ORK (Part Three) by Richard Wells

(See July 21^st for Ork Part 1, and 8^th September for Part 2.)

The horses slip and slide down the wet hillside towards Ork’s house.

The two men dismount unhurriedly. Ork watches them carefully, uncertain of what he can do to save himself if they have harmful intent. They keep their distance and the taller man speaks in a strange accent which Ork fails to recognise. He has to ask the man to repeat his question.

 “I am Ork. I am the printer.” He sees no point in denying it. “How do you want me to help you?” He addresses the taller man, but it is the short squat man who answers.

 “You misunderstand. It is we who can help you.” His face twitches as he hears a shout from the shed and Ork quickly explains about the sins of his former apprentice. “Perhaps it would be better if your sinner doesn’t overhear our conversation. We shall leave now.”

+ + +

Riding two on a horse is never satisfactory – for men or horse. Digger runs between the two mounts, confused by Victor’s absence. Ork’s hunger hits him as they descend the wooded valley to the stone bridge. The cart is on its side, its precious cargo strewn across the river bank, no sign of Jonas or Victor.

The three men heave the cart back onto its wheels and laboriously load the pamphlets, bundle by bundle. Digger sniffs the churned mud, whines and pads slowly away to the trees.

The smaller man tells Ork he’s lucky. Had they been staunch loyalists, he would have been on a treason charge. But he and his comrade have no truck with such out of date thinking.

 “We must learn from the French. When we saw your over-turned wagon and stopped to read your handiwork, we knew we could count on you. You will of course want to come with us.”

Ork takes in the speaker’s subtle change of tone, an order not a request. He’s come across their views before, but they are not his. He wonders how they were able to track him down and worries about Jonas’ fate.

Digger’s sudden barking distracts him. Ork walks into the copse, feeling the eyes of both men on his back, as they follow. He discovers Victor tethered to a birch sapling.

“That was well found. Bring him, he can pull the cart.” Another order.

Ork guides the cart skilfully around the muddy morass and over the packhorse bridge. He follows his captors as they make their way east, smoking and jesting. Ork thinks of his wife’s letter. Is there a chance she’ll be freed shortly? He blames himself for her incarceration. If he hadn’t been away from home that day…

The men hide their muskets under the tarpaulin, well out of his reach and take on an air of normality as they reach the edge of the town. Ork has seldom visited this place, but the men seem to know it well and are greeted by some of the townsfolk as they ride by.

Horse and cart enter the stable. Ork jumps down and is immediately seized by the two men and led to a room at the rear, dominated by a printing press.

“We have work for you to do” the smaller man says in a low voice.

It’s only then Ork realises that Digger is missing.

(To be concluded in Part 4.)