The Sign of the Four: Black or Blue (PG)

[vaysh]

Canon Story: The Sign of the Four, ch. 7-12
Title: Black or Blue
Author: vaysh
Words: 4 x 30 words
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: These short bios are a mix of what sparse information ACD's novel offers on the Four and my own research and inventions. The title comes from Jonathan Small's astounding answer to Major Sholto's suggestion that he break his agreement with Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar and Mahomet Singh: 'Black or blue, they are in with me, and we all go together.'


Abdullah Khan, a fierce man with wild hair, was born in Multan, City of Saints. He died as the oldest of the twenty-one Sikhs fighting in the Battle of Saragarhi.

Dost Akbar, tallest man in Punjab, was raised in Khan's family as one of their own. With his foster-brother he fled the Andamans and built himself a life in Afghanistan.

Jonathan Small, a Worcestershire man, lost his leg to a crocodile, his master to the Indian Uprising of 1857, his freedom to Sherlock Holmes. He died digging ditches in Dartmoor.

Mahomet Singh, guard more than fighter since Chillianwala, remained in Port Blair on the Andamans. He lived to see the Kaala Pani be erected, to die inside its solitary cells.

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

What a great idea, well told. The last one is especially moving. But all four are first rate, including the third.

[vaysh]

Thank you. :) I am very happy you like the short bio I gave Mahomet, as there is so little about him in ACD's novel.

[debriswoman]

Their differing presumed fates are fascinating...such an interesting idea:-)

[vaysh]

I tried my best to incorporate all information ACD gave us. The rest is conjecture. :) Thank you!

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

This is a neat idea; I love how you explored them making a pact to go down together, but being swept apart and each meeting their own fate.

[vaysh]

I love that throw-away line by Jonathan Small, how he sticks to the pact, no matter what. It was interesting to speculate where it may have led the four of them. Thank you!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

What an excellent take on the story - and congratulations on all the research.

[vaysh]

And wow, did I ever get sucked into research for this drabble. :) I had to confine myself to 4 x 30 words (already double the 60 limit), or else you guys would have had to suffer through more Indian Colonial history. It was fascinating, though.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

What a brilliant idea - I love what you've done with your story. Like thesmallhobbit, I applaud your research!

It's so interesting to see what might have become of the rest of "The Four". Small's associates weren't pleasant men - willing to murder an innocent servant for the jewels, willing to swap sides if necessary, bigoted against Hindus. But I can sort of admire Small for always remaining loyal to them, once he'd thrown in his lot with them. In the end, Small did have to leave them behind - he didn't have much choice - but he stayed loyal to them in spirit.