To my relief, he uttered an oath at the professor, then turned and fled down the tunnel.
"Roberta, quick!" shouted the professor. "We must trap Lord Snetton this instant, before he escapes once more."
They dragged open the knapsacks and tipped out the contents, grabbing the now-familiar pieces of equipment. I was given the netting, and as I unfurled it I admired the way Roberta and the professor went about their task so calmly and efficiently. All this time, the portal stood open nearby, and to my eye it appeared to be getting larger even without the sacrifice of fresh victims. What if the thing could grow to completion under its own steam, and the sacrifices merely speeded the process? I glanced up to see the two dozen or so spirits hovering overhead, which were still keeping their distance from the professor's wooden swords. Perhaps their presence alone was enough to power the opening of the portal?
By now Roberta and the professor were ready, and the former was approaching the angry red cloud with the curious open-jawed tool held ahead of her.
"Be careful," called the professor. "This is no ordinary spirit. It is stronger than anything you've encountered before."
"Thank you, father," muttered Roberta, eying the spirit which had been freed by Lord Snetton's death. "I am well aware of that."
The spirit railed at its prison, darting from one side to the other and occasionally even managing to extend a shadowy extension of itself between the discs. It withdrew again quickly, although it seemed to reach a little further and remain outside the circle a little longer. Much more of this, I thought, and the spirit would escape completely.
But I was forgetting Roberta. She approached the circle, almost taunting the spirit with her nearness, and as it reached a tendril toward her she gripped it with the tool, drawing it towards her. Some property of the tool caused the spirit to contract, and it grew brighter and more intense as it coalesced on the tip of the curious tool.
Once it was gathered up in its entirety, Roberta strolled casually to the large trap and pressed the tool against the metal cylinder. There was a keening wail, and the spirit vanished within.
"Well done, my dear," said the professor. "Very well done indeed."
There was a disturbance overhead, and the spirits whirling near the ceiling of the large chamber separated all of a sudden, flying off in all directions. They went right through the roof, vanishing completely, and my heart sank at the sight. Two dozen spirits let loose in the city? That would be a cleansing job and a half!
The professor, though, was as pleased as Punch. "Fly away, my beauties," he murmured. "Fly away, and you'll fill my purse as I catch each and every one of you."
"Father," muttered Roberta in mock disgust. "Have you no shame?"
"I only hope they settle with rich families," said the professor. Then he looked at the portal. "It's a crying shame we won't be paid for closing that monstrosity," he grumbled.
"How will you do it?" I asked him.
In reply, he approached Roberta and gestured for the trap. She held it up so he could reach inside, and after a struggle he removed the thick cylinder from its mountings. "Let he who opened it close it again," he intoned, and he drew his arm back for a throw. Then he paused to look at me. "I think perhaps you have the better arm."
"I assure you I do not," I declared.
He smiled, then threw the cylinder, hard. It flew into the centre of the portal, end over end, glinting in the hellish red light. Then, with a final flash, it was gone. Instantly, the portal closed like a giant eye, and we were left in comparative darkness. It was as quiet as a tomb, and our faces were barely visible in the dim glow of the construction lanterns.
Then, all of a sudden, I heard voices and heavy boots… many of them. "It came from this way sir," echoed a voice from the nearby tunnel. "You men, spread out there!"
"The police are here!" hissed the professor. "Let us gather our things and make ourselves scarce, for I have no wish to spend the next week explaining all of this to Inspector Cox and that dullard Parkes."
Chapter 39
As we walked home I noticed a blush to the sky, with dawn not far off. We were all exhausted from our efforts, but even so we had spent the journey reliving the recent battle in excited voices. Roberta and the professor showed no ill-effects from the trials we had faced, and I felt the warmth of their companionship as we strolled through the deserted streets. I wished it could continue forever, but it was with a heavy heart that I remembered I was to be cast from their employ. At that moment I would have given anything to remain, but I had betrayed these good people to the scar-faced man, and would have to pay the price. "What of Edgar?" I asked suddenly. "Surely we cannot let him escape?"
"Do not trouble yourself over that fool," said the professor. "Roberta and I will hunt him down eventually, and then we shall trap the spirit living within."
I was silent, because already the professor was omitting me from his plans. Then I recalled an earlier conversation. "Why did you tell me Edgar was dead when you first employed me?"
"We believed it to be true," said the professor. "The police found several charred bodies at the site of his first experiment, and since he was never seen again it was assumed he perished. Instead, it seems he adopted a new name and went into hiding."
"Should we tell the police he's alive? He's a dangerous man, and he might kill again."
"And what would you tell them? That Edgar conspired with Lord Snetton to summon ghosts and phantasms? That he served
