Doctor Who_ The Adventures Of Henrietta Street Part 5

What they spoke of next, both men equally guarded, was 'shop talk'. The general gist seems to have been this. Sabbath had some time ago plotted out the 'contours' on his charts of time, and worked out (with the help of his 'magic words'?) how to navigate his s.h.i.+p through the currents. In fairness, the Doctor's ability to do this all by himself and with so little research is a testament to his abilities, though his exact methods remain vague. It may be important, though, that the House had recently 'bled'. In the same way that a tantrist tantrist could use hormonal techniques to enter states beyond normal time, there's the implication that the Doctor had turned the House on Henrietta Street into what might be described as an enormous resonator, an idea suggestive of the bio-electrical experiments being performed by Mesmer in the salons of Paris. could use hormonal techniques to enter states beyond normal time, there's the implication that the Doctor had turned the House on Henrietta Street into what might be described as an enormous resonator, an idea suggestive of the bio-electrical experiments being performed by Mesmer in the salons of Paris.

Though he was unsure of the details, Sabbath believed that the damage to local time the crisis which had summoned the babewyns babewyns was in some way a result of was in some way a result of tantrists tantrists like Lisa-Beth and 'dabblers' like Scarlette, though he was only too ready to ascribe a lot of the blame to elemental meddlers like the Doctor. As Sabbath once wrote himself, 'time is too precious an artefact to be p.a.w.ned off by prost.i.tutes'. He allowed Scarlette and the Doctor to continue with their work only as long as he could watch them from a discreet distance. like Lisa-Beth and 'dabblers' like Scarlette, though he was only too ready to ascribe a lot of the blame to elemental meddlers like the Doctor. As Sabbath once wrote himself, 'time is too precious an artefact to be p.a.w.ned off by prost.i.tutes'. He allowed Scarlette and the Doctor to continue with their work only as long as he could watch them from a discreet distance.

When the Doctor told him that the experiment had only been a partial success, Sabbath at first believed that it was a result of the Doctor's inexperience, more 'dabbling'. But as the conversation went on, and the trained apes began to scratch at their parasites in the corner, Sabbath apparently became unsettled. The Doctor described the ape-world, including the black eye-sun, something which didn't surprise Sabbath in the least. But when the Doctor mentioned that he'd been trying to get to Paris Paris, even Sabbath's amused, chubby face must have turned grave. And when the Doctor explained that he'd seen Tula Lui in the ruins...

Sabbath began pacing, it's said, tucking his big hands behind his back and letting his heavy frame roll backwards and forwards along the length of the cabin. He'd believed that the 'magic word' technique of fast-transit, as used by Tula Lui, was 'safe'. He shook his head while the Doctor talked, rumbling 'no, no,' on occasion. Then he turned to head for the bridge-room, to consult his chart, and despite the screeching of the crew-apes the Doctor followed.

In front of the great chart, Sabbath indicated the coloured flags across the continent of Europe. The account isn't detailed enough to identify which flags meant what, but evidently Sabbath had managed to plot out the position of the 'horizon', that faraway place which no tantrist tantrist was supposed to be able to reach but which had been slowly closing in on the western continent. From the Doctor's notes, it's plain to see that the horizon (and therefore the threshold of the world of beasts) did indeed brush the northern edge of London, before curving through the continent, across the northern part of Africa and towards the West Indies. Yet on Sabbath's chart, it was nowhere near central France. Probably still shaking his head, Sabbath announced that even given the horizon's habit of moving, there couldn't possibly be any risk of running into the ape-creatures on the way from London to Paris. was supposed to be able to reach but which had been slowly closing in on the western continent. From the Doctor's notes, it's plain to see that the horizon (and therefore the threshold of the world of beasts) did indeed brush the northern edge of London, before curving through the continent, across the northern part of Africa and towards the West Indies. Yet on Sabbath's chart, it was nowhere near central France. Probably still shaking his head, Sabbath announced that even given the horizon's habit of moving, there couldn't possibly be any risk of running into the ape-creatures on the way from London to Paris.

That was when the Doctor stepped forward and began rearranging the map, 'with some cleverness of mathematicks'. Looking at his notes it's clear that the Doctor believed the horizon's movement was quickening, that the 'storm in time' was worsening at an exponential rate. Calculating the movement of the contours based on this theory, he proceeded to move several dozen of the flags on the chart... forming a line which swept right through London, through Paris, through Hispaniola and all the way to Virginia, USA.

This was the first time in the relations.h.i.+p between Sabbath and the Doctor that Sabbath became disturbed. 'Taking a grate breath,' says the second-hand account, 'he turned to his evil crew, and ordered the s.h.i.+p to set sail.' Not, of course, that the wars.h.i.+p had sails.

So much is made of Sabbath's monstrous qualities, of his ruthless determination and his ability to dispose of his enemies as nothing more than an irritation, that his human aspect is often forgotten. His first priority was doubtless to protect Tula Lui. True, he'd adopted the girl with the purpose of turning her into a kind of right-hand*woman, but for the most part she was the only real human company he must have had between 1780 and 1782. It's fair to say that there was some deep level of communication between them, despite Tula Lui's reluctance to use English. It's fair to say that there was a great deal of affection between them, too. Perhaps most of all, Sabbath was driven driven, though it wasn't until the following weeks that the Doctor would understand his agenda. To an extent she was Sabbath's heir, a ward if not exactly a daughter.

At some point Sabbath led the Doctor up on to the deck of the s.h.i.+p, though what kind of view the Doctor would have had from there is open to question. The wars.h.i.+p must have been something to behold. When in motion four of the uniformed apes would 'man' the deck, one of them acting as a lookout, screeching and cackling to those below even though Sabbath could hardly have cared what lay ahead. As the Doctor and Sabbath took positions at the bow, the Jonah Jonah was already approaching the dock. Sabbath is said to have stood with his big ham-fists clutching the railing, staring dead ahead, a grim look on his face. He must have felt some degree of guilt. It was he who'd shown Tula Lui how to use the 'magic words', and he who'd failed to a.s.sess the threat of the horizon. When he'd set her on her mission of vengeance, this hadn't been what he'd expected. It's the first recorded instance of Sabbath making a mistake, with the possible exception of his 'attempt' on Scarlette in 1780. was already approaching the dock. Sabbath is said to have stood with his big ham-fists clutching the railing, staring dead ahead, a grim look on his face. He must have felt some degree of guilt. It was he who'd shown Tula Lui how to use the 'magic words', and he who'd failed to a.s.sess the threat of the horizon. When he'd set her on her mission of vengeance, this hadn't been what he'd expected. It's the first recorded instance of Sabbath making a mistake, with the possible exception of his 'attempt' on Scarlette in 1780.

At this point events become vague again, probably because it once more deals with the dream-world of the realm of beasts. The legend holds that the s.h.i.+p found itself sailing on an ocean of grey, and that dead ahead lay the harbour, its crumbling buildings leaning against the larger ruins further inland. From the s.h.i.+p, those on deck could see the skyline of the city of apes, bleached landmarks in the style of London, Paris, Rome and Vienna, falling into decay and into each other. The sky still perfect blue overhead.

If it seems odd or convenient that the city should have had a harbour, then bear in mind the Doctor's suggestion that 'the traveller takes part of his own place of residence with him'. Sabbath had brought the ocean as well as the s.h.i.+p: getting into the realm was never as hard as surviving it. As the wars.h.i.+p ploughed through the grey murk towards dock, the Doctor is said to have looked up, to see the blazing black ball of the sun swivel in his direction, 'an eye made out of pupils'.

'Don't look at it,' Sabbath told him, while keeping his eyes fixed on the harbour. 'Don't give it the satisfaction.'

Strange, how so many descriptions speak of the eye-sun as if it were some form of G.o.d. There's certainly a suggestion that the apes feared it. This, the texts seem to imply, is the great dark power under whose gaze everything in the place of apes comes to pa.s.s. Sabbath certainly spoke of it as though it were the true true enemy, often referring to it as 'the Opposition', but maybe that's not surprising. He'd been trained by the Service, and to a covert intelligence operation like the Service an all-seeing eye was the worst kind of enemy there could be. John Dee, when he'd founded the British intelligence community in the Elizabethan era, had written of a mythical arch-nemesis known as 'Choronzon': a demon often depicted in occult lore as a gigantic eye. Although the sun-G.o.d of the ape world certainly wasn't Choronzon, its appearance must at least have had resonances for Sabbath. enemy, often referring to it as 'the Opposition', but maybe that's not surprising. He'd been trained by the Service, and to a covert intelligence operation like the Service an all-seeing eye was the worst kind of enemy there could be. John Dee, when he'd founded the British intelligence community in the Elizabethan era, had written of a mythical arch-nemesis known as 'Choronzon': a demon often depicted in occult lore as a gigantic eye. Although the sun-G.o.d of the ape world certainly wasn't Choronzon, its appearance must at least have had resonances for Sabbath.

By the time the s.h.i.+p finally came to a halt at the harbour, the Doctor and Sabbath had already gathered something of the events taking place inland. At this point it's best to repeat the account word-for*word (which should give some indication as to who eventually wrote the story down): There was a grate skreeking from the city, like as the aipes were performing the most indelicate acts or were angry. My friend Mr. S [Sabbath) had been conserned for some time approching the dock but now he was more conserned still. When they went to disembark from the s.h.i.+p they saw movement in some of the streets ahead and the Doctor said there were two aipes he had spyed bounding throu the ruins towards a place not far away. The Doctor also said he recognised bildings nearby as being in the French style and knew he was not far from where he had been before...Mr. S wished to go towarsd the sound and the smell of the aipes with his own crew squawking at his back, but the Doctor said they were to be careful. Mr. S was quite determind. Though they did not go far into the city they soon turned into a street that (says Mr. S) was 'a street of London with the excrement of aipes in every doorway'. At the end of the street they could see a crowd of the stinking animals, and the animals were clawing and biting at each other and trying to climb over themselves. Mr. S and the Doctor could only watch and hope the aipes would not see them wile more joined the crowd from the streets around.That was when with a grate cry with a grate cry another figure was there in the midst of the filthy apes. It was the girl, whose name I cannot spell in English, and as my friends watched this girl pulled herself up out of the screeching hurrah of the aipes. Mr. S does not want to speak of her injuries, but there were red clawings on her face and yet she still looked angry. There were as many as a dozen of the creetures on top of her before her face was lost amongst all there hair and teeth. I am told that she killed two of the animals with her hands as they tore at her (for she could snap bones). But when the dead beasts would fall away the others would only drag away the bodies to be eaten while others jumped on top of that poor girl's back to drag her down the more. another figure was there in the midst of the filthy apes. It was the girl, whose name I cannot spell in English, and as my friends watched this girl pulled herself up out of the screeching hurrah of the aipes. Mr. S does not want to speak of her injuries, but there were red clawings on her face and yet she still looked angry. There were as many as a dozen of the creetures on top of her before her face was lost amongst all there hair and teeth. I am told that she killed two of the animals with her hands as they tore at her (for she could snap bones). But when the dead beasts would fall away the others would only drag away the bodies to be eaten while others jumped on top of that poor girl's back to drag her down the more.It must have been a terrible site for Mr. S. I see him with that look he has when he is determind, when his face becomes so serious that you would think a storm was coming up from inside him. But the Doctor rested a hand on him, even thou I would never dare. When the poor girl vanished beneath bodies and claws Mr. S clenched his fists as hard as rocks, and said 'we must act'.I do not think anybody could survive such an attack as was described to me being done upon that poor foreign girl.

If anything, this is the one occasion when the account isn't quite dramatic enough. Perhaps the author was being tasteful, but the full horror of these events and their effect upon Sabbath is difficult to overstate. Tula Lui wasn't simply a warrior, a p.a.w.n in the game. She was a sixteen-year*old girl. And as for the Doctor... the Mayakai Mayakai was to Sabbath what Juliette was to him. The Doctor had long experienced guilty feelings about Juliette, about the things he knew he had to put her through before the end of the battle. This was a reminder of exactly how dangerous it could be, to be an apprentice to a ritualist or an elemental. was to Sabbath what Juliette was to him. The Doctor had long experienced guilty feelings about Juliette, about the things he knew he had to put her through before the end of the battle. This was a reminder of exactly how dangerous it could be, to be an apprentice to a ritualist or an elemental.

There, in a hallucinatory world somewhere between London and Paris, the Doctor and Sabbath watched as a girl was torn limb from limb by some of the most savage, brutal beasts the world had ever seen. The consequences of this would be vast, as would the change it was to have on the relations.h.i.+p between Sabbath and the Doctor.

The Doctor didn't see Scarlette again for another week, when they finally met at Calais, the port from which England could most easily be reached from the French coast. By that stage the Doctor had made an agreement with Sabbath which he knew Scarlette would find uncomfortable, yet which he believed was necessary if he were to recover his TARDIS. But perhaps it's for the best that he had something to confess to Scarlette, because Scarlette also had something to confess to him.

6.

The Colonies Burning Wishes In 1758, on the West Indian island of Hispaniola, a man named Mackandal was tied to a stake and publicly burned by the authority of France and the colony's governors. Negro slaves had been escaping into Hispaniola's jungle interior ever since the 1730s, and the French slavemasters expected to have to burn the occasional popular figurehead, but Mackandal was a special case. Because Mackandal had been establis.h.i.+ng schools schools for the rebel leaders much to the surprise of both the French authorities and the pro-slavery Catholic Church, who'd a.s.sumed that 'schooling' was impossible even for the majority of their own kind, let alone the Negroes and out of this organised campaign had emerged an intelligence-c.u.m*terrorist network which had spread across the whole of the island. It must have particularly galled the Church that Mackandal had stolen much of their mythology, and that his followers had made dedications to all manner of Saints as they'd poisoned the French wells and ceremonially disembowelled their old overlords. for the rebel leaders much to the surprise of both the French authorities and the pro-slavery Catholic Church, who'd a.s.sumed that 'schooling' was impossible even for the majority of their own kind, let alone the Negroes and out of this organised campaign had emerged an intelligence-c.u.m*terrorist network which had spread across the whole of the island. It must have particularly galled the Church that Mackandal had stolen much of their mythology, and that his followers had made dedications to all manner of Saints as they'd poisoned the French wells and ceremonially disembowelled their old overlords.

Mackandal always claimed that no European authority could hold him, of course, so when the French finally caught up with him it was widely believed that he'd find a way to escape. As it happened he was was burned, although when the stake broke halfway through the execution many of those present took it as a sign that Mackandal had somehow escaped his own skin at the point of his death. Really, the French should have known better than create that kind of martyr. Perhaps they felt the slaves were too burned, although when the stake broke halfway through the execution many of those present took it as a sign that Mackandal had somehow escaped his own skin at the point of his death. Really, the French should have known better than create that kind of martyr. Perhaps they felt the slaves were too primitive primitive to understand the power of symbols. Which is one of the reasons that, by the 1780s, the Hispaniolan colony of Saint-Domingue was entering a phase of b.l.o.o.d.y guerrilla warfare which would see the dark, sweaty jungle interior run with the blood of a thousand ritually-severed limbs, both white and black. to understand the power of symbols. Which is one of the reasons that, by the 1780s, the Hispaniolan colony of Saint-Domingue was entering a phase of b.l.o.o.d.y guerrilla warfare which would see the dark, sweaty jungle interior run with the blood of a thousand ritually-severed limbs, both white and black.

It was in 1782, as summer began to roll into autumn, that the 'silver s.h.i.+p' was sighted off the sh.o.r.e of the island. If any of the rebels saw it, they must have taken it as a sign.

What must Sabbath have been thinking, after the brutal death of Tula Lui? Events must have shaken him, as much as events ever did. Yet even if his infamous half-smile had vanished from his face, he certainly hadn't been diverted from his self-appointed mission. And the Doctor, with his almost childlike optimism and his insistence on making friends with everybody while holding grudges against n.o.body... easy to see how the Doctor could start to work his way into Sabbath's confidence. What's ironic is that by this time, thanks to Sabbath's meddling, the House back in London was on the verge of closing its doors for good.

Between July and September, several members of the House spent time abroad. But Juliette remained back at Henrietta Street, where business had almost run dry. With Scarlette concerned with other matters, the House had lost both its star attraction and its infamous protector. Those 'gentlemen' who called to see Katya and company were generally drunkards, stumbling into the nearest seraglio they could find. At one point Katya is known to have argued with Juliette again implying, perhaps, that she felt Juliette should 'help out' in the most physical way until Fitz stepped in to separate them (Katya seems to have been easily swayed by Fitz, for some reason).

And much is known about Juliette's state of mind in this period, because although she never kept a proper journal, at this stage there was a record of her internal world. Juliette had begun to keep a 'dream diary'. This means that although her thoughts thoughts may not be known, her may not be known, her subconscious subconscious is there for all to see. is there for all to see.

Why, though, had she begun to make this record? Perhaps the best way to understand her reasoning is by reading the early entries in the log, a harder task than one might imagine as for much of it she used her own rather obscure form of shorthand. It began, it seems, on the third day of August. That night, Juliette woke up in the middle of the night to smell 'a peculiar scent in the air, like the burning of grease'. Her room was lit only by the moon outside, and Anji, in the bed on the opposite side of the room, was still asleep. Juliette climbed out of bed, and 'driven by some impulse not identified' crept downstairs, later noting that she couldn't even hear the sound of her own footsteps.

It has to be remembered that this was recorded in her dream dream diary, so it shouldn't be taken on face value. Certainly, what happened next has the feel of a vision. Juliette arrived in the salon, to find that the walls had been curiously redecorated. There were banners and rosettes across the walls, covering every surface: they're described as being just like the decorations which had adorned the March ball, but this time in pure black instead of red. Juliette spent some time trying to get her bearings, wondering what had happened here, before she noticed the black-clad figure standing before her in the middle of the floor. diary, so it shouldn't be taken on face value. Certainly, what happened next has the feel of a vision. Juliette arrived in the salon, to find that the walls had been curiously redecorated. There were banners and rosettes across the walls, covering every surface: they're described as being just like the decorations which had adorned the March ball, but this time in pure black instead of red. Juliette spent some time trying to get her bearings, wondering what had happened here, before she noticed the black-clad figure standing before her in the middle of the floor.

It was a woman but she was dressed darkly and the black of her dress was no diff'rent from the black of the wall. She stood in high boots and I think valvet [sic] gloves but she wore over her head a [Juliette's symbol here is unclear] so her face could not be seen. I started at seeing her for I had seen nothing of her because of her dark aspect. She was watching me but in such a way that I thought she might at any time draw a weapon for she had that look of a soldier about her.

Without over-a.n.a.lysing this, it's important to note that 'the look of a soldier about her' suggests the way Juliette often described Scarlette.

The woman spoke to me although I could not afterwards remember her voice. She told me that I must pay particular attention to my visions for I had reached the point where they would be an education. I was informed that this House was both red red and and black black in its colours and I had pa.s.sed through its red nature by the bleeding that had begun for me in January. It was now time for me to understand its black nature and this is why my visions were of importance. in its colours and I had pa.s.sed through its red nature by the bleeding that had begun for me in January. It was now time for me to understand its black nature and this is why my visions were of importance.I did not understand this and said so but the woman told me to return to bed. I did this and found I fell asleep again as soon as I returned.

Needless to say, when Juliette awoke the next morning there was no sign downstairs of the previous night's black decorations.

A woman all in black: the dark side to Scarlette's red, perhaps? A modern psychologist might interpret the strange figure as Juliette's subconscious reaction to the Mistress of the House. She seems to have confided the dream to at least one friend, who recommended that she write down all her dreams from that point on.

Before this narrative becomes bogged down in dream-imagery, it's best to consider one detail. By August 3, Scarlette had returned to the House from France. It's worth mentioning this for one reason: despite its striking imagery, over the following weeks Juliette failed to dream of the black woman again (in fact, the black woman wouldn't reappear until the very end of the month). Almost as if the 'dream' of the black room wasn't part of her usual dreaming at all. Almost as if the 'dream' of the black room wasn't part of her usual dreaming at all. And note that curious detail, the fact that Juliette was awoken by the smell of And note that curious detail, the fact that Juliette was awoken by the smell of smoke smoke.

In many forms of witchcraft, it's traditional for a young member of the coven to enter a darkened place and undergo initiation at the hands of a mysterious black-clad figure, often just the head of the coven in disguise. It was certainly Mackandal's technique in Hispaniola. With nothing more than some burned herbs (to dull the senses) and some black decorations, it would have been easy to fake this supposed dream-journey... to psychologically prepare Juliette for what came later.

Before moving on, it might be a good idea to consider one other entry from the dream diary of early August. Although this is by no means the most detailed or explicit entry, it does sum up Juliette's night-time experiences best. Not only that, there are also overtones of events in Saint-Domingue and the other West Indian colonies: I was paralyzed as if I were rooted in the Earth like a tree although I knew I had been there longer than any tree. I could feel myself bleeding but when I bled it was as the whole of the ground had split open... I was in the jungle that was burning and I could feel my skin p.r.i.c.kling when they tore at me. The animals were watching from the darkness and I knew they were apes though I could not explain how I knew it. The apes were clawing over my flesh and tearing at me as they ran over my body to pull at the dead men who had fallen in the fighting.

This description is confusing, until one realises what Juliette doesn't seem to have been able to express in words. The underlying theme here is that in some way Juliette is is the Earth. The apes, as they spread over the planet, are described as swarming over Juliette's skin. the Earth. The apes, as they spread over the planet, are described as swarming over Juliette's skin.

This shouldn't be misconstrued. The decades that followed would see the birth in the human psyche of the 'Gaia myth', the idea which evolved from the 'natural whole' theories of eighteenth-century writers like Rousseau that the Earth is a single evolving organism, and that all forms of life are merely extensions of its body. Of course, the Gaia myth is simply a kind of latter-day folk story, a mythical oversimplification of the concept of evolving ecosystems. But consider the nature of the Henrietta Street House. The women had been brought in tune with a single biological cycle, just as the women in older witch-cults attempted to put themselves in tune with the moon itself. So there's a suggestion, in Juliette's dreams, that Juliette was being deliberately exposed to influences which could somehow bring her in line with the whole planet... scientifically ridiculous, of course, but rituals like the wedding were symbolic symbolic rather than scientific. rather than scientific.

(The Doctor told many stories of his travels, most of them involving fabulous creatures and bordering on the inexplicable. Notably, the Doctor had told Scarlette that two of his most recent adventures had taken place in two most remarkable worlds... one called Ceresalpha, where the children were as ghosts, and another where faerie-tales came true'. And the Doctor had described both both these worlds as being in some way 'alive'. Whether to believe these unlikely tales of the Doctor's exploits is for the individual to decide, but if taken literally it could be argued that the Doctor had travelled to both of these peculiar realms, subconsciously or otherwise, in order to get himself into the right frame of mind for the ritual he was to perform at Henrietta Street.) these worlds as being in some way 'alive'. Whether to believe these unlikely tales of the Doctor's exploits is for the individual to decide, but if taken literally it could be argued that the Doctor had travelled to both of these peculiar realms, subconsciously or otherwise, in order to get himself into the right frame of mind for the ritual he was to perform at Henrietta Street.) One final point is worth mentioning. The more Juliette dwelt on her dreams the more intense they became, and not surprisingly for someone of her age there's an increasing amount of s.e.xual imagery as the diary goes on. On the night of August 15, she records: I was once again rooted to the ground and unable to move but this time there was cold Earth on all sides of me. I was not afraid. It was as if I had been put in the grave and I was dressed all in black. This time there was no scratching from the animals but when I looked up I saw _____ standing over me. [She uses a proper name here, but her symbol is impossible to decipher.] _____ nodded at me and told me that I had done well to be so calm in my tomb. It was then that he lowered himself into the ground with me and so we lay together for a while... not touching though his expressions to me were most intimate. I found that the ring had gone from my finger but now _____ had it and it lay there on his chest above his heart. I could not feel but that the grave had teeth around its edge.

There are more explicit dreams, but this sums up the mood of them.

If the woman in black was indeed just a part of Juliette's initiation, then it's likely that the Doctor knew nothing of it. Although Scarlette was back at the House by August, the Doctor wasn't. The Doctor had last met Scarlette in Calais, where Scarlette was awaiting the packet-boat that would take her back to England. In one of the journals, Lisa-Beth records that the three of them met 'as if by chance' at the docks, where the Doctor was found sitting with his legs dangling over the edge of the harbour on a breezy summer's afternoon, feeding the gulls while watching the sailors load their s.h.i.+ps for the West Indies. Even Scarlette was surprised by the Doctor's appearance, with his trousers rolled up and his bare feet over the side. It hardly matches the slightly sinister aspect the Doctor had taken on, with his villainous beard and his increasingly sombre clothing.

The three travellers spent the afternoon at the harbour, and it didn't take long for their conversation to get round to topics more serious than paddling. Once again, the subject of Lisa-Beth's secret rears its head. This was the conversation in which the Doctor finally admitted how important Sabbath was going to be to their cause, and confronted Scarlette with the fact that she'd have to meet her old nemesis-c.u.m*lover face-to*face before this was over. Perhaps because of this, Scarlette felt it was time to tell the Doctor what she'd she'd been withholding. been withholding.

So what could this mysterious secret have been, which somehow linked Lisa-Beth to Juliette and which was of such concern to the House? What significance was there in the fact that Lisa-Beth constantly referred to Juliette as 'the Flower'? What was all this really about?

Of course, it's impossible to say for certain. But many of Lisa-Beth's journals refer not only to her time at Scarlette's House, but to her younger days as well, specifically the years she spent in India from the mid-1770s until 1781. Lisa-Beth had been trained by Mother Dutt, a notorious eastern procuress known for both her great wisdom and her utter ruthlessness. So it may be of note that the girl who slept in the bed next to Lisa-Beth at Mother Dutt's brothel, under a blasphemous painted ceiling depicting the G.o.d Hanuman in a lewd posture, was an eleven-year*old English girl; a girl who had the tantra tantra training forced on her, and who would struggle and cry out as the Mother enforced the discipline of the House; a girl generally referred to as 'Little Rose'. training forced on her, and who would struggle and cry out as the Mother enforced the discipline of the House; a girl generally referred to as 'Little Rose'.

If these details were of any relevance, then perhaps that day in Calais the Doctor had to face the fact that Juliette wasn't quite the girl he'd intended to marry.

Love Scarlette left Calais for England on August 4, Lisa-Beth following her two days later. It was on her last day in France that Scarlette saw the 's.h.i.+ning s.h.i.+p' again, though as yet she'd still managed to avoid meeting Sabbath face-to*face.

Scarlette's own description of the event is typically romantic. She describes standing alone at the Calais harbour, but this time at sunset, the orange light burning the walls of the harbour buildings and turning the s.h.i.+ps into shadows on the water. She describes the Doctor, rowing himself out to sea in one of the little boats that Sabbath used for transporting his agents to and from the Jonah Jonah. She relates that he was forty yards from the dock, little more than a blot in the distance, when he stopped to look up at her and wave. She waved back, and it was at that exact moment that the s.h.i.+p appeared as if from nowhere, a silver gleam on the horizon which made her wince and look away. The Doctor had promised her that on board the s.h.i.+p he'd have everything he needed to complete his work, a host of miraculous scientific paraphernalia which would restore him to his place of power. But as Scarlette describes it, the s.h.i.+p was more a deathtrap than a scientists' paradise.

Then, she claims, she realised there was someone standing next to her. A figure 'garbed for the most part in black' had appeared with the same suddenness as the s.h.i.+p itself, and like Scarlette he watched the Doctor's boat shrink into a tiny black speck.

Scarlette doesn't name the man at the docks, but her description exactly matches the curious clean-shaven, Saturnine individual with the blue-and*white rosette from the Manchester tavern. Once again, the man with the Whig colours on his lapel was pleasant and witty, and Scarlette seems to have enjoyed his company... if, indeed, he wasn't simply part of Scarlette's invention. On watching the Jonah Jonah vanish, the man told Scarlette that 'he's taken up the position rather nicely', although whether he was referring to the Doctor or Sabbath is unclear. And this time, there was physical evidence of his existence. He gave Scarlette a gift, 'to take back to your House... whoever might need it'. vanish, the man told Scarlette that 'he's taken up the position rather nicely', although whether he was referring to the Doctor or Sabbath is unclear. And this time, there was physical evidence of his existence. He gave Scarlette a gift, 'to take back to your House... whoever might need it'.

The gift was a pair of rings, each one crafted in fine polished silver. Scarlette would later present them to the Doctor, so it's feasible that she only made up the story of meeting the man at the harbour to cover up a more dubious provenance for the jewellery.

The Doctor spent much of this period on Sabbath's s.h.i.+p. What the two of them talked about is anybody's guess, but it's doubtful the Doctor spent much time consoling Sabbath on his bereavement (the death of Tula Lui apparently upset Scarlette more than the Doctor, and on her return to England Scarlette insisted on visiting the last known Mayakai Mayakai in Europe now an old woman, residing in St James's and considered by many in society a great curiosity to 'bury' the girl in the manner of her own people). What's certain is that two days later, the wars.h.i.+p departed for Hispaniola. in Europe now an old woman, residing in St James's and considered by many in society a great curiosity to 'bury' the girl in the manner of her own people). What's certain is that two days later, the wars.h.i.+p departed for Hispaniola.

On the night before Lisa-Beth was to follow Scarlette back to London, she and the Doctor spent the evening together in Paris, watching the magic-lantern shows and strolling players at an open-air establishment owned by the Duc de Chartres. The Doctor was 'excited', Lisa-Beth later recorded, although she noted that he was still looking pale. The Doctor's enthusiasm was perhaps fuelled by the very atmosphere of France at the time. Even apart from suspected cranks like Mesmer, science was the order of the day. The Montgolfier brothers were on the cusp of sending the first prototype hot air balloon soaring into the sky over the Champs de Mars, and it was commonly believed that men would take to the air within the year. While the intellectuals of France debated the possibility of airborne warfare (much in the 'we can drop things on the heads of the English, and we won't need need their d.a.m.n treaty' mould), the Doctor was planning similar excursions in another dimension altogether. their d.a.m.n treaty' mould), the Doctor was planning similar excursions in another dimension altogether.

From his garbled words, Lisa-Beth established that Sabbath was engaged in the feat of actually leaving Earth's entire demesne, using to his advantage the same weakness of s.p.a.ce which had let the babewyns babewyns in... but that Scarlette's old flame had, as yet, not found a way of doing this without himself and his pa.s.sengers losing their 'integrity'. When Lisa-Beth asked what Sabbath was lacking, the Doctor cheerfully tapped himself on the chest and replied: 'Me.' in... but that Scarlette's old flame had, as yet, not found a way of doing this without himself and his pa.s.sengers losing their 'integrity'. When Lisa-Beth asked what Sabbath was lacking, the Doctor cheerfully tapped himself on the chest and replied: 'Me.'

But Lisa-Beth, like Scarlette, was wary of Sabbath even now that he'd supposedly been cowed.

So much had been said about Sabbath in the House that the main threat, the threat of the apes, had been somewhat neglected. Yet in her dream diary, Juliette repeatedly makes mention of the black-eyed sun, that mysterious dark G.o.d of the ape-world. There's a definite sense that she felt it was watching her. Although the eye she saw in her dreams was nothing but a nightmare, her paranoia wasn't unique. Rebecca, like Juliette, would frequently suffer bad dreams. Though she only spoke of them occasionally, it's known that she suffered nightmares about her experiences in America. She more than once dreamed of Mistress Deerfield, the 'Queen of New York State' and the last true American tantrist tantrist before Crane and Was.h.i.+ngton's Revolution, hanging from a crucifix in the middle of the blue-skied cornfields of Virginia. By August 1782 the dream had expanded to include the detail of the black-eyed sun, boiling in the sky directly above the cross, watching Rebecca as she turned her back on the crucifix and ran for her life through the corn. before Crane and Was.h.i.+ngton's Revolution, hanging from a crucifix in the middle of the blue-skied cornfields of Virginia. By August 1782 the dream had expanded to include the detail of the black-eyed sun, boiling in the sky directly above the cross, watching Rebecca as she turned her back on the crucifix and ran for her life through the corn.

Juliette's dream diary is equally disturbing in places, but often just downright odd. For example, on the night of August 12 Juliette claims she was awoken from her sleep by the same smell of smoke that had awoken her once before. Again she crept downstairs, but this time the salon seemed normal, if dark and empty, and she was on the cusp of believing that she was actually awake when she noticed a piece of paper which had been left on top of the House's pianoforte (if this was a dream, perhaps it was inspired by the memory of the Doctor's GONE TO FRANCE note, which had also been left on the piano... the Doctor was certainly nowhere near London on August 12). On unfolding the note: I found that the paper was plain but for a single word and that word was _____ [symbol incomprehensible]. At this I felt a great flush over me such as I had not felt except in the dream of myself being in the cold grave. I felt some excitement as I read the word out loud. I did not know what it meant but as I said it there was a burning in my blood and the smell of salt water. For a moment I believed I was drowning and then there was a sudden rush and I was gone.

This is curious, particularly given what Anji experienced on that same night, an experience she later shared with others at the House. Anji claimed that she was woken in her bed by a sound from the salon, which she thought thought sounded like somebody shouting but which at the same time made her feel 'uneasy'. She also noticed that Juliette's bed was empty. Anji apparently didn't think enough of this to go downstairs and see what was happening, but it later transpired that one of the other women in the House felt the same thing and sounded like somebody shouting but which at the same time made her feel 'uneasy'. She also noticed that Juliette's bed was empty. Anji apparently didn't think enough of this to go downstairs and see what was happening, but it later transpired that one of the other women in the House felt the same thing and did did take a look into the salon. Nothing was happening; n.o.body was there. take a look into the salon. Nothing was happening; n.o.body was there.

Given his usual concern for Juliette, one might expect that when the Doctor returned to the House (in late August) he'd be worried about these stories. But it seems not, and by that stage he'd already been told a thing or two about Juliette's past. He may have realised that his and Scarlette's control over her had become too tight, that he was expecting unrealistic things from her, that his plans for her were too close to the kind of ruthless manipulation practised by Sabbath. He may have believed that if Juliette was becoming restless, if her thoughts were becoming intense and her interests increasingly esoteric, then it was part of p.u.b.erty and he should leave her well alone.

If the speculation about the connection between 'the Flower' and 'Little Rose' has any weight, then one can only wonder whether the Doctor ever questioned Juliette about her own integrity integrity. Scarlette states repeatedly that the Doctor was a perfect gentlemen, but then again he was a man who often seemed to misunderstand basic human feelings and therefore to act with what appeared to be a lack of tact. True, Juliette was to be the 'Virgin of Spring', the physical representation of the raw and unaffected Earth. But did the Doctor really attach that much importance to that aspect of the ritual? Would it really doom the whole process if one little detail was wrong?

Besides, the Doctor had other things to worry about. He fretted about the wedding invites, some of which still hadn't been delivered and most of which hadn't been answered. He constantly asked Scarlette where she'd obtained the two silver rings, which everybody was a.s.suming would be used in the wedding ceremony itself. Undeniably, the Doctor had been slightly slightly tactless in harping on about Sabbath so much in Scarlette's presence, and some noticed Scarlette becoming a little... tactless in harping on about Sabbath so much in Scarlette's presence, and some noticed Scarlette becoming a little... frosty frosty with him. Indeed, at one point Anji took the Doctor to one side and tried to warn him that she didn't trust Scarlette at all. with him. Indeed, at one point Anji took the Doctor to one side and tried to warn him that she didn't trust Scarlette at all.

'Just look what's happening to Juliette,' Anji's supposed to have said. 'Where do you think she's getting all these ideas from?'

Anji seems to have been implying that Scarlette was initiating Juliette in mysteries of her own, and what's remarkable is that the Doctor doesn't seem to have been bothered by the thought. It's possible that his determination on finding the TARDIS was becoming an obsession.

True to what he'd said at the Royal Academy, by this time the Doctor had taken up painting. In the last days of August he sat in his cellar for hours on end, brush in his hand, brow furrowed, staring intently at a wet canvas. Business had dropped away so badly that the House was almost like a haunted mansion, with the Doctor as its subterranean mad-artist*in-residence, and on some nights the sound of his brush was the only sound to be heard. Only once did Scarlette, along with Fitz, interrupt the Doctor while he was working. They were surprised to find him painting rather than toying with scientific equipment, but by then most of his experiments had been moved to the Jonah Jonah.

It was Fitz who was first to risk looking over the Doctor's shoulder at his work. It was a portrait, of 'an old man serious in appearance with a great red beard', according to Scarlette's journal. When Fitz asked who it was supposed to be, the Doctor replied: 'My grandfather.'

'Really?' responded Fitz, with some surprise.

'No,' announced the Doctor.

It transpired that the Doctor was anxious about his family, anxious that none of them would be able to attend his wedding on the grounds that 'none of them had ever existed'. He'd therefore decided to paint himself a family instead. Fitz asked no more questions after that, for fear of awakening the past.

'A family of elementals,' Scarlette notes in her journals. 'Such a thing hardly bears consideration.'

So it was that the Doctor occupied himself. In retrospect, though, Anji's warning had been right. Juliette was indeed picking up new ideas from somewhere, and they were only adding to the intensity of her dreams.

The best indicator of this is a letter, one of the very few doc.u.ments (the dream diary being another) in Juliette's own hand. The letter was written to an individual whom Juliette had come to think of as her closest friend, and although it doesn't directly relate to any of the dream-visions it's clear from the text that certain images were preying on her mind. If the language of the letter seems mature for one of Juliette's age, it has to be remembered that this wasn't unusual for a young woman of the era, especially not for an acolyte of Scarlette.

I told you that _____ [the same symbol as in the dream about the grave] is with me all the time. He is and I do not think I can escape him or would want to. More and more I sense that the things around me in the House are part of the very same process that gave me life and blood and body the very same process that gave me life and blood and body... I am placed placed [i.e. connected?] on this Earth now and I sense that he also wishes to be placed here. He knows it is his true place and perhaps by coming together we will both come to understand what parts we will play in the fate of this world. [i.e. connected?] on this Earth now and I sense that he also wishes to be placed here. He knows it is his true place and perhaps by coming together we will both come to understand what parts we will play in the fate of this world.I love him. It seems strange to me to have to write down such a thing as it is as natural as being alive on the Earth. I do not love him in the way that _____ [another symbol, probably meaning Rebecca] has told me a romance should be conducted. I love him as you would love the experience of waking up and taking a breath if you had not forgotten how important it is by doing it so much. I have tried to speak to _____ [another symbol, possibly Fitz] and he is very sweet but cannot help me in this. I have heard that priests also love G.o.d and that soldiers love their country... it must feel very much the same.There is no greater love than this. Yet I know that I have been wielded [manipulated?] into this position and despite all I have been told I am in love with the consequences as much as with the act itself.

The 'friend' to whom this letter was addressed was none other than Emily, the same young, enthusiastic sixteen-year*old who'd first suggested that Juliette should keep a dream diary.

But all this took place at the end of August. When Juliette's strange and troubling dreams began, the Doctor was still in the West Indies.

The Cross The rebels of Saint-Domingue, the western portion of Hispaniola, knew little of European politics and cared even less. It's not easy to take an interest in global concerns when you're struggling to survive in a dark, sodden jungle interior, knowing that your relatives are being held hostage to casual torture in the nearest settlements. However, even the most hardened disciples of the late Mackandal must have noticed that the French authorities were somewhat distracted distracted in the early 1780s. in the early 1780s.

It was the war, of course. The war between Britain and America, into which both the French and the Spanish had been dragged. France had neither the resources nor the patience to concentrate on a little thing like a mercilessly b.l.o.o.d.y slave uprising. As a result, the Maroons those most organised, most disciplined and most religious of rebels took the opportunity to do everything they could to weaken the slavemasters' resolve. When they weren't trying to poison the wells, they were using weapons of a more psychological kind. Skulls would be planted at strategic points around the French settlements. Mutilated cadavers would be lashed to trees. The original settlers of Hispaniola had been pirates, and the rebels took up the old standards with relish, planting the skull-and*crossbones on the verges of the territory they felt to be theirs. If Hispaniola had a truly national flag, it was the Jolly Roger.

On August 15, the slaves held a crucifixion, every bit as symbolic as the one dreamed of by Rebecca. It was only a matter of time: the Maroons, before they'd escaped slavery, had been drilled in Roman Catholicism. Mackandal himself was a black Christ in the eyes of many, and to those who'd grown up under the sadism of the Church the image of the nail in the flesh was irresistible.

It was close to midnight when the wooden cross was hoisted into position in the jungle, close enough to a French settlement to make a point, far enough away that the victim wouldn't be found until after his death. Fires were set on either side, the only beacons of light in the wet darkness. Those responsible for the execution retreated as soon as the victim, still dazed from the drugs he'd been given after his capture, had been nailed into position. The victim himself was n.o.body of consequence, a young man in the employ of the French administration, thought to be an adjutant to a local bureaucrat. He'd only left France four months earlier, so he'd probably never even set foot in the jungle before he'd been bludgeoned and half-poisoned by the Maroons.

The rebels were still nearby, and the fires were still burning, when the foreign man in the velvet suit casually walked into the clearing.

The witness to this event was a seventeen-year*old Maroon recruit called Lucien Malpertuis. He'd later fight alongside both L'Ouverture and Dessalines in the Napoleonic wars, when the French Emperor would take up tactics even more brutal than those of the slavemasters in order to quash the rebellion. After L'Ouverture's death in a French prison cell, Lucien would travel to Scotland, where he'd write his memoirs (in uncertain English) and provide the west with many important accounts of the struggle in Hispaniola. Lucien was one of several Maroons lurking close enough to the crucifixion site to notice the white stranger arrive, and to watch him with caution from the cover of the trees.

They must have been surprised when the stranger arrived. They must have been somewhat more than surprised when he looked up at the semiconscious figure on the cross, shook his head, and began looking around the clearing for the largest fallen branches available. Within minutes he'd made himself a makes.h.i.+ft stepladder from foliage and fragments of trunk, which he promptly used to climb up towards the condemned man.

It was at this point that the Maroons decided to make their presence felt. At the lead was emondeur, an ageing, stick-thin, but particularly hard-headed 'priest' of the unit whose left eye had been taken out by a French bullet and who proudly wore a gla.s.s ball in his socket like a trophy. The Maroons employed their usual tactics of intimidation by forming a semicircle around the cross, and therefore around the stranger. To their chagrin, the stranger barely seemed to notice. He proceeded to remove the nails from the crucified man, taking great care to support the victim's weight and prevent any suffocation, then to hoist the man over his shoulder and carry him down the tree-ladder.

Next the stranger spread the still-breathing victim out on the ground, and examined him at length. He'd unquestionably noticed the hostile figures around him, but didn't appear at all concerned. It was only then that emondeur decided his authority had been challenged enough, and demanded to know who the stranger was.

Ostensibly, the stranger explained that he was a doctor from England who was working for the French administration. (This is dubious. Lucien possibly misheard 'the Doctor' as ' Doctor' as 'a doctor', and probably just doctor', and probably just a.s.sumed a.s.sumed that the man, as most Europeans did, worked for the administration.) At this emondeur became angry, and began cursing this Doctor, insisting that this was Mackandal's place and that enemies of Mackandal's kin deserved their fate. that the man, as most Europeans did, worked for the administration.) At this emondeur became angry, and began cursing this Doctor, insisting that this was Mackandal's place and that enemies of Mackandal's kin deserved their fate.

Then the Doctor calmly reached into his jacket and removed an envelope... an envelope which, with Lucien's usual flair for macabre mis-remembrance, is described as 'deepest red and dripping with blood'. The Doctor handed the envelope to emondeur, who stared at it with his one good eye and clearly had no idea how to react.

With the wedding four months and an ocean away, the Doctor was making sure all the invitations were delivered correctly. It's easy to believe that the Doctor, born traveller that he was, would have relished the chance to deliver the last few messages personally. And is it really coincidence that he should spend so much time away from the House, almost tactfully, so soon after finding out that Juliette was quite capable of having a life (and secrets) of her own without him?

It's got to be said again, there is no evidence no evidence at all to prove that Lisa-Beth knew Juliette well before the arrival at the House. The link between Juliette and 'Little Rose' is purely speculation. The truth is, almost nothing is known about Juliette's life. From her own recollections, shared with her friends, all that can be deduced is that she never knew her own parents: she had a sister, possibly a twin, although Juliette believed her to be dead. Juliette's early years seem to have been spent abroad, it's true, in the custody of an organisation whose name she never told. (This sounds unduly sinister. 'Organisation' doesn't necessarily mean some arcane secret society. The eighteenth century was the early corporate age, when interests such as the East India Company would constantly s.h.i.+p what might be called 'human resources' between Europe and the east. There may have been laws against white slavery, but there were notoriously few laws regarding the rights of children, so corporate owners.h.i.+p wasn't unknown.) at all to prove that Lisa-Beth knew Juliette well before the arrival at the House. The link between Juliette and 'Little Rose' is purely speculation. The truth is, almost nothing is known about Juliette's life. From her own recollections, shared with her friends, all that can be deduced is that she never knew her own parents: she had a sister, possibly a twin, although Juliette believed her to be dead. Juliette's early years seem to have been spent abroad, it's true, in the custody of an organisation whose name she never told. (This sounds unduly sinister. 'Organisation' doesn't necessarily mean some arcane secret society. The eighteenth century was the early corporate age, when interests such as the East India Company would constantly s.h.i.+p what might be called 'human resources' between Europe and the east. There may have been laws against white slavery, but there were notoriously few laws regarding the rights of children, so corporate owners.h.i.+p wasn't unknown.) The question of what Juliette's owners might have used used her for remains unanswered. If she had indeed been present at the House of Dutt in India, then she may have been sold into service there. What's more interesting is the question of how she came to England. Scarlette on more than one occasion claimed that she'd 'summoned' Juliette. This isn't literally true, as Juliette was known to have arrived in England on a tea-s.h.i.+p, but Scarlette nonetheless felt she was responsible for Juliette's arrival in Covent Garden. Perhaps Scarlette puts it best when she writes: her for remains unanswered. If she had indeed been present at the House of Dutt in India, then she may have been sold into service there. What's more interesting is the question of how she came to England. Scarlette on more than one occasion claimed that she'd 'summoned' Juliette. This isn't literally true, as Juliette was known to have arrived in England on a tea-s.h.i.+p, but Scarlette nonetheless felt she was responsible for Juliette's arrival in Covent Garden. Perhaps Scarlette puts it best when she writes: One must be so spectacular than none can resist one's pull... remarkable people draw other remarkable people to them, by accident or will. Two years ago [1780] I opened up my arms and bid the world come to me, knowing what lay ahead and what companions I would need to complete the purpose. I called, and they came.

Grand words indeed. And is there the suggestion here that Scarlette believed she'd called the Doctor as well? It seems odd, after all, that Scarlette should be the first person he met after 'walking to Earth'.

If this was how Scarlette treated Juliette, then it's little wonder Juliette felt so dedicated to her duty. But Juliette was too intelligent and self-aware to be a mere p.a.w.n. Her own, illicit, experiments in alchemy prove that. So does her dream diary, in which the figure of _____ is sometimes depicted as a lover, and sometimes as a monster (albeit an exciting exciting monster). Consciously or otherwise, she must have wanted to find an alternative to her destiny. And Scarlette? Scarlette and Juliette had the greatest respect and love for each other, there's no doubt about that, but at the same time... at the same time, the Mistress was too strong of purpose to consider all the consequences. monster). Consciously or otherwise, she must have wanted to find an alternative to her destiny. And Scarlette? Scarlette and Juliette had the greatest respect and love for each other, there's no doubt about that, but at the same time... at the same time, the Mistress was too strong of purpose to consider all the consequences.

In the last week of August, it became clear exactly how true this was when somebody threw a brick through the downstairs window of the House on Henrietta Street.

The women were in the salon at the time, idling the evening away, waiting for business that hardly ever came. n.o.body ever found out who'd thrown the brick, although guesses ranged from rival prost.i.tutes bearing grudges to hot-headed members of the watch who'd decided that n.o.body was going to come to Scarlette's aid. The women panicked, not because they thought there was a real threat but because this was such a breach of decorum. The message was clear. This House was no longer protected.

When Scarlette came down from her boudoir, she waved the incident aside and said it was a simple matter to have the window mended. At this, Katya finally snapped. Katya, who'd stuck with the House despite her reservations, who'd somehow felt compelled to help the Doctor's cause even though the Russian spy-network must have been able to find her better work elsewhere. She began screaming at Scarlette, claiming that the House was dying, that they were all going to starve to death if the babewyns babewyns didn't tear them apart first. Scarlette was said to have reached for the shard of gla.s.s around her neck, only to remember that it was no longer there. didn't tear them apart first. Scarlette was said to have reached for the shard of gla.s.s around her neck, only to remember that it was no longer there.

Finally, Katya started shrieking about the dress. That was probably the turning point.

The previous day, Scarlette had taken Juliette to a reputed couturier's in Charing Cross. The dressmaker was well-thought*of in society circles, certainly rather expensive. However, Scarlette had insisted that this wasn't an ordinary ordinary wedding dress and that only an extraordinary dressmaker was up to the task. The man in the shop was apparently quite taken aback when Scarlette gave him the details, no doubt being of the belief that wedding dresses should be somewhat sombre in tone. To fas.h.i.+on one in red... and one so elaborate, with Scarlette specifying so many details about its exact dimensions and the materials to be used... wedding dress and that only an extraordinary dressmaker was up to the task. The man in the shop was apparently quite taken aback when Scarlette gave him the details, no doubt being of the belief that wedding dresses should be somewhat sombre in tone. To fas.h.i.+on one in red... and one so elaborate, with Scarlette specifying so many details about its exact dimensions and the materials to be used...

Nonetheless, the couturier obediently had one of his women take Juliette's measurements while Scarlette watched with a zealous eye. On their return to the House, Scarlette refused to discuss the bill with anyone but Lisa-Beth. The women must have started itching right away.

So it was that Katya screamed at Scarlette, while Scarlette stood, unmoving, and took the abuse. And Juliette too said nothing, Lisa-Beth noting that 'she simply watched and could find no way of ending the dispute... though it embarra.s.sed her greatly'.

Of course it did. Juliette still had the sneaking, guilty suspicion that all of this was her fault. Possibly it was at this moment that she decided on a course of action which would change the nature of the wedding completely.

The Sensibility of Mistress Juliette emondeur was not by any means one of the great resistance leaders in Saint-Domingue. Unlike Mackandal (the Black Jesus), L'Ouverture (the great military martyr) or Dessalines (the doomed Napoleon of Slaves), he was no great commander or visionary. He was merely the head of one Maroon unit, one of many that kept the struggle going before the grand campaigns of the 1790s. But the encampment overseen by emondeur was notable for one thing: the savage, carnivorous ape which the Maroons kept there.

The animal was held in chains. The encampment was small, formed out of low makes.h.i.+ft structures which had been a.s.sembled out of the debris of the jungle and hidden in the shadows of the undergrowth. At night there was nothing to see at all, except for the occasional fire in the damp darkness. The ape had a hut of its own, a construction not more than four feet from floor to ceiling with its walls stinking from filth. The Maroons had initially hoped to train the creature, perhaps as a weapon against the French, but despite their best attempts to feed it and drug it the ape would tug at its chain and try to scratch the skin from anyone who came within a yard of its enclosure. The Maroons kept it alive, feeding it on any animal carca.s.ses they came across in the jungle, in the hope that one day they'd have a chance to set it loose on the enemy.

When emondeur showed the beast to the Doctor and Sabbath, on the night of the failed crucifixion, the 'priest' seemed proud of the ape. He claimed that he'd summoned it himself, out of the Circles of h.e.l.l, and that his Maroons were so well drilled that they'd managed to capture it alive without sufferin