The Enthusiastic Amateur: Chapter Four

Part Two.  

   Once the straitjacket was free of his broad shoulders, Quaint pushed it down past his waist and kicked it off. He did it just in time too, because the material had become so heavy from the water, it would have been only a few more moments before it dragged him down and as it went, it would have put extra tension on the chain. Quaint was almost relieved to feel the tug on his back. Even with all his twisting and turning to shed the straitjacket, his luck (and the wooden post) still held. But for how long? He still had to figure out how he was supposed to escape from the tank. The walls were far too slippery and there was no way to get a grip on it. If he wanted his plan to work out as he hoped, the chain was vital. Everything had to be carefully considered – which was highly irritating, for the conjuror rarely considered anything, and even when he did, he never did it carefully. All he could focus on was the fact that Quentin Claremont’s plan – just like the seams on the straitjacket – was to become undone…

     What more was it going to take? he wondered. After all he had achieved, surely he had proved Quentin Claremont wrong. Surely he had proved that he was a capable conjuror. Surely he had proved that he wasn’t going down without a fight - or quietly, for that matter. Even though it burned his throat and spent much needed air from his lungs, he roared with anger. Like a maddened beast – which actually was not far off the mark – he howled and spat and cursed and screamed himself hoarse.

     Had the architect of Quaint’s predicament been able to see the conjuror’s rage, perhaps he might even have agreed with the man. Perhaps he had proven himself worthy. But Quentin Claremont was still absent, choosing to celebrate his victory elsewhere. Exactly where that was, Quaint was only too eager to find out.

     Twisting himself around awkwardly, he could feel the chain. He could even see it out of the corner of his eye, but as he reached around he just couldn’t get to it. Every action caused the wood to complain. A carefully considered approach was doing him no favours. He needed to play to his strengths and do something stupid, going against all the caution he had paid so far. If he was going to survive he needed to take a risk, but what he was planning carried the biggest risk of all…

Will Cornelius Quaint’s risk pay off?

Come right back here on Monday 19^th March 2012 to find out!!!

But in the meantime, Cornelius needs YOU to help him answer this week’s teaser so head to the Cornelius Quaint Facebook page and Twitter for more information and a chance to win a free copy of the latest Cornelius Quaint adventure, The Lazarus Curse!