'Oranges and Lemons' for the Writer's and Reader's Choice!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

This was a chapter from an ABC Affair challenge a few years ago, in this case each chapter corresponding to a letter of the English alpabet was a stand alone.  This was for the letter 'O'.

Oranges and Lemons by mrua7

‘Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clement's.’

That was what the note said, as well as an addendum that read, “Follow the instructions if you want to see your partner alive.’  That meant going to each church in order.

Kuryakin knew the traditional  English nursery rhyme that was being referenced here all too well, traditionally it referred to the bells of several churches, all within or close to the city of London.

He was directed to go to the next church, St. Peter’s and there he’d receive further information.

Illya had spent three years stationed in the London office and then Berlin before transferring to U.N.C.L.E. headquarters in New York, so he knew his way around the London town like a native.

He suspected the person who had kidnapped Napoleon was unaware that he, being a Russian, possessed such knowledge, especially since they were using an older version of the rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons…’

It actually began with telling of the bells of London town, going to the bells of St. Marg'ret's, to St. Giles' and then to the bells of St. Martin’s.

The kidnapper, however, chose to start the merry chase at the next church in the rhyme...St. Clement’s.

At first Illya was unsure if he should bypass all the churches and go directly to the last mentioned in the rhyme;  that was St Mary-le-Bow, an historic church rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 by Sir Christopher Wren in the City of London on the main east–west thoroughfare, Cheapside street.

He said the rhyme aloud, taking mental notes of the other locations.

“Oranges and lemons,

Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Pancakes and fritters,

Say the bells of St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple,

Say the bells at Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate,

Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

You owe me ten shillings,

Say the bells at St. Helen's.

Pokers and tongs,

Say the bells at St. John's.

Kettles and pans,

Say the bells at St. Ann's.

When will you pay me?

Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,

Say the bells of Shoreditch.

Pray when will that be?

Say the bells of Stepney.

I am sure I don't know,

Says the great bell of Bow”...that was St. Mary-le-Bow.

It was the next verse that sent shivers up his spine.

“Here comes a candle to light you to bed,

And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.”

That threat that made him decide to head to the Bow in hopes of getting the jump on the kidnapper.

As Illya carefully walked into the church, he found it unoccupied. Much of the current building had been destroyed by a German bomb during the Blitz, at which time the bells crashed to the ground. After the restoration, the bells cast in 1956, were installed and had only just recently resumed ringing. It was nearly time for that to happen as Illya looked at his wristwatch.

He climbed the stairs of the tower, and as he neared the bells he overheard a deep gravelly voice.

“You realize Mr. Solo that your partner will never make it here to rescue you. You see I have men waiting for him at St. Dunstan's.  Are you familiar with it?”

“Can’t say I am,” Napoleon’s voice sounded tired.

“It is located in Stepney High Street, in Stepney, and is only twenty minutes away from here. My men have been instructed to hold Mister Kuryakin there when he arrives. You see, I’ve been sending him on a wild goose chase based on an old English nursery rhyme called ‘Oranges and Lemons.’ Do you know it?”

“No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”

“Not surprising as you Americans know nothing; I’m sure your Russian friend doesn’t either. The rhyme lists a number of churches around London according to their bells. Mr. Kuryakin has been told to follow my instructions left at each church, letting him think he’ll arrive here to rescue you. My men will force him to watch as this church with you in it blows up. Before he dies, he’ll know he failed at saving you.”

“Why are you doing this to us? I don’t know you and I doubt Illya does either.”

“Quite correct, neither of you do know me, but you knew my sister and I hold you both responsible for her death.”

“And who exactly was your sister?”

“Miss Viveka Diketon, and I am Adolphus Diketon her fraternal twin brother.

Solo strained to see any family resemblance, and the only thing the man had in common with his sister was white-blond hair.

“Peachy,”Napoleon cringed. There wasn’t much else he could really say.

Miss Diketon was an evil woman, and she was responsible for brutally torturing Illya. Even though she helped them in the end to foil a particularly deadly T.H.R.U.S.H. plot, she didn’t do it for the sake of good; she merely came along for the ride so to speak, just for the sake of exacting her revenge against Louis Strago for spurning her.*

.

Illya continued to listen in on the conversation as he carefully worked his way up into the rafters of the bell tower above Solo and Diketon.  Moving cat-like while planning his next move; he stopped when he spotted the aforementioned bomb, and quietly he set about disarming it.

It took him no time to take care of the device, especially since it was quite primitive; Kuryakin turned his attention again to the men below. He decided to jump, landing atop Adolphus.

Diketon was taken completely off guard but like his sister, he was formidable.

The two men wrestled just as the bell ringers of St. Mary’s standing in the bottom of the bell tower began their duties. To the agents and Adolphus, being that close the resonating booming of the bells was quite deafening as they rang out across the Square Mile and far beyond.

Kuryakin wondered what special occasion it was for all twelve bells to be rung in sequence. It didn't matter at the moment as he finally got the upper hand with Diketon and with one powerful uppercut, he knocked the man out cold.

“Napoleon are you all right?” He asked as he untied his partner.

“What? I can’t hear you, my ears are ringing.”

“What did you say Napoleon? My ears are ringing and I cannot hear very well.”

Both men shrugged off their temporary deafness, and tied up Adolphus Diketon. As soon as their hearing returned, they’d head off to St. Dunstan’s to take care of the others…

* ref. “The Concrete Overcoat Affair”



The bells of St. Mary's Le Bow- 12 bells rung in sequence

The sound of Bow Bells can be heard every 15 minutes as the clock strikes the quarters of the hour. A toll is heard before daily services and the Angelus is rung morning and evening, as is a seasonal hymn. All this chiming is done automatically.

Change ringing (where each of the 12 bells swings through 360 degrees and is rung by an individual person) happens on feast days and other special occasions such as city events or weddings. At other times, many bands of experienced ringers from around the country come to practise on this large and famous ring of bells.

Comments

[duckys-lady.livejournal.com]

Bet Napoleon appreciates IK's memory now! Great read! :-)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. IK got lucky jumping ahead, taking a chance there weren't different instructions waiting for him at the other churches. Or maybe it was Solo luck. "D