Page 25 of The Shadow of the Count
Those dazed eyes met his, Lyle seeming to find some lucidity. “I can’t stop myself. I don’t want him, but he calls, and I try to go.”
“We can’t let you. I brought help. We’ll fix it. We will.” He looked to Douglas in a panic.
Douglas pushed Clark, who glared at him but came forward. “Hello, Lyle. My name is Clark Chambers. I’m so sorry you don’t feel well.”
Lyle sobbed, struggling against his bonds. “I’m not crazy.”
“Of course you’re not. Don’t be ridiculous.” Clark sounded totally assured of himself, and that confidence visibly eased Lyle. “You’re as sane as can be.”
A soft sound of distress escaped Charles. He knew what this felt like. When they had all been on a mission in Egypt, Charles had actually been possessed by the spirit of a mummy’s dead lover. Or something like that.
“Thank you,” Lyle said, eyes on Clark. “Thank you.”
“Now, tell me about what’s been happening,” Clark said, his voice even and calm, but not overly soothing as if Lyle were losing his mind.
“Storms. These terrible storms, and there is a man in the clouds. He sees me. He’s hungry for me.” Lyle shook as if he were caught in the storm then.
“It started with the storm that sank that ship.” It wasn’t a question, but he and Lyle and Richard nodded anyway.
“Yes, the madness for my patient worsened then as well,” Richard said.
“Reynaud,” Donnie said when Clark looked to him. “I told you about him when we were on the way in.”
“Ah.”
“Are you a priest here to give me my last rights?” Lyle whispered.
Jeb snorted. Loudly.
“No, Lyle. I’ve studied religion, but also medicine. I’m here to see if I can help, and I have no intention of letting you expire, do you hear?” Clark smiled at Lyle, hand on his forehead. “You feel feverish.”
“Yes. I feel drained, utterly and totally drained.”Lyle strained toward Clark’s touch.
“Let me consult with your physician, and we’ll start a method of treatment. Donnie, you stay here with Lyle and keep watch.”
“Of course. Lyle, you remember Douglas, my brother.”
Lyle smiled faintly. “The actor. Come and tell me all the gossip.”
Now Douglas advanced, evincing just the right amount of sympathy and debonair charm. “Oh, I have so much. Tell me who your favorite film stars are, and I will give you all the juicy details.”
Donnie had to admit, he was disturbed by Lyle’s downturn, but he felt better. His compatriots were here, and they would do all they could to help.
He was no longer alone in this.
Ten
Yvgeny brought him to the train station, where Peter tried valiantly to connect with the London house that held his Donald.
He was about to board the train west, and he and Yvgeny would be heading away from the castle, but toward danger, he feared.
“Can you send a wire from here?”
Yvgeny looked at the lazy clerk behind the window. “Ideally, yes. We have a few minutes. Should we try?”
“Please. If Don can meet me in Calais, we can have a reunion before we reach more strict society in London.”
“I will send it. Smart man. If not here, we will send a wire when the train stops in a bigger town.” Yvgeny led him to the window, and sure enough, they were able to send a telegraph to Don. Thank God.
