At the Dying of the Year Read Online Free Page A

thinking?’ Lister asked as he caught up to him.
    â€˜Nothing. Everything,’ he replied in frustration. ‘I was scared we’d find more of them.’ He turned and Rob could see the fear in his eyes. ‘All I could think was it could have been James down there.’ His face hardened. ‘I’m going to make that bastard scream when we find him.’
    â€˜He’ll have a trial.’
    Sedgwick spat. ‘Why waste the money?’
    â€˜But—’
    â€˜But what?’ he said angrily. ‘You really believe we’re going to be the only ones out there looking? People hate child killers. Even if they don’t care about the children themselves. And if they find him . . .’ He let the thought twist in the air. Rob understood; he knew how dangerous a mob could be.
    â€˜What were the workmen doing at the pits, anyway?’
    â€˜They’re filling them in. It’s going to be a big bloody job and all. But that new mayor thinks the city should look better, especially around the Cloth Hall. We’re so important that we have to impress visitors these days,’ he said in disgust. ‘Those pits have been open since Adam was a lad. You know people still go down there looking for coal in the winter? When it’s bitter out there’ll be folk scavenging in the pits.’ He paused, but before he could say more, the sharp clatter of a drum made him turn his head.
    â€˜What’s that?’ Rob asked.
    â€˜I don’t know.’ They began to walk briskly along the Calls in the direction of the sound. A small, curious crowd had gathered close to the bridge, drawn in by the crisp, urgent beats, eager for any brief excitement in their day.
    â€˜Gather round, lads,’ boomed a deep voice. ‘Aye, and you lasses, too, we like a pretty face.’
    Sedgwick relaxed and started to laugh. ‘You know who that is?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜It’s the recruiting sergeant.’ He winked and nudged Lister in the ribs. ‘If you’ve an urge to escape that Emily, now’s your chance, lad. Plenty of adventure. You can come back with a fortune, if you believe what they say.’
    Rob snorted. ‘I think I’ll stay here. More chance of staying alive.’
    â€˜There’ll be some who’ll fall for it,’ the deputy told him. ‘He’ll march off in a day or two with a few in tow, you can wager on that. There’s no shortage of fools in the world. I was halfway tempted myself once till I came to my senses.’
    The audience had quickly thinned. He looked at the soldier with his worn, smiling face, scarlet coat neatly sponged clean and bright, breeches mostly white, boots worn and travel dusty. Next to him the drummer boy, a lad maybe ten years old, had put up his sticks and was glancing idly around. ‘Come on,’ the deputy continued, ‘we’re right by the Old King’s Head. I don’t know about you, but I need to drink the taste of this morning away.’
    The Constable watched Tom and his apprentice wrap the bodies in their winding sheets. They’d carry them away once the streets were quiet and few would see, and take them to the pauper’s grave out beyond Sheepscar Beck. The children would lie as forgotten in death as they’d been in life.
    The murderer had taken his time with them. He’d relished every pain he’d inflicted, drawn it out to make them hurt even more. And they’d be no match for a grown man.
    All over Leeds, people would know that three children had been killed. Now he just had to hope no details came out about the way the bodies had been broken, battered and used. If that happened there’d be fury all over the city. That had been the mayor’s fear, Leeds out of control. Not that he’d needed to say anything. The Constable had already seen the resolve and the hatred on Sedgwick’s face, the hurt in Rob’s eyes, and he knew what was in