Part 12 (1/2)

”Set it down,” said Thorston. While Sybil retreated into a corner to watch, he ate ravenously until nothing remained.

Odo woke and stared at Thorston who, when he finished eating, went to his worktable. As he pa.s.sed, Odo leaned toward him. ”Master,” he called, ”I'm glad you are well.”

”Why shouldn't I be well?” snapped Thorston.

”Do you remember who I am?”

”An old goat who thinks he is a raven.”

Odo shook his head and ruffled his tail feathers.

For a while, Thorston studied the Book Without Words. Then he picked up an iron bottle, only to put it down and examine something else.

Odo fluttered to Sybil's shoulder. ”He's no sweeter than he was-only younger,” he whispered.

Damian and Alfric emerged from the back room, yawning and stretching. When they saw Thorston awake and moving about, they joined Sybil and Odo.

”By Saint Walburga, he is is alive,” mumbled Damian. ”It was no bad dream.” alive,” mumbled Damian. ”It was no bad dream.”

”Was it magic that did it?” asked Alfric.

”I think so,” said Sybil.

”Why don't you ask him?” said Damian.

Before the boy could reply, a knocking burst upon the lower door.

Alfric s.n.a.t.c.hed at Sybil's hand. ”It must be Bashcroft.”

”G.o.d's mercy,” Sybil whispered. ”I forgot his promise to return.”

As the knocking became more insistent, she looked to see if Thorston would respond. At first he did not. Only when the knocking continued did he shout, ”There's someone at the door.”

”It's most likely the reeve, sir,” said Sybil.

”The reeve? Why is he coming here? What does he want?” When no one answered, Thorston flung down the tool he'd been examining and headed down the steps. Sybil, along with the others, rushed after him.

Thorston went to the door, lifted the crossbar, pulled it open a few inches, and peeked out through the crack. Bashcroft was there, standing in the rain.

”What do you want?” Thorston demanded.

”I am Ambrose Bashcroft, the city reeve of Fulworth. And you, I presume, are Master Thorston.”

”Perhaps.”

”It has been rumored that you are an alchemist.”

”What business is it of yours?”

”Alchemy,” proclaimed Bashcroft, ”is both unnatural and illegal. Since you do not deny being a pract.i.tioner of that nefarious art, you are hereby commanded to provide me with your gold-making secret. If you do not, you'll suffer grave consequences. Dura lex, sed lex. Dura lex, sed lex. The law is hard, but it is the law. And since I am the law, it therefore follows that I must be hard.” He rapped his staff-of-office down like an exclamation point. ”Have I made myself clear?” The law is hard, but it is the law. And since I am the law, it therefore follows that I must be hard.” He rapped his staff-of-office down like an exclamation point. ”Have I made myself clear?”

”You have.”

”Very well, then, what shall you do?”

Thorston remained still for a moment-considering. The next moment he banged the door shut and replaced the crossbar.

”Stop!” came the reeve's cry. ”You're committing a crime. Let me in.” He pounded on the door. ”The least you shall do is let me have my boy. Do you hear me! I shall hang you all!”

Thorston, ignoring the shouts, retreated up the steps. Sybil and the others followed. When he reached the top room, Thorston started toward his worktable, only to halt halfway. ”Sybil!” he cried.

”Yes, Master.”

”I'm plagued with danger. Where are the stones?”

”What is he talking about?” Damian asked Odo.

The raven did not answer.

”I must hurry!” cried Thorston, louder. ”I told you to care for them. Fetch them.”

”Yes, Master.” Sybil went to the chest at the foot of the bed, knelt, opened it, pulled out the three green stones and held them out on the flat of her palm. Thorston took the largest and put it into his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. He stood there, as if waiting.

”But how can-” began Damian.

”Shhh!” commanded Sybil.

In a few moments, Thorston said, ”I'm weary. Let no one disturb me.” He went to his bed, lay down, composed himself with hands clasped over his chest, and shut his eyes.

After a few moments, Odo fluttered across the room and hopped onto the bed. He studied Thorston's face intently. Then he turned to the others and said, ”He's dead-again.”

4.

”Are you certain?” said Sybil.

The bird jumped onto Thorston's chest and leaned close enough so that his beak all but touched Thorston's nose. ”Not a breath,” he announced. ”He's as dead as ... dead.”

”It's not normal for a person to die twice,” twice,” said Damian. said Damian.

”Mistress,” said Alfric, ”you gave him something just before he died. What was it?”