Another short chapter – sorry peoples I must tell my brain to work in longer chapter mode.
To the reviewers I would like to add sniff you're the reason I get up in the morning, the entire light of my life. So now don't you feel bad if you didn't review? evil laughter I am thinking suggesting to this site that if people read without reviewing they get a small electric shock through their computer. Oh well there's a thought. On with the fiction!
london
wednesday - day four
By Wednesday both men were back in their elements. Jack restlessly was pacing his quarterdeck worrying about missing stays and Stephen was on the streets of London at the same unholy hour for a meeting with a contact.
There was an icy breeze blowing through the vacant streets. The gas lit streetlamps were shining on the empty cobblestone ways, as at this hour even the wildest of London was fast asleep.
Stephen pulled his coat closer to him. Despite the cold breeze Stephen noticed while walking there was not a cloud in the sky. The brilliant stars were shining defiantly against the dreary black of the night sky.
The day had been a long one and he was unable to sleep even a little during it, as he knowing of his late rendezvous had tried. This did not faze him much, however, as a physician he had been forced to spend many sleepless nights with patients, and he was of course no novice in his...hobby. Though the lack of sleep still gave him a dreamlike disposition, which found the stars in a word, delicious. It was so unlike the normal weather of this place.
When Stephen finally did arrive it was with a small disappoint at not being able to spend more time out of doors even if the weather was much too cold for his tastes. The sign that read: The Rampant Lion Pub and Inn was now directly over him swinging in the soft breeze.
Without much thought, Stephen skillfully slipped into the shadows of a small alley that led between the pub and the building behind it, where there only dim specks of light.
Stephen suddenly felt his foot lose its balance felt rest of him quickly follow. Before he had another thought he was flat on his back with the wind knocked out him, and thoroughly soaked in the puddle he slipped in. Stephen painfully rubbed the back of his head where it had hit muttering curses to himself for being so thoughtless. He lent the other hand on the ground next to him to slowly push himself up when he felt something next to him and to his horror had just enough light to see what it was.
A face, a horrible face with a look of confusion and panic etched into every detail. Its eyes were wide and staring at the stars above. Under it was a streaming gashed neck that accounted for the puddle, Stephen was drenched in was lukewarm blood. He could see the bits of peeled back skin from the man's neck and under it an emerald coat – he was Stephen's contact.
Immediately understanding came to Stephen. He shot up, shed his coat, then as quickly and as causally as he could manage mad his way back to the Grapes. They knew.
