Giles Jones and the Messenger of Death

Giles Jones, an out of work newspaperman, sat on a bench watching the Thames flow by. There was a lot of traffic up and down the river at this time of night. Boats full of revellers were going past lights blazing, and music blaring. He had his camera on the seat beside him, just one good picture was all he needed.

Something splashed in the water upstream from him, and as it got nearer, he thought it was a small boat. It had two lanterns and a bell on a rod which tinkled. It was a child's coffin, and in the soft glow of the lanterns, he could see that there was an occupant. This was the first victim of the Messenger of Death.