Deadman's Bay: The Plymouth Grey, #6

By Brian Lambert

The year is 1812. Europe is being torn up by the wars against Napoleon, the navies of independent America and britain are harassing each other in the North Atlantic, and construction of the Breakwater - the Nation's Great Endeavour - has begun in Plymouth Sound.

But the Grey, the secret group that protects Plymouth against Paranormal threats, have more important issues to deal with. One of which concerns a blue door, and the other has lots of tentacles and a bad attitude.

Alan, the leader of the Grey, has given the task of training the Kraken to the Grey's newest members - Horace (Mr Edwards) and Eugenie (Miss Hall).

Unfortunately things aren't going to plan.

When a body washes up on the shore asparking fears of a murderer on the loose in Plymouth it becomes a race against time for the Grey to deal with the monster before it kills again.

Or will they run out of chocolate first?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brian Lambert
• Release date: Oct 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781916056329

Book preview

Prologue

HORACE PEERED OVER the side of the small boat into the dark water and used his cold, dripping wet hand to shade water’s surface from the moon’s light. A wave hit the wooden side and he flinched back from the spray of salty water, feeling it hit his skin. Absent mindedly he wiped it off – he was more concerned with what he was looking for than having a wet face.

At this time of night Plymouth Sound, the enclosed stretch of water that created one of the worlds great natural harbours, was quiet. Which was precisely why Horace was out on it.

Where was it? Horace asked himself yet again, feeling the cold seep into his bones through his heavy woollen coat and tough trousers, not to mention his wet hand.

He again raised his right arm (no sense in getting both hands wet and cold) and slapped the cold water surface in a pattern of three, hoping that this time the signal would be answered.

A cold gust of wind rocked the boat and he quickly grabbed hold of the oars – he didn’t want to lose them and have to try and attract someone’s attention from one of the other boats so they could tow him back. He’d never even considered trying to swim for the shore – putting aside the effluent from Plymouth’s citizens flowing into the Sound, he knew very well what lived under the water, having put it there himself.

Should we try the bait? came a female voice from behind him.

He looked back to see Eugenie, another member of the Grey, leaning over the other side of the boat and similarly using a hand to shade the black water’s surface. From the amount of clothing she wore she just looked like an anonymous blob in the darkness.

He gave an annoyed humph! guessing that she’d not hear it through the large woollen hat holding her dark black hair at bay. Bait! It wasn’t like he wanted to catch it. He doubted that even the most adventurous thrill seeker would actually want to catch it. It was more of a reward for coming to them when called. And possibly for not eating them when it arrived.

Why did he have to take her with him? Oh yes, because he’d been told to. And if there was something Horace was good at, it was following orders.

But was that why it wasn’t showing up? Because it didn’t know someone in the boat with him?

Too many questions, and not enough answers.

But did she have a good idea? Or would they just waste what they’d brought out into the Sound with them? He wouldn’t want to be around if it could taste it in the water but wasn’t able to eat any.

He glanced down into the darkness in the bottom of the boat where he knew a small hessian sack sat in a wicker basket. In ordinary times it’s contents would be hard enough to come by, but during the wars against Napoleon? It was just through various, and not altogether wholesome, contacts that they’d managed to keep their supply stocked. And it was possibly of national importance that they did. But just try telling that to the customs officers.

He looked back into the dark water hoping to see something, anything.

But nothing.

He’d try once again. And if it didn’t appear he’d use the bait. Although it wasn’t really bait.

A sudden thought came to him – maybe it was playing with him? Maybe it was deliberately staying away? But why?

Oh sweet Mary, what if it found another one? And they were busy creating even more?

Realising that he was thinking too much he took a deep breath and put the chilling thought to one side. Once more he reached out over the side and quickly slapped the water’s surface three times.

Sitting back he dried his cold, wet hand as best he could on his thick trousers to await results. In the distance the lights of Plymouth glowed softly in the darkness, faint grey smoke from the chimneys quickly blew away in the cold breeze. He reckoned that this was probably the nicest time to see it – you couldn’t see any of the nastiness, the pain, the squalor, that was present in any large concentration of humanity. Unbidden his mind went back a few years to the execution of the Citadel mutineers on the Hoe, and the large crowd that watched.

Closer to them, although thankfully not too close, were many Royal Navy ships sheltering in the calmer waters of the Sound. He reckoned when the Breakwater was finished it’d be an even more popular harbour. He knew around the corner, further up the Tamar, were the hulks of old ships holding French prisoners of war.

A thump vibrated through the boat’s hull quickly dragging his thoughts back to the present.

He glanced back at Eugenie and met her eyes looking at him. So it wasn’t his imagination.

Splash!

He jerked round at the sound just in time to see a blur of motion in the darkness and then something landed in the bottom of the boat with a heavy thump!

After they’d both regained their composure slightly, she asked, What’s that?

Open your dark lantern a touch, he replied, not voicing what he thought it might be.

She glanced around the side of the boat first and then reached over to the covered lantern by her feet. Slowly opening one of the metal shutters on it revealed the severed head of a dolphin, its lifeless eyes open and seawater running off its smooth skin into the bottom of the boat. In the dim light he could just make out ragged circular markings on its skin. A bloody mess revealed where it had been removed from the rest of its body.

Why would it do that? she asked, her voice not showing any signs of discomfort at the sight. It wasn’t as if they’d not seen worse so far in their short time with the Grey.

Horace was saved from voicing his thoughts when the boat tipped slightly as dark suckered tentacles the diameter of his forearm slithered over the side. He moved slightly away from them now knowing that they were able to catch and hold a dolphin, as well as tearing it apart.

Carefully he peered out over the side to see an eye as large as an orange blink back at him.

It means its happy that I– he quickly corrected himself, "we’re here. I believe that now would be a good time to give it the chocolate."

Part One

Chapter 1

SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH Plymouth Hoe, in a room with what felt like too many walls, Horace and Eugenie warmed their backs in front of the large fire. Gaslights on the walls gave the room and beamed wooden ceiling a warm glow. Tables around the walls surrounded the room with various pieces of equipment lying on top – parts of a rifle lay upon one, another held test-tubes and strangely-shaped glassware with coloured liquids inside. Against one wall was an oven, with a recently boiled kettle slowly cooling on top of the hob.

The sounds of Lorenzo practising his swordsmanship came through a door that led to the armoury to their left. Even without looking at her Horace could tell that Eugenie was distracted by the thought of seeing the sweat running off the Spaniard’s bare chest. He supposed that it was natural for a young woman to think of such things. But did she have to be so obvious about it?

In front of them Alan, the current leader of the Grey, sat in a comfy sofa politely giving them time to warm up by reading a newspaper. As ever the headlines were about the ongoing wars against Napoleon’s forces in Europe, not forgetting the new American one. The only things visible above the newspaper were his slicked down dark hair and puffs of smoke from his favourite pipe.

Judging that they were now warm enough Alan folded the paper up with a rustle, revealing the rest of his black-bearded face, and fixed Horace with a beady eye.

Horace quickly nudged Eugenie to remind her that her mind and not just her body was also required to be present.

Leaning over, Alan placed the folded up newspaper on the short table in front of him, then with a deft movement of the pipe to one side of his mouth indicated with a hand the paper’s headlines, and said in a deep Scottish burr, I feel for the poor unfortunates caught up in the strife in our European neighbours.

Horace wasn’t sure if that was a question or a comment he could ignore, so he glanced over to Eugenie in case she wanted to say anything in response. But no, he could tell that her mind was still in the room next door.

Mister Edwards, how is the beastie doing?

Ah, this he could deal with. Well I believe. It’s certainly able to feed itself now, he replied, remembering the sight of the dolphin’s head. He was also quite relieved he wouldn’t need to ferry the remains of dead animals into the Sound any more to feed it. Whether the smell would be able to be removed from his clothes was a different matter. Perhaps he should just give up and buy a new wardrobe?

Alan’s eyes then flicked over to Eugenie. Horace risked a quick glance and knew she still thought of the person next door.

Miss Hall? Your thoughts?

Not thinking she was taking any notice he was surprised when she brushed her long dark black hair behind an ear and said, Are you aware how dangerous that creature is?

Horace’s heart sank. It wasn’t their place to question decisions that had already been made. Just to carry them out.

Yes, I do. It’s why we’re using it. Your meaning? Alan’s voice was level. Horace felt it dangerously so.

At that moment Lorenzo emerged from the armoury, buttoning up a white shirt to cover the yellow crystal on a chain around his neck, and his chest. Um, Eugenie said, suddenly distracted by the sight.

Horace saw a fleeting smile on Alan’s face at Eugenie’s actions before he nodded a greeting to the Spaniard.

Miss Hall, Mister Edwards, Lorenzo cordially greeted the two newest members of the Grey as he walked past to another door which he closed behind him.

Whatever was in his accent completely passed Horace by but seemed to anchor itself squarely into Eugenie as she suddenly jerked into motion as if to follow him. In fact it was only Horace’s quick grab of her arm that prevented her from leaving the warmth of the fire and Alan’s questioning of them.

With an annoyed look Eugenie shook his hand off and turned back to Alan. I feel it is quite irresponsible having such a dangerous animal in the Sound so close to potential victims in the boats above it and to Plymouth’s general population.

Horace held his breath. He’d never have dared speak to Alan that way and slowly began to move away from her proximity and, unfortunately, the warmth of the fire.

Your objection is noted, Miss Hall. Your thoughts, Mister Edwards?

Horace suddenly stopped dead as his stomach felt like a lump of lead, I... er.

What could he say? That he got the strange feeling that it liked him? Maybe because he was normally the one to give it chocolate? But the dolphin’s head possibly meant the situation had changed. Previously it had been the odd fish. Maybe a crab. Once even an old rusted musket it’d found somewhere. But a fast swimming dolphin? That was quite something for it to catch. Unfortunately he had no idea if that was normal for such a creature at this stage in its life-cycle, and he didn’t know if there was anyone he could ask. Alive, or otherwise.

And as for why it somehow felt he’d like to have its head? He inwardly shuddered. I’ll be glad when its gone, he said, mostly to himself.

Alan nodded, I agree. Horace released a quiet sigh of relief, but then his heart fell again as Alan continued, But events mean that we must deal with it, and make use of it if necessary. To that end, I place both of you in charge of its continued training.

Horace looked at Alan in surprise. Both of them? But he’d been the one to get hold of the egg from which it’d hatched. And all those nights looking after it, getting his fingers nipped as he fed it, making sure it didn’t die. Getting its new home ready in the Sound.

But then...

Maybe it wouldn’t be so interested in him?

Maybe it would start giving Eugenie presents?

This could be good news.

Alan interrupted his thoughts, Miss Hall mentioned something about a dolphin?

"Yes, it caught a dolphin for food. And gave... er, us, the head."

So it’s time to teach it about boats.

It probably knows about boats, Alan, replied Eugenie, self-importantly.

Alan’s grey-blue eyes held hers. To get through their hulls so as to scuttle them.

Oh.

It’s a working animal, Miss Hall, like a cow, or goat, or horse. It’s got unique talents that we are wont to make use of.

To take lives.

Yes, where necessary. Do you happen to have a problem with that?

Eugenie was quiet, and Horace wondered if she’d give an answer.

No, she eventually said.

Good. It’s late and sleep is called for. Begin the additional training tomorrow.

Yes, both Horace and Eugenie replied, as Horace managed to stifle a yawn.

Chapter 2

ON HIS WALK DOWN THE tunnel whose exit was closest to his home Horace pondered how he and Eugenie could begin training the beast to scuttle boats. Ideally not the one they would be in. While passing through the tunnel’s strange cold section he also wondered how they could incorporate bigger