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Allison; Taking Control Chapter 65
Allison examined the length of slightly corroded wire attached to the wood. It was certainly long and sturdy enough to be used for strangling or choking someone were it wound about and twisted tightly. Gambles was motioning for him to turn the wooden piece over and look at the other side. On the opposite surface was a series of words, written somewhat sloppily in a dark blue-black which, oddly enough, was much like the color of his host’s clothing. That similarity was the first thing to attract his notice; the words themselves, however, were another thing entirely:Les sens trompent de temps en temps, et est prudent de ne jamais faire confiance entierement ceux qui nous ont trompé une seule fois. “Cryptic,” Allison observed, “but I doubt very much the Blevins family found this message to be in any way intriguing or engaging, if they understood it at all. It’s obvious someone had awfully cavalier intentions when it came to Mr. Thorpe’s death.”“Someone like LaTour?” Gambles asked in
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 66
Bidding his host a respectful good-bye and thanking him once more, Allison stepped outside and into the waiting vehicle, which began to roll forward at the crack of the driver’s whip. Looking out the open window back toward the Gambles residence, he watched the lights at the front door shrink and recede into the nighttime darkness, once again becoming a single point of light, before the carriage regained the main road and turned westward.It had been an enjoyably cordial means of bringing the evening to a close, even if his storytelling had caused him to lose his sense of time. However, now that it was over and he sat alone in the dimly-lit interior of the carriage, the less than desirable feelings which had begun to assault him upon learning of Thorpe’s demise started to resurface. The growing frustration, blended with genuine anger, fought with his sense of reason and rapidly consumed his every thought. He knew that Thorpe’s death had nothing to do with him or the efforts of his ha
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 67
He had barely risen to where he could see out the left side when another galloping shadow came into view. Its rider got close enough to the rear wheel to drop a heavy object, perhaps a metal bar, onto the rim. The object was caught up in the spokes, fouling the wheel and rendering it inoperable. As a result, it shattered and broke clean off, forcing the carriage to skid wildly and it was now being pulled off the road. Allison went down again, this time thrown there with great force against his will as the vehicle was still somehow pulled forward, albeit more slowly, after the loss of its rear wheel.Burning pain seethed into Allison ’s left shoulder which slammed heavily against the side as he fell. He felt his head hit the floor and his vision suddenly became a swirling incoherent blur. White hot pangs now shot through his skull and his ears began to ring, allowing for no other discernable sound. He could still feel the rough movement of the carriage as it was being partially dragge
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 68
After another minute or two, it seemed as though he had moved beyond the area on which his attackers were concentrating their use of the grenades, since the explosions seemed to be going off well behind him. At any rate, their supply could not be inexhaustible and by this time nearly a dozen had to have been expended. That was only half the concern, however, as he knew he was probably obliging their assumed purpose of forcibly expelling him from the dense plant growth. As if confirming that very thought, the thick clouds which had blanketed the night sky slowly drifted apart to reveal a bright half moon. This gave off just enough illumination for him to see that he was reaching what appeared to be the field’s edge. Instinctively, he dropped down to crawl the remainder of the way toward where the moonlight looked to be brighter while doing his best to keep quiet and not rustle the stalks in any indicative manner. As he did so, the explosions appeared to stop.Nearing the edge, he found
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 69
Allison shuffled out of the cell, then Gambles led him down the corridor as he spoke. “From what I heard of the fight you went through, that isn’t hard to believe. I only learned of it when I was awoken by the servants who informed me that the carriage hadn’t returned. Some of the soldiers who rode out in response to the occurrence were questioning Mr. Wickham, on whose property everything took place, when I happened by on my way here. That’s when I learned what really happened.”The soldier who let him out of the cell was now handing him back his hat, coat, sword and the French signboard. After Allison donned his accoutrements, the man saluted and pushed open a heavy door of wood and steel to let them out. Since he had been locked in a dimly lit cell for several hours straight, the direct sunlight was positively blinding as Allison stepped across the threshold and out into the street. His eyes were nearly squinted shut while he shaded them with his hand.“I believe your first lieu
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 70
“Given my experience, I wouldn’t deem it truly safe for anyone wearing these blue uniforms to travel alone on the island right now. Sergeant White is a decent horseman; we’ll see if William might have another two or three amongst his detail. Then I’ll provide you with some coin from what we’ve been given to hire mounts so you can ride, escorted, to the Blevins’ plantation.”Caldwell suddenly blanched.“What... what name did you... I’m sorry Captain, what was that name again?”“The Blevins family, Henry. Gambles did mention them didn’t he?” Allison asked, though neither he nor Deakins really noticed Caldwell’s reaction.“Um... no sir. I think he neglected to mention their actual name,” he answered truthfully enough, though something was definitely agitating him.Still neither of his companions took note of his perturbed state.“Their lands are close by, not far south of town,” Allison went on. “Still, I think you’ll be grateful for not having to make the trip on foot. In the meantime
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 71
Caldwell motioned to Sergeant White to have his men dismount for the time being. With the grooms still obediently holding the horses’ bridles, everyone swung to the ground and began stretching their limbs. As he did likewise, Caldwell took in more of his surroundings. Movement could be detected in the far-off fields, no doubt the activity of slave hands at work tending or harvesting crops. The vanes of the mill continued to turn with the winds grinding out sugar, flour or whatever product the harvested crops provided. He looked up at the towering façade of the huge house. Between the columns of the portico and elsewhere, including the gables protruding from the roof were a collection of multi-paned windows looking out over the expansive lands.Which one? Caldwell found himself thinking, as his heart seemed to beat even faster – almost fluttering. Is it even any of the ones I see? Is she even here?After a short space of time, the servant reappeared on the veranda.“You may come with m
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 72
She didn’t say anything right away, slowly stepping around him while looking back and forth from him to her husband several times, all the while wearing the same wide-eyed look of surprise. Caldwell straightened up and clasped his hands respectfully in front of him as his hostess now stood before the master of the house looking at him inquisitively. An exasperated sigh and a curt nod from Blevins seemed to provide all the explanation she sought at that moment since she then turned to address the naval officer who was visiting her house.“Henry Caldwell,” she began, “you are quite possibly the last person I would ever have expected to see in my home.”“For what it is worth, madam,” Caldwell replied, “I had not thought to be here. Though, truth be told, I really had no idea your family was even on this island.”“Lieutenant Caldwell is here on official business for the Royal Navy, Katherine,” Arthur Blevins told his wife. “Perhaps my feelings regarding the man nearly caused me to forget
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