Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (139 page)

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The
sun
was
descending
into
the
western
sea
as
they
rolled
into
the
Guest
House
in
the
hills.
"
Not
the
fastest
mount
I
have
ever
used,
"
commented
Lieutenant
Rae
wryly
as
he
mounted
the
veranda
encircling
the
extensive
residence
set
in
magnificent
gardens.

             
Liveried
servants
hastened
to
meet
them
and
to
take
their
baggage,
then
to
provide
washing
bowels,
towels
and,
inevitably,
tea,
something
Harry
in
particular
was
coming
to
enjoy
more
than
anything
else.

             
The
sun
was
already
below
the
horizon
when
Harry
joined
Tom
Bowles,
the
Lieutenant
and
the
Parson
on
the
veranda.
Towering
clouds
around
them
could
be
seen
by
the
lightning
that
lit
their
interiors
at
regular
intervals
and
for
some
minutes
they
watched
a
particularly
dazzling
display
further
to
the
west.

             
"
Refreshed
I
trust,
Mister
Heron?
"
asked
the
Lieutenant
as
a
servant
refilled
his
glass.

             
"
Aye,
sir,
"
Harry
replied
to
the
Lieutenant.
"
It
is
cooler
here
in
the
hills,
though
I
suspect
we
will
have
an
interesting
walk
tomorrow.
I
have
learned
that
to
reach
the
caves
one
must
climb.
"

             
"
Yes,
but
there
is
a
stairway
cut
into
the
cliff,
"
Mister
Bentley
informed
them
as
Eamon
Barclay
joined
the
group.

             
He
dropped
into
a
wicker
chair
and
accepted
a
glass
from
the
waiting
servant
and
sipped
gratefully,
then
said,
"
This
is
more
like.
The
Gunroom
has
become
a
hellish
place
in
these
climes
do
you
not
agree,
Harry?
"

             
"
It
has,
"
Harry
replied
civilly,
suspicious
of
this
unusual
geniality.
He
indicated
the
approaching
storm
and
said,
"
And
this
smells
much
better
too.
"

             
Barclay
opened
his
mouth
to
speak
but
froze
as
there
was
a
brilliant
flash
and
the
thunderous
crack
as
lightning
struck
an
outcrop
less
than
fifty
yards
from
where
they
sat.
The
brilliance
of
the
stroke
blazed
in
their
eyes
long
after
the
reality
had
passed,
but
before
they
could
recover
their
voices,
the
rain
began.
At
first
a
steady
thrumming
then
the
sharper
patter
on
the
roof
and
finally
a
hammering
sound
as
the
heavens
opened
and
the
deluge
descended
while
all
around
them
lightning
played
and
thunder
rolled
to
an
increasing
crescendo.
Only
Harry
seemed
to
notice
that
Barclay
'
s
glass
lay
shattered
on
the
floor.

             
"
Worse
than
the
gundeck
in
action,
"
Harry
managed
above
the
almost
continuous
thunder.

             
Barclay
gave
him
a
sickly
grin,
"
Aye,
though
not,
I
wager,
as
dangerous.
"

             
"
I
should
take
it,
Mister
Heron,
"
said
the
lieutenant.
"
For
while
there
are
no
shot
or
splinters,
one
strike
and
we
would
all
be
no
more.
"
The
rain
began
to
ease
and
the
thunder
moved
away,
as
he
said
to
the
clergyman,
"
We
had
best
consider
carefully
before
we
set
out
tomorrow.
If
this
weather
holds,
it
may
be
that
a
visit
to
these
caves,
though
I
want
to
see
them
myself,
would
be
unwise.
The
stones
in
these
hills
seem
to
attract
the
lightning
and
the
route
to
the
caves
is
very
exposed.
"

             
Kit
Tanner
and
Dick
Peterson
joined
them
as
he
was
saying
this,
and
Peterson
said,
"
I
think
the
lightning
has
struck
a
dwelling
behind
the
house,
the
servants
seem
to
be
much
exercised
and
there
is
a
smell
of
fire.
"

             
"
I
think
he
is
right,
sir,
"
Kit
confirmed.
"
Perhaps
one
of
us
should
investigate?
"

             
"
Perhaps.
"
The
lieutenant
beckoned
to
the
hovering
servant
and
asked,
"
Has
someone
or
some
house
been
struck
by
lightning?
"

             
The
man
bowed
and
said,
"
I
do
not
know,
Sahib.
Shall
I
ask
in
the
kitchen?
"

             
"
Please
do,
"
the
lieutenant
said.
"
Go
with
him,
Dick,
and
see
what
is
afoot.
"