Doldrums and Deep Waters

Chapter 10: Suspended, in time

I felt sick to my stomach, and for the briefest of instances, I thought my knees might give out. However, I was still quicker to respond than Lestrade, frozen in horror behind me.

This room was where goods were processed, and moved in and out of the warehouse. A ceiling conveyor boasted mounted hooks, upon which items could be slung for ease of transportation.

Suspended from one of these hooks by an old knotted climbing rope, backlit by a shaft of light from the holed ceiling as if from a sinister spotlight, his heels drumming rhythmically upon a broken packing crate, was my dear friend.

The rope was tight about his neck, his hand tucked under it, his face a terrible dusky colour, but the choking noises told me he was alive at least, and in less than half a second, I had leapt to him, and was lifting his body to support his weight.

"Lestrade! Help me! Cut him down!"

The inspector was already obeying me before I had finished speaking, leaping onto the packing crate, blaspheming heartily as it splintered beneath him, hacking with his pocket knife at the rope with one hand, and taking his own weight with the other. The rope was thick, and of good quality, but the knife was sharp, and finally, the last strand parted, and I was lowering Watson to the ground as Lestrade hopped nimbly down to join me.

Watson looked ghastly. His face was darkly congested, there was a livid red mark about his neck when I released the noose and his breathing was coming in harsh painful gasps. But he was alive. I loosened his collar, and patted his cheek, calling his name, whilst Lestrade fanned his face with his hat. His colour began to return to normal, and his breathing to quiet slightly.

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps, and we looked up to see a rubicund and portly police constable entering the room.

"What's this then?" he asked, sharply, as he took in the scene.

"My friend has met with an accident, Constable." I snapped. "We came here in a two-wheeler, and I imagine we have exhausted the horse. If you could procure us another conveyance, I would be most grateful."

"I don't think that will be possible, Sir." Answered the officer ponderously, withdrawing his note-book. "This gentleman is obviously an attempted suicide, so it will be only my duty to take him into custody."

I had reason to be grateful to Lestrade for the forth time that day as he rose to his feet, and pulled himself up to his full, not very considerable, height.

"Constable Adams, is it not?"

"Inspector Lestrade, Sir!" gasped the Constable in surprise. "Forgive me, I did not see you there. I came to investigate the cab – I saw it going hell for leather – if you'll pardon me, Sir – through the street."

"You did very right, Adams. However, this gentleman here is Mr Sherlock Holmes, who you'll've heart of, and the other gentleman is his friend, Dr Watson, who has been attacked. You'll fetch another cab, as Mr Holmes here requested, if you please."

"Yes, Sir. Rightaway. Shall I fetch a doctor too?"

"No, I think we shall convey him back to Baker Street; we can fetch medical attention there if necessary." I replied, thinking to limit the number of people to witness my friend's predicament.

Constable Adams saluted, and rushed off to obey his orders. Lestrade was avoiding meeting my eyes.

"Thank-you, Lestrade. Thank you very much, on my behalf, and on Watson's."

Lestrade sighed. "Just reassure me on one point? You said he has been poisoned. I assume then, he is not responsible for his actions, and I have not just compounded a felony?"

"You presume rightly. I suspect he has been exposed to an agent which grossly compromises his faculties." I smoothed the damp hair from his forehead, and he stirred slightly, a small crease appearing between his brows. "The remarkable thing is, so indomitable is his will, he could not bring himself to go through with his plan to end his life."

"What?" asked Lestrade, understandably puzzled.

"He was loosening the noose. His fingers were underneath it before he dropped – look at the damage to the skin. He could not have got them so far underneath had he tried after he was already hanging. Look at the packing case as well. He has stood upon it for some time – considering his next move – see the shuffled footprints in the dust. He has then decided to remove the noose, but the wood must have given way – see where the top is splintered, and the marks upon his trousers.

"Bloody hell," muttered Lestrade fervently. "I'm glad we weren't five minutes slower. He's looking a much healthier colour now. He'll do. But how in blazes could you both have been poisoned – and how did you realise?"

I smiled crookedly. "Partly through knowledge of myself." Watson's eyes fluttered open, and attempted blurrily to focus. I expect the tears that spilled down his cheeks were a natural response to the physiological insult he had received. "I am not given to appalling cruelty when I am in my right mind, but, under the influence of a malevolent agent, I fear I may have precipitated this crisis."

My eyes burned with emotion, and I dashed at them with my sleeve. I then suddenly regretted revealing so much of myself. I do not think I can have been quite so free of the noxious substance as I thought. I mentally gave myself a shake.

"As for how we were poisoned – forgive me, Lestrade, but I must confess to being distracted. I should prefer that Watson is safely ensconced and awake in Baker Street before I embark on the explanations in full. I am fully awake to the debt I owe you for today, and if you will be so good as to call at our rooms this evening, I shall at least explain the circumstances to you.

"In the meantime, I sincerely hope your lieutenants may have succeeded in apprehending our fat friend Dix. I now have an added, powerful, incentive to wish to see him confined."

Phew! A close one! But what can the explanation be? I'm sure Holmes won't mind if you join him for his explanations to Lestrade At least Watson appears to be safe now – let's hope the worst of his traumas are over. Find out in the next chapter....

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