Page 27 of Storm of Bells
‘No can do, guv. We’ve got orders from thetop.’
‘You don’tperchance mean the top of Mount Vesuvius, do you?’[9]Because that’s where I wished both Mr Ambrose and his bloody cratewere right now. Just before a nice, juicy explosion.
‘Err…guv? Vesuwhat?’
‘Forget it, forget it.’ I waved to the man,trying to dispel his confused expression. ‘Put it over there in thecorner, will you?’
The bearded man scratched the back of hisneck. ‘Err…can’t do that either, guv. Was told to put it on yerdesk.’
‘On my desk? Then how am I supposed towork?’
‘Um…on the floor?’
‘You can’t work on the floor!’
‘Sure ye can. I put stuff I work with on thefloor all the time. Beds, commodes, cupboards…’
‘You are a removal man! I’m a secretary!’
‘Err…yes, guv?’
I decided that Bristly-Beard was probably notthe right person to have this argument with. Whirling around, Imarched towards the connecting door and slammed my fist against thewood.
‘Mr Ambrose!’
No answer.
‘Mr Ambrose? Open!’
Still no answer—except for a softplink. My head whirled to stare down at the small capsulelying next to me on the desk. Quickly, I snatched it up, tore itopen and unfolded the paper.
Mr Linton,
What?
Rikkard Ambrose
Short and precise. Just as I hoved and latedhim.
Taking up my quill, I penned a love letter tomy fiancé.
My dear Mr Ambrose,
Get that bloody crate out of my office!
Yours sincerely,
Miss Lillian Linton
P.S. I love you
Wasn’t I a romantic?
Stuffing the missive into the tube, I pulledthe lever. It whizzed off towards Mr Ambrose, and I leaned backagainst my desk, taking a deep breath.
‘Careful, guv!’
I jerked away—just in time to not get myfingers squashed by a heavy wooden crate. It slammed down onto thedesktop, completely covering about three quarters of thesurface.
