{"id":170,"date":"2016-09-07T18:11:57","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T18:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/?p=170"},"modified":"2016-09-07T18:11:57","modified_gmt":"2016-09-07T18:11:57","slug":"broken-instrument-chapter-14-helmsley-set-the-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/a-broken-instrument\/broken-instrument-chapter-14-helmsley-set-the-trap\/","title":{"rendered":"(Broken Instrument) CHAPTER 14: HELMSLEY: SET THE TRAP"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"crane1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To circumvent these problems a canal was dug to link Brussels via the River Rupel, thus establishing a direct link with the Scheldt and with Antwerp. The canal was finished in 1561 and shortly afterwards most of the docks were dug.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Living in Brussels<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He\u2019s right there. Right there on that barge, eating his bread and cheese, that fat bastard.<\/span><\/i> Helmsley drew back from the shutters in the lockmaster\u2019s office and his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. <\/span>I could take him right now and be back in Brussels back in Master Owen\u2019s favor by sunset tomorrow.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Jean\u2019s voice was as matter of fact as always, but with an undercurrent of discomfort. \u201cNot enough men. Tough fucker. Remember the market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley spun to face him. \u201cBut he\u2019s right there!\u201d He heard the whine in his voice and got a grip on himself. It was wrong of him to show such lack of composure in front of Jean. He took a deep breath. \u201cYou\u2019re right. What do you suggest? Where can we get more men?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBreda Piet\u2019s in Antwerp.\u201d A spasm of pain passed over Jean\u2019s face. \u201cPardon.\u201d He hurried through the back door of the office in the directions of the jakes. Bad meat at mid day had done for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley stared unseeingly in the direction of Jean\u2019s exit, putting it together in his mind. Once he was certain of the pieces, he left the commandeered office by the front door and went into the main room. He took a position by the shuttered main window overlooking the canal. There was a huddle of men around the lockmaster, discussing things, occasionally laughing, enjoying the warmth of the nearby fireplace. From outside came the sound of squealing gears and pouring water as a barge moved through the locks. Helmsley caught the eye of the lockmaster and jerked his head towards the window. <\/span><\/p>\n

The man, short and stout with competent hands and eyes, dressed in clothes that showed both wealth and work, made his excuses to the other men and came over to Helmsley. The papers that Helmsley had shown him, complete with signatures and seals from the higher reaches of the Brussels government, had compelled his cooperation and he clearly figured that being helpful would result in Helmsley\u2019s quickest departure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley pointed to the barge where Nick was sitting. \u201cThat barge, there. I\u2019ll need to talk to its master.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The lockmaster looked to where Helmsley was pointed, narrowed his eyes to see through the gathering darkness. \u201cThat one there? The one with the fat man sitting by the fire pit? That\u2019s the Phillipa. Van Rupel\u2019s her master. I think I see him coming here. You\u2019ll want to use my office?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Thank you. Your understanding is much appreciated. I should be troubling you no more, soon enough.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlways glad to do my duty to the Crown.\u201d He turned away. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll get him into my office as soon as he gets in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley put out a restraining hand. \u201cBefore you leave, can you tell me, is there a post house in town?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed there is, Mynheer. Down by the old gate. You\u2019ll recognize it by the large stables.\u201d With that, the lockmaster turned and went back to the group of men clustered around the fireplace. Helmsley noticed that he positioned himself so that he could keep one eye on the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Satisfied that the man knew his business, Helmsley left the main room and went back into the office. Rummaging around on the lockmaster\u2019s desk, he found paper, ink, and quill. He sat, thought for a minute, getting all the pieces right in his mind, and then began to write.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he was finishing up, Jean came back in through the rear door. He swilled from his flask, swished the spirits around in his mouth, then spat back out the door. \u201cBoth ends.\u201d He announced. \u201cBetter now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley blew on the ink and then folded up the paper. He used one of the candles to seal it and then handed it to Jean. \u201cGet this to the post house and have it to Antwerp as quickly as possible.\u201d He dug in his purse and accompanied the letter with some coins. \u201cI\u2019ve told de Langhe to get Breda Piet to Hoch Quay to meet that barge with sufficient men.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jean nodded. \u201cShould work.\u201d He took the letter and coins and, without further words, left.<\/span><\/p>\n

The door was scarce closed behind him when the front door of the office opened and the lockmaster ushered in a man. \u201cThis is the man you wished to see, Mynheer. Barge master van Rupel of the Phillipa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Captain van Rupel. And what\u2019s this all about?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The lockmaster nodded at Helmsley. \u201cHe\u2019s all yours.\u201d He closed the door behind him when he left.<\/span><\/p>\n

Van Rupel\u2019s brows and the corners of his mouth both drew down in a great frown. \u201cWhat the hell\u2019s this? Who the fuck are you?\u201d He took a step back towards the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helmsley stood and put out a forestalling hand. \u201cIt would be best if you sat down, Captain. We have much to discuss and not much time to do it in.\u201d When van Rupel made no move, just stared mulishly, Helmsley pointed at the chair in front of the desk and hardened his voice. \u201cSit. Down. You\u2019re in a lot of trouble but still have the chance to save yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That got van Rupel moving and he sat, though his face still showed obstinacy and suspicion. \u201cWhat trouble? I\u2019ve done nothing wrong! My cargo is only bales of paper and I have all the right documents!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not talking about your paper, flour, and hides. I\u2019m talking about your passenger. The one that Mynfrau Cornieliuszoon made you take. The fat man. That\u2019s what\u2019s got you in all this trouble.\u201d Van Rupel made to open his mouth and Helmsley talked right over him. \u201cNow think before you speak. I\u2019m coming directly from the Court at Brussels, with the full authority of the Captain General.\u201d Helmsley nudged his papers on the desk so that the full light of the candles fell upon the seals. Van Rupel looked at them and sat back in his chair, began to gnaw at his lower lip. \u201cThat\u2019s the weight of trouble that\u2019s hovering right above you, right now. You help me, and all this trouble goes away.\u201d Helmsley pulled the papers back towards himself, out of the light.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I do? I\u2019m just a barge captain!\u201d Van Rupel\u2019s voice had taken on a querulous tone. \u201cI don\u2019t even carry a sword. You want me to have a go at some big fat fucker who\u2019s put men in the ground? That just gets me dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing so drastic or bloody. I just need you to take him some place. You won\u2019t have to draw your knife. He won\u2019t know a thing. You do this and you never see me again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Van Rupel folded his arms and continued to gnaw at his lip. \u201cI\u2019ve got no choice, do I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNone whatsoever.\u201d Helmsley made his voice cordial. \u201cHere\u2019s what you have to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To circumvent these problems a canal was dug to link Brussels via the River Rupel, thus establishing a direct link with the Scheldt and with Antwerp. The canal was finished in 1561 and shortly afterwards most of the docks were dug. Living in Brussels   He\u2019s right there. Right there on that barge, eating his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":172,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170\/revisions\/172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}