cause harm. Most likely when the button is pressed the steel of the launching platform will be energised, and those on it will receive a shock of considerable severity. Her Majesty herself is endangered.”
Holmes continued, “I must dismantle the other end of the circuit so no shock injures Her Majesty when she activates the controls. Stay here, Watson, if you please. You must prevent at all costs any attempt to repair the switchgear until the circuit is rendered safe at the other end.”
He left at a rapid pace, with Green at his heels, while Zungo stayed with me.
I went direct to the door, which I closed and locked.
Zungo picked up the bottle of blood and carried it with slow care and sub-voce muttering to the sink at the back of the room. There he poured it out, while at the same time opening the spigot to allow a copious flow of water to dilute it, and carry it away into the sewers.
None to soon, for within two minutes someone hammered forcibly on the door, which disturbance I thought best to ignore. However, very shortly thereafter heavy footfalls marked the arrival of some several Naval personnel. They wasted no time in fruitless requests to open the door, but proceeded to application of substantial body weight against the wood.
The door flew open, and both Zungo and myself were handled with some lack of consideration, amid cries of “Saboteurs!”
Quite fortunately these first arrivals were Royal Marines, and not of a technical bent, so no attempt was made to render the electrical circuit to the ship live. However, this situation did not stand for long in the face of a concerted effort typical of our Armed Forces. Very shortly several engineers, including a Warrant Officer, arrived. All present wore their Dress Uniforms with ‘Royal Arthur’ proudly displayed on their caps.
With commendable speed the engine-room staff assessed the problem, and began to execute repairs, despite my repeated attempts to restrain their diligence.
A young Lieutenant arrived, quite out of breath, in time to halt progress with a gesture to the Warrant Officer. He spoke with some force when he could, “Belay that, if you please. There has been some foolery aboard the vessel, and we must hold off until matters can be put right at that end.”
Holmes had been able to communicate with an officer aboard ship, then. The worst danger, of injury to Her Majesty’s person, had been averted.
Just at that moment the band changed to the Naval Anthem, ‘Heart of Oak’. Her Majesty would arrive shortly. Everything must be in order by that time, with no delay or hitch in proceedings, or rumours would dog the vessel as long as she floated, of an unlucky launch at best, and a cursed ship at worst.
Zungo and I were eyed with considerable animosity and suspicion, but were allowed to adjust our clothing and stand free of restraint, though with sturdy seamen close at hand and attentive to our every movement.
Much commotion heralded the actual entrance of royalty to the dockyard. We could do nothing but trust to the skill and dexterity of the Naval engineers to repair the electrical machinery and render it both functional and safe.
Holmes returned from the ship, escorted by a more senior officer, and trailed by Green, who appeared even more dishevelled than usual. From the tight lips and somewhat bruised appearance of the several ratings in the group, he had argued quite forcibly with the Navy guards around the cruiser.
We all stood outside to observe the religious service, conducted by the Archbishop of Portsmouth and several lesser clergy, all resplendent in full fig.
The 107th Psalm rang out, and all sang along with the well known words;
“They that go down to the sea in ships
That do business in great waters
These see the works of the Lord,
and His wonders in the deep.”
Josiah Green sang most splendidly, in operatic style worthy of the occasion, and thereby gained some measure of approval from all who heard.
Her Majesty spoke briefly, pressed the button, and the bottle fell. Champagne splashed satisfactorily over the cutwater, and the great ironclad slid majestically down the slope to the water. The guns of the Victory, out in the harbour, roared in salute, and we all congratulated one another on an affair most fortunately concluded.
Holmes, as ever, thought to the future, and the uncompleted tasks. He said, “Now all that remains is to apprehend the fellow Barendra, who was behind all this. We may rely on the constabulary to do their part, I trust. He will be sought by the civilians and by Naval patrols. Oh, by the way, Watson, I have spoken with the Gunnery Officer, and he was most accommodating. Those fetish objects, the dolls, will be placed in the barrel of her 9 inch main gun when they fire it for the first time, and meet a fitting end.”
Mr. Zungo was speechless with delight, a condition rarely seen in my experience. He stood and pumped Holmes’ hand most vigorously, with a huge grin on his disfigured face, and tears streamed down his scarred cheeks.
*****
The End
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