Craven Place by Richard Wright

Author:Richard Wright [Wright, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Richard Wright
Published: 2013-06-21T04:30:00+00:00

Chapter 19

As he finished his story, Maxwell eased back in the armchair, looking uncomfortable. I said nothing, turning the ramifications over in my mind. Celia, for her part, remained silent also, looking long and hard at the journalist. I wondered what might be going on behind her eyes. There was something in her gaze, a steady speculation that told me she was unsatisfied, that the answers she had hoped for had not been forthcoming. Outside, the winds still hammered the cottage, as though trying to force entry. I took a deep breath. “The witch-fire.”

Maxwell looked up at me. “Say what?”

“The witch-fire. Nicholas mentioned...” Saying his name brought home to me just what we were doing, why we were sitting there talking. Somehow, the problem had shifted in my mind, into an abstract puzzle, another case to approach as a professional psychic. With the invocation of his name I was forcibly reminded that this was no simple intrigue, but the search for my husband, the man I cared for despite all his flaws. My hands started to shake, and I clasped them before me, squeezing them hard. “I’m sorry,” I said, finding iron to gird my voice. “What was I saying? Yes. Nicholas mentioned it to us, right here in this room.” He had stood where I was right then, though I forced the haunted echo of his voice to the back of my mind and ploughed on. “It’s been seen over the years. It’s Morgan’s reminder of what they did to her out there.”

Celia stared into the fire, not even sparing me a snide remark. Maxwell shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with the notion. “Whatever. Sure was weird. It just flared up, then died out again.”

I nodded. “I saw from the kitchen window. I could feel her presence.”

Maxwell sat up, suddenly curious. “Did you notice anything else? From the window?” My comment had invigorated him somewhat, for his face was eager and searching.

“Nothing, I’m afraid. It’s as if Nicholas never was.”

Celia stood. “So, we’ve accomplished nothing at all then?”

“I sure as hell didn’t find anything useful,” Maxwell said.

“No?” There was an odd pause as Celia examined him, her eyes peculiarly hostile. I watched her struggle to appear relaxed. “Well, I see little point in continuing the search tonight.”

Maxwell nodded, rising to his feet though he clearly wished to stay slumped where he was. “Agreed. We’ll try again first thing.”

Celia snorted, turning her face to the floor. “If you think there’s any point.” I watched her, my heart sinking. Part of me had been glad of her steady scepticism, for it encouraged a belief that all was not lost, that Nicholas might somehow turn up yet. If she believed all to be forfeit, then I felt as though I might unhinge completely.

Maxwell was aware of the sudden plunge my mood took. “Look,” he said, “we’ve been through enough tonight without that kind of talk.” Though he looked at Celia, I knew he was talking to me. “I’m sure he’s okay, wherever the hell he is.

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