Chapter 18
Consequences
Shortly before dawn, the town of Colchester tumbled from their beds to the dreaded cry of “Fire, fire!” Scrambling from their bunks and berths, the barge crews rushed on deck expecting to find the warehouses ablaze, but instead, observed a column of smoke rising from somewhere further north.
“Look’s ter be t’ edge o’ t’ town proper.”
Dickie frowned, his sense of direction and location sharp and astute as he noted landmarks, judged distances and mentally recalled his knowledge of the relationship between the port and the town itself, some mile and a half to the north west.
“Bloody ’ell. I think it’s t’ coffin maker’s place.”
Tom Bell joined him. “Yer think?” He studied the landmarks then nodded. “’Tis t’ right direction, for sure.”
“We needs ter be certain.” D
