The Hellfire Rebellion (TimeWars 10)

ling the laughing women down into their laps, dragging them to the floor, laying them out on top of tables and benches. One of the women came and sat down on Delaney’s knee, smiling and reaching for the cord that tied his robe.

“Not now.” he said. “A moment. Nature calls.”

She shrugged and moved on to another man.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” he said to Lucas.

They rose and moved to the side door. All around them, the orgy was in progress as masked men and women fumbled inside one another’s robes, laughing and indulging in the license of anonymous sex. Finn and Lucas left by the side door and stepped out into the cool night breeze.

“Stand where you are!” said a voice out of the darkness. “Raise your hands above your heads!” They froze and did as they were told. Several men stepped out of the shadows, holding muskets and pistols aimed directly at them.

“What is this’?” Lucas said, in an angry tone. “Can’t a man even relieve himself in peace? Put down those guns!”

Another man, this one dressed in a black robe and a mask, unlike the guards, stepped forward.

“Hold your arms out straight, away from your sides.” he said. They both recognized the voice of the speaker in the pulpit. They did as they were told. “Pull back their hoods and remove those masks. If one of them so much as blinks, shoot them both at once.”

They stood absolutely motionless as one of the men stepped forward, yanked back their hoods, and removed their masks.

“Do any of you know these men?” the speaker asked.

The guards all shook their heads.

“Neither do I,” the speaker said. “It appears that we have caught ourselves sonic spys. Search them.”

The man who had removed their masks suddenly jerked, then with a surprised expression, he collapsed to the ground. There were several rapid hissing noises and the remaining guards all fell, dropping their weapons. The robed man glanced around him with alarm, and then he jerked and fell as well. Chavez. Seavers, and Federoff stepped out of the shadows, holding their stinger pistols.

“Nice work,” said Lucas.

“What do you want us to do with them?”‘ asked Seavers, “Pull them back into the trees. They’ll come around. But I want that one,” he said, pointing to the robed man.

Chavez bent down and removed his mask. It was Moffat

“Know him?” he asked.

Lucas shook his head. “No. But he seemed to be the one in charge. He’s working with Drakov.”

“So Hunter was right, he is here.” Seavers said.

“Yeah, he was inside,” said Finn. “You want us to take the place?” asked Federoff.

“Are you kidding? There’s seventy or eighty people in there and about half of them are women. There’s no way I want to risk that. Besides, Drakov could easily clock out in all the confusion, if he hasn’t already. No, have everyone pull back to the safehouse. We’re taking this man with us for interrogation. I want him alone in one of the bedrooms, restrained, with the windows and drapes closed, so he won’t know where he is. We don’t know who he is, so let’s not take any chances. He sees nobody who’s not in colonial dress, understood?”

“Got it.” Seavers said.

“Good. Move out.” Within moments, they were all back in the safehouse, where Hunter was waiting for them with Linda and Andre. They had not risked leaving him alone. Hunter raised his eyebrows when he saw Federoff and Seavers carrying the unconscious robed man into the back bedroom on the upper floor.

“What the hell did you do, kidnap a monk’?” he said.

“One of the leaders of the Hellfire Club,” said Lucas.

“You were right, Hunter. Drakov is here.”

“You saw him?”

“No, but we heard his voice. I’d know that voice anywhere. It seems we owe you an apology. You were right all along.”

“Don’t mention it,” Hunter said. “How well do you know Ebenezer Macintosh?” asked Lucas.