The Midnight Man by Paul Doherty Page B

others walked beside or behind them. Steven glanced at Beauchamp. The clerk seemed unmoved by all this, walking purposefully, cloak thrown back, hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
    They entered the shadowy precincts of the great abbey church. Stephen glanced up and flinched at a massive gargoyle face glaring down at him from a cornice, a fierce dragon with scaly bat-like wings and a monstrous head, its clawed feet brought up as if ready to spring. Other stone faces glowered at him from pillars, sills, corners and ledges: grinning apes, fierce lions or rearing centaurs. A lay brother met them at the west door. As they turned into the cloisters, Stephen glimpsed the windows of the crypt; the lay brother, mumbling to himself, led them straight to that underground chamber. He unlocked an oaken door; black with age and studded with iron, it creaked open. The flaring sconce torch just inside leapt in the draught as if fiercely greeting them. The monk took this from its holder and handed it to Anselm.
    â€˜Brother,’ his face creased in a fearful smile, ‘everything is ready below. This is as far as I go. The cloisters are empty. Father Abbot wishes it so but,’ he pointed towards the nearby pyx chamber, ‘if you need help there is a bell. As I said, the cloisters are empty, at least of the living.’ The lay brother bowed and padded off into the darkness.
    â€˜Sir Miles.’ Anselm raised the torch a little higher to throw light on that enigmatic royal clerk, standing deliberately in the darkness. Stephen couldn’t decide if the clerk was fearful or just a cynical observer of all that was happening.
    â€˜Sir Miles,’ Anselm repeated, ‘you need come no further. We will be safe.’
    â€˜I could stay and keep watch with you?’
    â€˜No, if need be we will ask.’ Anselm sketched a blessing in the air. ‘You will stay where?’
    â€˜In the guest house.’ The clerk smiled and walked away in a clatter of high-heeled boots and the jingle of silver-edged spurs.
    â€˜
Et tenebrae facta
,’ Anselm whispered, watching him go, ‘and darkness fell. Come, Stephen.’
    They moved on to the spiral staircase. Anselm closed the door behind them. They continued down, clutching the wall. Anselm paused. ‘The steps here are wooden,’ he explained. ‘Another protection when the jewels were stored here. These steps were usually taken away to create a wide gap, a sure hindrance, or trap, for any would-be thief.’
    They stepped on to the wooden casings which bent sharply under their weight. Stephen fought to control his fear. The wooden boards also created a noisy clatter which seemed to fill the iron-stoned, sombre stairwell. They continued down, the fiery cressets making the shadow dance. The air grew chilly and slightly musty. Stephen sensed they were not alone. Shadows flittered before them along the winding staircase. A gossiping voice rose and fell. Something brushed the back of Stephen’s hand. He was gently jostled and slipped a foot. He steadied himself and thought of Alice, her face summer-warm, full lips firm against his, and he desperately wished to be with her. He would love to be sitting in a garden or some cheery taproom staring into those laughing eyes. Instead he was here in this ice-cold tomb, ghosts bustling around him, the crypt opening up like some greedy mouth ready to devour him.
    â€˜Leave us!’ a voice spat.
    Stephen paused at the clang of iron against stone, as if someone below was picking at the walls or floor.
    â€˜Ignore it, Stephen,’ Anselm warned.
    They reached the bottom. Torches, candles and oil lamps glowed. The crypt, buried deep beneath the chapter house above, was octagonal in shape, about four yards in width. The only natural light was provided by six windows set at ground level with chamfered jambs and square heads. Deep recesses swept up to the windows, the jambs being set back at least two yards from