The Great Cheese Caper: Moving the Cargo

The moon was just showing through the clouds when three small shadows drifted over to the adventurer’s airship. Sigmund squeaks at Captain Firecrest as he worked on securing the crates of cheese.
“psstt!” came a loud whisper, “Mr Firecrest we’s here!” The boys waited by the gangplank, knowing not to to board a ship without an invitation, at least when there was someone on board….

Russell leant over the side of the ship and saw the urchins waiting below. He glanced around for anyone watching “You’d better come aboard.”

“ello, this is Billy,” Tepic paused as his second companion wiped his nose on a grimy sleeve, “an this is Snotty Charlie, yer met em this afternoon.” The boys trooped aboard, Tepic’s two sidekicks going to the front of the ship, leaning over and admiring her lines while their leader stood beside the Captain.

Mr Firecrest nodded “Yes indeed.” He looked at the two lads “Help stow these crates will you?”

“Hop to it lads,” the fox boy commanded, “an don’t drop em, or we’ll be lookin fer yer bits fer weeks!”

The adventurer smiled as Sigmund squeaked from the rigging above.

“Me an Mr Firecrest has important stuff ter discuss, like the best route ter the Wall.”

“Yes. Let’s figure that out.”

The lad pondered for a moment, then said “how bout we head out ter sea, like we’s off on an adventure, then circle back an come in low from the East…”

“Good plan.” Firecrest replied “Don’t want anyone to figure out what we’re up to.”

“if’n we drop just enogh ballast, we can come up level with the Wall an still be behind the building that’s on top just there..” Tepic suggested. “Anchor the ship, throw over a plank, an walk the crates straight inter the building an down ter the lower levels…”

“Can your chaps move them while I keep her steady?”

“Sure, though once we got em stowed, ye’d best come an see where they is….”

“Yes, I’ll need to land the Albatross out of sight.”  Russell answered and called for Sigmund to inflate the balloon.

The boys, having finished stowing the crates, came back on deck and took up post by the bow, taking on their most heroic Air Pirate stances.

Captain Firecrest smiled at the lads and prepared the ship for flight. The Albatross took to the air and floated out over the sea. The ship hovered out of sight of the city and sea fort, then turned and headed Eastwards along the coast. Russell lowered the ships altitude until she was almost skimming the surf and slowly approached the wall of Clockhaven. Sigmund carefully adjust the balloon to keep them just above the water.

“Lift us up ter just by the buildin, Mr Firecrest, keepin it between us an the City!” Tepic piped up as they reached the Wall.

The captain carefully manoeuvred his ship into position.

“Right lads, run out the plank an let’s get this cheese under cover!” yelled the fox boy as the ship steadied. The three sprang into action, lashing the plank in place, then down into the hold to bring the crates up. Somehow, they managed to shift all the crates into the building safely, despite at least one of them running around the two who were carrying, seemingly to switch places without dropping anything. Russell watched them with fascination.

Once the last crate was under cover, the boys lined up on the Wall’s edge.

“We can take it from here, Mr Firecrest, if’n yer want ter get yer ship tucked away before the first smugglin ship arrives?” Tepic asked.

“I’d like to keep my eyes on my investment if you don’t mind.” replied the captain.

“No problems, this way!” the lad spoke out, beckoning the man to follow them.

Firecrest looked up at Sigmund, who climbed down from the rigging and took the helm. Russell strode over the gang plank and unfastened the ropes holding it in place. He watched for a moment as his furry copilot flew the Albatross away out of sight.

Inside the building it was dry and airy, despite the gloom. Tepic opened a dark lantern to show a set of stairs leading down into the body of the wall. Russell followed the young fox boy as his cohorts picked up the first crate, carefully making their way down, keeping in close contact with the others. The steps were easy to go down, obviously designed for cargo to be moved, very unlike the stairs within older fortifications. Mr Firecrest watched his footing and tried to keep track of the direction they were taking.

As they turned the last corner before reaching a long tunnel running into the distance the light level increased, and it could be seen there were oil lamps set in the wall at regular intervals. A darkness by each lamp suggested there were alcoves or rooms set into the wall, but instead of stopping the boys turned and started down another set of stairs.

“we’s two more level’s down, cus we need ter keep this stuff cool..” whispered Tepic.

Russell placed a hand on the pistol attached to his belt and looked around uneasily.

The stairs opened onto a level much like the one above, though with lighting only a short distance along, after which there was a blackness that seemed to swallow the eye. So far there had been no sign of life, but as they took the next set of stairs, there was the unmistakable sound of someone coming up towards them. The captain gripped the handle of his pistol and motioned the two lads with the crate to halt.

The boys stepped to the side, leaving half the stairs free and Tepic walked down a few more steps, sweeping his dark lantern over the space below them.

Russell drew the pistol and held it out of view behind his leg, ready to bring it to bear if the owner of the footsteps turned out to be hostile. An older man came into view, lantern in one hand, walking stick in the other, a long clay pipe dangling from his mouth, his greatcoat almost sweeping the floor, the impression being of a grizzled old pirate.
Russell narrowed his eyes.

“ello Bert, got all the lamps lit down there?” Tepic called out in friendly greeting.

There was a long, rambling, virtually incoherent response from the old man, who otherwise just kept slowly ascending the stairs, taking the path left open to him.

Russell moved aside and slipped his weapon back into its holster.

“Oh good!” the lad said cheerily, “Lets go lads!”

At the next landing, it was still dry but decidedly cooler, and the boys headed along the corridor, passing several dark openings before stopping beside one, seemingly at random.

“This un’s ours, Mr Firecrest!” Tepic declared happily, “them two can start bringing down the other crates an I’ll show yer the set up!”

Russell nodded and smiled “Does “Bert” keep an eye on things down here?”

The boy stepped into the darkness, his lantern revealing a stout iron door, before turning to the man and replying “Yep, lights the lamps on delivery nights, turns em off rest of the time, keeps an eye in case someone gets squirrelly..”

“Excellent.” Replied the adventurer, staying close behind the small lad.

Tepic pushed open the door, which moved silently on well oiled hinges to reveal a small stone lined chamber. “The stuff’ll be safe enough down here, can put a lock on the bolt if yer want, but ain’t no one goin ter mess with it…”

“As long as you are sure it’s secure, I’ll leave it in your hands.” Replied Russell, looking around the alcove.

“yer may see other fellas droppin stuff off, if yer on the stairs, yer stand ter one side if yer goin down, an let em pass…” the lad explained, “if yer in the tunnels, step ter yer left an pay em no attention, they’ll do the same…”

Russell nodded, seeming satisfied with the arrangement.

“yer can say ello ter Bert….. but don’t reckon no one knows what he says back ter yer…”

“I see.” The captain replied, “Thank you for your help Tepic. I really need this to go smoothly.”

“Ain’t no problem, we’s in business together now, so guess it’s time ter turn a profit!”

Russell smiled as the other lads arrive with the second crate, and after stowing it in the chamber, headed up for more. It was not long before all the crates were safely stacked, the solid stone walls keeping the temperature well down. Once finished, Tepic pulled the door closed, slid over the bolt, and scrawled the outline of a vole’s head in chalk on the iron.

“So everyone knows who’s goods these are?” Russell asked, eyeing the marking.

“They knows they’s the Voles, ain’t gonna know what’s in there lessn someone tells em…” the lad looked pointedly at the adventurer. “anyhow, we’s gotta mark the door, how else we gonna find the right room again?”

Russell nodded again, having only partially managed to remember the route.

“These tunnels run fer… fer… errrr…. a long way, gotta be hundreds of rooms!”

“Indeed. It is an impressive hiding place.”

The boy pondered telling the man about the other… security measures,,, but after a moment decided it was best not to, unless they were needed. “Last revenue man tried ter come down here, ended up talkin ter Bert fer several hours……..” the lad mused, “after that, he went back ter the City Hall an handed in his badge….”

The adventurer chuckled at this and added “Thank you again for the help. I’m afraid I need to make my escape. There’s a rather pressing matter I need to take care of.”

“See ya, Mr Firecrest, take care!”

Russell carefully headed back up the many stairs and exited the labyrinthine, walking in the direction of the docks.