Death Cloud

From the top of the wall, Sherlock can see an open yard with evidence of rutted wheel tracks and a large barn at the back of the enclosure. The boy sneaks down for a closer look and finds men loading crates onto a wagon. He overhears a conversation in which the man he was tailing explains that another man, Wint, was stealing from the operation, so he was killed. This was the first victim of the black smoke.

After the men finish loading the cart, they discuss their instructions from the boss, whom they call “The Baron.” He wants the property burned to leave no evidence of their operation behind. Sherlock finds himself boxed in and unable to reach any of the doors, which the men padlock behind them. Then, they shatter an oil lamp and set fire to the barn. Sherlock looks around desperately for a way out and decides to use a cart to ram the back wall:

He thanked whatever deity was watching over him for the mysterious Baron, whoever he was, who had so impressed his workers with his cautiousness that they had not only arranged for a spare cart but kept the axles greased as well (89).