The Peculiarities by David Liss

Author:David Liss [Liss, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, General, Alternative History
ISBN: 9781616963583
Google: ZqA7zgEACAAJ
Amazon: 1616963581
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Published: 2021-09-06T23:00:00+00:00

Crowley once told him that magic cannot be used to accomplish that which cannot be done without magic. Once again, the great magician appears to be wrong, because floors cannot vanish, and people cannot be cast from a garret into the abyss. Yet, that is happening.

With his eyes squeezed shut he falls and falls and falls, waiting for the sudden jolt of firm ground and death. After endless seconds, when he is not broken against the earth, he forces open his eyes to see he is not falling at all. He is merely lying on the floor, his mouth open, drool pooling near his face. He sees Ruby Topping also on the floor, her snout open and her tongue lolling. She tries to push herself up and falls back down again after gaining only a few inches.

Thomas lifts his head and he is stuck by an explosion of nausea and vertigo. He squeezes his eyes shut, waiting for it to pass, but it does not. Closing his eyes eases the sensation, if only a little, but he cannot lie here. He must do something.

His eyelids flutter open once more, and he forces himself to lift his head. Crowley and Miss Feldstein are also in the process of trying to rise. Thomas tells himself that what he is feeling is not real. He is not falling; the room is not moving. The portal is having some effect on him, on his sense of balance.

It is not real. He chants this quietly while he pushes himself upright, first sitting and then managing to get on his feet. Sort of, in any case. He is crouched down low, trying to minimize his center of mass.

He moves first to Ruby, who is closest, and gives her his hand. “It’s not real.”

“I bloody well know that,” she gasps. “But it feels real.”

Crowley is helping Miss Feldstein rise. She appears greener in complexion than any of the rest of the group, though Thomas cannot vouch for his own appearance. He imagines it must be awful. He keeps closing his eyes, trying to steady himself, and nearly toppling over.

“We have to get out of here,” he says.

“We haven’t closed the portal,” Crowley counters.

“Obviously, but if we can’t stand and move around, we’re not going to figure out how to close it. Let’s get to the wall. We can use it for support.”

Waddling like ducks, they make their way to the wall and then inch toward the stairs. Ruby takes the lead, and Thomas hangs back to make certain Miss Feldstein is managing. Of course, Ruby is no less female and equally deserving of his attention, but she seems more self-sufficient, hardier. Thomas doesn’t know if this is true or simply a prejudice he has formed because of her accent. Nevertheless, he feels he must see to Miss Feldstein.

She looks horrible, drawn and sunken-eyed and as though struggling not to vomit.

“Take my hand,” he tells her.

She nods, but she cannot summon sufficient energy to speak.

They reach the stairs and, gripping the banister, begin to make their uncertain descent.

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