Free A Plague of Sinners by Paul Lawrence Page A

through St Giles, toured Bedlam and searched a pesthouse. If the plague was indeed carried by sticky atoms, then my clothes were covered in them. Though this green suit was silk, quite new and very expensive, it would have to go, linen shirt and drawers besides.
    I returned home, relieved to find Jane out. I disrobedcarefully, using only my fingertips to touch the fabric. Then I threw it all in the fireplace and set fire to it. I imagined the sticky atoms writhing in agony and prayed none escaped. I dressed anew and hurried downstairs to find a pipe and tobacco. Tobacco was supposed to be the best protection against plague. Any remaining atoms I would smoke off.
    I sat in my chair, in my front room, where usually I found both relaxation and solace. Not today. It was best this investigation be settled early, and Burke seemed to be prime suspect. We would track him down that afternoon, I resolved. Track him down, confront him, arrest him and leave London.
    The front door crashed open.
    ‘You have a visitor,’ Jane appeared in the doorway. ‘This is Owen Price and he is an astrologer.’
    A short man with serious eyes entered the room. He wore the furry robe and thick felt hat that all astrologers wore. His face glowed red and glistened sticky wet, like he had just been born. He held up a large bag. ‘I am told you are struggling to make an important decision?’
    ‘I am?’ I replied.
    ‘He is,’ Jane answered. ‘I will talk to you after.’ She stepped outside and slammed the door closed.
    Price watched the door for a moment as if he feared it might open again quickly. ‘Your maidservant tells me you seek guidance as to whether you should leave London or stay.’ He pulled the table from the wall and opened his bag. ‘Is that true?’ he asked, eyes evasive.
    I scratched my prickly scalp, annoyed. So Jane wanted the astrologer to persuade me to leave. I would have to play this intelligently. ‘I had not thought to seek guidance from the stars,’ I answered carefully.
    From the bag he extracted a great bound book, a tarnished golden item resembling a skeleton of the earth bound in a woman’s girdle, and a pointed stick. He laid them all upon a red velvet cloth, then pulled up a chair and bid me sit opposite. ‘You appear to be wealthy,’ he waved a hand about the room. ‘Why would you stay?’
    The hairs prickled on the back of my neck, for I suspected he mocked me. Much though I loved my little room, I would not call it splendid. The wainscotting was ancient and chipped, with little holes in it. I owned but two threadbare tapestries, both handed down to me by my parents. The tapestries had not been washed in my lifetime and their suspiciously idyllic country-life scenes were practically invisible. What business was it of his anyway?
    ‘Why would I not stay?’ I replied. ‘It is the parishes outside the wall that are worst affected. It has spread even as far as St Albans already. Inside the wall we are safer.’
    ‘The plague breached the wall weeks ago,’ Price pointed out.
    ‘Aye, but it hasn’t spread,’ I argued. ‘And if you believe it to be unsafe, then why do
you
linger?’ I knew the answer full well. A blazing star passed over London last December, and then again in March, a slow-moving dull object. The astrologers told us it foretold of a terrible judgement, a proclamation that served them well once the plague arrived. Now they all made fast fortunes. He stayed for the same reason I did – his own advancement.
    ‘In these difficult times people are forced to make decisions upon which their lives may depend.’ Price lifted his chin and spoke nobly. ‘I provide a useful service.’
    Just as I had justified my strategy to Liz Willis. It was likelooking in a damp mirror. ‘Your chart says you will not be touched, I suppose.’
    ‘Indeed.’
    At least he believed in this art he peddled. As did many others, the King included. ‘Have you not been asked the question many times now? Could you not