Cloud Walker, All Fools' Day, Far Sunset (18 page)

‘You ask much, Kentigern.’

‘I demand success. Kieron. That is all. When news of your enterprise goes forth – as it will – Holy Church will send to investigate. I hope I shall burn more tranquilly if the freebooters burn also.’ He gave a dreadful laugh. ‘I have seen much in my time. I have seen my master murdered and his women endure unspeakable things. Now we who live must entrust ourselves to a young man’s madness.’

Kieron gave a grim smile. ‘I would have more respect for Holy Church if it provided arms and men.’

‘The Church preaches peace and simplicity. In its wisdom it cares for our souls.’

‘Have you heard of anyone achieving peace at the stake, Kentigern?’

‘Enough, boy! Destroy the freebooters, if you can, and I will gladly stand beside you when the reckoning comes.’

‘I shall need your words, on paper, sir. I shall need words and your signature, commanding men to assist me. Without such a paper, I cannot proceed.’

‘Then bring me ink, and I will commit my sin to writing … Do not fail, Kieron. That is all … They say you loved Mistress Alyx. Is that true?’

Kieron was too surprised to dissimulate. ‘It is true. We loved each other.’

Again Kentigern laughed. ‘Forgive me. I laugh only at myself. I, too, loved her, do you see. But she was far above me. That is amusing, is it not? I would have given my life and honour to hold her, willingly, in my arms.’

‘I loved her and I held her,’ said Kieron evenly. ‘And it was sweet … That is all I care to say.’

‘It is enough. But why you, Kieron? Why the prentice painter?’

Kieron shrugged. ‘I do not know. Perhaps fortune favours him who dares.’

It was many days before Kieron was ready to begin construction of the hot-air balloon; but they were not days spent in idleness. First, he had to design the balloon and experiment with a model of it, and then he had also to assemble the materials for construction and train the people who would help him build it. Half the people at the Misery thought him mad, and the other half thought Kentigern mad. But, until a better authority were set over them, they would obey Kentigern; and he had put his name to a paper calling upon all able-bodied men and women to assist Kieron as needed.

Brothers Lemuel and Hildebrand were filled with horror. They remonstrated both with Kentigern and Kieron. Kentigern offered to countermand his orders if or when Holy Church mustered enough fighting men to push the freebooters into the sea. On being told that his immortal soul was endangered, he observed that he was presently more concerned with mortality than immortality. He even made so bold as to observe that the Divine Boy had accomplished little as yet to justify the devotion of the neddies and the obedience of the common people.

‘Where was the protection of Ludd when my master was murdered and my mistress violated?’ he demanded. ‘Nay, brothers, I understand your concern. But it cannot have escaped your notice that we live now in a disordered world. The days of peace and the seasons of prosperity are gone from us. Desperate men seek desperate remedies. Likely Kieron is mad and I am in my dotage; and you, good brothers, must do what you must. But plague me no more. If Kieron fails, he will die; and, doubtless, I also. But if he succeeds, let there be a reckoning.’

‘There will be a reckoning,’ promised Brother Lemuel. ‘Boyish pranks are one thing; but a deliberate attack upon doctrine is another. Make no mistake. Holy Church is patient. There will be a reckoning.’

Kentigern gave him a twisted smile and took a deep draught of spirit. ‘I did not see you at the boats, brothers, when we drifted half-frozen down the Arun.’

‘It was not our place to be at the boats, Kentigern,’ retorted Brother Hildebrand. ‘We were at our devotions, praying for the success of your venture.’

‘Perhaps your prayers were not loud enough. Or perhaps the Divine Boy is deaf.’ Kentigern was quite pleased with himself. It was the first time he had ever blasphemed.

From Kieron, they got even shorter shrift.

‘For the sake of a toy, Brother Sebastian wanted me to burn,’ he said grimly. ‘But Ludd, it seems, moves in mysterious ways. Sebastian is dead, while I live. An interesting thought … And now I am free to construct a sky machine for the benefit of our people.’ He lifted his sword, which he now carried with him always. ‘So I say to you, brothers, do not interfere with me or with those who help me, either by word or by deed. Else you may join Brother Sebastian in his perpetual slumber.’

The brothers were horrified. No lay man had ever spoken to them like this before. Truly the world had changed.

‘You threaten us?’ said Brother Lemuel.

‘I warn you, that is all. It is my first and final warning. Now leave me. I am busy.’

The brothers retired in a state of shock. When they had recovered somewhat, they made plans. Brother Lemuel would go to London, to the office of the Inquisitor General. Brother Hildebrand would stay in the Misery and keep a record of all heretical acts. Then, when the Inquisitor General sent forces to re-establish the authority of the Church, Brother Hildebrand would be able to bear witness against all those who had gone against the teachings of the Divine Boy.

There were no horses available – Kentigern saw to that – so Brother Lemuel would have to travel on foot. London was at least three day’s march away. The brothers made no secret of their plans, and Kieron was fully informed of their intentions.

Petrina was horrified.

‘Kieron, this time they will really burn you. Holy Church cannot ignore a direct challenge. Abandon the hot-air balloon, I beg you. Let us be patient. In time, the grand seigneurs will assemble forces sufficient to defeat the freebooters. Then we shall take up our ordinary lives once more.’

Kieron held her close. ‘Rest easy, my love. You know, as I do, that with each day that passes, Admiral Death has a stronger hold upon our land. I will not wait for soldiers that may never come, or may come only to meet their doom. The only way to defeat the invader is in an element he cannot use. I will strike from the air. His soldiers do not have wings. He cannot elevate his cannon. I will strike from the air with fire. Holy Church will have little support if the ships of the freebooters are burning.’

‘In six days, Brother Lemuel could return with sufficient men to destroy you.’

‘Six days!’ He laughed. ‘Brother Lemuel is not used to walking. He will have many blisters upon his feet. And will the Holy Office immediately despatch troops upon the word of a poor brother? No matter. In six days I shall be invulnerable.’

‘My love, I fear for you.’

‘Dear Petrina, I fear for us all.’

Having obtained authority from Kentigern, Kieron was now confronted with the formidable task of translating a cherished dream into a practical reality. But a short time ago, he would have been saddened by the knowledge that the first use to which an aerial machine would be put would be as an instrument of destruction. If he had paused to reflect, he would have realised that the doctrine of the Luddite Church was not entirely spurious. Historically, the development of machines had amplified man’s ability to destroy. The First and Second Men had destroyed their civilisation with their own ingenuity. From the standpoint of Holy Church there was no reason to suppose that men had now developed a greater wisdom that would sustain them in the creation of a third machine-based civilisation.

Kieron had no time to reflect upon such philosophical problems. Brother Lemuel was bound for London, and Admiral Death was consolidating his hold upon the southern coast. Kieron knew that he would have to produce a quick justification for his enterprise or pay the penalty of failure – either to Kentigern or Holy Church. It made little difference.

The first problem was one of design. In order to rain fire upon the ships of Admiral Death, Kieron would have to wait for a light offshore breeze, which would carry his hot-air balloon from its place of launching, over the freebooters’ ships and then out to sea. Eventually, the hot-air balloon would come down in the ocean – it being unlikely that it could reach the coast of France, even if the wind held – and therefore whoever took to the skies with it would drown.

Unless the balloon carried something that could survive in the sea. A boat. A small boat. That would be the carriage in which the crew of the balloon would ride. It would have to be a very small boat and a very small crew. Otherwise, the size of the balloon would be huge beyond the ability of the people of Arundel to construct.

Kieron did much thinking, made sketches, made models. The balloon must not be in the shape of a sphere: it must be in the shape of a tapering sausage, corresponding roughly to the shape of the small boat that would be suspended from it.

Armed with Kentigern’s authority, he sent men into Arundel to bring back all the linen, all the paper and needles and thread they could find. While they were gone, he spoke with Aylwin who, though pale and weak, was recovering from the loss of his hand.

‘Aylwin, how do you fare?’

‘I shall live,’ said Aylwin. ‘I shall live to be useless at my trade and a mockery to my fellows.’

‘How would you like to live for ever?’

‘Kieron, I have no taste for jests.’

‘The bond between us still holds?’

‘You know it does.’

‘To the death?’

‘To the death … What do you require, Kieron?’

‘I require you to journey with me suspended from a hot-air balloon. I require you to rain fire upon the freebooters.’

‘You would take a one-armed man on such a venture?’ He thrust out the stump of his wrist, now mercifully hidden under clean bindings.

‘I would take a friend,’ said Kieron. ‘I would take a man I trust. I would take one whose hatred of the freebooters passes beyond fear.’

‘Kieron, I am your man, as well you know. I am not brave, and this you also know. But I would dangle from the talons of an eagle if I could cause destruction to fall on those who have despoiled our peaceful seigneurie.’

‘We may not return from the venture.’

Aylwin gave a faint smile. ‘I do not expect to. I have little reason for remaining alive … Why, then, did you ask if I would like to live for ever?’

‘Because our venture is one that men will remember. We shall begin anew the conquest of the skies and we shall strike terribly at those who have injured us.’

‘I require only one promise, Kieron. Give it, and I shall be happy.’

‘What is that?’

‘I require to know that many shall die with us and because of us.’

Kieron thought for a moment. ‘I cannot control the winds, Aylwin. And we must be sure, when all is ready, that the wind is our ally. But if we can take the hot-air balloon over the vessels at Little Hampton, I swear to you that men will perish in tens and hundreds. Is that enough?’

‘It is enough.’ Aylwin laughed. ‘The dead freebooters in Arundel are your witnesses.’

‘So, then. Rest as much as you can. I have work to do. The time will be upon us sooner than you imagine.’

Kieron paid little attention to the passing of day and night. He worked by daylight. He worked by the light of whale-oil lamps and torches. He drew plans, made calculations, used models. He was distressed to find that the hot-air balloon would have to be far larger than he had anticipated. It would have to be fully fifteen metres long and two and a half metres in diameter; otherwise it would not carry the load he required. He instructed men in the construction of delicate frames from slender willow shoots. He showed women how they must sew linen and paper together to make a great envelope of the size he required. He set two prentice smiths to construct four braziers. He set woodmen to make charcoal, and others to make a small, light boat. He set boys to make ropes, and girls to fashion the ropes into a great net that would harness the hot-air balloon to the boat.

Kieron knew that the hot-air balloon must eventually come down to the sea, therefore its carriage must be in the form of a boat which could be quickly set loose upon the waves, so that the aeronauts would have some small hope of regaining land.

The Misery, which had been a refuge for despondent and beaten people, became transformed by Kieron’s fanatical devotion to the hot-air balloon. Folk who would formerly have scoffed at the crazed notions of Kieron-head-in-the-air became infected by his enthusiasm. Desperation was stronger than prejudice. They looked to him for hope. They looked to him and his fantastic project to inflict great losses upon the invaders. They recalled that already his fire-carts had inflicted more damage than all their fighting men combined. He had promised that, if they gave of their best to the construction of his aerial machine, he would rain fire upon the ships of Admiral Death. Kieron, though clearly mad, had already proved his talent for destruction. Therefore, they worked hard, not questioning his instructions or requirements. They would have followed a daemon if he had promised to burn the freebooters’ ships.

Kieron slept little and ate little. He ate only when Petrina could find friends sufficiently courageous to drag him forcibly from his work, while she ladled out a helping of nourishing stew and swore that he would not be allowed to move until he had cleaned the platter. Sometimes, he would fling the platter away and shout obscenities. Sometimes, he would eat docilely, recalling that without food a man is weakened.

He no longer looked like a man of eighteen. His white hair had added years. The lines on his forehead and the hollowness of his cheeks had added character and power. He looked now like a man of thirty, a born leader. People became afraid of him, held him in awe. His sword rarely left his hand. He used it to measure linen and paper, to scratch diagrams in the ground. He used it to point, to threaten, to illustrate a command.

Kentigern was amazed at the changes that had taken place. Men and women who had formerly been listless went about their tasks with speed and energy. Because Kieron required of them as much as they were able to give. In return he promised vengeance.

There came a day when all the main constructions were finished. The envelope had been sewn, the net had been woven, the light boat had been built, the braziers had been worked. It was a day of caulking and seaming. The seams of the balloon and of the light boat were caulked by precious pitch taken from coal tar.