Nicholas had been in the rebel stronghold for ten days when one morning
Simeon came to him with a purposeful look in his eyes.
" Time has come dear friend for us to part once again. Tomorrow I want
that you leave on your task ".
" I am ready to do as is needed, but it rests heavy on my heart
knowing that after being reunited, that if things do not go well we may
not meet again ".
Simeon slapped him on the shoulder and laughed. " Must you always
doubt Nick? Have faith, we cannot loose. God and right are on our side ".
" I cannot help how I feel, but I have trust in you ".
" Do not worry. We will strike before they suspect anything. Have
no fear we will meet in Quone. Now come, leave what you are doing and take
note. At dawn you will take one of the wagons and go to the township of
Riverslee ".
Nicholas had suspected he would go to the town and he remembered again
how little he actually knew of the place, other than it was sited bottom
of the portage through the chasm. It was an important town because of the
fact that most of the goods transported throughout the district were taken
from place to place by sailing barge. But that was impossible from this
point on, as the river was barred to vessels by white water and falls. At
Riverslee the cargoes were unloaded and transferred to wagons or horseback
to be taken up through the chasm.
At the top of the mountain, on the edge of the tableland was another town,
where barges were once again loaded to cross the inland sea to Quone. Or
so he had been told.
" You will go with Colen " continued Simeon, " ……and
deliver your wagonload to the address I shall give you. You will leave him
there and meet Harry who will have horses; together you will make your way
to up to Lakesend. A room has already been taken for you both on the quayside
there. You will await the aging there, and until our people secure the town.
Then you and Harry will leave for Quone ".
He looked at Nick.
" I can do that ". He shrugged confidently
" Good. Harry has complete knowledge of our plans. Also there is
a man called by the name Vicktor; he too is trustworthy, so I do not foresee
any problems. Colen knows all that is needed but before you leave I will
give you addresses and directions in case you are split from him ".
That evening Nicholas sought Colen out. He had seen him often, but they
had never been in a situation where conversation had developed past general
greetings. A small man in his late forty seasons, thin, slightly balding,
quiet, but pleasant enough once stimulated into speech.
This time talk they did. It appeared that Colen knew Riverslee well, and
had friends there. No he did not know Harry, as he himself had only joined
the rebels recently. But he knew that someone of that name played an important
part in the organization and had been away from the rebel base on a mission
of some secrecy.
Although on Nicholas's part he tried to make conversation, it seemed
they had little in common so after a short while Nicholas excused himself
and went to bed.
The following morning Nicholas was up early and eager to be about. There
were to be three wagons leave at the same time, one other the same way as
Nicholas and Colen, and the third by a distant route through to the other
side of the mountain.
Nicholas clasped hands with Antour, Simeon, and the other friends he
had made.
" Fare well ", called Antour." But beware not all are in
sympathy with our cause ".
Nicholas had not seen Reigel since that first evening, but now he appeared
out of a side room. He came over and Nicholas grasped his hand tightly.
" I have been looking for you these last ten days, " Nicholas
said.
" I am sorry. I have had cause to be elsewhere, but I wanted to
wish you well on your journey "
Suddenly his voice dropped to barely above a whisper. " Take courage,
you are more than you know ".
Reigel hesitated a moment, still holding Nicholas's hand " I have looked
where others do not, and have seen what they cannot or will not. People
will follow you Nicholas, and when it is needed they will offer their lives
for you, you must accept their sacrifice ".
Reigel seemed to want to say more but said only. " You will understand
when the time comes ", before he stepped back away from the wagon.
Nicholas was still running the words through his mind as Colen took
the reins and started down the tunnel.
The clip clop of the horse's hooves and the rumble of the wagon echoing
in the tunnel had accompanied them for so long that it had become familiar
when they reached the entrance. There were piles of rubble both inside and
out, indicating to him that the entrance had only recently been unsealed.
Once out he could see that many years ago a road had come up to the gateway.
Traces of a solid dark tar still remained, though the thick vegetation had
ruined most of the surface with its matted roots.
The undergrowth had been cut only during the preceding day, for Nicholas
could still smell the fresh sap.
" It is too late now for a hidden entrance ". Said Colen guessing
his thoughts.
" No wagon or person save us and the cutters have stepped on this place
in time past remembering. Let them see it now, for now is the time to strike,
and that is our taskmaster Nicholas. On to Riverslee ".
They crashed and jolted their way through the cut and crushed grass
and over the stump's of trees to the nearest road.
Once there they became just another wagon on their way to the aging.
As Simeon had predicted the road became full, almost choked with traffic
towards the town, and once there Riverslee was far busier than Nicholas
had imagined.
Whether this was due to the approaching aging, or if this was usual for
a market day, he could only guess.
They slowly made their way into town's centre, amidst a stream of carts,
wagons, and townspeople.
Dogs and children spilled onto the road from the narrow footpaths, and on
several occasions they almost hit one or the other racing across the road,
oblivious to their passing.
" It's good to be back in town again ", observed Colen.
Nicholas smiled although with the noise and crush he was not sure he
agreed.
It had been an uneventful journey. The local militia had stopped them twice;
to their relief the inspection of the wagon had been cursory, the soldiers
having little interest in carrying out their duties, with such a number
of travellers on the road.
It was after the time of the mid day meal that they finally turned into
a small lane containing a number of two story buildings. The uppermost floors
of these cantilevered out over the flagstones. Close enough that a fit man
could clear the gap between the houses on either side.
The whole experience was beginning to give Nicholas a feeling of claustrophobia.
Most of the buildings in the lane had a large timber gateway, and it
was in front of one of these that Colen stopped.
He stepped down and walked to it, his heavy boots clumping on the smoothed
stone surface as if they were inside a cavern. He thumped several times
with his clenched fist, then stood back looking up to the windows above.
Moment's later one half of the gate slowly swung back, and an old man
stepped from behind. He looked at them with an impassive face, and disappeared
back behind the stout timber. Then the second half slowly swung back.
Neither he nor Colen acknowledged one the other.
Colen climbed back onto the wagon, pulled the horses sharply round and
they moved forward, into a stable that was just large enough for the wagon
and team. The horses stopped with their heads to the back wall.
On their right was an area for storing hay and saddlery, on their left
four individual pens, two containing horses, and a door.
The double gate behind them shut, and the owner, if that was who he was,
still did not speak, He turned went to the door on their left and went through.
Nicholas turned to Colen. " Talkative friends you have in these
town folk ".
Colen grinned. " Not my friend, but a friend to the cause all the
same, for he is one of us. Rumour has it that he is Harry's father.
" Then I hope our meeting with the child is more productive than
his blood ".
" Do not be too harsh for there is more to it than you see. I'm
told his name is Vicktor, and he does not speak because he has no tongue
".
They unhitched the horses wiped them down and placed them in the stables
with a feed of oats.
Then taking off their dusty boots they placed them with their cloaks on
a rack beside the door, and followed the way Vicktor had gone.
Inside was a set of narrow timber stairs running immediately to the
right, and at the top of them another door opened into a small hallway,
set over the stable.
Vicktor had heard their approach and came from a room at the end. He
opened a door and pointed inside.
It was the kitchen. Nicholas was surprised, as it was as tidy and clean
as his own mothers had been. He immediately felt guilty, judging the man
and presuming that this house would be less than his own.
Vicktor pointed to chairs pushed under the table, they sat and were
served two large plates of dumplings and gravy, one of Nick's favourite
meals. The two men tucked in and gratefully took a second helping when that
was offered.
Vicktor refused their offers help with the washing of dishes, and led
them to another room with comfortable old chairs; they understood from his
gestures that they should wait here. Neither wanted to talk.
Colen took out some baccy and started to smoke, but Nicholas noticed that
on shelf next to the window were several books He was immediately drawn
to them.
His still forming estimation of Harry improved. He had always felt an affinity
with other readers and glancing at the titles, knew that he would like the
man, if indeed these were his books.
There were a number of texts on various subjects, a couple with political
sounding themes, and a book of fiction, a romance. Nicholas smiled at
the variety of tastes.
The door opened and he slowly spun, his breath catching in his throat,
for there in front of them was the most beautiful woman, or rather girl,
he had ever seen, and she was talking to him.
" I said which of you is Colen ".
Nicholas couldn't speak but Colen did. " I'm Colen miss ".
She turned away from Nick and spoke directly to Colen.
" Arrangements have been made and an itinerary prepared for you. You
leave tonight ".
He nodded.
She turned to Nick. " Then you must be Nicholas ".
He thought she sang his name. " Yes ", he nodded, but too
quickly
" You have had a meal ", he nodded again. " Then rest,
for the journey you will take you will need a clear head and a quick mind
".
Nick couldn't take his eyes off her. She wore a simple dress, her jet-black
hair cropped short. ' This must be Harry's sister, the romance would be
hers ', he thought.
" If you will excuse me I also have ridden a long way too and feel
the need of bathing. Gra... Vicktor will show you to your rooms. We will
meet and talk later".
" Thank you ", blurted out Nick. " ...but we must wait
for your brother ".
" My brother, then your wait will be a long one for he is not with
us ".
" Then there must be some mistake. We are to meet Harry here. I
... I assumed that you were his sister ".
" Harry's sister? ". There was the trace of a smile on her
face. " Then it is you who are mistaken. My name is Harriet; some call
me Harry in it's shortening. It is I that you have come to meet ",
she said turning and leaving the room without waiting for a response.
Vicktor hammered on the door later that evening, and by gestures indicated
that a meal was waiting for them.
Nicholas had lain on the bed since his meeting with Harriet, staring at
the roof. There was only one thought on his mind, and that was of her and
he almost raced downstairs in the hope that she was there, but she was not.
He couldn't sit, and restlessly paced the room wondering where she was.
" The last time I saw anything as obviously smitten was when I
sold off my wolfhound bitch ".
Colen was stood at the door.
" The male wore a track in his pen and dam near died of heart break
".
Nick had not heard him enter; he stopped pacing but said nothing in
reply.
He smiled sheepishly and sat down. At that moment the door from the kitchen
opened and in walked Harriet carrying two serving dishes. Nicholas stood
too quickly to help, and knocked his chair back across the room.
She looked at him, then at Colen with an exasperated look
" Please, I would feel safer carrying these hot dishes if you sat down
".
Nicholas saw what was probably a smirk on Colen's face. He felt totally
deflated.
It always happened. His father had encouraged him, almost demanded that
he meet girls, talk to girls, be friends with girls. That was all well and
good, but 'Why.... Why, when he actually liked one, did he always have to
act the fool?
Why was it that, when he was trying so hard to do the 'right thing', he
always did the 'wrong thing'?
It would be best to try to remain quiet and still, at least until he could
control his actions, so he pulled back the chair and sat down.
Nicholas wasn't sure if it was usual with her or not, but while Colen
helped himself she reached over for Nicholas's plate and ladled out some
of the broth for him. It was an act that earlier would have pleased him,
but now he felt belittled.
Vicktor joined them for the meal, and with the exception of the old man
they spoke briefly of the plans for the next few days, then the conversation
became more general. Nicholas steering it round to talk of Harriet herself,
for that was all be wanted to hear.
She seemed reluctant to talk on the subject. " I have had sympathy
with the movement for a long time though it was only after my… "
Her words trailed away as if she could not speak the name "... died
that I became part of the rebellion ".
" Was there an accident? ", enquired Colen untactfully.
" No. There was no accident ". She said firmly.
Nicholas could see the hurt. He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort
her.
Suddenly she stood, " If you will excuse me. I am tired. We will
need to be away early in the morn ".
Nicholas caught glimpse of moisture in the corner of her eye.
Apparently Vicktor saw the same for he left his mean unfinished and
followed her.
Colen looked at him, and whispered. " Rumour has it that her mother
was tortured to death for information she would not give ".
He seemed unconcerned and pulled out his baccy, lit it and exhaled a large
cloud of blue smoke into the air.
But a haze ad already covered Nicholas's eyes, one of anger.
He wanted to ask the seemingly indifferent man how, if he had had such a
suspicion, how he could be so tactless as ask about an accident. But he
stopped himself thinking that they had a job to do, and conflict would not
smooth its progress.
But besides that he felt angry at himself, if Colen was right and her mother
had died a cruel death, what did that make of his even handed judgements.
Were Simeon, Mark and all the others wrong, or could it be that he had been
so blind, so ignorant these years to all that had gone on around him. It
seemed now that everywhere he looked, everyone he spoke to had, had their
lives altered forever by the regime, or it's servants; the same rule that
he had looked upon as benign.
Had his mother really protected him from the world so much, or had he just
refused to see. He wanted to race out and avenge the injustice, to pay and
make up for the years of his inaction.
Someone was shaking his shoulder. He had lain awake thinking of Harriet
until late, her face melted in his mind to become that of Vicktor's.
He was gesturing that Nicholas should go downstairs.
" Thank you, I'm coming ". He said sleepily as he swung his legs
off the bed, stood, stretched then pulled his garments on.
Harriet was filling a pack with food when he walked into the kitchen.
She was
dressed in neat, but well-worn riding clothes and looked more beautiful
than he remembered from yesterday.
" I'm sorry, you should have woke me earlier ".
" There was nothing for you to do, but we must leave soon".
Nicholas felt he should help, but Harriet refused all his offers repeating
that everything was organised.
He took his own few things and went down to the stables.
The two horses that had been waiting the, previous day were saddled
and ready to leave, he tied his pack to the back of one. The door opened
and Harriet came through.
" Yours is the other animal ", she said sharply.
He took the pack off, feeling he was incapable of doing anything right.
" Where is Colen ". He asked.
" He left before dawn ". Was the abrupt reply.
Things were not going well . Nicholas wanted them to be friends, maybe
more, but Harriet was even less than indifferent to him
He didn't try to bridge the apparent gap, for he knew he would make a fool
of himself again, so he said nothing more.
Vicktor came down with the last pannier. He tied it to her horse, then
turned to her. He reached out putting a hand on each of her shoulders, and
looked at her face.
" I know. I will ", she said softly in reply to his unspoken
words.
Nicholas was sure he saw the wetness in her eye again, just before the
man
pulled her to him and held her tight.
Nick turned away feeling an intruder and pretended to adjust his horses
bridle. It struck him that Vicktor looked older this morn. Their ages seemed
far apart.
When he could hear Harriet mounting her horse, he went over to thank
the old
man for his hospitality, shook his hand and then climbed onto his own mount.
Vicktor opened one of the doors and they trotted out into the lane.
Harriet did not look back as they entered the main thoroughfare.
If anything there were more people on the streets this morn, so it took
them a good while to work their way to the outskirts of the town.
Harriet had said nothing since leaving, but now she spoke.
" It is just possible to reach Lakesend within a day and a night,
but it is hard riding for the horses. It is not wise or necessary, so we
will stop at a tavern some way into the mountain and seek overnight lodgings
".
He nodded accepting her role as leader on their journey.
" On the road we will travel as brother and sister ". This
disappointed him a little, though it seemed reasonable in the circumstance.
By now the houses were becoming fewer, the road steeper, and the land
to their right became more and more of a sheer fall.
As they entered the gorge the road was clearly defined by the cliff one
side, and a low crete wall marking the edge, but it was wide enough for
a wagon to pass either way.
The sights they passed fascinated Nicholas.
He had never seen so much rushing water as that which poured over falls
that they passed during the morning. Or the torrents of boiling white water
that crashed and sprayed with a thunderous sound over and around massive
rocks, worn round and smooth through ages.
Nicholas tried to draw Harriet into talking several times, and eventually
succeeded. His spirits lifted as they fell into talking of the mundane
as they continued up, stopping only to water or rest the horses. He realized
that around midday that Harriet had thrown off her sadness or annoyance
and seemed at ease with him now.
Late past that time, they approached the tavern. It was a large three
level building set back into the hillside in a small gully. The noise of
music and shouting growing louder as they came up to it.
Although elsewhere the day still had time to run, here in the chasm
it was already failing, and lights inside the hostelry were being lit when
they entered the building.
There were no women in the room, only a mixture of men of different
ages, colour, and origin. Most drinking at the long timber bar that occupied
the whole of one end of the ground floor room.
But these seemed unassuming in comparison to a group of young men, in both
rowdiness and consumption of ale. The five sat at a choice table near the
massive open fireplace, where the other patrons seemed to avoid them.
Nearer the door a small group of musicians played.
Nicholas was ignored, but as Harriet entered behind him the level of the
murmur fell, and a number of the men including all of the five turned to
look at her.
Their faces could not be seen, only just as silhouettes in the light from
the blazing fire. But Nicholas knew the expressions that they bore.
The bar tenderer directed them to a small door at far the end of the
room. They knocked. Out came a surly, stocky man. He threw down a ledger
on the very end of the bar slab.
" Just for the two then. We may have something free ". He looked
over their shoulders into the room behind them, and smiled. " Yes,
but not next to each other. I'll show the lady up her room, while Peter
shows you where to put your animals ".
A surly youth looked up from the five and noisily pushing his chair
back came over to them.
" Show this young gentleman the outhouse for his beasts ",
the keeper said
A couple of the others made to stand as Nicholas followed Peter to the
door, but he thought nothing of it.
Nicholas led the animals into an adjacent building. It was dirty and
stank. He
found the cleanest stable he could where the horses would have to share
for the night.
As he began to unbuckle the saddle on his mount he heard two others
enter behind them. They were talking to each other about the weather, but
still he paid little notice.
Harriet's horse was nuzzling a pannier upon his mount that contained
chaff. Both horses seemed restless and he pulled out the food to settle
them down. He slung the bag over the horse's neck; it shook its head. Its
eyes wide and staring in his direction. " Easy boy. Easy ", he
said comfortingly as he went back to removing the saddle.
Without warning he felt a sharp pain in his kidneys. His back arched
in reflex and his legs went weak. Before they buckled under him a second
vicious blow sank into him. His head began to spin and he drifted into a
half-conscious state, barely comprehending as he was roughly gripped by
the shoulder and spun around, to face two grinning men.
Somebody said something, and there was laughter but all that evaporated
as a fist crushed up under his rib cage, driving every drop of air out of
his lungs. Before he could curl up in agony, a hand hooked around the back
of his neck, pulling his head forward and down as a knee smashed up into
his face.
Nicholas stumbled back crashing into the rear wall of the stable in
front of the
horses. He fell between their legs, his fall cushioned on a pile of rotten
hay and manure.
His horse shied and almost brought its hoof down on his head, but suddenly
he was dragged out from under them by his own feet and roughly propped upright
against the partition. He felt dreamlike hands going through his pockets.
Nicholas slumped down onto his knees and held his face in his hands; blood
from his crushed nose ran down over his lips, and between his fingers.
Everything seemed to be happening in flashes as suddenly he was being
hauled to his feet again. One man on either side he was dragged outside
into the cool evening air.
His mind was a haze. His toes were dragging over tar. They were crossing
the road. Vaguely he could see they were approaching the crete wall. One
of his assailants was talking, laughing. He was telling the other to hurry.
They would miss a turn.
Nicholas once more had the wind knocked out of him as he was roughly
dropped, kneeling and half draped over the wall. He stared down. It seemed
far, far down and he could dimly make out the rapids in the almost darkness.
They were laughing and talking about flying, as he felt his legs lifted.
Nicholas suddenly realized they were going to throw him over into the chasm.
" I've money in my shirt ". He mumbled through painfully aching
lips as he balanced over the precipice.
" Wait ", he heard one say
" I looked ", said the other defensively.
" Look again, and make sure this time ". Snapped the first.
Nicholas was pulled back away from the wall, turned and dropped to the road
as one ripped open his cloak to look inside.
He did not need long, he reached up and clutched out at the man, his
fingers curling around the cloak lapels. The surprised man instinctively
tried to stand back up, but Nick held onto the front of his tunic, letting
himself be lifted a little before lifting his own foot, kicking it into
the thugs stomach. The man grunted and lost his balance as Nicholas allowed
his own weight to drop him onto his back, pulling the thug down with him.
Nicholas hit hard, crunching on the embedded gravel as he rolled backward
simultaneously straightening his body and pushing up his leg with all his
remaining strength.
The man cleared the wall by several feet, and was already plummeting
down to the rapids before he uttered his first and only dwindling scream.
Nicholas had completed the rolling motion and was up; ignoring his own
pain he was leaning against the wall, twisting his body into a crouch. The
other man was staring in disbelief over the wall until he saw Nick rise
up.
He let out a stream of abuse as he thrust his hand into his tunic.
Nicholas didn't wait to see what for, he clenched his fingers and lunging
with a straightened arm jabbed them deep into his opponent's throat. The
thug's head flew forward as he dropped to his knees choking and gasping
for breath. Nicholas stepped straight over him, wiping the blood from his
face with his sleeve he ran in agony towards the tavern,
He burst through the door and pushed his way through the started and staring
patrons toward the entrance to the rooms. The table that had been used by
the five was empty.
There were shouts and curses thrown at him as he spilt drinks and knocked
tables of playing cards over. But they all recoiled away from the blood
stained sight.
He ran up the stairs to the first floor, throwing, or kicking open door
after door.
A number of the rooms were occupied, those inside startled and frightened
by the apparition and its sudden wild intrusion. There was no sign of Harriet
Screams were coming from before and after him now as he desperately
climbed to the second floor.
He ran up the last stairs, opening the door into the second room in
the narrow corridor.
She was there,
A man held her arms pinned behind her.
She had a look of fear and desperation on her face. Her cloak was torn back
over her shoulders and her shirt was ripped open.
Between them were three men, their leering faces immediately turned to him
A short while before Nicholas had not expected trouble, which had been
a mistake, or been prepared for it, which had been an even greater mistake.
But now he was, and as had been the case with the Veldt, Nicholas did not
feel any actual terror or real fear, even the agony of seconds ago was bearable.
His main thought was that each time the odds seemed to be getting more in
the opponent's favour.
He felt his body like a taut spring; he was ready.
The three made for him at once. Nicholas reached up and coiled his fingers
around the door lintel above his head. Kicking himself from the ground,
his right foot came up and crunched flat on, into the face of the closest,
blood and teeth splattered onto the second, causing him to step back momentarily.
The third burst forward between them to have Nicholas's left foot hook behind
his neck, His right came up again under the mans jaw, pushing his head back
almost bent in two. There was a snap before Nicholas twisted his body to
face the one who had recoiled a little.
He released his scissor grip on the now collapsing man, planted his left
foot high on his chest and pushed him violently into his companion.
Dropping from the lintel he saw that it was the tavern keeper who held
Harriet. The man spun her about to face onto Nicholas, as his arm came around
in front of her. The firelight glinted off a long blade he pressed against
the skin of her throat.
" Get back ". He shouted. " Get back or she'll bleed….
She'll bleed real bad ".
Nick stopped and looked at him, noticing out of the corner of his eye
that his third assailant was struggling to get up from under the second.
" Get over against that wall ". Demanded the keeper. Nicholas
stepped sideways against a chair. He slowly lifted his foot until it rested
on the seat.
" I'll cut her ", the keeper threatened waving the blade wildly.
" No you wont ", said Nicholas calmly, as he pulled up the
hem of his breeches.
The third man was now on his feet and his, Harriet's, and the tavern
keeper's eyes looked down to the knife that was strapped to Nicholas's leg.
The tavern keeper pulled her head back brutally, making her cry out
in fright , and exposing more of the soft flesh of her neck.
" Don't try anything " he snarled, " Or I'll cut her pretty
little head off from her body ".
Nicholas didn't take his eyes off the man, as his fingers closed around
the knife.
" Don't move ". The man screamed again.
" I'll give you my knife ", said Nicholas softly.
" Grayam. Get it ". the tavern keeper called to his accomplice.
For an instant Nick looked away from the tavern keeper's cruel eyes,
into Harriet's pleading ones. He smiled and his lips moved mouthing ' It's
alright' before he looked back at the man holding her " No ".
He said firmly " It's for you ".
As he spoke Nicholas's wrist flicked so fast that the blade was spinning
through the air, before it was even seen to move.
He saw the tavern keeper's eyes fix on the blur and his arm tense ready
to draw his own blade over the girls white throat.
Before he could, the sharp point of Nick's knife penetrated the back of
his hand. Slicing through skin, sinew and bone until it emerged though his
palm. The very tip of the point nicking the exposed flesh high up Harriet's
shoulder.
The tavern keeper screamed, his impaled hand spread wide in reflex as
his knife clattered onto the floor
He followed it to the ground, clutching at his wrist with his other sobbing
in pain
Released Harriet quickly ran to Nicholas's side, as the third man ran from
the room.
" So much for resting here in this filthy hovel for this night
". Nicholas said coolly, walking over to the whimpering man.
He cowered back as Nicholas reached down and pulled the knife from the man's
flesh as if it was an unfeeling lump of wood.
" Sorry " he said with a cruel smile " I didn't mean you
can have it to keep ". Tauntingly he drew the flat sides over the mans
shoulder to wipe away the blood and turned back to Harriet.
" Are you alright? ".
" A little shaken ". She fingered the minute drop of blood
on her side of her neck. " Wasn't that a little too close? ".
" No ", he smiled. " I thought it was exactly right ".
He crossed the room and pulled out a kerchief dabbing it on the spot of
blood. " See… it isn't even yours ".
Harriet held her head back and looked up into his face, then at his
lips as she
leant forward and upward to meet his lips as they came down.
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