I glanced to where Broderick stood, looking out to sea, ignoring the soldiers. I sighed. ‘Very well. For a minute.’

Leacon looked over at his men. ‘Move away there. And stand up straight, can’t you?’ He turned to me as they stepped away from Broderick. ‘Maleverer gave me two of the surliest idiots in the troop to guard Broderick. I’ve already had to dock the pay of one for being drunk.’

Broderick turned to me as I approached. His thin face was drawn with pain above his yellow unkempt beard, which, like his long hair, glinted with spray. He looked more like a little old man than a young one. As he turned to me he winced as he moved his left arm.

‘What ails your arm?’

‘The rack.’ He looked at me. The wildness had gone from his eyes, he seemed strangely calm. There had been some change in his state of mind since I saw him last.

‘I hear you were nearly killed at Howlme,’ he said quietly. ‘By Bernard Locke’s fiancée.’

‘Yes.’

‘I knew Locke a little. He is a man to get a woman to do his bidding. I wanted you to know it was nothing to do with me. Maleverer questioned me about it. He used forceful methods.’

‘I am sorry for it. And I know Jennet Marlin acted alone.’ I hesitated. ‘We never found the papers she took. If it was she that took them.’

He did not answer.

‘I wonder if it was someone else who stole them, whether perhaps they are in the hands of the conspirators now. Maleverer thinks I am a fool.’

He met my gaze evenly, but still said nothing.

‘I am right, aren’t I? You know?’

Again, no reply. I sighed and changed the subject.

‘So, you are sorry Jennet Marlin tried to kill me?’

‘Yes. I would not have you die. You have shown me kindness in your way.’

I looked at him. ‘Yet if it served your purposes you would kill me, would you not?’

‘Not with pleasure,’ he said in an oddly matter-of-fact way. ‘I view no one’s death with pleasure. Even where it may be necessary. Nor would you, I think.’

‘Mistress Marlin spoke of necessary deaths. I do not like the idea that anyone’s death is necessary.’

‘Mine is.’ He gave his old sardonic smile. ‘You accepted that, or you would not have taken the mission from Cranmer to look after my welfare.’

I sighed.

‘Why did you do it? You do not belong with a company of brutes like Maleverer and Radwinter.’

‘I let myself become obligated to the Archbishop.’

He nodded, then said, ‘They will not make me talk in London.’

‘They will, Broderick,’ I answered quietly.

‘No.’ A faint smile, one that chilled me, the smile of one who has secret knowledge. He lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘They will not. And remember, Master Shardlake, what I told you once. The time of the Mouldwarp is almost over.’ He looked at me sadly. ‘You know, I think you could have been one of us. You may be yet.’

I turned away. Sergeant Leacon was standing nearby.

‘I have never seen him so calm,’ I told him.

‘He is in a strange mood. Did he say anything of importance?’

‘He said they will not break him.’

‘They will.’

‘I know.’

I walked away to the hatch. Radwinter was still leaning over the rail, staring out to sea.

THAT EVENING, after supper eaten from bowls on the deck, I sat on the bench as the sun sank below the horizon. The sea was quiet, only a little swell. A red sun, in a sky that had begun to fill with clouds. I hoped more bad weather was not coming. Tamasin had gone to her cabin and Barak was talking to a group of servants a little way off.

There was more of a wind now, enough to make some headway. I was glad, for I was increasingly worried about Giles, who still spent most of his time asleep in his cabin. All around dim forms, huddled against the evening cold, dozed or spoke quietly or played at cards or chess. The moon rose, a silvery line on the sea. A man swathed in furs came up the stair-ladder from below to take the air. Beneath a jewelled cap I recognized the thin features of Richard Rich. He walked down the deck, head sunk on his chin, thinking. The sailors working on deck moved quickly out of his way as he passed. Then he walked up the deck again. As he reached the bench where I sat his eyes held mine for a second. Then he gave his little smile, turned and walked away again. He descended the steps, his footsteps fading away. When he had gone I rose. Barak came over to me.

‘That arsehole.’

‘Ay.’ I was pleased by his concern.

‘Did he say anything?’

‘No, just gave me an evil look. I think I will go down.’

‘Ay, it is getting cold.’

‘I feel colder still for seeing Rich.’

Below decks all was quiet. As I passed Broderick’s cell, though, I noticed with surprise that the two soldiers standing outside were drinking beer from a flagon they were passing between them. Seeing me, the one holding it tried to hide it behind his back. I frowned and went on to my room. As I was settling on to my bunk I heard raised voices outside. I rose and quickly opened the door. Other doors were opening, people looking out.

‘What in God’s name do you think you are doing?’ It was Sergeant Leacon’s voice, furious. The two soldiers stood red-faced, one holding the flagon at his side. The sergeant kicked it out of his hand and it crashed on the floor, the beer spilling out. The soldier staggered.

‘God’s wounds, you’ll suffer for this. You’ll both come with me to Maleverer, now.’

The soldiers paled. The door to the cell opened and Radwinter looked out. ‘What in hell is going on?’ he snapped.

Leacon turned to him, red-faced. ‘These churls are drinking on duty. I’m taking them to Maleverer.’ And with that he grabbed the two men by the collars and marched them away. Radwinter watched him go, smiling at his rival’s discomfiture. I shut my door before he saw me.

A ROUGH HAND, shaking me hard. I opened my eyes, blinking. Someone holding a lamp. My cabin door was open. Outside, voices were murmuring excitedly. I sat up, and found myself looking into Maleverer’s grim face. In the shadows behind him I saw Barak in his shirt, his hair tousled.

‘Wake up!’ Maleverer snapped his fingers angrily in my face. ‘Come on! Get up!’

I rose to my feet. In the doorway I saw Giles, clutching blankets around his big form and looking bemused, and Tamasin with Barak’s coat draped round her. Maleverer turned and shouted at them and the other people who had wakened and come into the corridor.

‘Get back to bed!’ he bawled. ‘I’ll have the lot of you arrested!’

‘What is this commotion?’ Giles asked, a new querulousness in his voice.

‘Come back to bed, Master Wrenne,’ Tamasin said. She took his arm and led him away. Other doors closed. Barak alone stayed in the doorway. Maleverer turned back to me.

‘You spoke to Broderick yesterday,’ he rasped. ‘What did he say to you?’

My heart jumped as I remembered Broderick’s words: you could have been one of us. I think you may be yet. ‘I – nothing of note,’ I said. ‘I tried to question him about Jennet Marlin but he made no answer, as usual. What has happened?’

‘I’ll show you. Come with me.’

He shouldered his way out of the cabin. I got up; fortunately I had gone to bed in my shirt and hose. ‘What is it?’ I asked Barak.

‘I don’t know. I was woken up by voices and footsteps down there.’ He nodded down the corridor to Broderick’s cell. To my surprise the door was ajar. Radwinter sat slumped on the floor outside, his head in his hands, Sergeant Leacon standing over him.

‘Here!’ Maleverer called. I followed him reluctantly down the corridor. He threw open the door of Broderick’s cell and stood aside. Barak had followed me; I felt warmed by the fact he was still loyal.

The cell was one of the larger rooms, a bunk against each wall and some space between. In that space Broderick hung from the ceiling. He was bare to the waist; his shirt had been twisted into a thick length of material and one end slung over a large beam. The other end had gone round his neck. He was dead, his body swinging in the light swell, the chains that bound his arms and legs making a slight rattle. His feet hung two or three inches above the floor. If he had been any taller he could not have done it in the low cabin. His eyes were closed and his head was bent over at a sickening angle. I looked away from his emaciated, lacerated chest. ‘Dear God.’ I looked at Maleverer. ‘How -’