een g oo d, d ecen t C hr is ti an f ol k and ,

i nd eed, s ti ll car ri ed s om e o f t he h al lm ar ks o f t he F ai th -m os t n ot ab ly , t he C el ti c C ro ss -t heir n ew and

s ava ge b el ie fs bor e no r el at io n t o t he wo rs hi p of Chr is t or t o t ha t o f a ny of t he ol d pa ga n g ods , e it he r; f or

a ll t ha t t he y c al le d t he ms el ve s B al de ri te s, t he y d id n ot r ev er en ce t ha t p ag an N or se d ei ty , b ut r at he r a O ne

wh o wa s f ema le , ha d no na me , a nd w as r ef er re d t o a s M ot he r o f Al l or , s im pl y, t he M ot he r.

A nd a s in gu larl y b lo od th ir st y m ot her s he w as , d em an di ng o f h er f ol lo wers n o l es s t han every d ro p o f t he

blood of every man, woman, and child who did not immediately rush to join her minions when first they

h ea rd o f h er . I n h er n am e, d ec la re d h er p ri es ts a nd h er p ri es te ss es , a ll p re vi ou s a ll eg ia nc es , a ll o at hs a nd

bonds of service and fealty were declared void; not even ties of kinship were or could be stronger than

o bedi ence t o h er m ur der ou s d ictates . I n h er n am e, n ot even m at ri ci de, p ar ri cid e, f ratr i ci de, s o- ro ri cid e,



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f il icid e, m ar it icid e, o r o th er m ur ders o f n ear and d is tant k in dr ed w er e w ro ng s o l on g as t hese v icti ms d id

n ot r ev er e h er .

W or se, t he g or y, l un at ic r el ig io n h ad s pr ead l ik e w il df ir e even amo ng t he clo se-k ni t, i nt er related

Highland clans, tearing many apart and almost exterminating others in the fierce internecine fighting.T ho ug h m an y a H ig hl an d chi ef w as s lain , f ew o f t hem o r t heir i mm ed iate f am il ies b ecam e B al deri tes, b ut a

f ew d id , and u nd er t heir w il y, w ar -w is e l eaders hi p, t he h or des o f b lo od -m ad , i ll -arm ed , b ut m ur dero us ly

d et er mi ned m en and w om en o f t he n ew r el ig io n s wept o ver t he h il ls and t hr ou gh t he g lens , k il li ng , k il li ng ,

ceaseless ly k il li ng . T hey s lew t he l ow and t he h ig h, m al e and f em al e, w it hered ancient s and s uckl in g

babes. The terrifying word of them flew before them, and the strong and able either fled or took to their

k eeps o r m ot tes o r f or ti fi ed s tead in gs w it h all t heir r et ai ners , k in dr ed , and k in e, w hi le t he w eak and

h el pl es s r us hed t o j oi n i mm ed iately t hey cam e i n p ro xi mi ty t o t he r ed -h an ded w or sh ip er s o f t he M ot her.

D es pi te t heir n um bers , f ew o f t hese H ig hl an d B al deri tes w er e i n any w ay w el l arm ed , and t hey l acked

can no n o r even m or e p ri mi ti ve s iege-eng in es o f any d es cr ip ti on , s o i f any k eep, h ol d, m ot te, o r s tead in g

cou ld w it hs tand t heir i ni ti al att ack, cou ld b eat b ack t he h or de w it h cas ualt ies, t he B al deri tes w er e as l ik el y

a s n ot t o m ove o n i n s ea rc h o f m or e he lpl es s p re y. T hos e H ig hl an d f ol k w ho s ur vi ve d t he ir f ur io us r us h

s ou th wa rd d id s o i n o ne o f t hr ee w ays : b y b ei ng s wi ft , b y b ei ng s tr on g a nd d et er mi ne d, o r b y j oi ni ng

t he m. A ll o th er s d ie d, t he ir l if eb lo od g oi ng t o s oa k t he g ro un d a nd h el p t o a pp ea se t he i ns at ia bl e

bloodthirst of the Mother of All. By then in their thousands, the horde of fanatics swept against, lapped

abo ut t he w al ls o f E di nb ur gh i ts el f, b ut f ew er l ef t t han h ad arr iv ed , s o t hey d id n ot l on g r em ai n. H ow ev er ,

t heir n um bers w er e s well ed i n t he L ow land s. T he C hi ef o f G rant b ro ug ht all h is k in and clans fo lk t o

become Balderites; so too did the chiefs of Kerr, Hay, Mac Adam, Kennedy, and not a few smaller

c la ns a nd s ep ts .

F ro m b eh in d t he s to ut w al ls o f E di nb ur gh , t he K in g o f S co tl an d c al le d u po n h is e ar ls t o r ai se a n a rm y,

s en t w or ds o f w ar ni ng t o t he E ng li sh b or der l or ds , and p rayed s peed y ass is tance again st t hi s h eath en

m en ace f ro m every on e o f w ho m h e and h is cou ncil cou ld t hi nk -K in g H en ry o f E ng land and W al es ,

A rd -R igh B ri an V I o f I re la nd a nd a ll t he ot he r r ig hs o f t ha t i sl an d, t he R egu lu s of t he I sl es ( wh ic h d om ai n

wa s jus t t he n i n one of i ts pha se s of not be ing a n a ct ua l pa rt of t he K ingdom of Sc ot la nd) , t he Ki ng of

F ra nc e, t he K ing o f B ur gu nd y, t he H ol y R om an E mp er or , t he K in g o f A ra go n a nd L eo n, t he C al ip h o f

G ra na da , t he G ra nd D uk e o f P or tu ga l, a nd t he K in g o f D en ma rk a nd N or wa y. H e e ve n d is pa tc he d al et te r t o R om e b es ee ch in g t ha t a C ru sa de b e p re ac he d a ga in st t he B al de ri te s. T he n h e h un ke re d d ow n t o

await developments and troops.

W hi le h e c ro uc he d t he re , p ow er le ss t o d o a ug ht b ut h ol d t he w al le d c ap it al w it ho ut t he a id o f t he e ar ls

a nd ot he r m ag na te s o f t he f eu da l k ing do m, t he K enn ed y C la n a nd i ts s ep ts , a ll f ie ry w it h t he z ea l o f n ew

c on ve rt s, n ot o nl y s en t b oa tl oa ds o f s la ve ri ng B al de ri te s t o c ar ry t he m es sa ge o f t he M ot he r t o t he f ol k o f

Northern Ireland, but made so bold as to launch seaborne attacks against the islands and coastal lands

h el d b y t he C la n M ac Le an a nd t he R egu lus o f t he I sl es a nd t ha t v ir tu al i f u nn am ed k ing 's m an y d ep end en t

clans.



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I n t he I ri sh K in gd om o f U la id , a lr ea dy r ac ke d b y c iv il w ar , t he B al de ri te s w er e a bl e t o e st ab li sh a t l ea st

a f oo th ol d, b ut t he g ri m N or th er n U i N ei ll s t o t he w es t o f t he m l in ed t he ir r oc ky c oa st li ne w it h po le s

bearing Balderite heads, stakes on which rotted impaled Balderite bodies, and frames whereon were

stretched flayed skins of Balderites.

T he R eg ul us , I ai n, a lr ea dy i n c ol d f ur y a ga in st t he B al de ri te s b ec au se of t he l os se s t he y h ad c os t h im i n

h is m ai nl an d h ol di ng s, esp eciall y i n t he I nv er ness cou nt ry , cal led u po n h is v as sals at L ew is , S ky e, and

Uist for their famous, infamous, dreaded Scots-Dane axemen-those professional mankillers known in

I reland as g al lo gl ai ch es -and r em or seless ly h el d h is o wn at I sl ay again st t he K en nedy s and t he r es t w hi le

h e awai ted t he ar ri val o f eno ug h f or ce t o cou nt er at tack.

M eanw hi le, g ui ded b y v et er an r ievers o f C lans G rant , A rm st ro ng , K er r, and H ay , m ob s o f B al deri tesw er e r el ig io us ly b ut ch er in g b ot h acr os s t he l en gt h and w id th o f t he S co tt is h L ow land s and p ress in g o ver

t he b or de r i nt o Engl and. I t ha d be en one s uc h g ro up, t ha t one j us t t he n be ing l ed by t he ve ry Chi ef of

G rant , w hi ch h ad b een s en t o ff i n s hr ieki ng t er ro r b y D rs . H ar ol d K en mo re and E mm et t O 'M ai -l ey .

T hat h ad n ot b een t he f ir st B al deri te i ncur si on again st W hy ff ler H al l, n or w as i t t he l as t. O ccas io nall y

r ei nf or ced b y t ri ck les o f h ar ri ed s ur vi vo rs o f o th er B al deri te r ai ds , t he t wo t went y- fi rs t- cent ur y m en and

t he W hy ff ler f am il y and t heir r et ai ners con ti nu ed t o h ol d t he h al l and i ts n earer env ir on s f or alm os t t wo

m or e y ea rs b ef or e t he n ew k in g, H en ry V II T ud or , l ed h is h os t n or th t o t he b el ea gu er ed b or de r l an ds ,

s co ur ed t he m c le an o f t he C el ti c h or de s, t he n c ro ss ed t he b or de r t o j oi n w it h t he c om bi ne d f or ce s o f t heScottish earls near Edinburgh.

T he p le as of t he K in g o f S co tl an d h ad be en h ee de d. I n R om e, t he t he n- Pop e h ad s en t w or d t o hi s

bishops to preach a holy crusade against these savage pagans in Scotland, and even as King Henry's

English-Welsh-Norman-Breton-Angevin host marched toward Edinburgh, ships were landing parties of

cru sader s alo ng t he eas t coast -d es cend an ts o f V ik in gs f r om t he K in gd om o f D en mar k- No rw ay , G ot hs

from Sweden, Frisians and Flemings, Burgundians, French, Leonese, Portuguese, Granadans, fighting

m en r epr es en ti ng m os t o f t he s ma ll s ta te s t ha t m ad e up t he H ol y R om an E mp ir e, a f ew S wi tz er s, s om eI tal ians o f v ar i ou s k in ds , C as t il ians , N av ar res e, M oo rs , and even a f ew s car red, b lack- s ki nn ed n ob le

k ni gh ts o f t he K in gd om o f G hana.

F or a ll t he a we so me f or ce s a t t he ir c om ma nd , n on et he le ss , t he t wo r oy al a ll ie s d id n ot a nt ic ip at e e it he r a

q ui ck o r an eas il y w on v icto ry , f or t hey n ow f aced an agg regati on o f f an at ics w ho , w hi le t hey m ig ht

r et re at b ef or e s up er io r f or ce , h ad n ev er b ee n k no wn t o y ie ld o r s ur re nd er u nd er e ve n p ai n o f i ns ta nt

d ea th f or t he ms el ve s o r l ov ed o ne s. B y t ha t p oi nt i n t im e, t he s ur vi vo rs o f t he r am pa ge d ow n f ro m t he

H ig hl an ds -b ir th pl ace o f t he m ur dero us h er es y- no w w er e n ot o nl y w el l arm ed b ut w er e b ecom e v et er an

w ar ri or s- yo un ger and eld er , m en and w om en . T hey w er e w el l s up pl ied i n all s av e g un po wd er and t he

priests' powder necessary to its fabrication, and, thanks principally to the conversions of some of the

L ow land er chi ef s, t hey n ow h el d s om e cas tl es and s tr on gp oi nt s aro un d w hi ch t hey cou ld r al ly i n t he f ace



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o f at tack.

W hen t he k in g s en t w or d g al lo pi ng t hr ou gh all E ng land and W al es , t hr ou gh t oo all h is r oy al p os sess io ns

o n t he con ti nent , f or m or e m en , m or e s up pl ies and s in ew s o f w ar fare, t he W id ow o f W hy ff ler H al l

d es ig nated h er s talw ar ts , h er t wo m os t t ru st ed and p ro venl y cou rageou s g en tl em en , t o l ead h er s mallcon ti ng en t t o ans wer t he s um mo ns o f h er s ov er ei gn ; and s o d id H ar ol d K en mo re and E mm et t O 'M al ley

f in d t hems el ves r id in g at t he h ead o f a f or ce o f s om e s ix ty -o dd m en -f ou rt een l an ces, as t he f ol k f ig ur ed i n

t ho se d ay s- al l o f t hem w eari ng w hi te s ur pl ices o ver t heir clo th in g, t o j oi n t he r oy al cru sadi ng arm ies

gathering just southwest of Edinburgh.

CHAPTER

T H E F IR ST

A p ar ti cu larl y p ow er fu l g us t o f t he i cy -t oo th ed arcti c w in d s en t b ig d ro ps o f r ai n r at tl in g again st t he

l eaded- gl as s p an es o f w in do w o f t he archb is ho p' s alchemi cal l ab or at or y w it h a s ou nd alm os t as l ou d as

t hat o f arq uebu s b al ls s ho weri ng i n v ol leys u po n s to newo rk s. L if ti ng h is q ui ll f or a m om en t, t he o ld m an

t ur ned h is h ead t o l oo k at t he d ul l- gr ey n ot hi ng ness b ey on d t ho se p an es , t hen r es um ed h is s cr ib bl in g o f

not es on t he s he et of ve ll um. He we ll kne w t ha t hi s me mor y w as not a ll t ha t i t onc e ha d be en, a nd he

w an te d t o b e c er ta in t ha t e ve ry t ho ug ht a nd n ua nc e w ou ld b e a de qu at el y c ov er ed i n t he l et te r t ha t h e

s ho rt ly m us t b eg in t o com po se-com po se p er so nall y, n ot l eave t o t he o ff ices o f even h is m os t t ru st y

s ec re ta ry o r c le rk -t o b e s en t t o C ar di na ls S ic ol a a nd D 'E st e o f t he I ta li an F ac ti on i n R om e.

A lt ho ug h t heir p hy si cal app earances h ad chang ed v er y l it tl e, o f cou rs e, t he t wo m en w ho l ed t he

W hy f- fl er H al l r et ai ners acr os s t he b or der and n or th i nt o L ow land S co tl an d i n t he d am p o f l at e- sp ri ng

A .D . 1 48 9 w er e d rast ical ly chang ed b y t heir t wo y ears o f l if e i n a s po radi call y emb at tl ed f or ti fi ed

r es id en ce . T he y h ad b ee n d ea dl y s wo rd sm en t o b eg in , b ut n ow t he y w er e b ec om e a s w el l a cc om pl is he d

h or se me n a nd m or e t ha n a cc om pl is he d a ls o i n t he u se s o f s pe ar , a xe , m ac e, c ro ss bo w, a nd v ar io us

primitive firearms, along with the proper laying of bombards and other engines of defensive siegecraft.

B ot h n ow w en t b ea rd ed a nd w or e c lo th in g b ut l it tl e b et te r t ha n t ha t o f t ho se w ho f ol lo we d t he m, t he

clothing in which they had arrived having finally fallen apart of long and strenuous usage. Knowing full

w el l t he i ncip ient d an gers i nt o w hi ch t hey r od e, t he p er il t hat m ig ht l ie b et ween t hem and t he r oy al cam p

t o t he n or th east , all r od e at l east p ar ti al ly arm ed , w eapo ns r eady and s lo w- matches all l it and s mo ki ng ,

o nl y t he h eavi er p ieces o f d ef en si ve arm or l ef t o ff . .. t ho ug h s lu ng w it hi n eas y r each at all t im es . T ru e, t hey

h ad n o f ea r o f o rd in ar y b an di ts , f or n on e s uc h s il ly e no ug h t o a tt ac k a f or ce o f f ou rt ee n l an ce s e xi st ed

a li ve , b ut s tr ay b an ds o f B al de r- it es h ad b ee n k no wn t o d o o r t ry s om e v er y i rr at io na l t hi ng s, l ik e a ll

f an at ic s w ho o wn l it tl e o r n o f ea r o f d ea th .



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The y h ad not be en a bl e t o pl an a ny s or t of di re ct r ou te t o t he ga th er ing of ho st s, f or a cr os s a ny s uc h t he y

h ad con temp lated t her e alw ay s l ay t he l an ds o f o ne o f t he B al deri te clans -A rm st ro ng , K er r, H ay , t he

s ou th eas tern G or do ns , and eke s om e o f t he M ur - rays . F in al ly , aft er t he i nt er ces si on o f L ow land S co ts

r el at ive s o f t he W id ow of W hy ff le r H al l, i t h ad b ee n a rr an ge d f or t he W hy ff le r H al l l an ce rs t o c ro ss i nt o

E li ot t l an ds , j oi n t he s mall er E li ot t con ti ng en t o f clans men, t hen p ro ceed t o t he t ow n o f

H aw ick- on -T weed , w here t hey w ou ld f al l i n w it h t he f or ces o f C lans D ou gl as , S co tt , S tu ar t and

J oh ns to ne; t hen t he com bi ned f or ce w ou ld m ar ch o r f ig ht t heir w ay t o E di nb ur gh .

As the basically peace-loving Harold Kenmore had feared and the increasingly fire-eating Emmett

O 'M al le y h ad h op ed , t he p ro ce ss io n o f t he c om bi ne d f or ce f ro m H aw ic k w as o ne s ki rm is h o r f ig ht o r

s ma ll ba tt le a ft er a not he r f or mo st of t he w ay, but t he y we re t o f ind i n t he e nd t ha t, ha rd a nd bl ood y a s

h ad b een t heir h ot ly con test ed p as s ag e, o th er E ng li sh , W el sh , and L ow land con ti ng en ts as h ad com e b y

l an d r ou te s h ad s uf fe re d a s m uc h o r m or e, s he d a s m uc h o r m or e b lo od i n r ea ch in g E di nb ur gh . B ut r ea ch

t ha t g re at g at he ri ng t he m os t o f t he m a t l as t d id .

A rt ai r D ub h, T an is t o f D ou gl as , w ho h ad b een cho sen o verall l eader o f t he con ti ng en t, h ad com mend ed

both of the English gentlemen from Whyf-fler Hall in most glowing terms when he had turned them and

t heir f or ce o ver t o t heir ers tw hi le o verl or d, H is G race S ir H um bert H ow ar d, D uk e o f N or th -u mb ri a. H is

G ra ce h ad w el l k no wn j us t w ha t t he l av is h p ra is e o f s o f am ous a nd f er oc io us a f ig ht er a s S ir A rt ai r D ub h

o f D ou gl as m ea nt a nd ha d m ent al ly m ar ke d b ot h m en a s t yp es w ho w oul d b ea r w at ch ing i n t he c om in g

cam paig n. T ru e, h e w as u nf am il iar w it h any f am il y cal led K en mo or and w hat o f i t, b ut b ot h w er e p at en tl y

g en tl em en , a nd a ny I ri sh ge nt le ma n, s uc h a s t hi s U i M ai ll e, c oul d b e n ot hi ng i f n ot a f igh te r o r a p ri es t; t he

g en tr y o f t hat i sl an d p ro du ced o nl y t he t wo k in ds .

L es s t ha n a w ee k a ft er t he ir p ar ty 's a rr iv al , t he re h ad b ee n a s ti r i n c am p, g re at r ej oi ci ng a nd f ea st in g,

w hen, d ow n f ro m t he H ig hl an ds , t he g reat h os t o f t he C lan C hatt an C on federati on h ad com e, t heir

C ap tain , t he M acki nt os h, b eari ng i n h is b ag gage a cas k o f b ri ne con tain in g t he h eads o f t he B al deri te

C hi ef o f G ra nt a nd h is t hr ee s on s.

T he k in gs s ho rt ly ann ou nced t hat b et ween t he ear ls and t he m os t p ow er fu l clans -M acKay, S ut herl an d,and M acKens i e t o t he n or t h, C am er on , C am pb el l , C hat tan, G or do n, and D ru mm on d t o t he s ou th -t he

brutalized Highlands now had been scoured virtually clean of the bloodthirsty heretics who called

t hems el ves B al deri tes. N ow G od 's w il l m us t b e d on e as t ho ro ug hl y i n t he L ow land s and w herever els e

the bestial pagan killers might be found by the fine, God-fearing, Christian fighting men here gathered.

And done it was, messily, very bloodily, exceedingly brutally, and very thoroughly. Those who had killed

s o m er ci le ss ly c ou ld n ot h op e f or q ua rt er o r m er cy o f a ny k in d; t he y k ne w i t a nd f ou gh t t o t he v er y d ea th

i n m os t c as es . T ho se f ew u nf or tu na te s s o v er y u nl uc ky a s t o b e t ak en a li ve i nv ar ia bl y w er e, a ft er

interrogations by clerics and laity, subjected to deaths by exquisite and inhumanly prolonged torments,

t hese exercis es p er fo rm ed p ub li cl y, t hat as m an y C ru saders as p os si bl e m ig ht s ee, h ear, enj oy , and exu lt

in the entertainments.



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T he con ti nu in g arr iv al s o f C ru saders f ro m o vers ea and t ri ck les o f H ig hl an ders f ro m t he n or th g av e t he

t wo k in gs m or e m en t ha n t he y r ea ll y h ad n ee d f or , s o a t a ny s tr on gp oi nt t he B al de ri te s c ho se t o h ol d,

t hey w er e s im pl y i nv es ted b y s uf fi ci en t f or ce w hi le t he b ul k o f t he arm y m ar ch ed o n w es tw ar d,

d el ib er at el y h er di ng t heir m ob il e f oes i n t he d ir ecti on o f t he C lan K en nedy l an ds and t he s ea.

A lt ho ug h t he R eg ul us o f t he I sl es h ad c on tr ib ut ed n o f or ce s t o t he h os t o f t he t wo k in gs d ir ec tl y, h e h ad

g iv en aid t o b ot h t he C am pb el ls and t he M acLean s i n t heir H ig hl an d b at tl in gs again st t he B al deri tes, t hen

c om me nc ed t o p ro wl t he i sl an ds a nd t he s ea , u p f ir th s a nd r ive rs , h is ga ll ey s p ac ke d w it h g ri m a xe me n

out of Lewes, Uist, and Barra, with equally grim and unforgiving MacLeods, MacDonnells, Mackinnons,

M ac Fi es , M ac Do na ld s, a nd e ke a f ew A pp in S te wa rt s.

T he g al le ys a nd s hi ps l and ed e no ug h m en o n A r- ra n t o r ai se t wo s ie ge s, t he n j oi ne d w it h t he f or me rl y

besieged Hamiltons to drive into the sea or slay every Balderite on that island. The galleys nibbled hard at

the coasts of Kennedy lands, raiding, looting, burning, killing, raping, destroying standing crops, and

s layi ng all k in e t hey d id n ot b ear away. A ll com mu ni cati on b et ween t he B al deri tes n ow est ab li sh ed i n t he

n or th er ly p or ti on s o f t he I ri sh K in gd om o f U la id c ea se d a s s hi ps a nd b oa ts f ro m K en ne dy , i f n ot t ak en o r

s un k i n v er y s ig ht o f l an d, j us t n ev er r et ur ne d, n or d id s o m uc h a s o ne f ri en dl y c ur ra gh , b oa t, s hi p, o r

galley land anywhere upon their interdicted coastline.

A t l as t, E id ea rd K en ne dy , c hi ef o f t ha t i lk , h ad d is pa tc he d a s ma ll b oa t b ea ri ng a h er al d a nd a m es sa ge

f or t he R eg ul us . T wo d ay s l at er , a g al le y t ow ed t ha t b oa t c lo se e no ug h t ha t t he t id e m ig ht b ea r i t i nt o

s ho re . T he s ev er ed a nd m ut il at ed h ea ds o f i ts c re w o f o ar sm en w er e s tu ck o r h un g t o t he g un wa le s o f t he

blood-smeared craft and the naked, incomplete body of the herald stood impaled upon the sharpened

s tu mp of t he m as t, i ts f le sh s ti ll w ar m t o t he t ou ch; a c ou r b oui ll i t ube h un g f ro m t he h er al d' s n ec k h ad

con tain ed a b ru sq ue m es sage: " Th e R eg ul us o f t he I sl es , S heri ff o f I nv er ness , and alw ay s a m os t p io us

S er vant o f O ur L or d J es us C hr is t, w il l h av e n o d eali ng s w it h h on or less , f or es wo rn p ag an h er et ics w ho

d el ig ht i n t he b ut ch er y o f w om en a nd c hi ld re n. T he re c an b e n o t er ms , n o h op e o f q ua rt er . I f t he

h el ls pawn w ho s ty les h im self E id eard C ean- naid each o f t hat s or ry i lk cravenl y r en ders u p h is s wo rd t o

t he R eg ul us , h e w il l b e a ff or de d t he p rot ra ct ed d og 's d ea th h is i nf am y h as e ar ne d h im , a nd i f t he R eg ul ush as n ot t he j oy o f h ea ri ng t he d ea th -s cr ea ms o f t hi s h er et ic al t hi ng , t he n m os t a ss ur ed ly t he K in g o f S co ts

will."

E ven w hi le t he h os t o f t he t wo k in gs m ov ed i nexo rabl y w es tw ar d, t heir o ut ri ders h av in g alr eady com e

w it hi n s ig ht o f L oc h D oo n o n t he e as te rn b or de r o f C la n K en ne dy l an ds , a c oa li ti on o f s ma ll er ,

individually weaker neighboring clans who had never succumbed despite all their sufferings to the

B al deri tes ass au lt ed and con qu er ed f ir st P ar k C as t le, i n t he l an ds o f t he W es tern H ay s, t hen f or mi dabl e

C as tl e K en nedy i ts el f. A s t hey b eg an t o p us h u p n or th ward i nt o t he h eart o f K en nedy l an ds , d ri vi ng

before them any and all Balderites they could not catch and slay, the Regulus mounted assaults upon all

f iv e o f t he c oa st al c as tl es w it h a f le et n ow a ug me nt ed b y b ot to ms o ut o f C am pb el l, M ac ke ns ie , M ac Ka y,

a nd R os s. A nd t he n a no th er c oa li ti on o f t he w ar ba nd s o f s ma ll er c la ns f oug ht t he ir w ay a cr os s t he R iv er



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A yr , s laug ht er ed s ev er al h un dr ed B al deri tes o n t he b an ks o f t he R iv er D oo n, t hen p us hed o n s ou th i nt o

Kennedy.

I n t he e nd , a v er y f ew B al de ri te s m an ag ed t o s om eh ow r un t he g ri m g an tl et o f g al le ys , s hi ps , a nd b oa ts

a nd w in t o t he t em po ra ry s af et y o f U la id , i n I re la nd ; a ll t he r es t d ie d i n C la n K en ne dy l an ds , a nd n ot o ne ,o f a ny a ge , s ex , o r c on di ti on , w as l ef t a li ve i n a ll S co tl an d b y t he t im e t he C ru sa de rs a nd c la ns me n w er e

done.

T he t wo s ci en ti st s s aw i t t hr ou gh t o t he s an gu in eo us e nd . I n o ne o f t he l as t r ea l b at tl es o f t he S co tt is h

part of the cf-usade, Emmett O'Malley, separated from his own men in the hurly-burly of combat,

c ha nc ed t o be in t he r ight pl ac e a t j us t t he r ight t im e t o s ave t he l if e of a Sc ot ti sh e ar l, s ta ndi ng ba ck t o

back with the magnate among the well-hacked corpses of his bodyguards and the pagan foes until

c la ns me n c ou ld h ew t he ir w ay t o a r es cu e. T he e ar l h ad k ni gh te d O 'M al le y o n t he s po t, d el iv er in g t hebuffet with his nicked, blood-clotted battlebrand. Later, when things were become less hectic, the earl

h ad s um mo ned h is f reck led b at tl e com pani on t o h is cam p, g if ted h im w it h a f in e d es tr ier and a h eavy

purse, and insisted that Sir Emmett accompany him and his when they pursued the crusade against the

B al deri tes i nt o I reland . E mm et t h ad d ul y s et s ai l f or U laid w it h t he m ul ti nati on al f or ce o f h ol y w ar ri or s,

but then he had stayed in Ireland and had not set foot again in England for many a long year. On the eve

o f t he d ay h e w as t o l ea ve t he N or th um br ia n c am p, h e a nd H ar ol d K en mo re h ad e ve nl y d iv id ed b et we en

t hem t he t ho us an d o r s o l on gevi ty -b oo st er cap su les t hey s ti ll o wn ed and n eeded t o s wall ow at l en gt hy

i nt er vals o f t im e l es t t hey b eg in t o age.

O 'M al ley h ad adapt ed q ui ck ly and t ho ro ug hl y t o t he r ou gh , v er y p ri mi ti ve, and o ft en cru el w or ld i nt o

w hi ch t he y h ad b ee n p ro je ct ed , a nd H ar ol d h ad t ho ug ht t ha t h e h ad t oo . . . u nt il t he l on g- dr aw n- ou t

s laug ht er o f t he m ar ch f ro m E di nb ur gh and t he cro wn in g h or ro rs o f m an 's i nh um an it y t hat h ad b een t hat

m ar ch 's cul mi nati on i n K en nedy . H e h ad d on e all t hat h ad b een r eq ui red o f h im , t ru e, b ut d ut if ul ly , n ot

w it h t he m ar ked ent hu si as m o f h is com pani on . H e h ad f ou gh t b ravely eno ug h and w el l, f or all h is s tead il y

i nc re as in g s ou l- si ck ne ss , a nd w he n t he l as t o f t he u ns pe ak ab le t hi ng s h ad b ee n d on e, h e h ad l ed t he

t ri um ph an t m ar ch o f h is l oo t- laden l an ces b ack t o W hy ff ler H al l.

T here, t he W id ow -a f in e f ig ur e o f a w om an , r eall y, o f l es s t hen t hi rt y w in ters , s ti ll i n f ir m p os sess io n o f all

he r t ee th a nd wi th n ot a t ra ce of gr ey ha ir -h ad m ade i t c le ar t ha t t he h al l n ee de d a n a dul t ma n a s m as te r,

t hat s he n eeded a h us band and w ou ld f av or ab ly r ecei ve i mp or tu ni ng s f ro m S qu ir e H ar ol d, w ho alr eady

o wn ed t he h ig h r eg ar d o f e ve ry on e h e h ad a id ed a nd s us ta in ed b ef or e t he k in g h ad c om e n or th , t he m en

he h ad s o we ll l ed a nd c apt ai ne d on t he r ec ent c rus ade , t he ne ar er S cot s c hi ef s, a nd e ke t he m igh ty D uk e

of Northumbria.

B ut p oo r D r. H ar ol d K en mo re, h au nt ed w ak in g and s leep in g b y h or ri bl e m em or ies o f event s w hi ch h e

h ad f el t d ut y- bo un d t o t ak e p ar t i n o r a t l ea st w it ne ss i n t he c om mi ss io n, c ou ld n ot t he n t hi nk o f,

contemplate, the seeking of happiness, wedding, begetting of children into a callous, brutal world wherein

s uch h id eo us eno rm it ies cou ld b e w ro ug ht u po n t he t en der, q uaki ng f lesh o f n ot o nl y m en and w om en b ut



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chi ld ren and even h el pl es s i nf an ts , t hese v er y d eeds b ei ng com mi tt ed i n t he h ol y n am e o f G od .

A nd s o he h ad t ake n l ea ve o f Wh yf fle r Ha ll a nd t he f ol k he ha d c ome to know a nd l ove , t hos e wi th

w ho m h e h ad s ha re d p ri va ti on s, h ar ds hi ps , a nd d an ge r f or s o l on g. H e h ad s et o ut w it h n o r ea l

d es ti nati on i n m in d, and w hen h e chanced t o f al l i n w it h a l ar ge p ar ty o f k ni gh ts , g en tl em en , and t heir r et ai ne rs b ou nd f or Y or k a nd p oi nt s s ou th o f t ha t c it y, h e h ad a cc om pa ni ed t he m, t he r oa ds a nd t ra ck s

a cr os s m ou nt ai ns a nd m oo rs b ei ng f ar t oo d an ge ro us t he n t o a ff or d s af e p as sa ge t o l on e r id er s o r e ve n

s ma ll er pa rt ie s. As t he m os t of t he se m en we re a ls o va ss al s of Hi s Gr ac e Si r Hum be rt H owa rd o r of t ha t

m an 's n ea r- re la ti ve s, t he P er cy s, S qu ir e H ar ol d w as w el l k no wn t o t he m a nd m or e t ha n w el co me d a s

traveling companion through lands still infested with robbers of all kinds, outlaws, and wild beasts.

I t pr ove d a l engt hy t ri p wi th s o l ar ge a nd s low -mov ing a pa rt y, bu t f or t he s ame r ea son, i t wa s a pe ac ef ul

journey; there were just too many bannerets and pennons borne above too many well-armed men to suitt he b an di ts r es id en t i n t he areas t hr ou gh w hi ch t hey p as sed. T he o nl y d eath s and i nj ur ies w hi ch o ccur red

w er e c au se d b y p ur e a cc id en ts o r r es ul te d f ro m h un ti ng , a nd t he se c ou ld h av e a s e as il y h ap pe ne d

anywhere and anytime.

F or a ll t he c om pa ni on sh ip a nd h ea rt y c am ar ad er ie o f t he m en w it h w ho m h e r od e- fe w o f t he m o th er

t han o ut go in g, g regari ou s, and v er y g en er ou s- Haro ld s ti ll f ou nd m uch t im e t o t hi nk alo ng t he w ay , and h e

cam e t o o ne r ock- bo un d d ecis io n: H ow ev er h e cho se t o s us tain h im self i n f ut ur e, i t w ou ld h av e, m us t

have, nothing whatsoever to do with war, with fighting, with killing. After quite seriously considering,

w ei gh in g o ut all asp ects o f r et ir in g t o o ne o f t he n um er ou s m on as teri es and t ak in g h ol y o rd er s, h e d ecid edi ns te ad t o c ar ef ul ly e xp lo re t he p os si bi li ti es o f e nt er in g a t ra de o f s om e n at ur e, s uc h a c ou rs e a s w as

being followed by not a few younger sons of noble houses and landless gentlemen.

I n Y or k, t he re fo re , o wn in g g oo dl y p at ie nc e a nd n ot l ac ki ng f or t im e o r t he p at ro na ge o f f ri en ds a nd

a cq ua in ta nc es f ro m o ut t he r oy al h os t t ha t h ad g on e u p t o S co tl an d a nd e xt ir pa te d t he p ag an B al de ri te s,

he bided his time and, eventually, found himself first interviewed, then stringently tested, and, at long last,

accep ted b y t he G ol ds mi th s' G ui ld as a T ru e M as ter. A lt ho ug h s om e o f h is g en tl y b or n acq uain tances

s ni ff ed at and f ro wn ed u po n h is ent ry i nt o t hi s " co mm on t radesm an sh ip ," even t hey h ad t o adm it t hat aman must f ind or make a way to kee p body and soul t ogether ; and, too, i t was not a s if prec edent ha d

n ot b ee n l on g s in ce e st ab li sh ed , f or S qu ir e H ar ol d w as i n n o w is e b re ak in g n ew g ro un d i n b ec om in g a

legal goldsmith. And, these acquaintances consoled themselves, as a gentleman born, he was naturally

g if te d i n a ll t he a rt s- wh y, i t w as s ai d t ha t h is t es t- pi ec es s ub mi tt ed t o t he G ui ld M as te rs w er e e ve n n ow

d is pl ay ed b y t he m a s e xa mp le s f or a ll t o t ry t o e mu la te , f ir st -q ua li ty w or k; b es id es , t he re n ev er s ee me d t o

be enough honest, reputable craftsmen of that water about.

Ha ro ld h ad b ee n e st abl is he d f or s om e y ea rs a t h is n ew t ra de , h ad p ro du ce d m an y a f ine p ie ce o f wo rk ,

and w as , i nd eed, b ecom in g r eno wn ed b ey on d Y or ks hi re, w it h app rent ices, s erv an ts , a com pl ete

bachelor's household, in fact. Then one day, while he was locked in his tiny personal workshop, rapt in

t he exact in g t as k o f car vi ng t he f in al emb el li sh ment s i nt o t he w ax o f a com mi ss io ned p iece o f j ew el ry , a



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h es it an t b ut i ns is tent p ou nd in g u po n t he clo sed and l ocked and b ol ted d oo r o f h is crann y d is tr acted h im .

A ll m em be rs o f h is h ou se ho ld w er e a wa re t ha t t he o ne s ur e w ay t o p ro vo ke t ru e r ag e f ro m t he u su al ly

g en tl e and m il d- mann er ed M ag is ter H ar ol d w as t o d is tu rb h im w hi ls t h e creat ed i n h is l it tl e s an ct um

s an ct or um , and t he cur ds -w hi te f ace o f t he j ou rn ey man w ho m t he g ol ds mi th con fr on ted w hen h e f lu ngo pen t he d oo r t es t if ied t o t hat m an 's u nm is takabl e t er r or .

H ar ol d w as s tamm er in gl y i nf or med t hat a m as ked n ob leman- a p at en t f or ei gn er t o j ud ge o n t he g ro un ds

o f h is att ir e, m an ner, and atr ocio us ly accen ted E ng li sh -even t hen s talk ed t he r ecep ti on chamb er o f t he

s ho p- resi dence, m os t i mp at ient ly , and h ad t hr eatened t o u se h is j ew el ed d ag ger t o n ot ch t he n os tr il s and

ear s o f t he j ou rn ey man w as h is m as ter n ot i mm ed iately s um mo ned t o w ai t u po n h is n ob le cal ler,

personally.

E ve r g en tl e a nd c ar in g, H ar ol d f ir st h ad t ak en t im e t o a ss ur e t he s ha ke n y ou ng m an t ha t h e h ad n ot

i nc ur re d h is m as te r' s w ra th , t he n h ad d of fe d h is w or k a pr on a nd s ta lk ed t ow ar d t he s ta ir s t ha t l ed

d ow nw ar d, q ui te p re pa re d t o r en de r h ar sh w or ds t o t he a li en j ac ka na pe s b el ow . I n t he E ng la nd o f t ha t

e ra , a rt is ts o f a ll s or ts , e sp ec ia ll y t ho se w ho w or ke d i n g em s a nd p re ci ou s m et al s, l iv ed a nd w or ke d

u nde r t he p rot ec ti on o f b ot h k in g a nd c hu rc h a nd w er e s o l ega ll y i mm un e t o t he c ap ri ce s o f t he n ob il it y

and t he g en tr y.

A g lance t hr ou gh t he w in do w o n t he l an di ng s ho wed h im a h ou seyard cro wd ed w it h arm ed m en ,

s er vant s, and s tamp in g h or ses, all o f t hem b ab bl in g i n a l an gu ag e t hat s ou nd ed m uch aki n t o L ow land

S co ts G ae li c. H ar ol d t oo k o ut h is o wn t we lv e- ye ar -o ld c om ma nd o f t ha t t on gu e a nd u se d i t t o a dd re ss

his haughty visitor.

" My l or d, I am M as ter H ar ol d K en mo re, g en tl em an -g ol ds mi th . N ow , w hat w as s o u rg en t t hat i t

r eq ui red a t hr eat t o d is fi gu re m y g oo d j ou rn ey man? M y l or d m us t k no w t hat all i n m y h ou seho ld l ab or

and abi de u nd er b ot h r oy al and epi scop al p ro tect io ns , u nl ik e t ho se i n s om e l es s enl ig ht en ed r ealm s. "

T he o nl y i mm ed ia te a ns we r w as a c hu ck le f ro m b en ea th t he s am it e t ra ve l m as k, a s pa rk li ng o f t he g re en

e ye s a bo ve i t, a nd a s ha ki ng o f t he S pa ni sh -f or ke d, b ri ck -r ed b ea rd b el ow i t.

S o r ic h, l av is h, a nd c ol or fu l w as t he a tt ir e o f t he f or ei gn er a s t o a lm os t c ro ss t he l in e t o t he g au di ly

pretentious. The high boots and the short cape were of soft doeskin and both dyed a brilliant green, as

t oo w er e t he elb ow -l en gt h s uede g lo ves u nd er t he f in gers o f w hi ch s ho wed t he b um ps o f s ev er al l ar ge

g em -s et r in gs . H is t ru nk ho se w er e o f t he f in es t w oo l, and all t he r es t o f h is clo th in g n ot hi ng l es s t han r ich

s il ks and s at in s and v el vets . H ar ol d n ot ed p ro fess io nall y t hat t he h ug e b ro och s ecur in g t he p lu me t o h is



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c ap o f c ru sh ed s am it e w as a t ru e w or k o f a rt -r ed di sh g ol d s et w it h f ir st -w at er a me th ys ts -a nd t ha t t ha t

m as ter o r o th er s o f s im il ar exp er ti se h ad p ut m uch t im e, art is tr y, and eff or t i nt o t he g ol d- an d- jeweled h il ts

a nd s he at hs o f h is s wo rd a nd b el t- da gg er , t he c la sp o f h is c ou r b ou il li p ur se , a nd a ll h is b uc kl es ; e ve n t he

points securing his sleeves were tipped with gold set with tiny gemstones. The foreign nobleman was a

f oo tp ad 's o r h ig hw ay ma n' s d re am c om e t ru e. I t w as n o w on de r h e w en t a br oa d w it h s uc h a r et in ue o f

a rm ed m en a nd bu rl y s er va nt s; a m or e pr ud en t, l es s f la mb oy ant m an , i f h e w or e s uc h t hi ng s a t a ll o the r

t han at cou rt , w ou ld h av e h id den t he m os t o f t hem u nd er a v ol um in ou s t ravel clo ak .

While still emitting a maddeningly familiar chuckle, the big, tall-tall as Harold, which was indeed tall for

this malnourished age-lithe and muscular nobleman slowly had peeled off his gloves to reveal big,

s ca rr ed , c al lo us ed h an ds w it h- a p ur e w on de r f or e ve n a n ob ly b or n m an o r w om an o f t he t im es -c le an ,

s qu ar e- cu t n ai ls ; i n a dd it io n t o t he e ar l' s r an so m i n g ol d a nd g em s t ha t b ed ec ke d e ig ht f in ge rs a nd o ne

t hu mb , t ho se h an ds w er e cov er ed i n b ri ck y- hu ed h ai r o ver a p ro fu si on o f f reck les.

A nd t ha t l as t w as f or H ar ol d t he m is si ng p ie ce o f t he p uz zl e. E ve n a s t he b ej ew el ed f in ge rs u nt ie d a nd

r em ov ed t he m as k t o s ho w t he g ri nn in g f ace b en eath i t, H ar ol d K en mo re exclaim ed , " Em mett !"

F ra nt ic t ha t h is e ld es t s on , P ri nc e A rt hur o f W al es , m igh t d ie o f t he w as ti ng d is ea se t ha t n o p hy si ci an o f

E ng land , W al es , o r F rance h ad s eemed cap ab le o f cur in g o r even ameli or at in g, K in g H en ry V II T ud or

h ad s en t a p le a t o h is c ou si n, B ri an V II I, t he H ig h- Ki ng o f I re la nd , t ha t s om e o f h is r oy al p hy si ck er s b e

s en t t o t ry t he ir w il es on t he d yi ng b oy. W it h t hi s m ed ic al p ar ty ha d c om e c er ta in no bl es o f t he I ri sh H ig h

C ou rt , amo ng t hem n on e o th er t han S ir E mm et t U i M ai ll e, s on -i n- law o f t he H ig h K in g, cou rts wo rd sm it h, a nd s ec re tl y r ep ut ed b y n ot a f ew , t ho ug h n ev er l ou dl y, t o b e a s or ce re r a s w el l.

O ve r t ha t d ay 's d in ne r w it h h is o ld f ri en d, t he I ri sh ma n h ad c on fi de d, " Oc h, H al , f or a ' t he ir o ft -b oa st ed

e xp er ti se , i t' s I c ou ld s ee t ha t n an e o ' B ri an 's p hy si ck er s c ou ld d o a ug ht w ha t h ad na e b ee n t ri ed t he m an y

t im es o 'e r a lr ea dy b y t he ir E ng li sh , W el sh , a nd F re nc hi fi ed l ik es , a nd n ae g oo d o ut o ' a ny o ' i t. S o, b e h e

l ef t t ae t he a rt le ss a rt s o f t he se b li nd f um -b le rs w ho c a' t he ms el fs p hy si ck er s, t he p ui r b ou ch al w il l n ae s ee

ani th er y ear, I t ro w. "

H ar ol d h ad s ig hed and l ai d d ow n h is k ni fe, s ay in g w it h t ru e s ad ness , " Ay e, E mm et t, i t' s alw ay s b it ter

h ar d t o s ee a ny on e d ie , e sp ec ia ll y a c hi ld o r y ou ng p er so n l ik e P ri nc e A rt hu r, b ut a t l ea st h is d ea th w ou ld

n ot s ig na l t he e nd o f t hi s n ew d yn as ty , f or H is M aj es ty d oe s h av e a t l ea st o ne o th er l eg it im at e s on , P ri nc e

Henry."

" An d i f aug ht s ho ul d b ef al l t hat b ou ch al , t oo , H al ?" d em an ded O 'M al ley. " An d t hat i s j us t w hat s o p reys

o n t he p ui r, h ar ri ed m in d o ' K in g H en ry , t ha t h e' ll c om e t ae h is d ea th w 'o ot l eg al h ei rs a nd t he r ea lm h e

s ae l ov es a nd c he ri sh es w i' f a' a gi n i nt ae s ic h a s t he W ar s o ' t he R os es , n ae t ae l an g p as t, t ha t l an g- la st in g

s av ag er y t ha t n ea r s un de re d E ng la nd . T ha t b e j us t w hy I c om e t ae s ee y e, a ul d f ri nd . W hi le t he



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s ae -c al le d p hy si cke rs c an do na ugh t, I ke n t ha t ye a nd m e, w e c an .. . I t hi nk. "

D r. H ar ol d K en mo re j us t s ta re d b la nk ly . " Bu t. . . b ut w ha t, p ra y t el l, E mm et t, w ha t c an e it he r o f u s d o

f or P ri nc e A rt hu r? I k no w n ot hi ng o f t he p ra ct ic e o f m ed ic in e. I 'm a g ol ds mi th , a nd b ef or e t ha t, I w as a

c he mi st . Y ou 'v e n o m ed ic al d eg re es , e it he r . . . h av e y ou ?"

O 'M al le y s ho ok h is h ea d o f r ed h ai r. " I d in na r ec al l t oo c le ar , s ae t el l m e: T he l on ge vi ty b oo st er s, w er e

t he y n ae s ai d t o b e f ir m pr oof a gi n a ' i ll s a nd a ff li ct io ns o' t he hu ma n b od y? "

And s o H ar ol d K enm or e h ad de pa rt ed Yo rk f or t he f ir st t im e s inc e h e ha d a rr iv ed i n t ha t c it y y ea rs

before. He had left his business under the care of his journeymen, they to be supervised by masters of theg ui ld u nt il hi s r et ur n. L it tl e di d h e k now t he n j us t ho w l on g a t im e t ha t w as t o b e.

The longevity-booster capsules, which did, indeed, contain such powerful antibiotics as to, in Emmett

O 'M al ley' s w or ds , b e f ir m p ro of again st all aff li ct io ns o f t he h um an b od y, cur ed P ri nce A rt hu r o f W al es

of his near-deadly wasting illness. This miraculous feat delighted the near-distraught king, but when he

w ho ha d d one i t t ol d t he r oy al p hy si ci an a nd s eve ra l o f hi s f ur iou s c ol le ag ue s t ha t h e c ou ld n ot e xp la in t o

t hem h ow t o f or mu late s im il ar d ru gs , t he s pi tefu l crew s aw h im charg ed w it h w it ch cr af t and b or ne away

for interrogation, close confinement, and torture.

P hy si ci an s and chu rchm en ali ke, t hey r ecko ned w it ho ut t he g rati tu de o f t he y ou ng m an 's s ir e and t he

s pe ed w it h w hi ch h e c ou ld m us te r f or ce a nd p ut t ha t f or ce t o u se . T he c hu rc h p ro pe rt y w he re in H ar ol d

w as i mm ur ed q ui ck ly f ou nd i ts el f r in ged r ou nd abo ut b y a p ow er fu l s cr at ch f or ce o f n ob les o f t he cou rt ,

knights, sergeants, and pikemen. A herald courteously but firmly informed the senior cleric resident that

h is k in g d es ir ed t hat t he p ri so ner, M ag is ter H ar ol d C eanm oo r o f Y or k, G en tl em an , b e i mm ed iately

r en de re d u p w ho le , h al e, a nd i n p os se ss io n o f a ll h is g oo ds . A ny f ai lu re o r d el ay o f t hi s o rd er w ou ld f or ce

t he m en g at hered o ut si de t o t ake w hatever s teps n eces sary t o t hems el ves f ree t he g en tl em an and d el iv er

him to the sovereign.

T he s en io r chu rchm en t ri ed t o b lu st er o f ecclesi as ti cal r ig ht s, b ut w hen t hey s aw an i ro ns ho d r am b ei ng

r eadi ed f or u se, t hey acqu ies ced w it h t he b es t f aces p os s ib le u nd er t he ci rcum st ances .

B ut o nc e i n p os se ss io n o f H ar ol d, K in g H en ry , s ag ac io us m an t ha t h e w as , r ea li ze d t ha t t hi s w ou ld n ot

be the end of the affair, not as matters just then stood. Vindictive and carping as a pack of unpaid

w ho re s, t he p hy si ci an s a nd c hi ru rg eo ns w er e c er ta in t o n ot l et t he m at te r l ie , t o k ee p b la th er in g o f

w it ch cr af t a nd s or ce ry a nd s uc h c la pt ra p u nt il t he y h ad g ot te n t he o bj ec t o f t he ir w ra th o nt o f ir st a r ac k,

t he n a s ta ke . A nd Ar thu r ha d e ve r b ee n a s ic kl y l ad, t oo. W ha t c oul d be d on e s hou ld h e a ga in be co me



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s o i ll a s he h ad t hi s ye ar i f h is s av ior wa s b ec om e s ca tt er ed a she s a ro und a n i ron s ta ke ?

H en ry h ad b ee n s o w or ri ed a nd h ar ri ed w he n f ir st H ar ol d h ad b ee n b ro ug ht t o t he s um me r c ou rt a t

C ov en tr y b y t ha t I ri sh n ob le ma n t ha t h e h ad s ca rc el y l ea rn ed m or e o f t he m an t ha n h is n am e b ef or e h e

h ad o rd er ed t ha t h e b e a ll ow ed t o t ry h is p hy si ck o n t he n ea rl y d ea d p ri nc e. O ve r t he f or tn ig ht w hi ch h adf ol lo we d, a s t he r ag in g f ev er s b eg an t o a ba te a nd t he y ou ng m an b eg an t o f in d i t p os si bl e t o h ol d d ow n

t hi n b ro th s, s yl la bu bs , w at er ed p or ri dg e, a nd w in es , a s t he f es te ri ng s or es o n h is b od y b eg an t o s ca b

ove r a nd he al , a s t he h ai r w hi ch h ad f al le n ou t be ga n t o gr ow ba ck a ga in , t he ki ng ha d s po ke n a f ew

t ime s b ri ef ly w it h t he m an o f Y or k w ho ha d w ro ug ht s o w ond er ful a t hi ng f or hi m, b ut h ad a lwa ys f ou nd i t

n ec es sa ry t o r us h o ff t o o th er m at te rs .

Now, King Henry summoned this physicker of York to his private audience chamber in the Coventry

P al ac e a nd c lo se te d w it h h im f or l on g h ou rs . S o w el l p le as ed w as h e w it h w ha t h is p ro bi ng q ue st io ns 'a ns we rs t ol d h im o f t hi s s av io r h e j us t h ad s av ed t ha t h e s um mo ne d a t ru st ed c le rk a nd d ic ta te d, s ig ne d,

a nd s ea le d a l et te r t o h is f ri en d H is G ra ce P et er S pe ar s, A rc hb is ho p o f C an te rb ur y. T he n h e h ad H ar ol d

C eanm oo r o f Y or k d is gu is ed , s mu gg led o ut o f t he p al ace, and s en t w el l g uard ed b y p ro venl y l oy al

r et ain er s t o A rchb is ho p P et er 's s eat, o ne o f h is n ob le g uard ians b eari ng t he l et t er .

B y t he t im e H ar ol d K en mo re r et ur ne d t o c ou rt , i t b ei ng b y t he n b ac k i n L on do n a nd a bo ut t o c om me nc e

ano th er r ou nd o f t ravels abo ut t he r ealm , h e w as b ecom e h im self a cleri c, s ty led M on si gn or H ar ol d

C ea nm oo r. H en ry a dd ed a n ew er t it le : P hy si ck er t o t he K in g. H e a ls o m ad e i t a bu nd an tl y c le ar t o t he

d ep os ed h ol der o f t hat t it le and t o all o th er cou rt p hy si ck er s and chi ru rg eo ns t hat f ur th er exp ress io ns o f animosity toward King's Physicker Monsignor Harold would quickly and assuredly result in their lives

becoming most unpleasant and, possibly, even coming to abrupt ends. Several of these practitioners

s ud de nl y d ec id ed t o l ea ve c ou rt e nt ir el y; a ll o f t he o th er s t oo k p ai ns e it he r t o a vo id a ny p ro xi mi ty t o t he

newmade royal physicker or to ingratiate themselves to him, fawningly.

A ft er t ha t, H ar ol d m ov ed w it h t he c ou rt , w hi ch s el do m s ta ye d i n a ny o ne p la ce f or l on g, l es t i ts h ug e

c row ds e at a ho st out of h ous e, hom e, a nd la nds . Ha vi ng c om e t o t rul y l ike a nd t o t rus t t he j udgm ent of

H ar ol d, K in g H en ry k ep t h im c lo se b y a nd o ft en a sk ed h is a dv ic e o n m at te rs f ar w ei gh ti er t ha n t ho se o f his profession.

Ha rol d c am e t o f ee l a de ep a nd t rue f ri en ds hi p f or t he m an w ho w as h is pa tr on a nd r ul er , t oo, a nd t o

t rus t hi m e nough t o di vul ge t o him jus t who a nd wha t he wa s a nd j us t how he ha d a rr ived ye ar s ago i n t he

border country. At the king's express wish, a party of noblemen of the court, knights, and men-at-arms

r od e u p t o W hy ff le r H al l, a nd t he re H ar ol d a nd H en ry d es ce nd ed t o t he c el la r o f t he o ld t ow er w he re in

t he o th er wo rl dl y d ev ice s ti ll s qu at ted and g lo wed g reen is h t hr ou gh i ts coati ng o f d us t and cob webs .

H ar ol d a ls o s ho we d t he k in g a h ea t- st un ne r a nd d em on st ra te d h ow i t c ou ld s et a fi re w oo d a nd r en de r

m et al s w hi te -h ot . B ef or e t he p ar ty l ef t t o r et ur n t o t he c ou rt , t he k in g h ad t he e nt ra nc e t o t he g ro un d l ev el

of t he t ow er wa ll ed u p s ol idl y a nd s aw a r oya l s ea l s et i n t he n ew ma sonr y. He or de re d Si r J am es

W hy ff ler t hat t he t ow er s ho ul d b e i ncor po rated i nt o t he n ew h al l t he k ni gh t w as j us t t hen b eg in ni ng t o



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build, but that no one lacking royal writ was ever to be allowed to break the seal, tear down the wall, and

ent er t o t hat w hi ch l ay b el ow . I no rd in at el y f latt er ed t hat h is s im pl e k ni gh t' s f ee h ol di ng s s ho ul d b e s o

h on or ed as t o b e t he s ecret r epo si to ry o f r oy al p os ses si on s, t he k ni gh t h ad s ol em nl y o at hed h im self and

h is he ir s t o h on or t he c om ma nd s o f h is ki ng .

S in ce A rt hu r, u nl ik e h is r ob us t y ou ng er b ro th er , P ri nce H en ry , n ev er w as w el l f or l on g t hr ou gh ou t t he

cou rs e o f h is l if e and h is l en gt hy r ei gn . U su al ly , o ne o r t wo l on gevi ty -b oo st er cap su les w er e eno ug h t o

put him to rights, however, and Harold began to let longer and longer periods elapse between the times

w hen h e t oo k t hem h im self , h oard in g t he i rr ep laceab le t hi ng s again st t he d read t hat A rt hu r' s n ex t i ll ness

m ig ht b e w or se and r eq ui re m or e o f t he s tead il y d wi nd li ng s up pl y.

I n t he s pr ing of A .D. 15 06 , t he re c am e by s ea r out es w or d of a gr ea t a nd m os t t er ri bl e pl ag ue t ha t e ve n

t hen w as r av ag in g p ar ts o f t he m id dl e eas tern l an ds . A lt ho ug h i n s om e w ay s s im il ar t o t he B lack D eathand cau si ng n um er ou s f at al it ies, i t als o w as s ai d t o d if fer i n d iv er s w ay s f ro m t hat o th er , cen tu ri es -o ld

s cour ge . Al l t ha t s ee me d t o be know n of i ts o ri gi n w as t ha t t he pe st h ad be en m ovi ng we st wa rd o ut of

A si a f or s om e y ears . I t h ad d ecim at ed t he S yr ias, t hen r am paged t hr ou gh T ur key and A rm en ia; all

O ut re me r h ad be en ha rd h it by i t, a nd s ome de cl ar ed t ha t t he P ope of t he Ea st l ay de ad a nd t ha t

C on st an ti no pl e r es em bl ed a h ug e and r eeki ng chann el h ou se. I n A lexand ri a, t he K hali fah h ad clo sed

e ve ry p or t i n E gy pt , L ib ia , a nd T un is ia , t he n s et a rm ed m en t o t ur n b ac k a ny c ar av an b ou nd f ro m a ny

direction other than south.

By l at e s um me r, wor d wa s t ha t t he ne wc om e pe st wa s r if e i n t he Ag ea n i sl es , Cr et e, Gr ee ce , a nd t hecountless little principalities that in Harold's world were the Balkans. By the following spring, all Italy was

r eeli ng f ro m t he s ho ck o f i ts o ns et , alo ng w it h t he k in gd om s w hi ch l ay alo ng t he m ig ht y D an ub e R iv er ,

f ro m K il ia t o G ra n, t he c it ie s o f B ud a a nd P es th b ei ng e sp ec ia ll y h ar d h it b y i t, i t w as r um or ed . I n

E ng la nd , t ho se w ho h ad h op ed t ha t t he c ol de r, w et te r c li ma te a nd t he s al t s ea m oa t t ha t l ay o n a ll

q uart er s m ig ht p ro tect t he r ealm f ro m t hese h or ri fy in g n ew p es t r av ag es w er e d is il lu si on ed and t hr ow n

i nt o d es pa ir w he n o ut br ea ks w er e r ep or te d f ir st i n S we de n, t he n i n t he E mp ir e D uc hy o f P om er n, a nd

f in al ly i n C op en hagen; t he p es t app eared i n S weden and D en mark i n s eapo rt s, b ut t hat i n P om er n f ir st

burst out in a large and wealthy monastery.

A s t he r el en tl es s s weep o f t he p lagu e n eared E ng li sh s ho res, m or e r um or s and m uch w il d s pecu lati on

c on ce rn in g i t a nd i ts e ff ec ts f le w b ef or e i t. I n t he E as t, i t h ad e ar ne d t he n am e o f P ri es ts ' P la gu e b ec au se

s uc h a n i no rd in at e n um be r o f c le rg y h ad s uc cu mb ed t o i t. B ut f ro m w ha t H ar ol d h ad b ee n a bl e t o g et

f ro m n um er ou s con vers at io nali st s f ro m o vers ea h e h ad d el ib er at el y s ou gh t o ut f or j us t t hi s p ur po se, f ol k

i n t ow ns w he re in t he re w as m uc h t ra de h ad s ee me d t o s uf fe r t he r av ag es o f t he d is ea se f ar a nd a wa y

m or e t ha n h ad t ho se s ca tt er ed o ut i n t he c ou nt ry si de s. A ls o, a v er y h ig h n um be r o f t he n ob il it y s ee me d t o

c ome down wi th i t, a nd t hi s di ct um s ee me d t o a ppl y t o al l c oun tr ie s hi t s o fa r. At t ha t t ime , he ha d be en

u na bl e t o m ak e r hy me o r r ea so n o ut o f t he m as s o f i nf or ma ti on .

D ur in g t he w in te r o f A .D . 1 50 7- 08 , w he n t he p es t w as i n f ul l f or ce i n B ur gu nd y, F ra nc e, a nd F ri si a,



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e ve ry m an a nd w om an p os se ss ed o f a ny w it k ne w t ha t E ng la nd a nd W al es m us t s ur el y b e n ex t, a nd a n

endless chanting proceeded from every church, chapel, cathedral, and monastic establishment, while the

e nt ir e i sl an d s ee me d t o b e o ve rl ai n by d ay a nd b y n igh t w it h a t hi ck en in g p al l o f t he s mo ke o f

f rank in cens e. B ut u nd au nt ed b y p io us p rayers o r b ur ni ng i ncen se, t he P ri es ts ' P lagu e cam e i n i ts o wn t im e

t o u nl eash i ts cou nt less h or ro rs u po n K in g H en ry and h is m is er ab le s ub ject s.

CHAPTER

T HE S E CO N D

W it hi n a p er io d o f f ou rt een m on th s o f t he com in g o f t he P ri es ts ' P lagu e, s ix ty p er cent o f t he n ob il it y and

n ea rl y h al f t he g en tr y o f E ng la nd a nd W al es w er e d ea d, a lo ng w it h m os t of t he ir h ou se ho ld s. N or h ad t he

court been spared. King Henry and his children, dosed lavishly with Harold's longevity-booster capsules,s ti ll l iv ed i n h ealt h, b ut h is q ueen h ad d ecli ned i n f av or o f a d ecocti on com po un ded b y h er p er so nal

physicker and both she and said physicker had consequently died.

W el l- t o- do p er s on s o f all cl as ses i n cou nt ry , t ow ns , and cit ies- and m os t es peci al l y p or t ci ti es s it uat ed o n

s ea co as ts a nd t he n av ig abl e r iv er s a nd c an al s- ha d d ie d l ik e f li es . B ut h ar de st h it o f a ll w al ks i n t he l an d

h ad b een t he clerg y; n ot a s in gl e archb is ho p r em ai ned ali ve and p reci ou s f ew b is ho ps o r m on si gn or s,

C an terb ur y and Y or km in st er b ei ng alm os t u n- tenant ed b y any s av e w ai li ng g ho st s, as t oo w er e a l ar ge

proportion of the great abbeys of the land.

B ut t he re t he c om pa ri so n t o t he G re at P la gu es o r B la ck D ea th c ea se d, f or w hi le g en tr y a nd y eo ma nr y

o ut o n t he l an d h ad s ic ke ne d a nd o ft en d ie d w it h t he ir f am il ie s a nd h ou se ho ld s, t he b ul k o f t he h um bl er

s or ts h ad -b een u naf fected o r n ot m uch aff ect ed o r af fl ict ed b y t he s weepi ng cat ast ro ph e' . T here h ad

been few real halts to the production of food crops and kine husbandry, and such shortages of foodstuffs

a s h ad o cc ur re d i n t he l an d h ad b ee n c au se d n ot b y t he l ac k b ut b y t he f ul ly u nd er st an da bl e r el uc ta nc e o f

f ol k t o t ra ns po rt i t t o o r e ve n n ea r t he s tr ic ke n c en te rs o f p op ul at io n.

Also, despite the widespread extirpations of high-ranking or powerful churchmen and their retinues and

households, and the virtual extinctions of large, ancient, and wealthy monastic communities, religion still

f lo ur is hed i n all t he l an d, esp eciall y o n t he h um bl e p ar is h l ev el and i n t he f or m o f s mall er and p oo rer o r

m or e s tr ic tl y o rd er ed a bb ey s a nd m on as ti c g ro up s. M or eo ve r, a s o ft en i s t he c as e u nd er s uc h a wf ul

cir cu ms tances , t he adv en t o f t he h id eo us , d eath -d eali ng s co ur ge u po n t he r ealm and i ts r el en tl es s

m ov em en t amo ng i ts h el pl es s v icti ms s park ed a f resh f lo weri ng o f r el ig io us zeal amo ng t he b ul k o f t he

survivors of all stations.

D es pi te a l ac k o f g en er al f am in e i n m os t of E ng la nd a nd W al es , t hi ng s w er e q ui te ba d e no ug h f or a

w hi le. B an ds o f n ow -m as terl es s f ol k w an dered t he f ace o f t he l an d, l oo ti ng cas tl es , m an or s, and h al ls ,



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savaging underpopulated towns, sometimes fighting with such similar bands as they encountered in their

r ov in gs ; b ut o ve r t im e, n ot a f

adams, robert - castaways 6 - of beginings and endings

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