Chapter 13 - Raised By Wolves

Chapter 13
 Raised by Wolves
After Aleister had dropped his news'bomb', all was quiet in the room.
No one wanted to break the silence at first. Then Emmeline said softly, 'How...how did you know?'
Al leaned forward, elbows on knees. 'My dear girl. I apologize for what must seem to be a rather abrupt assault on propriety, and your privacy as well. But, as you have no doubt surmised by now, we are, all of us, in desperate circumstances lately!' He paused and looked down at the carpet a moment, gathering his thoughts. 'We do rather have the advantage of you, as you would say, but here in this our sanctuary for the moment, we are hoping that we may all become better acquainted and hopefully, more at ease with one another.'
Jack spoke up then. 'Emmeline, if it's any comfort to you, Aleister seems to have the advantage of myself as well, when it comes to certain pertinent information.'He sat, arms folded across himself,long legs stretched out and crossed before him, looking rather dour.
Aleister cleared his throat, taking a sip of cognac. '...ah,hemmm, well. Time and place for everything, Jack!'
'How about here and now?' Emmeline challenged.
'Very well, then!' Aleister turned to Alice: 'My dear  Alice, did your late husband leave any of his notes at your house by any chance?'
'He did,  Aleister,' Alice seemed more herself now. 'But with his instructions to keep them in a safe deposit box at the bank, should anything  happen...'she trailed off...
Aleister reached over and took her hand a moment: 'Of course, my dear!
This isn't easy for either of you ladies, I quite understand. But, for your own safety, we must determine certain knowledge is still safe as well.'
He then turned to Emmeline, 'And Emmeline, had your late father left any of his files behind, that may have escaped the fire at the lab?'
Em started a bit then. 'I, I'm not sure. I kept some of his things that were at the house then, before it was sold, and I moved into Alice's. There wasn't much, really, he was practically living at the lab by then.'she sighed.'There may be a trunk, but I can't recall what all it contains. It's in Alice's attic now.' She looked up then. Aleister noted that she seemed calm enough, and hoped it wasn't shock, still. He hoped that the sedative he'd administered in her tea was  working.
'I see. We shall have to make a thorough search for and inside that trunk when we return. I do not think however that there is any problem with it where it is. Although perhaps...we can discuss it later with Yeats, eh Jack?' Jack nodded.
'Well, it has been a long, weary day. I think we would benefit by abit of rest before we apply ourselves to this line of inquiry further.'Aleister drained his glass,and setting it down, addressed the company:'We shall need our wits about us in the next few days. And Emmeline, you especially require some easy, natural sleep!'
'I'll try, doctor. So much has crowded my mind! I can't make head or tail of it at all!'she shook her head slowly.
'We understand, dear girl. Know that we shall endeavor to enlighten
you regarding all, on the morrow!' He looked at her intently. 'Would you care for a sedative, my dear?'
'...you mean, another one?' she asked archly.
Aleister smiled a small crooked grin then. 'Well, as your physician, I took it upon myself to administer a very small quantity of quite natural and very gentle soothing potion in your tea, yes. I would do so only in such an emergency as this! But, now, I am asking, will you be able to sleep do you think?'
'Oh, yes, doctor, I do believe so...although confused in the extreme, I'm also quite numb from it all!' Alice set Em's feet to the ground, and took her hand. 'Come on then, luv! Up you go and I'll show you upstairs to your cozy bed! Gentlemen...on the morrow then?'
Jack and Aleister stood as well. 'Goodnight, ladies. And pleasant dreams. Fear nothing, and sleep deep. We are safe as houses here,' Aleister took Alice's other hand and bussed a kiss upon it, to Emmeline's surprise.
Jack stepped over to Emmeline's side,'If you should need anything, anything at all, Emmeline, don't hesitate to let me, or Aleister know! Alice will show you where our rooms are, just down the hall from your own.' He took Em's hand and held it a moment, then with a hand on her shoulder, escorted the ladies to the stairway. 'We shall have a long talk come tomorrow.'
                               . . . . .
Morning burst with a blustering storm which increased with time. The cold sea winds blew in from the coast, blasting the landscape and shaking trees as with blows by a Norse god's hammer.
Jack was in the kitchen making himself an espresso. He liked a straight shot or 2 w/a wee bit of ice. He would then add Almond Milk. He liked that...as if one could milk a bloody almond!
 'Oh! Hullo Jack!' Emmeline nearly stumbled into him, so intent was she on her own internal musings. 'Good morning! You did say I should make myself at home. I'm up early, I guess. Although I did sleep abit, I fell out early and woke early as well.'
 'You, too?' Jack smiled that lopsided grin.
 'Abit on my mind. Alice, Aleister, my own...peregrinations! and you.It's all rather abit much all at once.' Em stared out the French doors, as if longing to flee though them. She was, in a way, she thought.
 And in a way, she wasn't.
 'Do you like strong coffee?' Jack enquired.
Em stared down into the black pit of his cup. 'Hmmm. Ja, actually!
...being Swedish and all.'
'Try this." he handed her a demitasse with chunks of ice and the juices of almonds freshly milked, along with a nice strong albeit defaf coffee. He didn't need her to hit the ceiling.
Yet!
 Gods!he thought: it had been an incredible past few days, but they had all made it through!
_-he was just relieved that they'd arrived on the other side and
all had made it safely. Thus far.
'It's delicious!' Em savored the taste. ' I've only had it this good in Italy.'
...'Indeed?' Jack grinned at her, entranced.
 The morning sun suddenly peeked through a break in the dark grey stormclouds and was alighting the sky with a pink'nd glow. Emmeline's hair, and freckles glowed like the desert, he thought. He had ever loved the desert, Arizona's red rock country, and in the Eastern Hemisphere as well.
A trial by fire, indeed. He became more respectful of mother nature and a crusader for clear water. The desert is a great sensei. Beautiful and utterly alien and unforgiving as the moon.
                             . . . . .
'Just sip it slowly,'Jack cautioned. 'How about some corn muffins?' he asked, 'I was just going to whip up a dozen...'
Em laughed, she couldn't help it. 'You cook?'
'Naturally!' Jack seemed offended. Although he knew that, 19th century-speaking, aside from professional chefs, women did the lionesse's share of cooking. Hm, actually, thoughout history and into present day, he had to admit. Still...
'Actually, I'm quite a good cook! Have to be, as a bachelor on my own all these years...' Jack seemed to know what he was doing, she had to admit.
'May I assist at all?' she offered.
'Not a bit. Have a perch up here,' he drew a high stool over for her, and handed her a satsuma. 'Have some vitamin C and keep me company.'
Em watched his kitchen manoeuvres as she slowly sipped the slightly bitter but somehow buttery, nutty tasting coffee and eyed her surroundings.
'Did you grow up in this house, Jack?' she enquired.
He seemed startled.'Ah, no, actually. I never met my Uncle Daryl or even knew he existed, until rather recently. Actually, about oh, 7 years ago now.'He sighed. 'He had rather a reputation by then, hereabouts...'
Em waited. She wasn't sure if she should press on about such topics as one's uncle's 'reputation.'
Jack began to beat the life out of his muffin batter. 'Yes, I found that my dear uncle was a bit of a rake, and well, could be a rather
detestable sort.' He banged the spoon on the side of the bowl, loosening the clinging batter. 'He also had an equal and opposite side, as in physics...'he grinned at her,'He could be very charming.
And had it in him to do good. But, an ego the size of Jupiter. And, that was his downfall.' He began spooning the mixture into muffin tins. 'But, he did leave all this to me. I suppose I am to be grateful.'
'...but you're not?' Em perceived this was so.
Jack shoved the muffins into the hot oven. 'I've never been inclined to the job of householder. And it is a job, believe me!' He looked around at the huge mansion surrounding them. 'Mostly, I pay caretakers to do it for me. As soon as I can, I'll offload this monstrosity from my back and wipe my boots of it!'
'If it's such an onerous burden, can't you simply sell out now?' Em had to ask.
Jack sighed, and sipped his coffee. 'Would that I could!' He smiled and pulled up a stool next to her at the counter, taking a satsuma for himself and peeling it thoughtfully. 'Certain...details,keep me from going that route just yet.' He took a bite of the sweet, juicy fruit.
'But, now that you, and Alice are here with us, we may be getting closer to ah,  closure, shall we say?' He ended enigmatically.
Em had no idea what all that could mean.
'But enough of me! Tell me about yourself, Emmeline! We have had so little time to really speak together, like this.' He seemed more approachable now, just sitting on a high stool with his long legs  perched up on the rungs, elbows on the countertop, hair falling over his eyes abit mussed from his baking exploits...he seemed less dour and serious.
'Oh, me!'She hadn't expected that. 'Well, not much to tell, really. Lost mum early, it was just my Absent-Minded Professor father and myself mostly...he was rarely home though, his work kept him at the lab. What he did there, I've no idea. We rarely spoke.' Em finished the last of her coffee, and made a face at the bitter dregs.
'Brothers, sisters?' Jack asked.
'My younger sister, Amelie whom you met at Solstice, and an older brother who was about 17 years my senior! He was off and had joined the Navy when he was still an adolescent. We see him rarely.' She sighed, 'But I realize now that I did, in fact, have mentors. Back then though, I didn't really know it.'
Jack rose to check his muffins.'How's that?' he asked, as he poured  more coffee for them both.
Em smiled into her cup. 'Well, teachers at school for one! I had a wonderful art teacher, and a rather, em...unconventional English teacher! His pupils adored him, but well, his unorthodox methods were not appreciated by the school board.'
'Ah!, how well I understand! I've known such professors in my college days! But, say on, Em!'
Em smiled. He'd never called her 'Em' before. Where was she...? Oh, yes, Mr. Burroughs... 'Well, this was rather before college. I was, oh, 16 at the time, I think! she sipped her coffee slowly,lost in a rare reverie. 'But,the strange and wonderful worlds he introduced to us all! I had always been a book-lover, even as a child. But to find someone, an adult, who could also become so carried away by 'fantasy' worlds! Well! That was something!
He inspired us all...to discover the works of Verne, and Wells,
the mysteries behind Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll, theories of Pythagoras, the enviable madness of Poe, Coleridge, Rimbaud...and the decadence of de Sade...' Em stared off through the French doors, out into the grounds surrounding the house, left to grow wild now, she saw.
'...your English teacher, ah, introduced you to de Sade?' Jack querried, eyebrows raised.
'Oh, yes. 'Justine' it was. I found it, most intriguing, as you may imagine!'Em smiled a feral little smile. 'For a small town girl, it was quite an eye-opener.'
'I can imagine...'Jack stirred his coffee, not quite knowing what to think.
'I remember stopping at our favorite tea room after school, with my young man, and our friends who had formed a small Burroughs Admiration Society! And over tea we'd discuss our mad theories and delve the secrets of the universe and sometimes, Mr. Burroughs would join us. Those were some of my best memories, growing up.' She looked at Jack. 'I was raised by wolves, you see.'
'Indeed? How so, Em?' Jack rested his head on one hand, and sipped his espresso with a thoughtful expression.
'Well, as I'd no real parents waiting for me at home, I was free to do as I pleased. And I did.'Em looked at him, daring him to admonish her.
Which he did not. She continued. 'Oh, I was always 'proper' enough, outwardly, a model student, always rated high marks...but, I was a gregarious girl. And I was attracted to loners and rebels.'
'...like yourself?' Jack asked, grinning.
'I suppose. Well, it seemed I always had some boyfriend or other. We never were 'serious' though, I wasn't promiscuous. We were, Orphans of the Storm, Jack. Lost Children, looking to each other for companionship. It was, I now realize, my young men who taught me many of the things I'd need to know in life, practical things:how to ride a horse, shoot a gun or bow and arrow and throw a knife, how to deal with mechanical mysteries, plumbing basics, how to build things, and to fish...identify herbs in the woods, pick mushrooms...'she trailed off, remembering.
Just then a small bell sounded, and Jack jumped up to retrieve his muffins. 'Ah, here we are then! 'he set the tin on the wooden cutting board and put out butter and honey and a jar of ginger spread, she noted, delightedly.
'Ummm, they smell wonderful, Jack! Thank you!' Emmeline put a bit of ginger spread on hers and took a bite. 'Oh, my! You CAN cook!'she laughed lightly. 'Alice will be jealous, you know!'
Jack grinned at her, savoring her delight. Just then, they heard voices coming down the hallway. 'Alice will be jealous of what?'
inquired Alice as she and Aleister hove into view from around the kitchen corner.'Ooooh! What is that lovely smell?' she bent over the still steamy muffins. 'Wonderful! Just what I was dreaming of...'
As Alice and Aleister bustled about making more coffee and helping themselves to muffins, Jack and Em smiled companionably at one another, happy to have had a moment to become better acquainted.
 Orphans of the Storm, thought Jack. As now so are we all.
                             . . . . . .
After breakfast, the company gathered together in the parlor, and reprised the setting of the night before. The fire burned in the massive fireplace and the wind could be heard howling ghostlike down the chimney as it tossed the flames about. A large Grandfather clock ticked in one corner adding an echoing accompaniment to the sound of the wind raging outside.
Although it was only late morning, the slate grey day made it seem rather later. Unless it cleared, dusk would come early this day.
Just then, Yeats entered from the back of the house. He looked to Aleister and Jack and nodded once, then went out.
'Ah, Yeats is back, with the item now safely retrieved...' Aleister
stood and beckoned them to follow, '...shall we?'
'...curiouser and curiouser...'whispered Emmeline to Alice, as they
followed together with Jack in  Aleister's wake to a small door just off the kitchen. Jack then took the lead and producing a key ring,
and a largish brass key, inserted it into the lock and opened the door which led to a stairway heading to floors below. 'Ladies? Mind your step, do.' he cautioned as he went first , Em and Alice followed then with Aleister trailing.
The passage downward was well lighted although Emmeline couldn't tell from whence the light source came. It smelled of timber here, and slightly of wine. Indeed as they neared the bottom of the stairs, she could see a couple of oaken casks, as well as rows of wine bottles in storage. Jack led them on past the wine cellar, and rounded a corner to another locked door,a rather formidable one made of some slate grey metal, with odd blinking lights upon a small panel to one side. After Jack keyed this open, they then entered into a rather large vaulted hall, only dimly lit by that same odd, recessed light in sconces along the walls.
It was an open, rather cavernous area with the strangest apparatus
that Emmeline had ever viewed. Even her father's laboratory had nothing to match the exotic appurtenances which now baffled Emmeline
as she glanced about in wonder. Tables, and gurneys, what appeared to be microscopes, and physician's  steel instruments were somewhat familiar. The rest set her back firmly Through the Looking  Glass: Large flat screens lined an entire wall which registered odd colored numbers and mathematical formulae, and altogether too many other things that she couldn't possibly fathom the  usage of stunned her senses.
Two things she did recognize, however: An old chalkboard in one corner, now erased clean, and next to it, an old trunk. Her father's trunk, in fact.
'How did...? Jack! This, this IS my father's trunk! It has to be!' she exclaimed, going over to examine it.
Alice spoke up then. 'I gave them my permission to go fetch it, Em. I hope you'll forgive me. We spoke about it after you had gone to bed, and well, we all felt that it would be safer to have it here. We didn't wish to wake you...'Alice looked abit pained. She felt torn between what she felt she had to do, and her sisterly feelings for Emmeline. Ah, what the poor girl must be thinking! It's never an easy thing to have one's entire world dissolve to be replaced with something not nearly so secure. Well, her Druid training would stand her in good stead here soon, she decided.
Em was kneeling next to the old trunk and running her hands over the wooden edges and old leather bindings and  brass clasps with the lock seemingly unopened as yet. She said nothing but looked up at them all, her mouth set tight and a dead serious look that betrayed an iron resolve inherent within her.
'This trunk...came here, the same way that I came here, did it not?
The same way we all came here!'she demanded.
Jack knelt at her side, one hand on the battered old trunk. He looked at her with a clear, blue, open gaze and answered, 'Yes.'
Em sat hard upon the floor then, gazing at nothing, thinking of
nothing but: Orphans of the Storm,--again!
                               . . . . .

Chapter 12 - A Missing Link Found

Chapter 12
A Missing Link Found
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzeuwttttaaahhzzhtt!!
'What was that?'
'...the Matrix on rewind!'
'Ah Jeez...'
'...Eeeezzz...eeezzz...eeeeeeeeezzzzz...' Jack's words echoed in phases back to his ringing ears.
He felt an abrupt shift, and again the chip kicked into
19th century mode. With ever so slight glitches...
'Call a Hansom! Handsome Woman...' Aleister was reeling from the after-effects,as Jack reached out and took the arm of his friend. Al seemed to be groaning. No, he was humming...'Oh baby, oh....I just can't live without you bab-y!' Aleister had slipped into Barry White mode.
'Al, get a grip...' Jack held onto Aleister and felt another hand on his other arm. Em. He realized. Soon all his particles and wavicles would catch up and then--'Al!, Al, do you have Alice with you?' Jack yelled to Aleister, lost as they were in the Null Zone, 'the zone between the zone between the zone'--
...'I'm here!' cried Alice, I can feel someone, but I see nothing!' Alice told them, sounding oddly calm for a first timer.
'Emmeline...?' asked Jack, who, like the others,he could only feel, or thought he felt, her arm upon his. He could see only blackness surrounding them.
True, he felt her presence, the weight of her, but however he and the others called out to her, no response was forthcoming from the as yet unconfirmed presence of Emmeline Page.
                                                           . . . . . . .
'Anara...?'
Emmeline heard someone calling to her, but what was it she was hearing? Confusion reigned inside her. The theatre, the clock chiming midnight...
'Anara!' The stern, yet concerned voice of Thelene cut through the foggy haze in her mind.
'Hai!...I...I'm here, sensei,' Em/Anara found her voice at last. Her voice, but,no, whose voice? Em/Anara seemed aware of her split. Not, 'where am I?' but 'Who am I' figured uppermost in her jagged thoughts.
'Here, girl, drink this, now.' Thelene pressed a small cup to her lips. Anara obeyed, trusting her teacher implicitly, always. The cooling liquid tasted of something familiar and healing. Her thoughts slowly began to clear. She opened her eyes.
Her teacher's face swam into view, a worried frown on her forehead.
'We weren't prepared to have you thrust into the other side so soon,'she was saying. 'This particular time transit is still a very rudimentary and unpredictable one! Oh, how I wish you didn't have to
sail such rough and unknown seas, my little fish! ' Thelene took her pupil's hands in hers. 'How are you feeling?'
Anara hadn't a clue really. She felt--between. It was someplace she hadn't been before and there were no words, really...
'It could be awhile until you are feeling yourself again. I think you are out of danger now, however,'Thelene continued, searching Anara's face for clues of her stability. 'I ran some tests on your physical state and you and Emmeline both are well enough.There's no worry as to your corporeal health...
 Anara, it is time to awaken.
ken.ken.'
echoes, Em thought.
 This is the where your mission begins!'
'zinns..zen.zennz.'
'The Time is Now!
...'nowwownowow...'
                         . . . . . . .
'Emmeline...! Em, dear, please, wake up!' Emmeline felt someone holding her hands, patting them, and a cool wet cloth on her forehead.
'...Alice?' She asked.
Alice sat back, sighing in relief. 'At last! Em, we thought we had lost you! Aleister! Jack!--come quickly! She's awake!'
Emmeline tried to sit up, and managed a somewhat more vertical position on the couch. Whose couch? Where was she? As she glanced about she recognized nothing of her current surroundings.
Jack came tearing around the corner just then, sliding abit in his haste over the parquet floor, and righting himself, just as Aleister,
dead on his heels, slammed into his friend. Recovering themselves, Jack nearly ran to her, but Aleister grabbed his coat-tail, whispering, 'Slow and easy, Jack.' and they both proceded at a more
sedate pace to her side.
Em couldn't help but smile abit at their unintentionally slapstick antics, despite her confusion. Jack sat on the couch beside her and took her hand. 'Emmeline,' he said. He looked away then. Were there actually tears in his eyes? What in heaven's name had happened then?
'My dear Emmeline,'Dr. Parsons advanced upon her now, drawing a chair up and taking the cloth from her forehead, he felt her brow. 'How do you feel, my girl?'
'I hardly know, just yet, sir.'Emmeline felt a fish out of water, actually. She had trouble articulating thoughts. She had trouble even having thoughts. 'I feel, rather dazed, I suppose.'
Aleister sighed with relief, echoing Alice. 'We had rather a rough crossing, but I think you are recovering well enough now, my dear.
A bit of dinner and a real night's sleep will be all the restorative I think you'll be needing.' Al still studied her intently.
Em frowned abit then. 'Dinner, you say? But...is it not just after midnight?'She looked around at her companions, who were in turn, looking from one to the other.
Alice approached her from behind the sofa, and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. '...the last thing you recall, then, was the theatre?'
Em nodded. 'the solstice is past, dear. It is now the evening of the
24th.'
'...that means...I've lost nearly two whole days!'Emmeline sat up now, but felt rather woozy and leaned her head on one hand. Aleister held her shoulder and steadied her. 'Easy now my girl! Relax. All will be revealed in due time! Do not fret, my dear. You are safe here now with us, and we will set you to rights soon enough! Perhaps dinner now would be an excellent idea!'
'Right you are Aleister,'Alice agreed.'I'll just pop into the kitchen and see how Yeats is getting on then! I think some hot tea is called for just now...'With an encouraging smile and a fond pat on Em's shoulder, Alice took her leave.
Jack had recovered himself meanwhile and sighed, finally facing Emmeline again. 'We...decided to bring you here, where it would be safest for now.'
Emmeline looked around.'And where is 'here', Jack?'she enquired.
Jack smiled slightly, a rueful grin. 'Actually...it's my house. Well, it was my Uncle Daryl's place originally. He left it to me. We're on the coast of Massachusettes here.'
'How did--? The East Coast? From San Francisco?' Em's eyes were wide.
Aleister spoke up,'All in good time, dear girl! I must advise as your doctor, and as your friend, that you mustn't upset yourself! As I said, we shall reveal all. But for now, simply trust us; we delivered you from a clear and present danger, and now we are in a safe place, a neutral zone where you may rest and recuperate in peace. But, you must remain calm. No relapses! Doctor's orders!'
Alice appeared then, tea tray in hand, and setting it down on the table beside them, she handed Em her tea. Emmeline took the hot cup in hand, shaking slightly she noticed. 'Alright. I shall remain calm. But, oh, Alice--how did we get here?' Her eyes pleaded with her friend to fill in the many missing gaps.
Alice sat down in a chair opposite and poured her own tea. She looked inquiringly at Aleister and Jack. 'Well, dear. That, as they say, is indeed a tale worth the telling! I am still putting all the puzzle pieces together myself!'
'But, Al, won't we be missed at work? And what of MacGregor, and...'
Aleister reached over and took her hand then, and felt her wrist. 'Good. Your pulse is up, but not too much! Fret not about your lives back home in Pankhurst. Suffice it to say that all has been taken care of regarding your business there.'
Alice smiled but looked concerned. 'It's true Em, you needn't fash yourself over things at home. Soon, you'll see why. Everything will be just as it was when we return, don't worry.I'm sorry to be so cryptic, lovey... I'd rather let Jack and Aleister explain things further...'she glanced up at them.
Aleister poured tea for himself and Jack. 'First things first: and that is, we must feed!' He handed Jack a cup of Earl Grey, hot. 'Dinner--that and that alone should be your main concern at the moment, my dear!'
Emmeline suddenly felt rather sleepy again, and it seemed, she realized that she was rather hungry. All practical thought now centered on food. All the jumbled crowding questions she had a moment ago seemed to settle down into a contented ease of body and spirit.
'Oh, I feel rather drowsy suddenly...but I would rather enjoy a bite of something I must admit!'
'Ah, just in time, Yeats!'cried Aleister, as Yeats began to set the dinner in the other room. '"To table, to table! to eat what's in the pot! It shall be quite detestable if not eaten hot!"'the doctor sang, as he and Jack helped Emmeline to stand and together the party headed into the dining room.
Em soon found herself seated and feeling altogether too much like Alice at the Mad Hatter's tea party. Jack served up heaping portions for her of a hearty savory pot-pie, vegetables, salad, fruit and fresh baked rye bread with caraway, her favorite. 'Oh, Jack, thank you! Surely I shall never eat all that, however!'she smiled up at him, taking the glass of merlot he handed to her.
'You will! Doctor's orders!' Aleister grinned at her. Jack meanwhile seated himself opposite her, while Alice and Aleister took the remaining places about the round dark mahogany table, and applied themselves to the delicious repast before them.
As Emmeline filled up some of the emptiness in her stomach, despite the wine, and she suspected, something the doctor had slipped into her tea, her mind began to crave the satisfaction of having some answers to the many swirling questions now rising slowly to the surface of her consciousness. Indeed, she felt less dazed now and
more...herself. She hadn't felt at all whole earlier, she realized.
('Whoo Rrrr Uuu?' asked the Caterpiller.
'I hardly know sir. I know who I was this morning, but just now I'm not myself, you see...'
'No, I doooonn't 'C'...'
Emmeline was in Lewis Carrolville, Behind the Looking Glass, suddenly).
'This is your rye bread, Alice. I'd know it anywhere. It's divine...'
Em hadn't ever felt so hungry, she decided. But she wondered why everyone was treating her like a China Doll...was she slightly cracked already, she pondered with a small smile?
'Indeed Em, I've been keeping myself busy . You must have a look about Jack's here! I know you would like the place,'Alice chatted on, trying to put Em at ease as if they were back home and not hundreds of miles away from there.
Jack cleared his throat,'Ah, yes, my Uncle Daryl's pile...it was incumbent upon me to accept the place, although really I preferred to remain more mobile. I've been a snail without a shell most of my life and a travelling man.' Emmeline realized that she really didn't know all that much about Jack.Snails without shells metamorphosed into caterpillars in Em's mind.
'You had mentioned Dr. Parson's excursions in many foreign lands; did you accompany him as well then, Jack?' she enquired.
'Sometimes...yes,'Jack smiled, 'But we more often seemed to run into each other, as it were...'
'...headlong!' added the doctor, stabbing a carrot and waving it at Jack. 'You could be more of a menace than a traveling companion, in those days, my boy!'
'Ah, I see!' exclaimed Em. 'Were you so very bad then?'
'Not in the least!' said Jack, at the same time the doctor declaimed,
'Absolutely frightful!'
'I...see...'Emmeline saw enough. 'I see I won't be getting the whole story from Jack, at least!' She smiled at them, but sighing, then added,'...rather like the story of our own recent, ah, travels?'
Jack put down his fork. 'You shall know all, Emmeline! We aren't trying to keep anything from you. We...had to take certain precautions until you were feeling stronger.' he looked at Parsons. 'She looks well enough to me, Al.'
Parsons looked up and leveled his gaze upon Em. 'Well? How are you feeling now that we've gotten abit of stuffing back into you?'
'...stuffed!' Em was. 'I can't eat another bite, now! But, yes, I feel less woozy. I'm sure I'll be fine come morning. We are staying the night here then?'
Jack and Aleister exchanged glances. Alice spoke up, 'We are, Em, and you shall have a chamber adjoining mine!It's a sweet little room, with a lovely view.'Alice hoped this would put Em's mind to rest regarding propriety.
Em wondered how long they would be here...hiding out, she felt. But as she was finally getting abit of information, hitherto jealously guarded, she didn't want to push things.
'Well! Shall we adjourn then, Jack?' Aleister pushed away from table, as Jack stood and held Emmeline's chair, assisting her,'Yes, ladies, if you will, we can make ourselves comfortable in the parlor and relax abit then, shall we?' He smiled down at Em, who felt rather like she was being indulged. Patience, she thought. If I 'remain calm'as the doctor keeps pestering me to be, all may be revealed as he has intimated.
                            . . . . .
Entering Jack's parlor, Emmeline felt as though she were seeing it for the first time. It was here she had awoken, she realized, but then nothing much had registered with her battered senses. Why, the house must be palatial, she now realized! The ceilings were 20 feet high or more...great grand windows, with heavy draperies now drawn against the encroaching evening, and masses of soft Persian carpets on the parquet floor set in an intricate Oriental mosaic design covered vast square footage throughout the room which was tastefully decorated in dark mahogany furniture encluding a stunning grand piano at the far end.
Resting over the commanding mantlepiece was a large mirror framed all round with decorative frosted fleur-de-lis in the beveled corners.
Jack directed her to the sofa by the fireside, 'Please,'he set a beautifully embroidered soft pillow behind her as Em took her seat, still rather frustrated at being so fussed over, but a small part of her secretly enjoyed it as well, she had to admit. Alice sat at the sofa's opposite end and lifted Emmeline's feet up and into her lap, and began taking off her shoes. 'Alice!' Em protested. 'Just relax, you!' Alice retorted, 'I'm only making an exchange here, see!' Alice held her feet up displaying a pair of lovely satin Chinese slippers, quite like the ones she favored at home. Aleister appeared then with a similar pair for Em, which Alice took and setting Em's own shoes aside she replaced them with the slippers which Em had to admit, were soft, comfy and fit a treat.
'May I offer brandy, anyone? Alice?' Aleister was at the decanters which sparkled in the soft firelight, pouring a snifter for himself and Alice who accepted with a gracious 'Merci, monsieur!'
'None for me,'Jack declined the offer,'Although I could do with some coffee I think. Anything for you, Emmeline?'
How about an old rocking chair? Emmeline was tempted to get cakey with them all by now, what with the pillows and slippers and medications in her tea! But she held her tongue, with her teeth, in fact, before she managed a 'Nothing for me, thank you!' ever so sweetly.
Jack slipped out to rustle up his caffeine, while Aleister stood next to the fire, sipping his cognac slowly. 'It's true that Jack, well, maintains this place. But he is seldom here. Truth be told, he didn't get on well with his infamous Uncle Daryl Van Horn. '
'It's a lovely house! But then, if they weren't close, how did he come to inherit the place?'Emmeline enquired, curious now.
Aleister sighed. 'Thereby hangs a tale, indeed. But, sometime later, would be best for the telling, my dear,' he equivocated diplomatically as Jack reappeared, coffee mug in hand.
'...ah, talking about me again, Al! Nothing good I hope?'Jack took a seat across from Em.
Aleister set his snifter on the mantlepiece. 'I was just recalling abit of your own ancient family history here, Jack. It would seem to be a fine night for the spinning of yarns, weaving tapestries of intrigue and invention...'
'Indeed, Doctor!' Emmeline sat up abit, pricking her ears , as it were. Finally! We're to learn some intelligence at last, she decided.
'Invention, specifically.'Aleister took up his glass and moved over to the chair next to Jack, who was literally on the edge of his seat now and watching Parsons carefully.
'I myself, have tried my humble hand at various improvements upon
the way we view and engage this world, with only the best of intentions, and always for the betterment of humankind of course,'the doctor continued,'Having studied the work of those whose genius has gone before, I found myself enormously intrigued by the marvels contained in some of the most arcane writings of such rarity as to be decreed near-mythological in their obscurity!'
'I confess I am, myself, most intrigued, doctor! Do enlighten us further!'Emmeline was feeling much more awake now. Galvanized. 'To whose writings do you refer, then?'
'...a very widely respected doctor and scientist, in the view of the general public, who went on into military service in his later years.'
Dr. Parsons paused and sipped his cognac, glancing at Alice, who appeared suddenly rather discomfited.
Jack was staring at his friend with a rather confounded look. 'Indeed, Al, to whom does your panegyric praise befit?'
Aleister sat back in his seat and crossed his legs before him. 'I am referring to none other than Dr. Frank N. Stein.'
Emmeline started; looking inquisitively at Alice. 'But, well, that's surely your Frank, is it not, Alice?'
                               . . . . . .
In the fireplace, a log rolled off the grate just then and fell into the coals, hissing. Jack stood and taking a poker, expertly hooked it back onto the grate. 'I think I'll take that brandy now,' he said, shooting a dark look Aleister's way, as he strode over to the table whereupon rested the crystal array of various decanters. 'Emmeline, you?' Em shook her head.
Jack took his glass to the mantlepiece and set it there to warm. 'Well, Al, you certainly have our attention.'
Alice squirmed in her seat abit, clearing her throat. 'Well, now...I knew that sometime, somewhere, someone would find out about Frank's...writings.'she averred.
Jack looked at her, startled, 'Oh, no, Alice! Mrs. Stein!'he flustered, 'When I said, 'Al!'- well,' he chuckled, 'I certainly was not addressing you so familiarly! Ha!'he turned to Parsons. 'I can't believe I only just now realized--'
'Al and Al!' Emmeline declared, smiling at both Alice and Aleister in turn.
'Yes, indeed.Apparently you two have much more in common than we realized.'Jack's gaze narrowed. ' Aleister, you haven't been altogether forthcoming with me, have you old son?'
'Alice?' Emmeline looked at her friend. 'I never realized your Frank was revered so!'
Alice looked down into her empty glass as if hoping to find some answer there. Aleister went to her, and taking her glass, silently raised an eyebrow. Alice looked up, and nodded.
Parsons refilled both their snifters and returned Alice's to her, silently taking his seat.
Alice took a bracing sip, then sighed. 'Oh, Em...I sometimes feel that I'm living not just one life, but two, or several. I know that Frank certainly felt that way! As you know, we did have a wonderful marriage--20 of some of the best years I've known!' she paused, looking at each of her friends in turn. 'But, sometimes, due to the ah, somewhat delicate nature of Dr. Stein's research, we were obliged to keep a great deal of it, eh, classified, rather than become a cause celebre...'
'Of course! My dear, that is certainly understood!' Aleister reached over and took Alice's hand. 'I hope I haven't been too forward in my dredging up the past here before all. I felt it incumbent upon me to do so however, what with things as they now stand,'he finished, enigmatically.
Emmeline and Jack looked at one another. Em felt she knew what he was thinking: both Alice and Aleister hadn't told either of them certain rather significant information. But where to begin? Certainly it seemed imperative to have the facts behind this mystery which loomed ever larger about them all. But she didn't wish to presume upon Alice's...secret life, was it?
'Al,'she began tentatively,'I never knew Frank had a middle initial, "N";--what was his middle name, pray tell?'
Surprising them all, it was Aleister who answered her: 'Actually, it's the same as your own, Emmeline: -- 'Nexus'!'
                              . . . . . .
Oh, my! Hereby hangs a tale, indeed! Mystery and intrigue and secret lives all seem to weave the foursome's threads together into the torrid tapestry of a tantalizing tale, but of triumph, tragedy or even truth? Only by further investigation into the enigma of Emmeline N. Page shall the curious at last know satisfaction! Read on, intrepid adventurer!
...this particular chapter would benefit by brandy again I fear.
Perhaps while Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Rhapsody by Paganiniplays softly in the background upon a grand piano...