 |
A red streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to...
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 11:46 AM
A red streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to diffuse itself through the roomOn the instant the Professor spoke again
"Where are you now?"
The answer came dreamily, but with intentionIt were as though she were interpreting somethingI have heard her use the same tone when reading her shorthand notesIt is all strange to me!"
"What do you see?"
"I can see nothing
"What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patient voice
"The lapping of waterIt is gurgling by, and little waves leapI can hear them on the outside
"Then you are on a ship?'"
We all looked at each other, trying to glean something each from the otherWe were afraid to think
The answer came quick, "Oh, yes!"
"What else do you hear?"
"The sound of men stamping overhead as they run aboutThere is the creaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan falls into the ratchet
"What are you doing?"
"I am still, oh so stillIt is like death!" The voice faded away into a deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again
By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light of dayVan Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid her head down softly on her pillowShe lay like a sleeping child for a few moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder to see us all around her
"Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all she saidShe seemed, however, to know the situation without telling, though she was eager to know what she had toldThe Professor repeated the conversation, and she said, "Then there is not a moment to loseIt may not be yet too late!"
MrMorris and Lord Godalming started for the door but the Professor's calm voice called them back
"Stay, my friendsThat ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchor at the moment in your so great Port of LondonWhich of them is it that you seek? God be thanked that we have once again a clue, though whither it may lead us we know notWe have been blind somewhatBlind after the manner of men, since we can look back we see what we might have seen looking forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen! Alas, but that sentence is a puddle, is it not? We can know now what was in the Count's mind, when he seize that money, though Jonathan's so fierce knife put him in the danger that even he dreadHear me, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one earth box left, and a pack of men following like dogs after a fox, this London was no place for himHe have take his last earth box on board a ship, and he leave the landHe think to escape, but no! We follow himTally Ho! As friend Arthur would say when he put on his red frock! Our old fox is wilyOh! So wily, and we must follow with wileI, too, am wily and I think his mind in a little whileIn meantime we may rest and in peace, for there are between us which he do not want to pass, and which he could not if he wouldUnless the ship were to touch the land, and then only at full or slack tideSee, and the sun is just rose, and all day to sunset is usLet us take bath, and dress, and have breakfast which we all need, and which we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with us
Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked, "But why need we seek him further, when he is gone away from us?"
He took her hand and patted it as he replied, "Ask me nothing as shop yet
« Last Page :: Next Page »
|
|