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Operation Trojan Horse: Part 2
The captain walked into the locksmith’s workshop. He looked around with a sense of curiosity. All round him, men were busy at work. Some used heavy tools to sculpt crude pieces of metal into the desired shape. Others were doing more intricate work.
The master locksmith came out and greeted the captain. There was mutual respect between the two men. They both recognised the other as an expert in their respective fields. After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business.
“Is it ready?”
“Its ready.” Replied the locksmith. “I have two. One to demonstrate how it works, and one for you to use.”
“Excellent, lets see…..”
The master locksmith led the captain to a large room just off one side of the main workshop. There was a heavy looking chest in the centre of the room. A large lock kept the chest securely shut. Against the far wall, there was a selection of muskets, ammunition, gunpowder and heavy cudgels and quarterstaffs.
The captain walked up to the chest and inspected the lock.
“Go ahead, see if you can open it.” The locksmith gestured towards the weapons lined up against the far wall. “Use any of those.”
The captain walked up to the wall and picked up a heavy cudgel. He began to bludgeon the lock with it but it stubbornly refused to give way. A thin film of sweat formed on his forehead.
“Impressive. Lets try the muskets.”
The captain again made his way to the far wall and picked up a musket. He loaded and aimed it with quick precise movements then fired it at the lock from close range. He walked forward and inspected the lock. Not even a dent. He nodded with approval.
“So how do you open it?”
The master locksmith smiled. “It has a built in weakness. Four blows with a cudgel delivered in the correct sequence will break it. A blow in the correct direction will cause the crack to widen. Each of the four hits is from a different direction. Hit it incorrectly and it will just push the crack together. Watch….”
“Twelve o’clock, one o’clock, eleven o’clock and straight ahead”
He picked up a cudgel and demonstrated. Four precise hits and the lock fell off, neatly broken into two pieces.
“Very well done. I will recommend to the king that you are richly rewarded for your efforts.”
