The Cleansing Flames Read Online Free PDF Page B

found the body, in your own words.’
    ‘I was swimming with my mates. I dived down to the bottom and there he was. At first I didn’t know what to make of it. Couldn’t tell what it was. It was pretty dark down there, you see. But I felt his hair brush against my fingers as I swam. I thought, Hello, what’s this? ’
    ‘So the body was at the bottom of the canal? What prevented it from floating to the top, I wonder?’
    ‘Rocks. It was tied to some rocks that were keeping it down.’
    ‘I see.’
    ‘Me and my mates went back down to loosen it. Then it came up.’
    ‘And so you raised the alarm immediately?’
    The young sailor glared at Porfiry. ‘Well, yes, but . . .’ He broke off.
    ‘But?’
    ‘Well, there was this fellow. We sent him off to get a policeman. But he never came back.’
    ‘I see. One of your mates?’
    ‘No!’ Ordynov was indignant at the suggestion. ‘Just some fellow. He was watching us, while we were swimming. There was something fishy about him. Not right in the head, if you ask me.’
    ‘Why do you say that?’
    ‘He asked us who it was! As if we should know. I mean to say!’
    ‘That is odd.’
    ‘It was almost like . . .’
    ‘Go on,’ encouraged Porfiry.
    ‘Almost like he had half an idea who it might be.’
    ‘That’s very interesting. And perceptive, if you don’t mind me saying.’
    ‘We thought he was mad, the way he kept gabbling on. And then he made us turn that one over in the water, so that we could see his face.’
    ‘The body was floating face down, of course.’
    ‘Yes. That’s right.’ Apprentice Seaman Ordynov squinted narrowly at Porfiry. ‘I mean why was he so interested in seeing its face?’
    ‘A perfectly reasonable question, my friend. In fact, I would go further than that. A very astute question.’
    ‘And then he ran off. We thought he was going to get the police, but he never came back. So we had to send someone else.’
    ‘Could you give a description this mysterious individual?’
    ‘He was a gent. But like one of them new types of gents.’
    ‘Yes, I know exactly what you mean.’
    ‘You could tell he was educated, but he didn’t bother to keep himself as smart as he might.’
    ‘Long hair?’
    ‘That’s it. Long hair. All over the place. His face was very . . .’
    ‘Pale?’
    ‘Aye, with dark rings around his eyes as if he had been up all night.’
    ‘Beard?’
    ‘He did have a beard.’
    ‘Not a civil servant then. I take it he was not in any kind of uniform?’
    Ordynov shook his head tersely as he blew out his last lungful of smoke. He threw the stub down and ground it under his heel. ‘Finished my smoke.’
    ‘Thank you, my friend. You have been most helpful. If we need to contact you again, we can reach you through your ship. You are in Petersburg for two days, you say?’
    ‘We sail on Wednesday morning. Leastways that’s what they say. I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes longer.’
    ‘And where are you bound once the repairs are completed?’
    ‘Arkhangelsk.’
    ‘How long is the voyage?’
    ‘We are at sea for thirty days. We can’t put in to Arkhangelsk before May, on account of the ice.’
    ‘Do you put in anywhere along the way?’
    ‘For sure.’
    Porfiry waited expectantly. When nothing was forthcoming, he prompted, ‘We may need to get in touch with you.’
    ‘Our first port of call is Helsingfors. After that, Reval, then Riga, then Libau.’
    ‘It is a veritable cruise!’ cried Porfiry.
    ‘His Imperial Majesty likes to show his finest ship off at every opportunity,’ said the young sailor wryly. ‘There are other ports after that. Do you want them all?’
    ‘I do not think that will be necessary. I wonder, did anyone who is not going to Arkhangelsk see this man?’
    Ordynov shook his head.
    Porfiry gave a silent chuckle and nodded to release the sailor.
    Ordynov twisted his lower lip hesitantly. He looked over to his shipmates but did not rush to join them. ‘Do you think he had anything to