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 Iâd assumed for Rachelâs benefit, I was horribly worried by what had happened. It was more than just a dramatic reversal of our previous roles. Up till then Iâd felt that sheâd 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 didnât seem likely to be of much help, but it was the only hope I had, so after Iâd 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. âJust in time for a cup of decaffeinated coffee,â he said. âGuaranteed non-toxic, non-stimulating, non-aphrodisiac. Come on in.â
I thanked him, hung up my wet mackintosh and went through into the sitting-room. âWhat have you got here?â I asked, gazing round at the portfolio of drawings he had spread out over the carpet.
âI guess you might be interested in those,â he called from the kitchenette. âI just got them down on loan today from the Senate library. Do you recognize any of them?â
âNo, I donât think so,â I said, bending down for a closer look. âShould I?â
âHow about the ones on the couch?â
I stepped across. âGood God!â I exclaimed. âMartin! Are they all by him?â
âNo, some are Fuseli and a couple by John Brown.â
I picked up one of the drawings and held it up to the light. It was another view of that strange valley Iâd 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. âNotice anything peculiar about them?â he asked.
âWell, itâs the same placeâthe dream place.â
âNo, I donât mean that. Anything about the scene itself.â
I shook my head. âHow do you mean?â
âNo people. Most of Martinâs drawings are crammed with people. Those are the only ones Iâve ever come across where there isnât a soul to be seen.â He picked up another from the floor and handed it to me. âWouldnât you say that place ought to be packed?â
I stared down at the deserted tiers of the amphitheatre. âMaybe it was once,â I murmured.
âBefore your time, eh?â he chuckled.
âDo you know anything about these?â I asked.
âNo, not much. It seems Martin did them all in a couple of weeks back in the fall of 1819. Heâd had some sort of fever, and when he came round he spent his convalescence producing these. Thatâs all Iâve been able to find out.â
âDid he do any others?â
âNot a one that I know of.â Dumps cleared himself a space and sat down.â
âFanatics have their dreamshe said, âwherewith they weave a paradise for a sect.â Maybe thatâs what Mad Martin was up to.â
âWhat on earth made you quote that?â I asked.
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