Page 12 of Across Space and Time

“We were taken inside and down a ramp of some sort. Something inclined, anyway, each step down my stomach dropped more.”

“You still couldn’t see?”

“No, sir. It was only after we were inside at the bottom of the ramp that they took the blindfolds off. Said it was because there were very important guests about, and they didn’t want us accidentally seeing their faces or where we were.”

“What did you see around you after the blindfolds were off?”

“Stone,” Anthony said. “Lots of stone with archways and such. It looked like we were underground, cause there were no windows anywhere, and we had gone down. There were gas lamps on the wall, and some torches and candles too.”

“Who else was there with you?” Hugh asked.

“It was me and five other boys from Mr. Galloway’s, and there were some ladies too. Probably ten or so? Different ages, I hadn’t seen any of them before.”

“Then what?”

“We were all given outfits to change into. Real skimpy things, just fabric draping over the bits, you know? And then, the man who seemed to be in charge, he had us drink something,” Anthony said with a frown. “It tasted like champagne. But soon after I drank it, everything became really fuzzy. I don’t remember much about that night, just flashes.”

“What sort of flashes do you remember?” Hugh asked.

Anthony frowned thoughtfully, rubbing at a little scar on his chin with his thumb. “Lots of bodies moving. Everything was warm and bright. There were people in masks.”

“What kind of masks?” Hugh asked.

“Um… Like the kinds actors wear. With the big noses and colors and feathers.”

“Comedia masks?” Hugh asked, and Anthony shrugged. Hugh gestured for him to go on. “Were you wearing a mask?”

“No, sir. None of us that came in the wagon were. A few people were in plain black masks. Like the ones that handed us out the drinks. I figured they were maybe employees? But then we were taken into other rooms, and the people with the fancy masks were there.”

Hugh tried to picture what Anthony was talking about. “Did you recognize anyone with the masks?”

“No, sir. To be honest, everything was so fuzzy, I’m surprised I even remember that much.”

“I appreciate that you do. What else can you tell me about it? The people, the location, anything that might help? Did you hear anything?”

“A lot of it was pretty distorted,” Anthony said. “But… I remember the smell.”

“The smell?” Hugh asked curiously.

“Yeah. There was the usual smells like you got in the brothels. You know, sweat and sex and lamps and oils. But there was something else.” Anthony screwed up his face, his icy eyes narrowing and then closing fully. He stuck his thumb in his mouth, chewing on the nail there for a moment. “Apples.”

“Apples?” Hugh asked in surprise.

Anthony nodded. “Yeah. I thought that was strange, that I could smell fresh apples when we were someplace with no windows. But I would get whiffs of apple from some of the people. Not the workers, I don’t think, just the people in the fancy masks.”

“Was it some sort of perfume?” Hugh asked. Apple blossoms were sometimes used by perfumers; perhaps there was a new popular scent making the rounds amongst the gentry?

Anthony shook his head. “I thought that too. But it didn’t smell like any perfume I ever smelled before. It was so distinct and clean. When I smelled it, it was the only thing I could smell right then.”

“Did you see any apples there?”

“Not that I remember,” Anthony said.

“What else happened?”

“I don’t honestly know,” Anthony said. “Sex, obviously. But I don’t know how long or what or anything. I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up, I was here, in my room. I was naked, but my clothes were on the foot of the bed.”

“Do you know what time it was?”

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