Page 101 of The Armor of Light

Silas Child, in his yellow waistcoat, was looking worried.

Hornbeam had vanished.

Kit and Sue returned, breathless from running up Main Street. ‘The cart went to the riverside,’ Kit said.

Sue added: ‘They’re putting the sacks on a barge.’

Kit said: ‘I asked whose barge it is and a man said Silas Child’s.’

‘That settles it,’ said Sal.

Mrs Dodds had been listening to Kit. Now she turned to a neighbour. ‘Did you hear that?’ she said. ‘Our grain is being loaded onto a Combe barge.’

The neighbour turned to another woman and repeated the news.

Joanie said: ‘I’m going to the riverside to see for myself.’ Sal wanted to counsel caution, but Joanie was headstrong, like her brother Jarge. She started across the square without waiting to consult. Sal, Jarge and the children followed. Mrs Dodds came after them, and others in the crowd had the same idea. They started chanting: ‘Bread and peace.’

Sal saw Will Riddick, clearly in a hurry, entering Willard House, the militia headquarters. As she passed the front window she saw Hornbeam standing inside, looking out with a worried frown.

*

Hornbeam was in Northwood’s office. He said to Riddick: ‘You have to stop this now.’

‘I’m not sure how—’

‘Whatever it takes. Muster your militiamen.’

‘Colonel Northwood gave the men the day off for Saint Adolphus.’

‘Where the devil is Northwood?’

‘Earlscastle.’

‘Still?’

‘Yes. A lot of the men are right outside here, in the square, with their girlfriends.’

It was true. Hornbeam stared out, burning with frustration. The militiamen were in their uniforms – they were not affluent enough to keep two sets of clothes – but they were enjoying the holiday just like everyone else. ‘Some towns are guarded by militia from a different county,’ he said. ‘It’s a better system. It discourages this kind of fraternization. The men are more willing to get tough with troublemakers they don’t know.’

‘I agree, but Northwood won’t have it,’ said Riddick. ‘He says it goes against the tradition.’

‘Northwood is a damn fool.’

‘And the duke of Richmond is against it too. He’s Master General of the Ordnance. He says it makes recruitment difficult – men don’t want to be taken far from their homes.’

Hornbeam knew he could not fight against dukes and viscounts – at least not until he became a member of Parliament. ‘Just go out there and tell them to form up,’ he said to Riddick.

Riddick hesitated. ‘They won’t like it.’

‘They’ll have no choice but to do what they’re told. And this is shaping up to be a riot.’

Riddick could not disagree. ‘Very well,’ he said. He went into the hall, and Hornbeam followed.

Sergeant Beach was in the hall. ‘Sir?’

‘Go round the square and speak to all the men in uniform. Tell them to come here. Issue them with muskets and ammunition. Then form them up at the riverside.’

The sergeant looked uncomfortable and seemed about to protest, then he caught Hornbeam’s eye and changed his mind. ‘Right away, sir.’ He went out.