Once again we are beholden to the current executors of the Knolly estate for letting us publish this, the second package of the great man's journals and memoirs.

'Of co...' I started to shout and then stopped.

It was a definite eureka moment. I chuckled to myself and thought that had Conan Doyle or Wells been writing this, then there would have been a dramatic thunderclap, a lightening bolt or some such nonsense. However, being loud was not the order of the day. With my dear wife now so sound asleep, hooting and hollering would not have been a good plan on my part, not if I wanted to see tomorrow.

Keeping an eye on Elspeth all the time, I backed out of the bedroom and closed the door behind me. With that done, I bounded down the staircase calling for Millie as quietly as I thought permissible; can one shout in a whisper?

I rather think that it was the noise I made as I thundered downwards that brought Millie hurriedly to the bottom of the stairs; thankfully she herself had not yet retired for the evening.

'Mr Knolly sir, whatever is the matter? Is it the mistress?' She said, looking worriedly up the stairs.

'No, no. Look, I need to know where you put my birthday gifts the other day.'

'Oh well, let me see now... The Millwall football jersey needs washing, it being rather stiff... '

I grabbed her. 'Stop, I need to know where the staff is, you know the... '

Millie blushed, 'You mean the present from Mr Trewser, the one that looks like a gentlemen's ...?'

I held up a finger, 'That will be the one. Is it with the rest of his past gifts?'

Millie went a deeper red and looked to the floor. 'No, sir. Not yet.'

'But you do know where it is, I trust?'

She brightened, 'Oh yes sir! It's in my...'

'Just fetch it, please.'

And she went off in the direction of her room. Young girls these days, I would have to question Elspeth about this later, for I was sure she was in the know. I needed to make a decision, I looked at the clock on the mantle; it was a little after eight in the evening. If I left now I would be in town in an hour or so. Millie reappeared with what I assumed was the staff wrapped in a pillowcase.

She took it out and handed it to me.

'It's not damaged in any way, sir. And I’ve been very careful with it, keeping it polished and so forth.'

I took it from her hands, though she seemed somewhat reluctant to release it. To my eyes it looked like so many of the other South American artefacts I had seen, lots of glyphs and what-not written all over it. A good sign though was that it felt like a piece of carved stone, it wasn't hot to touch or glowing malevolently. To be truthful it was not very staff-like, it was shaped more like a howitzer shell and about the same size too really. I had to assume that it was only part of the staff, the tip perhaps. What was important was that I had to tell Hobbes about it, and get him to check the diary.

'Millie, I'm going to the office now.'

'Sir?'

'The guns, indeed, I'll send someone to collect them first thing. Now listen. Elspeth will be going shopping in the morning and I want you to promise me that she does not go alone regardless of what she feels. I'll leave her a note now explaining where I've gone and why. When I've gone make sure you lock up.'

She looked at me with shock beginning to dawn on her face.

'Mr Knolly are you expecting trouble?' She pointed at the staff and backed away slightly. 'Is the... Thingy dangerous?'

'Millie, I just don't know at the moment. Today has been a very strange day indeed, and I feel that everyone will be safer if I'm not here.'

I tapped the staff which sounded very solid – another good sign.

'Is this dangerous? At the moment I don't believe so.'

'Oh, well, that's a relief. Will you be taking it with you?'

I nodded, 'I think I will, better out of the way don't you think? It seems that Archie's present is more interesting than he first thought. Hmm?'

She looked rather crestfallen, like a child about to loose her favourite toy.

How will you get up to London at this hour, sir?'

'I'll flag down a cab; there must be some down at the station. Now, can you pack me an overnight bag while I pen a note to my wife?'

She bobbed a curtsy and was off upstairs to pack.

With the staff wrapped back in the pillowcase, I sat down at my desk and started to write:

Darling Elspeth,

Something has come up and I need to discuss urgently with Hobbes. I daren't go to his house, so have gone to the Admiralty where I shall contact Hobbes via the telephone on the Train.

Millie is under my strict instructions to go with you on your shopping expedition, at no point should you be left alone, whilst I think it is only myself being watched, one cannot be too careful. I shall finalise the arrangements for the trip and send word of time and date to both you and Merrick once I'm assured that the Train is ready.

Please do not worry, I shall take all necessary precautions for my safety. Try not to spend too much. Remember to pack your new fan; I feel it will be of use despite the cold.

PS I think you need to have a woman to woman talk with Millie, she seems rather upset that I have taken the Archie's recent birthday gift with me. I assume you were aware she had been looking after it?

I will see you very soon.

Your loving husband.

Knolly.

I left the note sealed in an envelope with Millie and, with my bag containing overnight things and the staff, I set off down the hill towards the station. It was getting chilly, the sky was clear and air rather crisp. The earlier puddles of rain were starting to ice over which made walking rather more difficult that I would have wished for. Still walking across ice was not a new pastime, though it was much easier with a pair of stout Mk II 'Cricks Crunchers' (military boots for walking in) with associated snowshoes, than my current brogues. I did hope that Elspeth remembered to pack mine when she got round to it.

It was a pleasant surprise to reach the station without being attacked or molested in anyway by anyone. Of course the streets of Sydenham were not deserted by any means, but the local population seemed intent on going about their own business and took no notice of me. I had just missed a train and so took the first cab that presented itself.

As the cab pulled away, the door I had just closed firmly behind me was flung open and a pungent aroma assaulted my nostrils!

'You've been a busy man, Captain.' Rasped the bundle of rags that sat, or was that piled, before me.

'Baddick, you have some news for me?' I wheezed.

'Everything all right, sir?” Called the cab driver.

I pulled down the window, leant out and took a deep breath,

'Indeed, yes. I had not shut the door properly. Drive on if you please.'

There was a crack of reins and the cab moved off into the traffic.

'Well, Baddick?' I asked once more but this time from behind a kerchief, the cab being rather more confined than I would have liked.

'He's gone, scarpered. Haven't seen him, or heard anything about him, since you went to Waterloo.'

'What? Who's gone?'

'The American sounding gent, “the watcher”.'

'So he was there when we went to see my Aunt?'

'I just said that Captain, didn't I? He watched you go, and I had someone watching him.'

'So, he's left London then?' The heap seemed to nod slowly.

'But we don't know where he's gone?' Again the slow nod.

'Are you aware I was attacked this afternoon by ruffians, whilst on the way to purchase fish and chips?'

There was a rumble which I took for a laugh of some sort.

'I 'eard it was two women that tumbled you in that alley.'

'Your ears do not deceive you then; do you have any information about them?'

'Seen them about before. Don't think they're are from round here though, and they don't go around without an escort either. Swarthy looking chap, often a bit worse for drink.'

'Indeed! I did hear an accomplice shout out just before they left me alone.'

Baddick leant forward and the smell leapt towards me.

'I think you was lucky, Commander.'

Lucky, how?'

'People who meet them ladies in alleyways normally don't come out by themselves.'

'Oh! Do I have anyone to thank for that?'

'Part of the service, part of the service. I assume you want me to keep an eye out for the three of them now, eh?'

'Well, with the 'watcher' having moved on for the time being, it would be useful to find out what these three are up to. You should be able to pick up their trail tomorrow when one of them pays a visit to the Admiralty offices.'

'Ha! You're a crafty one, that you are, sir. But now I bid you goodnight.'

Baddick moved to the door much more quickly than I would have expected.

You don't want any payment?'

'Oh, not at the moment. I know where you live, after all.'

With that the door was opened and the bundle of rags flew out into the night.

'Damnable door!' I shouted as loudly as I could to cover my passenger's escape.

As I pulled the door too once more, I checked where we were. It looked liked Southwark, so I settled back in the seat knowing there was still a way to go; not before opening both sets of windows though, to ensure there was a good draught to clear the lingering odour.

The remainder of the journey passed without event and gave me much time to my own thoughts and emotions. So much so, that I didn't even notice that we arrived at my destination. I paid the driver and suggested that he get his door looked at if he wanted to keep plying his trade, at which point he leapt down to make a grand show of securing his cab before he went looking for another fare.

As expected there were lights on within the Admiralty offices, the enemies of the Empire never sleep so therefore neither should we. I nodded to the Marine sergeant on desk duty and headed directly to the staircase that would take me to the basement levels. Was it really only day or so since I was last here? It felt like a week had gone by. I only hoped that Meeds had been able to perform some sort of engineering miracle to get the Train ready in time for us to leave.

I pushed through the doors that led through to the workshops. The lights were still on but no one seemed to be working on anything at the moment. There were now three carriages on the siding all painted in the correct LWNR livery. Meeds and his team had been very industrious indeed, despite his earlier teeth sucking concerns. I looked around, the area that had been screened off was now clear, that piece of work obviously completed which had allowed more manpower to be spent on this project.

If the outside of the Train was anything to go by, then I couldn't wait to see what changes had been made to the interior. I bent down to pick up my bag, heard a faint click behind me and felt something hard jab me in the small of my back...

The Great Knolly Archive

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