The thing was waiting for them the following morning. Nobody saw who brought it, and nobody, not even the Guides, heard anything. The sentries on duty at Sherpur commented on the object when the dawn lightened the surroundings.
“There"s something out there, Sergeant!” a private of the 67th shouted. “It might be an animal of some kind or even a body.”
A sergeant hurried to the sentry"s side. “Where about?”
“Over there, Sarge, lying outside the gate.”
“It might be a trap,” the sergeant decided.
Jack walked over. “Open the gates,” he said, “and cover me.”
The space outside the gates was empty except for the object on the ground. Jack approached with caution, revolver in hand, expecting a trap of some sort.
The man had been castrated and flayed, with his skin pegged out at his side. His
