Capítulo 2: Chapter 2
"You don't look like you're from here, boy," said one thug who was in front of Lewis.
Lewis wasn't surprised at all and did not waver. He only focused on how to deal with the situation. He asked, "What do you want?"
The thug answered the question by pointing at the bag of loaves. "We want the food."
"Why don't you buy with your own money," Lewis suggested.
The thug walked towards Lewis, got a clearer sight in the face, and responded, "This is our place. We can do whatever we want here. Nothing can stop us!"
While his head was facing the thug, his eyes continued looking at their surroundings, still thinking how to deal with the situation. The exit of the alley was too far for an escape and for them to be seen, already giving him a disadvantage. He lowers his head and mumbles, "Luckily, I can put up a fight."
The thug could not hear the mumble and shouted, "What did you say?"
Lewis quickly swung his left fist on the thug's right cheek. He then kicked the solar plexus which knocked the thug on the ground. He immediately told the children to run past the two thugs on the front.
"Run away! Now!"
And so they did. The thugs tried to stop them from running away but were interrupted by Lewis. He started punching the thug on one side, clutched both hands on the lapel and threw him at the barrel. The barrel broke leaving the thug injured at the back.
Lewis saw the other thug chasing after the children. He picked up a plank from the broken barrel and threw it towards the thug's head. The thug clutched his head and was already knocked down before he knew it as Lewis charged at him, kicked his legs forward and picked up the plank once again to put him to sleep with a smack on the face.
There were still three of them. Two finally pulled out their knives with one of them charging at Lewis. Lewis stopped the attacker by grabbing his wrist and holding onto the handle of the knife. He kicked the stomach, disarmed the thug and pushed him on the side where he was sent to another barrel.
Lewis got a hold of the knife and threw it towards the thug without a weapon. But the knife missed a centimeter away from the left ear and got stuck in the wall behind him.
Lewis was surprised, but the targeted thug was stunned as well and looked at the thrown knife. Lewis sighed, "Thank goodness you're alive."
The other thug charged next but to no avail. Lewis was able to suppress the attack by grabbing the wrist and the other arm. However, he could not hold onto it any longer so he pushed the thug away to the side.
Only to get smacked by the last one. It was the thug who he threw the knife at.
The smack had Lewis staggered and he was struggling to get back to his stance. The thug readied his fist and was about to smack Lewis again.
Then all of a sudden, the thug was knocked down from behind with a hit on the head. Lewis was shocked to see the man who was familiar to him. A man with a builtfat body type.
"What're you doin' here in the alley, mate?" asked his friend and fellow flaneur, Garrett, with his Cockney accent.
Lewis looked around the mess made by the fight. Broken barrels and all. Intending not to tell how it started, he simply answered, "Just taking a shortcut."
Looking to regain consciousness, the thugs slowly tried to stand up.
"Let's cop outta here, Lew."
Lewis heeded on the warning and he and Garrett got out of the alley.
Gradually changing tempo to walking on a sidewalk, Garrett asked again, "You in a hurry? Is that why you went to the alley?"
"Well, not really. I was about to go to your place. I should've taken a ride, but I do enjoy walking."
"It's been less safer lately. All these bloody Untamed thugs. They ain't stopping for bollocks!"
"It's been a few months now since their emergence started here in London."
Yes, the Untamed started emerging last autumn, already defeating other gang groups and ruling the streets. At the same time—from what Lewis had observed—child labor slowly rose, primarily inside factories. As for the cause of it, they did not know.
"Thought London's gonna be safer now," said Garrett. "Oh, right. In case you're wondering, I was also about to go to your place."
"What place, to be precise?"
"To your house."
"To my house? Then you should've taken a carriage ride as well. My house is in Westminster."
"Well, turns out I enjoy walkin' as much as you do, mate."
"It's your fault for always bringing me out for leisure walks."
Lewis chucked after hearing Garrett's reason. After all, they had always been together roaming around the streets on their freetimes.
Suddenly, they saw a carriage at its full speed across the street. "What the hell's that," said Garrett.
"I wonder what's happening."
Lewis and Garrett arrived at the latter's father's business in Whitechapel. A gun shop called Fisher Arms Shop.
It was probably one of the best businesses at that time together with the omnibus company due to Garrett's father Samuel being a very skilled gunsmith. The business had workers following Samuel's formula but his son was the best apprentice.
"Do you have some new guns in stock?" asked Lewis.
"Nothing much, Lew. Just some old ones with Dad's calibration."
"I am still intrigued."
Garrett picked up a gun on display and showed it to Lewis.
"I bet you haven't seen this one. This is the howdah pistol. A large-calibre gun first used in Africa and India at the beginning of the century. Intended to defend against dangerous animals. Tigers, lions! Dad actually made this from scratch. 'Was the first one to test it and it's a beauty!"
"We rarely have such animals here in London, but that should be worth something."
"With Dad's gunsmithing, nothin' ain't worthless."
"That's good to know."
Samuel came out of his workshop when he saw his son and Lewis.
"Oh, 'ow you doin' lads?"
"Good day, Uncle Sam," Lewis greeted.
Samuel saw Garrett holding the pistol and he went bonkers. "Oi! Garrett, put that gun back!"
Garret exclaimed, "Dad! I was just showin' him the pistol!"
"We're gonna lose customers!"
Garrett was left no choice but to return the pistol on display.
Lewis whisperingly cheered him up, "It's all right, Garrett. I just want to see the shot test."
He then called Samuel and requested, "Uncle Sam, do you have more howdah pistols?"
"I just got one done in the workshop. By the way, I'm lovin' your book. Lots of surprises are coming at me. Still ain't finished, but I read them at night. Gonna miss it when I'm past the last chapter."
Lewis could not help but smile for Samuel's comment about the novel published two weeks ago.
Samuel was not the type to read books but when it came to Lewis's works he would read those because they were very interesting.
There were other books from different authors with interesting plots, yet he preferred those written by Lewis.
Lewis knew that and he thought Samuel fell in love with them, besides guns. And his family.
The doorbell rang and Samuel quickly recognized the visitor. A visitor and not a customer.
It was a woman. Brown hair, braided. Short in height and young. Rare to see such a lady looking for guns.
"Emily!" Samuel called loudly.
"Mr. Fisher," Emily greeted back.
Lewis and Garrett turned their heads right away recognizing Emily Hunter. After all, they knew each other for so long.
Emily also saw the two and approached them. She greeted Lewis with a bright smile, "Lewis!"
She also greeted Garrett but with contempt, "Garrett... I knew I would find you here."
Lewis told Emily, "It seems that you still haven't forgiven him."
While continuing to stare at Garret, Emily replied, "I have not. Thanks to him barging in the workshop, other dancers are in fear now."
"Are you serious, Emily? I mean it was just one time."
"Yes but look what he looks like."
Lewis looked at Garrett while the latter also looked at the former for confirmation and got what Emily's point was. "I get what you are saying, but perhaps that is a bit too much."
Garrett, to his surprise, complained. "You actually think I look frightenin'? But yeah, this is too much!"
"However," said Emily while pulling two tickets out of her purse.
"I would like to invite you for our show tonight." She handed the tickets over to Lewis and Garrett and both gladly accepted.
Lewis responded, "So this is what you came for."
"Least Millie ain't here to tease me again," Garrett told.
Lewis kept his ticket in his suit pocket and answered Emily, "I'll come to your show tonight."
He then gazed at Garrett again and added, "I'm not quite sure Garrett will come too. You know ballet is not on his list of favorites."
Garrett denied the statement and answered, "I'll come." Lewis gazed away and slowly nodded as amusement.
"Wonderful," Emily rejoiced after hearing their answer. As she was slowly walking towards the door outside, she followed a request, "I hope you enjoy tonight's performance."
"We will," Lewis replied. Emily smiled and left the shop with the same sound of the bell as Lewis and Garret saw her leaving.
Lewis pulled out his ticket while Garrett examined his and read, "The Lost Swan. 22nd of March, 8 PM at the Gaiety Theatre."
The doorbell rang again, getting the gentlemen's attention. It was Emily again, but this time inserted her head inside while holding onto the doorknob and leaving her feet outside. "I was not able to say this last time, Lewis, but your novel was marvelous. I really enjoyed it."
"Thank you, Emily," Lewis replied. Emily smiled again and left. Both saw her leaving again, but this time Garrett returned to examining his ticket while Lewis continued to see her walk away.
Capítulo 3: Chapter 3
Lewis and Garret arrived at the Gaiety Theatre in Westminster five minutes before the twenty o'clock show. Emily would perform as one of the corps de ballet. Despite her role, both were still looking forward to her performance.
They walked up to the second level of the theatre, went to their seats on the first row and finally sat down. It would appear that all of the seats beside theirs in the theatre had already been occupied, making the event sold out. Garrett observed it and asked Lewis, "Are people really interested in ballet? I mean I do respect Millie's job..."
"They do, Garrett. And tonight, one of the top ballet dancers in London will perform. Beatrice Thomas."
Garrett was sitting like it was his first time spectating a ballet show but had watched a few times while Lewis had his left thigh sitting atop the right thigh and his right elbow resting atop the armchair.
It was eight o'clock but the show had yet to begin. A man walked on the stage until he positioned himself at the center. The show would have started when the lights were turned off. The audience started to mumble.
"Something's not right," Lewis murmured.
The man on the stage began to make his announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen. The theatre would like to thank you for coming to spectate this wonderful event. We were thrilled about this event as we prepared for it, and we know you still are waiting. However, due to unprecedented circumstances, we have decided to postpone tonight's show."
The whole theatre immediately filled with shock as the mumbling of the audience increased rapidly. Meanwhile, Lewis and Garrett clutched on their armchairs while leaning forward and stood up from their seats.
Lewis and Garrett swiftly got up from their seats and went to the theatre backstage to speak with Emily about the reason for the postponement of tonight's show. As soon as they got to the backstage, the chaotic ambience of the area met them.
"Bloody hell, what's goin' on?" asked Garrett.
Lewis looked around with his eyes and noticed the absence of Beatrice Thomas. He answered Garrett, "I can't give you an answer… I don't see Beatrice Thomas."
Some of the dancers spotted the two and noticed Garrett. They panicked in response given the fact that Garrett barged inside the ballet company's workshop not long ago.
That got the men's attention and Lewis whispered to Garrett's ears, "So sorry to hear your reputation's passing."
"Oi, it ain't dead yet!"
In the chaotic atmosphere, Emily with her costume and coat on was on her seat when she too saw the men. She stood up and approached them. "Lewis! Garrett! What are the both of you doing here?"
Lewis responded, "We want to know why the show has been postponed."
"What's with all the mayhem here, Millie?" Garrett questioned Emily.
Emily answered, "Beatrice has gone missing."
Realizing what she just did, she immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Lewis knew such information was supposed to be confidential.
He also realized the title of the show was taken literally. Presumably, Garrett should have also realized it.
"Why are you coverin' your mouth?" Garrett asked.
A woman in her fifties approached the three and immediately spoke in a condescending manner, "Guests are not allowed in here! Emily, who are these gentlemen?" The three looked at her and Emily instantly put down her hands.
"You must be the ballet master of your company, madam," Lewis deduced.
"I am very sorry gentlemen, but you must leave at this instant," the ballet master responded.
Garrett told her, "But she said Beatrice Thomas went missing."
The ballet master was shocked by Garrett's statement, looked at Emily and scolded her, "Why did you tell them about Beatrice?!"
"I'm very sorry Madam," Emily apologized.
Garrett told the madam, "Don't worry about it. We won't tell anyone." The madam stared at Garrett and asked with doubt, "And why should I trust the both of you?"
"We can help you find her," Lewis suddenly answered.
Garret, Emily, and the madam simultaneously looked at Lewis after he gave his answer.
Garret called out, "Hey are we doin' that? You know what you're doin'?"
"Are you sure you can find her?" Emily asked with uncertainty.
The madam looked around and asked to move to a location with more privacy with her and they agreed as they moved further from the backstage.
"Gentlemen, I'm Eleanor Bates, ballet mistress of London Ballet. And yes, you are correct about my line of work. Emily and her fellow dancers call me Madam Eleanor. And you must be..."
"Lewis Johnson, Madam. And this other gentleman is Garrett Fisher."
"Ah, yes. You said you can help us."
"Well, yes we can help you find Ms. Thomas. I know you do not want the audience and other outsiders to know about her disappearance. It will cause turmoil between them and the company since she is your top dancer."
"That is quite true, Mr. Johnson, but how can you help us find our prima ballerina?"
"This gentleman and I have known the streets of London for a long time and I believe such experience will help us find Ms. Thomas. Consider it an agreement of trust."
"Thank you so much for offering your help, gentlemen. I am in debt to you."
Garrett realized Lewis's reasoning so he stopped thinking about complaining. Instead, he demanded, "Madam, what can we get in exchange?"
"Two hundred pounds," said Madam Eleanor.
"That's a hundred each. Deal," Lewis accepted.
Lewis and Madam Eleanor shook each other's hands as the men agreed to search for Beatrice Thomas in exchange for pennies.
The next morning, Garrett just reached the riverside of Thames in Lambeth, the borough where Beatrice Thomas lived according to Emily. He spotted Lewis at a dock and approached him.
"You're here," said Lewis.
"Shall we begin?"
"Let's."
The two left the dock as they began searching for one of the top ballet dancers in London.
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