Monster by Shane Peacock

Author:Shane Peacock
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2018-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

16

Godwin seems to be in a good mood when Edgar reaches him that morning, or at least what passes for happiness with the great scientist. He says there are no “challenges” this morning, just paperwork to be done and cleaning up around the lab. He hands Edgar a broom and a cloth and goes to his desk.

Edgar can’t concentrate. He wants to rush off to be with Lucy and Tiger. But he also knows that he may be in the very place where Jonathan disappeared, and his best course of action is to investigate and do it now. He cleans up near the Elephant Man’s door and doesn’t hear a sound and can’t think of a reason to ask Godwin if he can go in there again. Edgar is wary about saying much to him. Given the events of the past day and the warnings of H.G. Wells, he is now deeply worried about taking him into his confidence in any way.

But he has to.

“Sir,” he finally says. “Might I speak frankly with you?”

“Of course, my boy, finally, what is on your mind?”

“My friend, Jonathan, the one who was coming later to see the Elephant Man’s room, has disappeared.”

“That’s an awfully dramatic word. Whatever do you mean by that?”

“He didn’t come home last night. He’s never done that before.”

“He isn’t a drinker, is he? He could pass for an adult. Have you inquired at a public house he might frequent?”

“He doesn’t go to such places, sir, ever. He would have gone straight home from here, there is no question.”

“Well, that isn’t good, isn’t good indeed.”

In the silence that follows, Edgar, who has made sure he is standing as close to the Elephant Man’s room as possible without arousing suspicion, again listens intently for any sound coming from it—a sigh, a distant groan, anything. But there is nothing. He unconsciously slides his eyes in the direction of its door, and when he looks back at Godwin, the great surgeon is examining him.

“Well,” says Godwin finally, “it was your uncle who was meeting Jonathan here last night. So, you must visit him immediately and make inquiries. Off you go! I am sure he will have an explanation for you. Your friend likely told him something that will set aside your fears. Fear, you know, is an irrational thing. We must always be rational, my boy.”

—

Edgar finds Vincent Brim in his room upstairs with the door open, sitting behind his desk, contemplating something, drumming his fingers on the surface of the two sensation novels. Edgar knocks gently but there is no response. He enters and examines the room as he walks forward, seeing if he can spot the place where his uncle came out of the wall. But he can’t and wonders if he imagined it. Vincent doesn’t notice him until he is right in front of him, and then looks up, startled.

“Sir, did my friend, Jonathan Lear, meet you here last night?”

“Why are you sneaking up on me?”

“I knocked.”

“You did?”

“Is something worrying you, sir?”

“No, why would it be?”

“You seem upset.

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