A Dangerous Energy Read online

  Fortunately, Paxton felt somewhat slighted by the undue harassment of his protégé and despatched a furious defence of the magician together with a request for Lord Waith to exercise his power to rectify the situation. Lord John had never had too high an opinion of academics in general and Rugby University in particular; and, too, he sensed a vague attack on his own name. He reacted by broadcasting his faith in his magician in no uncertain terms. And the strength of his desire to hear no more of this ‘ludicrous and exaggerated incident’.

  Goring had bitten off an overlarge mouthful and there the matter should have ended. But Phillip had very different ideas.

  Tobias was not inspired to cooperate solely out of friendship, but he was anxious to secure Phillip’s trust and gratitude in connection with several loose threads and plans that were coming together admirably. There was a risk of course, but it was mostly on Phillip’s part. If Professor Goring met a suspicious end, attention would naturally focus on Phillip, but suspicion could mount to whatever improbable levels it liked as long as nothing was provable. This last factor was to be the subject of many long discussions between the two magicians until, at length, they felt they had a scheme which was as safe as thought could make it.

  One thing that Tobias had not mentioned was the personal motive that had tipped the balance towards his participation. He had frequent dealings with the university; he lectured there as often as twice a week and once he had been introduced to Professor Goring who was drunk at midday. Tobias’ friendly greeting had been met with a sneer and a snub. In the normal order of things he would have done nothing about this, but he was not the type to forget it.

  Goring had made one enemy too many at last, but he remained blissfully unaware of the dark clouds edging into view. A blackness of his own creation was sweeping in towards him; perhaps unlikely tools of divine justice were being manipulated. At any rate the black would shortly cover him and when it moved on he would no longer be there.

  It was no armchair summoning. Tobias and Phillip stood in a large and particularly detailed pentagram in Phillip’s room at the Castle. Chitty had spent nearly two hours drawing the design according to a pattern Tobias had given him and, even then, Curate Oakley insisted on spending twenty minutes or more checking its every detail. The door was locked and only then were the candles lit and the final preparations made.

  Together they recited the spell of preparation. Only Tobias had the specific demonological version of this but their joint effort was sufficient. Straightaway, the sixth sense that constituted their ‘talent’ informed them that they had been heard and that something was stirring in response.

  Bellaston answered the call. He walked down the moorland path, from his town, taking several minutes, but at length his sallow and sullen face was peering into the room.

  ‘Oh, hello – it’s you is it?’ The demon looked down and critically surveyed the pentagram. ‘You’ve been studying since we last met, I see.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Tobias. ‘At any rate I still have need of you.’

  ‘But,’ interrupted Bellaston, ‘I thought that at our last encounter you had sworn to release and renounce me for ever?’

  ‘I know the ancient bargain better now. Don’t prevaricate and waste time – you know what we have for you. Now listen to what we want you to do – ’

  Chitty spoke for the first time. ‘Proceed to the apartment of Professor Goring of University College, Rugby, England, where a party is in progress. Kill all there save Goring himself – do not harm him in any way. Then depart the scene but maintain the bridge. When we have finished our part of the business, you may return for your reward.’

  Bellaston stared at the pentagram again as if unconvinced. ‘Very well; I have little choice.’ At which, he turned his back to them and drew the blade of his sword-stick.

  Phillip and Tobias tensed.

  Quite abruptly the scene through the chalk window changed. Instead of the desolate moor, there appeared a small dining-room where a noisy meal was in progress. Goring was there as well as three undergraduates from The Beau Monde in the garish frock-coats the group affected. A serving-maid had just entered the room with a decanter and apparently a very convivial evening was under way. To the startled Goring, it seemed as if an assailant had walked through the wall, but on closer inspection he could see an inexplicable ‘hole’. Through it, he could see another room which should not have been there and, worse still, two grim figures who, without hyperbole, had death in their eyes. Two of the students had their backs to the wall and one died, thrust through, before he knew anything was amiss.

  Meanwhile, Tobias and Chitty were busy. Tobias seized Goring’s mind with a spell and held him absolutely rigid; the professor could not move anymore than to blink in terror. It could have been a fair fight between opposing forces, but Goring’s mind had been weakened by years of self-indulgence and unhealthy ponderings. Tobias’ will was iron-strong and Goring’s had but the strength of a child.

  Tobias immediately appreciated his total victory and smiled at the victim. At the same time Phillip gestured wildly and cast a spell of silence. Backed by his anger and resentment, it was a strong enchantment and so the slaughter proceeded in absolute quiet – mouths opened to scream or protest, but no sound emerged. Both magicians hoped no one else in the house would notice the sudden quiet from the dinner party.

  Bellaston was quick about his work as he killed the students and the maid. They fought and ran to no result, the brief resistance served only to wreak silent havoc on the furnishings. The demon straightened up from despatching the young girl and looked at Tobias. ‘I will be back shortly,’ he said and disappeared.

  Phillip broke the silence spell, took a deep breath and bent his will to reinforce the spell on Goring.

  Like a reluctant marionette, the professor began to move at the behest of two magicians of very high standard. Tobias and Phillip grinned in triumph at the unfortunate man in the last stage of fear. It was this sight, of two merciless faces, that he was to carry with him into the grave. First he walked stiff-legged to a chest of drawers in one corner, from which he took a sheet of writing paper and a fountain pen. He was made to sit down at the table. Here he gained second strength and resisted in earnest; beads of perspiration broke out on the magicians’ brows but they were still more than equal to their task. Goring wrote and then, helpless as the magicians made a final effort, he snatched up a table knife and planted it firmly into his abdomen. He was crying and obviously in enormous pain but still he could not speak. Phillip seemed minded to spin out this entertainment but Tobias made it clear that a speedy end was needed. Goring accordingly took the knife in both hands, pulled it up in the wound and thereby died. He fell forward on to the table in a pool of gore which mixed most distastefully with the scattered food.

  The spell was ended and Phillip and Tobias knelt briefly to regain their breath. A mere moment later, judging themselves sufficiently resolved, they arose to implement the final and, from Phillip’s point of view, the most dangerous stage of their plan.

  Tobias held himself ready to launch counter-measures should Bellaston unexpectedly return or someone enter the scene of carnage.

  Phillip picked up a bundle from beside his feet, hurriedly left the pentagram and via the magical window he climbed into Goring’s room. There he unwrapped his package and took out a sword-stick that was a passable copy of that wielded by the demon. He thrust this into each of the students, and the maid, and then laid it on the table by the professor. The other item in the package was a small wooden box containing a moderate quantity of adulterated opium. He found a clean saucer and put some of the powder in it; this he left by the suicide note.

  The room now contained everything necessary to tell a story which despite being astounding was far more credible than the truth.

  Phillip regained the safety of the pentagram with the empty bundle.

  Swiftly Tobias summoned the demon again and, as if impatient, Bellaston reappeared instantly. His backg
round was the moor at dusk again.

  ‘Did you enjoy yourself?’ asked the demon.

  ‘Yes, very much,’ said Phillip. He felt relieved now the path to the murder room was sealed. In one sense they were safe.

  ‘No time for talk – take your present and depart.’ This was Tobias, who knew their work was far from over. He stooped and picked up the remaining parcel lying within the pentagram. It was a babe in swaddling, a few weeks old, and fast asleep – having been liberally dosed with laudanum ever since Phillip had smuggled it into the Castle. Chitty had bought the infant from a drab in one of the crowded tenements of Rugby’s slums for a few pounds and such was the value of life in such quarters that it had been a matter of the utmost ease.

  Tobias lightly tossed the bundle through the window and Bellaston just as lightly caught it.

  ‘Begone, Bellaston.’ He had no wish to see what would happen. With Phillip, he recited a spell of dismissal and the wall became comfortingly blank again. It was almost over.

  There was no time for rest; as previously agreed, Phillip was to proceed to see Lord Waith who was in residence again and thereby establish an unassailable alibi for most of the evening.

  Tobias would hurriedly clear up and then meet Haraldsson with whom he would play chess all evening and so have some form of defence should suspicion unaccountably fall upon him.

  Even the most hostile examiner would have to admit that it was impossible to be involved in what was obviously a drug-induced massacre and suicide some three quarters of a mile away and be at the socially impeccable Castle community within two minutes of the time the tragic event would be presumed to have taken place. Suspicions would doubtless abound but, lacking substance and roots, would, like everything else in its good time, pass.

  Tobias merely felt the ‘nothing’ that was increasingly his companion these days, but Phillip hurrying to his alibi felt impelled to find time to turn and say, ‘You know, I’ve got to admit it – that was more deeply and honestly satisfying than having a duchess.’

  Concerning which Tobias was lost for comment.

  CHAPTER 8

  In which our hero receives help from the friend that he helped, and a problem is solved satisfactorily.

  On the 14th of May 1983 Tobias had occasion to call upon Phillip’s apartment about business that he considered as important as Chitty in turn had considered his own request for revenge. In the last four weeks they had deliberately eschewed each other’s company so as to deny suspicious minds food for thought. Now, however, it seemed as if the storm had passed. The town coroner had ruled the Goring case closed when the highly entertained jury had returned a verdict of suicide and manslaughter committed while in a state of diminished responsibility. More astute and enquiring minds found themselves less convinced by the ‘facts’ of the case but the simple truth was that the late and little-lamented Professor Goring lacked any true friends to investigate or revenge his death. In short, Tobias had been lucky again and Phillip was in the clear.

  A new problem was requiring pressing treatment and Tobias sought to draw upon the balance of gratitude. So, over a decanter of brandy, he and his friend set to hard talking, although the gravity of the discussion only gradually became clear to Phillip.

  ‘You’ve always desired Diane haven’t you?’

  Chitty ceased toying with the lace of his cuffs. ‘Oh lor, you’ve not decided to take offence have you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘How would you like to have her?’

  Phillip was more or less shameless. ‘A hell of a lot, when …’ There was a hesitant pause as his enthusiasm died down. ‘ … and the catch is?’

  ‘She’s three months or so pregnant.’

  ‘Oh.’

  Phillip decided to fight for time while he thought. ‘You used the normal contraceptive spells?’

  ‘Of course, but as you know none of them guarantee certainty. It certainly is my child, though. I know she’s not been unfaithful to me.’

  ‘You trust her?’

  ‘Yes – but I checked as well.’

  ‘Just as well, I suppose.’

  ‘A summoning confirmed to me that it’s mine; it’s going to be a boy and will arrive in October.’

  ‘How about abortion?’

  ‘Firstly, Diane would not agree’ – here Phillip shrugged his shoulders in a dismissive gesture – ‘and secondly I’m not prepared to let her run the risk of injury and infection among ham-fisted abortionists.’

  ‘You’re being sentimental, Tobias.’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘And you’re asking me to take her over for you and claim the child as mine?’

  ‘Precisely.’

  ‘You’re asking a lot.’

  ‘I know, Phillip – and there’s little I can offer you in return except for the enjoyment of Di for a few months, so really I’m appealing to your friendship. The point is that I want Diane to be looked after by someone I can trust and I want her to be able to keep the baby, for that’s what she wants. So what we need is an acknowledged father; it can’t be me because of what I am. Not only that, but I also need someone who is going to be around a few years to look after her and see her parents or whoever don’t prise the babe off her. I’ll supply funds to you to keep them and as an initial gesture you can have my stock of opiates for resale – about two hundred pounds’ worth, so you’re not going to lose financially. I become a full priest in a year’s time or so; soon after I’ll rise in position so that I’ll be able to send for her and the child. We’ll be above, in hierarchical terms that is, any moral reproach and I can have as many “nephews” and “nieces” as any other Doctor of Thaumaturgy, or Bishop. You see my plan?’

  ‘It won’t help my position in the Castle very much.’

  ‘Does that worry you?’

  Phillip considered and shortly decided.

  ‘Tobias, my dear friend, I owe you a great deal – you rendered me a great service, at risk to yourself when you needn’t have done so. If I refused you this I would be a bigger bastard than I’m assured I am. I’ll do it gladly.’

  ‘Undying thanks, Phillip, I always assumed you would.’

  ‘And knowing you, you’ve already worked out the means of effecting this transfer, haven’t you?’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’

  ‘Well?’

  ‘Here is the opium for starters and there’s a list inside the box of the people who require supply. There’ll be no difficulty as we’ve got a small and discreet circle of about four wealthy addicts – very secure. Also here is a letter to Diane in which I explain what we’ve agreed upon today. Show it to her when she’s brought to you.’

  ‘Suppose there’s a little difficulty, shall we say, in actually persuading her to join my retinue?’

  ‘There won’t be. I know her well, and there’s a “crusade” spell in my repertoire. She’ll do precisely as she’s ordered for about four hours; after that she’ll accept the inevitable – believe me, I know her.’

  ‘I’d hate to have you as an enemy, Tobias.’

  ‘You’re impressed?’

  ‘Very.’

  They refilled their glasses and Phillip rather dramatically proposed a toast. ‘To a mutually satisfying agreement.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ echoed Tobias with a broad smile.

  And thus all the loose threads and plans were joined at that moment, leaving Tobias outside, free, safe and victorious.

  That very evening, Diane French was led zombie-like to Phillip’s rooms and there embarked upon the first night of her new career.

  Tobias, upon returning home, could not deny himself a small private celebration to underline his deep satisfaction at the fruition of all his intrigues, and so he opened a bottle of an expensive Scottish single malt.

  As he sat in his study, he considered the sum of things. It was true he had lost a girl who was honest and honourable, who had many uses and whom he rather liked, but on the other hand many problems were thereby res
olved. His progress to priesthood was now unthreatened; the path was clear again.

  For a year he would keep his bargain and see that his son and Diane were provided for; but after that he intended to be free again and they could look for him in vain. Tobias’ letter to Diane admitting parenthood would be of no avail to Phillip for it was typed and unsigned. The same applied to the list of opium addicts.

  All in all he thought he had handled matters particularly well. Once, he remembered, he had vowed to abandon Miss French in a gentle manner even if inconvenient to himself, but now he felt forced to behave otherwise. Adverse circumstance was the only wind strong enough to propel Tobias’ ship of state. If he felt any unease at all, a black-fletched arrow was facing him to show how stupid that was.

  And the next day Mrs Coley was told that Miss French no longer had right of entrance to the house, nor was she to accept any correspondence from her. And so when Diane duly made her arrival in the afternoon she found the fort barred against her. Tobias happened to be in his study at the time and heard the indefatigable Mrs Coley take charge. What a pity, he thought, that his spells and charms against conception should have proven fallible – perhaps they were capable of improvement in some way and he wholeheartedly researched the problem for the remainder of the day.

  On the 7th of October in the year of our Lord, 1983, Tobias became the father of a fine, healthy son who was already a good image of his sire. Even more unfortunately, inspired by Diane’s memories and Phillip’s perverse sense of humour, the baby was subsequently christened Tobias, ‘in honour of a friend of the family’. As luck would have it, Curate Oakley was not called upon to preside at the christening.

  And in December 1983 Diane fell or leapt from a third-storey window in her parents’ home and died instantly; and thus Tobias’ final betrayal of her and Phillip was never put into execution. The child, aptly enough, was placed into Church care and soon passed out of Tobias’ knowledge for ever. The opprobrium attached to Phillip’s name and the sympathy extended to Diane’s memory in popular opinion was soon dispelled – although Chitty’s absolution was somewhat arduous.