The Revenant of Thraxton Hall: The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Entwistle Vaughn

Author:Entwistle, Vaughn [Entwistle, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

CATCHING THE BULLET

“Teleportation,” Hume began, “is the ability to move physical objects from one point to another, instantaneously.”

The Society for Psychical Research had reconvened in the parlor and the Yankee psychic held the floor.

“Could you teleport yourself back to America?” Frank Podmore asked sarcastically, lounging in his chair, his short legs crossed at the ankles.

Hume bristled at the insult. From his expression, it was clear to all that his dislike for Podmore was like an itch crawling beneath his skin. “Mister Podmore has a most peculiar sense of humor. In truth, I typically demonstrate the ability using a small object, such as a coin.”

Wilde stood up from his seat. “That is true.” He pulled the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek from his inside pocket and held it aloft for all to see. “Mister Hume successfully teleported my medal in front of a full audience at Gatti’s-Under-the-Arches.”

The members of the SPR murmured excitedly to each other.

“A music-hall trick such as might be performed by a moderately skilled conjurer,” Podmore scoffed. An uncomfortable silence descended upon the room. Only Lord Webb, sitting in an armchair near the fire, seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, his smirk clenched around the ebony cigarette holder.

The American smiled ironically. “Mister Podmore, you are coming dangerously close to insulting me.”

Podmore jumped to his feet. “Several years ago, you claimed to have caught a bullet in flight—purely using your so-called powers of teleportation. Is that correct?”

Hume’s eyes grew guarded. Clearly, Podmore was laying a trap for him. “Yes,” he nodded, “I accomplished that feat.”

Podmore smiled. He walked up to Wilde, snatched the medal from his hand, tossing it in the air and catching it. “So why do something so mundane as a tossed coin? I think we’d all like to see the bullet catch.” He lobbed the medal back to Wilde, who caught it with an aggrieved look on his face. “Or is that a feat too difficult to reproduce without a friendly audience?”

Hume’s eyes flashed death, but he swallowed his anger and said mildly, “I could certainly reproduce the feat, but unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately for you—I did not bring a gun with me.”

Podmore smiled and stalked over to where the Count was sitting. “Count, for the purposes of this demonstration, might I borrow your pistol?”

The Count dallied, clearly conflicted. The masked face looked to Wilde, who shook his head and silently mouthed no.

Henry Sidgwick jumped to his feet and attempted to lead Podmore back to his seat. “Come now, Frank, this has gone far enough.”

“Count!” Hume said in a loud voice that froze the action. “Please oblige Mister Podmore and lend him your pistol. I release you from any culpability.”

Then, with clear reluctance, the Count unsnapped the black leather holster, drew out his weapon (a Webley Mark I revolver), and gingerly handed it over. As Podmore gripped the pistol, a look of sick triumph washed over his face. He turned and brandished the weapon for all to see. “Excellent!” Podmore said. “Make yourself ready, Mister Hume.”

“Frank!” Sidgwick shouted.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.