The Door to Doom by John Dickson Carr

Author:John Dickson Carr [Carr, John Dickson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

PENDEREL: Isn’t there an empty boat here?

BETTY: Well, really! If you’ve got such a great objection to riding in the same boat with me …

PENDEREL: I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that at all.

BETTY: Then you’d better get in, if you want to go at all. This boat’s starting to move.

(Faint splashing and slapping of water, as in a narrow tunnel)

PENDEREL: Look here, I want to apologize!

BETTY: That’s quite unnecessary. This place is rather childish, isn’t it?

PENDEREL: Yes. Isn’t it?

BETTY: But I’ve seen everything else, so I may as well see this. Here we go, into the dark.

(They hear a loud burst of machinelike, brassy laughter.)

PENDEREL: What was that?

BETTY: One of the ghosts, I imagine. From a machine.

PENDEREL: It sounded like him laughing. There isn’t anybody in the boat behind us, is there?

BETTY: I can’t see. It’s pitch dark.

PENDEREL: Listen, Miss … Miss …

BETTY: My name is Andrews, Betty Andrews—if it’s customary to exchange names in a place like this.

PENDEREL: Mine is Penderel, Bob Penderel.

BETTY: Did you say Penderel?

PENDEREL: Yes. Do you know it?

BETTY: Not—not exactly. It’s an unusual name, that’s all.

PENDEREL: I don’t want you to think I’m out of my mind, though I very nearly am. But I’ve got five hours to go. Just five hours! At the end of that time, either I’ll have won twenty-five thousand dollars, or else …

BETTY: Or else?

PENDEREL: Or else I’ll be dead.

(Another burst of brassy laughter)

BETTY (frightened): You know, I wish I had kept you away from this boat!

PENDEREL: There’s nothing to get alarmed about. For you. I had to tell somebody or I’d have started yelling. There’s just one other thing.

BETTY: Yes?

PENDEREL: In these places they’ve usually got little dim-lighted rooms along the way. Exhibits.

BETTY: Yes. Ghosts and things.

PENDEREL: When we come to one, I’m going to get out of this boat and hide there. Don’t be afraid—and don’t tell anybody when you go out.

BETTY: But why should you do that?

PENDEREL (absent-mindedly): I think I see a light ahead.

BETTY: It is a light. But…

PENDEREL: Dim too. That’s all to the good. It’s… yes, we’re coming round the corner. It’s the old mill loft, with a wax dead man on a pile of straw. Goodbye, Betty Andrews. I wish we’d met at a different time.

BETTY: Watch out! (Splashings)

PENDEREL: Here! What are you doing?

BETTY: Getting out too.

PENDEREL: Don’t be an idiot! What’s the idea?

BETTY: You need looking after, Mr. Bob Penderel. If we must hide, I suppose this is as good a place as any.

PENDEREL: I won’t have it!

BETTY: Quick! There’ll be more boats along any moment! Over behind the dead man on the straw. Hurry! (Footsteps) Now, Mr. Bob Penderel, what is this all about?

PENDEREL: I can’t tell you!

BETTY: You said yourself that if you don’t tell somebody, you’ll go crazy!

PENDEREL (with a deep breath): Maybe you’re right. It’s against the strict terms of the bet, but this is the last day and I tell you I can’t hold out much longer!

BETTY: Lower your voice—there’s a boat coming.

PENDEREL: I wonder if you’ve ever heard of my stepfather, John Destry?

BETTY: Yes.

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