Breakthrough by Richard Cowper

Author:Richard Cowper [Cowper, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Dennis Dobson
Published: 1976-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

In spite of the confident front I’d assumed for Rachel’s benefit, I was horribly worried by what had happened. It was more than just a dramatic reversal of our previous roles. Up till then I’d felt that she’d had me by the hand and was leading me: now we were like the babes lost in the darkling wood. That I was still able to recall what had taken place between us didn’t seem likely to be of much help, but it was the only hope I had, so after I’d taken Rachel back to her hostel I turned my scooter round and headed towards the staff residential block.

If Dumps was surprised to see me at that late hour he concealed it admirably. ‘Just in time for a cup of decaffeinated coffee,’ he said. ‘Guaranteed non-toxic, non-stimulating, non-aphrodisiac. Come on in.’

I thanked him, hung up my wet mackintosh and went through into the sitting-room. ‘What have you got here?’ I asked, gazing round at the portfolio of drawings he had spread out over the carpet.

‘I guess you might be interested in those,’ he called from the kitchenette. ‘I just got them down on loan today from the Senate library. Do you recognize any of them?’

‘No, I don’t think so,’ I said, bending down for a closer look. ‘Should I?’

‘How about the ones on the couch?’

I stepped across. ‘Good God!’ I exclaimed. ‘Martin! Are they all by him?’

‘No, some are Fuseli and a couple by John Brown.’

I picked up one of the drawings and held it up to the light. It was another view of that strange valley I’d visited in my dream, sketched, apparently, from the very point where I myself had first stood and looked up the path towards the ridge that concealed the amphitheatre. I was still gazing at 116 it wonderingly when Dumps came in with the coffee. ‘Notice anything peculiar about them?’ he asked.

‘Well, it’s the same place—the dream place.’

‘No, I don’t mean that. Anything about the scene itself.’

I shook my head. ‘How do you mean?’

‘No people. Most of Martin’s drawings are crammed with people. Those are the only ones I’ve ever come across where there isn’t a soul to be seen.’ He picked up another from the floor and handed it to me. ‘Wouldn’t you say that place ought to be packed?’

I stared down at the deserted tiers of the amphitheatre. ‘Maybe it was once,’ I murmured.

‘Before your time, eh?’ he chuckled.

‘Do you know anything about these?’ I asked.

‘No, not much. It seems Martin did them all in a couple of weeks back in the fall of 1819. He’d had some sort of fever, and when he came round he spent his convalescence producing these. That’s all I’ve been able to find out.’

‘Did he do any others?’

‘Not a one that I know of.’ Dumps cleared himself a space and sat down.’

“Fanatics have their dreamshe said, “wherewith they weave a paradise for a sect.” Maybe that’s what Mad Martin was up to.’

‘What on earth made you quote that?’ I asked.

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