He sat cross-legged in the protective circle, chewing the cold dog meat, his mind fastened to his quest: The Throne of Solomon. He was one day closer. Behind him, he heard Laertes pouring unfermented wine into a small wooden cup.
Suddenly the wind rattled the rotting wooden doors, snapping the orange flames on the torches which were stuck in the ground. Jonathan sensed Laertes’ uneasiness, for a second later Laertes said, “Listen! Can you hear it?”
Jonathan listened. The wind. It seemed to call his name.
There was danger hidden in the wind. Jonathan
Laertes squirmed. Jonathan felt the man’s fear and said, “Silence. Stay as you are.”
The magician was himself afraid but at the same time he felt
The wind shrieked, rattling the rotting barn walls, threatening to uproot them. A torch fell forward and to the ground, its flame disappearing.
Jonathan spread his arms wide and chanted louder.
The wind blew faster, sending a bone-chilling cold down on the two men, then suddenly it died.
Jonathan’s chant became a mumble.
Laertes could not stop shaking.
* * * *
Figg cautiously opened the door to see Poe turn in his chair and smile at him.
Poe was exuberant. “Enter my good fellow! You are not blessed with the grace of a gazelle, so abandon any attempt to enter this room like a gentle breeze.”
Figg stepped into the room. “My, my. We are a chipper lot tonight. Come to tell you I am takin’ leave of you fer me dinner with Titus Bootham.”
Poe put down his pen. He’d been writing at the desk in Rachel Coltman’s study, working on the tale “Hop Frog,” and he was happy! For the first time in too long a time, he was happy. Rachel had brought him this joy. It was his and hers to share.
“Mr. Figg, I wish you a merry dinner. My regards to Mr. Bootham and to the rest of the English contingent he has gathered to make your acquaintance. I am sure they will find you to be a marvel, as have I.”
“Nice of you to say. Ain’t much of a gatherin’. Mr. Bootham and some of the English lads he knows are standin’ me a meal at a good tavern and I suppose they will ask me a thing or two about the prize ring.”
“Regale them with tales of blood and triumph, Mr. Figg. The audience enjoys a nice fright every now and then. I am hard at work, as you can see. I
He feels too deeply, thought Figg. He’s too high or he’s too low. Takes the world seriously. Wonder what the widow Coltman and he talked about upstairs?
“I shall be lodgin’ with Mr. Bootham tonight. You take care of yerself.”
“Thank you, Mr. Figg. Dearborn is asleep with one of the maids and Rachel has told me the child can stay here for as long as we desire. It is here that Hugh Larney will come and it is here that I shall wait for him.”
“Well, you just let me ask Mr. Larney the hard questions. I will be comin’ back ‘ere earliest. ‘Ave cooky keep some food hot fer me. Nice to see you with a pen in yer ‘ands again. It is a nice feelin’ to do yer trade.”
“I cannot tell you how nice. Rachel and I, we have talked. There is a bond between us, Mr. Figg and it has come about as a result of this horrible business. I shall spend the night here in a spare room. By the way, you are not going to mention-?”
Figg shook his head. “Mr. Bootham knows a bit or two, but I ain’t sayin’ nothin’ to the rest. Mr. Dickens once taught me somethin’ Mr. Samuel Johnson said and that is ‘three can keep a secret if two are dead.’”
Poe threw back his head and laughed. The laugh was full, long. Feelin’ too deeply, thought Figg. A man should have more control over himself than does little Eddy. That woman has got him runnin’ a swift race at the moment. Hope she don’t cut him off at the knees. It happens, Lord knows.
“Very good, Mr. Figg. Very, very good. It is a thought that would nicely fill a space at the bottom of a column. When I have my magazine-”
Figg sighed. So that was it. Him and the lady and his bloomin’ magazine. Did she promise to give him the money for it? No one else seemed ready to do so. What kind of reliable promise could be expected from a lady as sick as Rachel Coltman was at the present time. It was certain that the lady was out of mind a wee bit. Somewhat soft in the head due to the hard times that had fallen upon her in the Old Brewery. Or so said the doctor.
Leave him be, thought Figg. Leave him with his dreams. He can ask his own hard questions when the sun arises. Or when the lady no longer graces her sick bed.
“In the mornin’, then,” said Figg.
“In the morning, Mr. Figg.” Poe’s smile was wondrous.
He smiles, thought Figg, and I ‘ave a hole in me one and only frock coat.
Touching his hand to his top hat, he bowed slightly and left the room, his polished pistol box under his arm, his carpetbag in his hand. Little Mr. Poe should know that a horse what runs too fast never makes it over the full course. He
THIRTY-EIGHT
Jonathan, The third day.
The bitter winter cold that had been knifing through Laertes’ body began to fade. He was being hypnotized by Jonathan.
As ordered, he gazed into the magician’s eyes, fascinated by the colors that spun around and around-the reds, blues, greens. They drew him deeper into a pleasant warmth and he relaxed, smiling gently with no idea of who or where he was.
As Laertes slept on the hard, cold earth, Jonathan sipped the drugged wine and thought of last night’s triumph over Asmodeus. The demon king would return. He
So long as Jonathan remained within the magic circle, he was safe. But he wanted more than mere safety. He wanted power. And when Asmodeus returned, Jonathan would fight him again.
And win.
Nothing could stop the magician now. Nothing in heaven or hell or on earth could stop him or keep him from the Throne of Solomon.
Hear me, Asmodeus. Hear me. Bow to me, as you must. Bow to me, bow to me, bow to me.
Jonathan fell back into a drugged sleep.
