Requiem In the Snow (ebook)

Argumento de Requiem In the Snow (ebook)

The third instalment of Catrin Collier's The Tsar's Dragons.

Road from Taganrog to Alexandrovka

The Donbas, September 1870

Richard woke in broad daylight. He sensed he was moving and squinted up at the sky. By the height of the sun it was mid-afternoon. He turned his head and a stabbing pain shot through his eyes. His mouth was dry, his head hurt, and his stomach churned; nauseated by a barnyard smell, which wasn?t surprising as he was lying on damp, dirty sacks. He heard a bullock low and realised he was in the back of a cart.

?How are you feeling??

He tried to focus. The sun had never shone brighter. Something moved to block his vision. He looked up at Alexei.

?Where am I??

?About two versts outside Taganrog. I carried you back to your room to prove to Mr Edwards and your sister that you were still alive. I packed your belongings but your sister checked I hadn?t left anything behind. I don?t think she approves of me.?

?Right now, I don?t approve of you or me.? Richard struggled upright.

?Your head hurts??

?A dozen little men are clog dancing in my brain.?

?Explain clog dancing??

?Another time.?

?This should make you feel better.? Alexei dropped the reins of his horse, reached down into his boot, and pulled out a silver flask. He passed it to Richard.

Richard unscrewed the top and sniffed the contents.

?It?s water, you funny fellow.?

?Just checking it?s not what we were drinking last night.

?I bought a few pails of vodka for the journey. If you join me tonight we can continue our discussion without Misha and the Cossacks.?

?I?m busy.?

?Doing what, in a bullock train??

?I?ll think of something.?

?Richard, about last night ??

?I don?t remember much.?

Alexei leaned closer to Richard and lowered his voice. ?You remember I had a fight with Misha??

?You shook hands afterwards.?

?Don?t say anything about it to anyone. Or repeat what Misha said about the Jews.?

?I didn?t understand half of what Misha said.?

?Promise you won?t say anything, especially to Mr Edwards or Mr Hughes.?

Richard almost nodded then decided he?d only make his head ache even more. ?Where?s my sister??

?With the driver and Mrs Edwards at the front of this cart.?

Head pounding, Richard clambered to his knees and climbed over the sacks to the bench seat where Anna was sitting with Mrs Edwards. He moved behind them.

Sarah greeted him. ?Good morning ? or rather afternoon, Richard.?

?Mrs Edwards. I?m sorry.?

?It?s your sister you should apologise to. She thought you?d been kidnapped when you didn?t return to the consulate last night.?0