Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (132 page)

             
"
Nuffink,
sor,
"
Kemble
said.
"
Jus
'
sayin
'
its
'
ot,
sir.
"

             
Whatever
Barclay
had
intended
to
say
next
was
cut
short
by
the
Purser.
"
I
think
we
are
followed,
"
he
said
quietly
and
distinctly.
"
What
is
more
I
think
we
are
being
deliberately
steered
in
this
direction.
I
suggest
we
attempt
a
change
–
Mister
Barclay,
let
us
attempt
to
reverse
our
direction
please.
"
He
indicated
the
empty
shops
and
the
absence
of
stalls
in
this
part
of
the
market.
"
We
are
well
clear
of
the
merchants
whose
goods
we
seek.
"

             
"
What?
But
we
haven
'
t
got
half
the
provisions
yet,
"
protested
Barclay.
"
If
we
go
back
now
we
are
running
from
shadows.
"

             
The
interpreter,
who
had
been
looking
about
him
anxiously,
added
his
voice
to
the
Purser
'
s,
saying
suddenly,
"
This
is
not
a
good
place.
This
is
not
the
place
we
should
be,
but
the
roads
for
our
path
have
been
cut
off
for
us.
We
must
go
back
quickly.
"

             
The
night
in
the
boats
had
not
improved
Eamon
Barclay
'
s
temper.
Grudgingly
he
acceded
to
the
Purser
'
s
insistence
grumbling,
"
Oh
very
well.
Turn
about
you
fellows
and
let
'
s
get
back
the
way
we
came.
"

             
There
was
only
one
problem,
the
way
back
was
barred,
the
narrow
alleys
blocked
by
piled
goods
and
the
thoroughfare
itself
was
blocked.
Several
carts
had
"
accidentally
"
been
positioned
where
they
obstructed
passage
and
the
party
was
forced
to
make
a
detour.
A
second
blockage,
forced
another
detour
and
now
they
were
heading
away
from
the
sea
again
and
into
a
part
of
the
city
the
interpreter
seemed
very
reluctant
to
go
to.

             
Crossing
a
square,
mysteriously
devoid
of
any
other
users,
the
party
came
suddenly
face
to
face
with
a
body
of
armed
men
who
blocked
their
path.
It
was
obvious
that
more
men
stood
ready
in
the
other
exits
and
when
they
turned,
it
was
to
find
that
their
retreat
was
also
cut
off.
Calling
the
party
to
a
halt,
Barclay
said
to
the
interpreter,
"
Speak
to
them,
tell
them
we
wish
to
pass
through
and
back
to
the
ship.
"

             
The
interpreter
did
as
he
was
bid
and
a
debate
followed
between
the
leader
of
the
men
and
the
Company
'
s
man
that
went
on
for
some
time.
Barclay,
unable
to
follow
any
of
it,
became
increasingly
impatient
as
he
listened
and
the
sun
and
the
heat
in
the
square
combined
to
worsen
his
temper.

             
"
Damn
these
fellows
to
hell,
"
he
snapped.
"
The
way
to
the
ship
is
through
there.
Follow
me!
"
He
led
the
party
forward
in
a
determined
manner
toward
the
eastern
exit.
The
men
blocking
it
immediately
became
alert
and
when
Barclay
reached
their
ranks
he
snapped,
"
Stand
aside
you
oafs.
I
am
a
British
officer
–
let
me
pass
or
it
will
be
the
worse
for
you.
"
He
made
to
push
his
way
through
and
stumbled
back
quickly,
tripping
and
half
falling
as
he
bumped
into
Kemble
behind
him,
a
long
and
lethal
looking
scimitar
blade
at
his
face.

             
"
What
is
the
meaning
of
this?
"
he
blustered.
"
I
demand
you
let
us
pass.
"

             
"
No
Infidel,
"
snapped
the
leader
of
the
men.
"
You
are
our
prisoners;
you
have
no
business
in
our
city
or
in
our
land.
We
know
of
you
British
–
you
come
bearing
gifts
and
you
say
you
wish
to
trade,
but
then
you
send
armies
and
ships
like
yours.
"

             
The
party
was
now
surrounded
and
Ferghal
found
himself
confronted
by
a
swarthy
man
armed
with
pistols
and
a
fine
sword
who
seemed
intent
on
marking
him
out
as
a
piece
of
property.
Memory
of
the
fight
with
the
Corsairs
off
the
Moroccan
coast
came
swarming
back,
this
fellow
had
the
same
look
–
do
not
damage
the
merchandise,
take
it
intact.
The
athletically
built
man
said
something
to
his
companions
in
Arabic
and
the
interpreter,
next
to
Ferghal
drew
a
sharp
breath.