Swindled!: The 1906 Journal of Fitz Morgan by Bill Doyle

mark rather like the shape
     of Asia.
    I rubbed my eyes, thinking the vision would disappear, but the figure remained. It was Killian.
    My brother!
    He was reaching one hand out to me.
    It can’t be you! You’re dead! I wanted to shout. But my tongue was frozen.
    My head swam. I felt my knees give way. And then I fainted.

April 18, 1906 3:45 AM
     
     
     
    When I woke up, I was on the train. The side of my head ached. It took me a minute to focus my thoughts. Of course. I must have hit my head on the ground when
     I fainted. I tried to rub it, but I couldn’t.
    I was sitting in a chair in the Pinkerton’s laboratory, about two feet away from the door to the compartment. My arms and
     legs were tied with rope. There was a knot at my wrists, one at my ankles, and two more holding my back and lower legs to
     the chair.
    The train rocked. We were moving again.
    I opened my mouth to call for help, but then I thought better of it. What if the person who had tied me up was in the next
     compartment? Shouting out would alert him or her that I was awake.
    The rope bit into my skin, and the knots tightened as I struggled against them.
    Above it all, a thought pounded rhythmically in my head like a driving piston: Killian is alive! Killian is alive!
    It had not been a dream. I had seen him. But what was he doing on this train?
    And Judge! Where was she? Was she safe?
    If I was going to answer any of these questions, I had to escape these ropes! With as much energy as I could muster, I arched
     my back, pushing up and away from the back of the chair. But the rope refused to give.
    Then I remembered my detective training: The more you struggle, the more the knots will tighten!
    YOUR “KNOT HERE” GUIDE
     
    A square knot will tighten when tension is put on it. It can be united, however, by grasping both sides of the knot and pulling them apart.

    A slipknot grows smaller under strain, but can usually be united by pulling one end.
    Thank goodness I kept this tip!
    My eyes ran over the knots holding me captive. They looked like square knots. I desperately hoped I was right. If I started
     pulling on the wrong part of a knot, I could make matters worse.
    Slowly I worked my hands back and forth, sliding the knot that held them up so it rested on my forearms. This freed my hands
     slightly, and my fingers were able to reach the knot. I was tempted to move quickly but knew jerking motions might only tighten
     the knot more.
    “Don’t panic,” I told myself. “You have to take your time.”
    Click.
    I heard the sound of a key entering the lock on the other side of the door. My eyes went to the brass doorknob.
    My body’s instincts screamed for me to thrash even harder against the ropes. But I forced myself to stay calm.
    Focus your thoughts! Slow movement is the only way!
    I heard the key turning in the lock. The doorknob started to turn–steady, steady.
    I used my fingers to pull on one side of the knot, and my teeth to pull on the other. The square knot united. My hands slipped
     free! I started untying the knots that held my legs in place–
    The door opened–just as I managed to climb to my feet, feeling woozy as the blood rushed to my head and darkened my vision.
     When my sight cleared a second later, I went into my defensive stance.
    I was looking at the grim face of one of the top suspects. It was William Henry!
    Madame Esme’s
    ACADEMY OF SELF-DEFENSE
    If your assailant is facing your and swinging with the right hand, take this defensive stance:

Feet pointing forward with right foot at a 45 degree angle from left.
Left leg bent at knee, right leg straight.
Plant feet firmly for a strong base.
Keep eyes open and on your opponent..
Swing your upper body backward, forward, or side-to-side to avoid oncoming blows.
If a blow cannot be avoided, block it by sweeping your right arm out and up.
    Self-defense is about being prepared
     
    But when he opened his mouth to speak, he didn’t let out an evil laugh like some criminal