The City of Dr Moreau by J.S. Barnes

Author:J.S. Barnes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

II

An odd atmosphere had settled between the two young men – even Silas had seemed uncharacteristically taciturn following their encounter with Dr Galsworthy – and it was not until the school was some fifteen miles away and they had passed into the Fenlands that conversation began, haltingly, to start up once more.

“It is good to see you,” Silas offered and his tentative smile seemed far more genuine than it had before, devoid now of any touch of cruelty.

“You too,” Albert said, grateful that the long hush was over.

“Been too long. Don’t see enough of one another. Always try to watch out for you. Make sure you’re thriving. Roddy too, of course, but there’s a special link, don’t you find, between the eldest and the youngest?”

Albert found that he was smiling now too, pleased for the flattery and eager for companionship. Beyond the car was the flat, stark vista which typifies Cambridgeshire even in high summer. With every additional mile, the warnings of his schoolmaster seemed to grow fainter and to recede further into memory.

“So you can tell me now,” Albert said, settling back into his seat, “exactly what’s waiting for us in this City of yours. What is it? A club of some sort, I suppose?”

The grin was back and a hint of slyness with it. “In a manner of speaking it’s a club, yes. Certainly only the most select sort of chap is invited. But it’s considerably more than that. It’s a feat – of architecture, engineering and imagination. Oh, I really can’t describe it. Not in a way which does the place justice. You’ll see – you’ll understand when we get there. It will be fun, as I said, but you’ll receive quite an education too – a finer, truer one than St Barnaby’s ever gave you.”

“Just tell me one thing, just one thing about the City. Then I’ll ask no more until we get there.”

Silas drew in a breath, then exhaled theatrically. “Just this,” he said. “No-one goes to the City for the first time and comes back the same. One sort of person goes in – and a very different man comes out. It leaves its mark upon you. The mark of Moreau.”

“Who’s Moreau?”

“One question, old chap. That’s what you asked for and that’s what I granted. All of the rest of it will become clear in the fullness of time. Now, let’s talk of other things. You hear much of old Roddie these days? I hear that wife of his has him fully under the thumb now, poor devil…”

The car went on, deeper into England, and as Silas chattered of family and duty and of the mysterious, inexorable workings of money Albert Edgington sat quite still, watched the level landscape roll by and let his mind roam ahead to the City.

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