AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Raising my hand, I knocked against the roof of the chaise.
‘Driver?’
He turned around to face me.
‘Yes, Sir?’
A strange feeling ran through me at having somebody else call me ‘Sir’ - the same hated respectful address I had been forced to give Mr Ambrose day after day, week after week. I felt a surge of power rush through me at hearing the word.
‘Do you know St James’s Square?’ I yelled over the rushing wind.
‘Yes!’
‘Take us there. I can find my way from there.’
‘Yes, Sir!’
He turned towards the street again, and I settled back into the seat, a contented smile on my face. Napoleon nodded at me, approvingly.
Not long after, the chaise began to slow down, and we then came to a halt. Looking out of the window, I saw the familiar three- and four-story houses around St James’s Square, looming up out of the darkness. Only in a few windows was light still visible.
I turned to Mr Ambrose.
‘Well… I guess that was it, then,’ I mumbled.
Silence.
‘I don't suppose you want to congratulate me on my excellent work? You know, finding the place where the file is for you, and all that?’
More silence.
‘That’s what I thought.’ Sighing, I pushed the door open and clambered out of the carriage. I was careful when I set my foot on the cobblestones of the square. St James’s was familiar, a friend - completely unlike the floor in Mr Ambrose’s office. Still, you never knew. Tonight, all flat surfaces seemed to have it in for me.
I already wanted to walk away, but then I hesitated one final time.
‘Mr Ambrose?’
Silence.
‘Good night, Si-’
‘Driver!’ he cut me off. ‘Get moving!’
Behind me, the whip cracked, the grey horse whinnied. I jumped out of the way, just in time to avoid getting sprayed by the chaise as it drove through a puddle. It raced across the empty square and out of sight as it plunged into the darkness of nocturnal London.
*~*~**~*~*
Said darkness of nocturnal London proved a not inconsiderable hindrance in reaching my uncle’s house. It wasn’t far away, of course - most of the streets were lit by gas lanterns and I knew the area well - but I had never considered how different things might look at night. For example, there were all those pretty lights dancing in the air around me. Were they there every night? If so, I should be out this late more often. London seemed much more interesting at nighttime.
There was a strange pounding in my ears, getting louder as I stumbled forward. It was probably Napoleon and a regiment of cavalry, riding off to conquer the world. Oh well, I wished him luck with all my heart. I probably had to abandon that particular project. I felt so tired… Conquering all the world seemed too exhausting an idea.
Maybe you could take over just half the world? Or only Eurasia?
Yes, that sounded acceptable. But the rest would have to wait until tomorrow.
Finally, I found my way to the little wooden door in the wall surrounding my uncle’s back garden. After some groping around in my pockets, I managed to unearth the key and insert it into the one of the three fuzzy-looking locks that proved most substantial. Safe inside the garden, out of sight of prying eyes, I slipped into the shed and changed my clothes. Taking the garden ladder with me, I approached the window, gazing up at the mountainous height I had to climb.
Ha! I would climb this peak! And if I was going to perish like all the brave explorers before me, who had boldly ventured where no man (or woman!) had gone before, then so be it! I had been planning on conquering the world, after all. Climbing a ladder would be easy.
