The Transcendent Man by Jerry Sohl

Author:Jerry Sohl [Sohl, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: XXXXXXXX
Publisher: ReAnimus Press
Published: 2012-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

The front-door chime jarred them into motion on the stairs, Martin clattering down behind the racing Virginia. Ethel was already at the door and, as she opened it, Martin collapsed at the bottom of the stairs, clutching his stomach.

A sergeant removed his hat as he stepped through the doorway. Ethel stared at the fallen figure. “What’s the matter with Mr. Enders?” she asked in surprise.

“Are you alone?” Virginia asked the soldier.

“No. I got a buddy in the meat wagon outside,” he said, studying Martin, who lay on the floor, groaning and lashing about. “What’s the trouble with him?”

“Appendix,” Virginia said. “Better get him to the hospital in a hurry. It may have burst. I’ll help you.”

Together, with Martin supported between them and barely able to walk, they half carried him out of the house to the ambulance. The driver jumped and opened the rear door. Then he helped them put Martin on a stretcher inside.

The truck drew away from the curb, gathered speed down the street, the two army men in front, Virginia at Martin’s side in the rear.

“I can’t stand it!” Martin cried in mock agony, thrashing about, hands on his stomach, teeth bared and grinding as if in pain.

“There, there, darling,” Virginia comforted, stroking his forehead. “It will be all right soon.”

“Oh, what’s going to happen next?” he groaned, fixing her with one eye, the other closed.

“Quiet,” she replied, giving him a sharp look.

“How’s he making it?” the sergeant asked, turning around.

“Not too good,” Virginia said.

The ambulance slowed, turned a corner. Martin, who had been watching Virginia, saw her tense, narrow her eyes and assume the manner of one in extreme concentration.

Suddenly the ambulance screeched to a lurching stop.

“I’ll be damned!” the driver said, leaning forward on the wheel, staring ahead. “Where did that wall come from? It wasn’t there a second ago!”

“What is this?” the sergeant asked no one in particular, leaning forward in order to see how high the wall was.

Martin turned his head and, through what he could see of the windshield, saw the even bricks of the wall.

The sergeant opened the car door, looked to the rear. “Hey! Can you beat that! There’s a wall behind us, too!”

“What’s the trouble, Sergeant?” Virginia asked concernedly. “Is this the hospital?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “It’s—I don’t know how to explain it. Just a minute.”

Both army men got out to inspect the wall, leaving the ambulance motor running.

“Can you drive?” Virginia asked Martin.

“Sure, but—”

“Get there and drive, then,” she snapped, indicating the driver’s seat.

Martin clambered over the rear of the seat, gestured to the wall in front of them which ran to the houses on either side of the street. “How...?”

Suddenly the wall was gone and the street stretched on in front of them.

“Let’s go!” Virginia yelled.

Martin put the truck in gear and they whizzed past the two soldiers who had been examining the wall and who stood now staring at where it had been.

“Head for the gate,” the girl shouted above the din of the motor. “It’s straight on down this street.

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