25th Morning Detour

Following the army at a distance wasn't proving to be much of a problem. If he was quite honest, they would have been able to follow them if they were blind, with their arms bound behind their backs and hopping only on one leg. Given, they'd probably have broken something if they did that. But, least to say it was easy.

Finding a place to spend the night without interruption was proving a slight bit more of an effort. There were the Portuguese and one night he could swear that he had seen a group of ten women which looked anything but, disappear into the gloom. It was on the 22nd or around that time. Ever since, he picked their trail up once or twice, veering off and away from the army. If they had been with the army they should've followed it. He wondered if they were the escapees he heard about on the 23rd.

Well, even if, runaway French weren't his business. If the British couldn't keep them in their pens, they could well look for them on their own. Unless of course any of the French had important information. Now that would've made it his business.

The rain was cold, but refreshing. ...for several days it was quite a refreshing accurance, he though amused.

He walked alone though he did not worry that if Fandorin would have wanted, the man could appear by his side at any moment, hopefully with practice also with his notice.

"You've got him?" He inquired in Portuguese. The tall, dark man with a cut running across his brow nodded. "Good." He entered. "...I will call you once I am done." He smirked as the man watched him dubiously. "...He will live." He reached in his pocket and held the paper out to the civilian. With a quick glimpse of the mark the man nodded.

"..We will be near." And then Josef was alone with the prisoner.

"Remove him." When Josef left the house he wiped his hands on a cloth. He held out to one of the men, which barely resembled soldiers and nodded. They would forget his face soon. His business concluded, he walked a few paces longer till he reached his horse, and swinging himself onto it's back he rode off.

Safely, in the pocket of his coat, the new findings rested. It was just work, and now he was free again to leave his thoughts straying elsewhere.