Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds
Generations of men who had refused to pull forelocks kept his
gnarled hand away from his cap, but he replied civilly.
‘See, Miss, this is where the wine cellar is for the whole of
Melbourne, it’s nice and cool but it ain’t damp, they say that’s
good for plonk. My boss keeps his drays down here, though
the nags are stabled up above. The stallholders store things here
too. Trouble is that they banned us from bringing the big trucks
into the market, so now all the produce mostly goes to the Vic
market—pity really, I always liked coming into the city. This is
where I leave me dray, Miss. Let me just help you down.’
Phryne accepted a hand and jumped lightly down onto cold
clean cobbles.
‘There’s a staircase over there, Miss,’ said the drayman from
the horse’s head. ‘Take you up into the middle of the market.’
Phryne nodded and smiled and walked in the opposite direction.
The drayman was about to call after her, but thought again.
That, he realized as he uncoupled the tug girth and allowed his
horse to walk out between the shafts, was a determined woman,
and his mum had always told him not to get in the way of a
determined woman.
Phryne followed her nose to a side of the market which was
clearly a cellar. Wooden walls had been built and from behind
them came a strange rumbling noise and a strong medicinal
smell. A slightly glazed watchman was sitting in front of the
gate, which was fixed with a strong iron chain and padlock. The
rich smell came mostly from him. Phryne judged it to be rather
good port and hoped that it belonged to someone who could
afford to lose a few bottles. This cellar occupied a fair chunk of
the undercroft, which now smelt less of wine and more of horses
and almost overwhelmingly of oranges. The barrows were being
loaded with new fruit, and the scent was strong enough to sting
Phryne’s eyes. Trucks chuntered past, their drivers alert in the
half-light, half-dark.
The rest of the cellar appeared to be occupied by piles of
boxes, sacks, mountains of chaff-bags and half a real haystack.
The roof was supported by heavy beams, soot blackened, and