“I don’t think that would be a good idea. You are not trained and could become stuck like Krishan,” he said, using Miss Rangaswamy’s pet name for him. He turned to the other climbing boy. “Do you know how far up he is?”
Billy pointed to the crown molding at the ceiling. “Nigh ter the next floor. Don’t know how far he slipped, though,” he said.
“Have you heard or seen of this happening before?” he asked, his sharp blue eyes studying the boy intently.
“Yes, sir.” Billy looked down at his feet. “Most times they die.”
Lewis shook his head. “That will not happen now,” he said grimly.
“I didn’t do nothing wrong!” exclaimed a rough voice, followed by a clattering on the stairs.
“If you didn’t do nothing wrong, why did you take a swing at me with your device and try to run?” It was James, his voice hard.
“Bloody hell, you’re gentry. What’s a poor chimney sweep to do?”
“Watch your language in a lady’s house.”
Krishan screamed.
Cecilia went back into the fireplace and stood up, her head in the flue. “We are here, Krishan,” she called up, copying Lewis’s mode of address to the boy. “We haven’t abandoned you. We are trying to figure out the best way to get you out of there.”
“It hurts! Don’t leave me!”
“I won’t. I’ll stay right here. Can you tell me what hurts?”
“My head, neck and my back. My legs, too.”
Cecilia inhaled sharply. He could break his neck with the strain if they didn’t get him out of there soon.
“Cecilia, come out of there!” cried James, coming up to the fireplace.
“No, James,” she said as calmly as she could for the child’s benefit. “Christopher is scared. He needs me here. No, he really needs Miss Rangaswamy. Can you fetch her here?”
“Rani!” Krishan screamed on hearing her name. A new rain of soot showed Christopher had moved in the chimney.
Behind her, Cecilia heard Lewis’s request to Dan Wrightson to fetch Miss Rangaswamy.
“Yes, Krishan. We are fetching her for you. You must be a good boy to wait, and please do not move. We will get you. I’ll be here with you.”
“Rani!” Krishan began crying again.
“It’s okay, Krishan. You must be strong. You must be strong for Rani,” Cecilia said as soothingly as she could, her own emotions and frustrations held in tight check, though she felt tears welling in her eyes. She felt as frightened as the child, and so helpless.
The flue was a tight fit, but she had some room to turn, but she scraped all around on rough ridges of excess mortar. She raised her arms and worked one and then the other above her head. She felt the surface of the brick. As the mortar was not neat and smooth as it would be on an outside surface, she could understand how a climbing boy worked his way up the walls and how slipping might cause painful and dangerous scrapes.
“James,” she called to her husband, “Can you remove my shoes then lift me up so I can get closer to Krishan?”
“What are you planning, Cecilia?” he asked as he lifted her foot to remove one shoe and then the other.
“I’m small enough. I thought I could work my way up the flue like a climbing boy does.”
“My love, your skirts would prevent you.”
“I don’t think so. They would just get ripped. I want to try, but I fear I have not the strength. That is what will prevent me. I would like to get as close to him as I can. Have you gentleman devised a plan?”
“I think so. Mr. Peasey is cooperating and is telling Mr. Martin we need to break though the wall right below where the boy is stuck.”
“Break through the wall!” Cecilia exclaimed.
