Cutting across the plantation, he soon reached
Captain Beanswhitewashed cottage. In fact, its all most unpleasant and very
peculiar.
Ill explain everything to theProfessor,
afterwards.
You tried to worm yourself into my confidence, she
declaredvehemently.
Drag a drunken log up two flights of
stairs?
My eyes are just dropping, declared Nurse Barker,
with another yawn. She was listening sointently that she believed she could almost
catch the high squeak of abat. Youll wonder why Im knocking you up, this time of the
night, saidDr. Captain Bean grunted as he rammed fresh tobacco into his
pipe.
The fact is, he admitted, theres a girl in that
house that. But I never like it when the rats leave the ship.
I wouldnt tell you before,because I wasnt
sure.
Down in the basement, Helen gulped
guiltily.
With a sinking heart, she listened to half of the
dialogue. Theres a shutter up, sono one can get in.
Because Im tall, and my face shows character,
youdared to compare me with a man.
She listened again, but the music had
ceased.
Oates had failed her, and Nurse Barker would fail
her too.
Since then, Ive been thinking of all sorts of
things. As she watched her, Helen realized that her failure to stay awake
wasinevitable. Thatll keep her out, she thought with a smile of grim satisfaction.
Still quivering with panic, Helen turned the handle of the doordesperately. These
shadows held possession of the passage-tenants of the night.
Herthoughts circled enviously around Helen and her
lover.
I always lock my door in a strange house, replied
Nurse Barker.
With a chill at her heart, Helen recognized the
toofamiliar signals ofthe landslide. The blind was undrawn, so that he could see
into the lamp-litsitting-room. I believe Miss Warren was grateful to be locked in. I
always kept mine open, so that I could get out quicker. Her mouth wasopen and her
snores were of genuine origin.
Hes gone round to the back door, she said
grimly,Hes persistent. From the moment she had first set eyes on Helen, Nurse Barker
had beenfrantically envious of her.
Youd double-cross me to save your own
skin.
Oates would be left outside, in the
trenches.
As she kept vigil, she looked around her with
strained eyes, dilated toblack pools.
It had been left open, forminutes at a stretch,
while. But I can wake her up, if anything happens. Hes on holiday, and Im chasing
him allover England.
The words struck a chill to Helens heart.