Part 4 (1/2)

Crossing the wide white kitchen, he opened what looked like a closet door and started down a narrow flight of stairs. ”Watch your step,” he called up to them as they followed. They found themselves in a small cellar room with a concrete floor. Cans and jars of food lined the walls, and there was a large freezer in the corner purring steadily. ”Part of our provisions,” Neville said. ”There are more in the pantry upstairs. This room, by the way, is called a cold cellar. Nothing to do with its temperature, really, just a local name.” He pa.s.sed through a door at the end of the room, leading them into a larger area. ”We're under the Great Hall now. There are other cellars on the other side of those part.i.tions under the wings. Back there''-he pointed toward the north end-''is the wine cellar. There are actually a few vintages left from my grandfather's time, most of them rare vinegar now, no doubt. But this is what I really want to show you.”

At the southern end of the cellar was a thick steel door which Neville opened ponderously. ”This is a fireproof ventilated chamber that we can use in the event of a fire. There's a month's worth of freeze-dried food and water for five, a chemical toilet, and cots. Mr. Monckton has a.s.sured me that the house above could be a roaring inferno, and the hottest we would feel would be ninety degrees.”

”Rea.s.suring,” said c.u.mmings. ”Would we have to spend the entire time in here then?”

”If the fire were such that Mr. Monckton didn't notice it from the base of the mountain, yes.”

”Jesus...” Wickstrom whispered.

”Mr. Wickstrom?”

”This is ... this is just a little weird. I mean, are you serious about all this?”

Neville looked offended. ”I'm dead serious, Mr. Wickstrom. But no one is forcing you into it.”

”A million dollars packs an awful lot of force,” Wickstrom answered.

”Please, gentlemen,” said Renault, ”why don't we return upstairs, where you three may decide among yourselves whether or not you wish to accept?”

The Nevilles, Monckton, and Renault led the three men back into the dining room. ”Have another cup of coffee,” Renault said kindly, ”and when you've made your decision, simply come to the den. One more thing. It must be unanimous. You all stay, or no one stays.”

”Well,” said c.u.mmings once the three were alone, ”nothing like a final blockbuster. So what do you guys think? Go or stay?”

”I'd like to stay,” answered McNeely.

”I'd like the million dollars,” Wickstrom said, ”but like I said, this is a really strange scene.”

”He's eccentric, that's all,” c.u.mmings said comfortingly.

”No, Mr. c.u.mmings, he's insane.” McNeely sipped his coffee. The others looked at him questioningly.

”You don't mean that,” said c.u.mmings.

”I do. I've seen insane men in my profession. And David Neville is one. He's obsessed with this house. And with us.”

Wickstrom started. ”With us?”

”Haven't you noticed the sidelong glances he's been throwing each of us when he thinks we're not looking? It's like he's hungry.”

”Oh, come on, McNeely!” c.u.mmings rose and walked down the table toward the bigger man. ”This place is goofy enough without your imagining things!” He paused. ”Wait a minute-you'd stay anyway?”

”I intend to. Neville doesn't frighten me. I think I can handle him. If not me, then certainly the three of us together.”

”Good. Then it's settled.”

Wickstrom cleared his throat. ”I haven't said I'll stay yet.”

”Jesus Christ!” exploded c.u.mmings. ”What do you mean? There's no work here, no danger-the million's a gift along with a month's vacation!”

”I don't know,” Wickstrom said, shaking his head. ”There's something not right here.”

”Mr. Wickstrom,” McNeely said, ”you're right. There is something strange about this house. I don't claim to either believe or disbelieve in the supernatural, but when I drove up this morning I saw an odd . . . manifestation.” And he told them about the intense white light in the third floor room.

”Aw, the guy who parked the cars was right,” scoffed c.u.mmings. ”It must have been the sun reflecting off something.”

”It wasn't the sun,” said McNeely. ”But even if it was something paranormal, so what? Lights can't harm us. I don't know much about the supernatural, but I'm fairly sure that there's no history of a spirit ever physically harming anyone.”

”And how about going crazy?” said Wickstrom. ”What about that poet? And the banker?”

”Stories, Wickstrom! Ghost stories!” c.u.mmings threw up his hands in disgust. ”Don't tell me you're gonna p.i.s.s away a million dollars apiece for us because you believe in spooks?”

Wickstrom's cheeks reddened. ”I didn't say that,” he growled. ”I just wanted a chance to think, that's all.”

”Okay, you've had your chance. Now what do you say?”

Wickstrom looked full into c.u.mmings's eyes, hating him. ”I'll stay.”

c.u.mmings nodded brusquely. ”Good. That's settled then.”

”One thing,” McNeely said. ”I think we ought to stay very closely in touch with each other through the stay here. If we see anything peculiar-from Neville or his wife or anything else-we share it with the others. No surprises. Agreed?”

The other two nodded. Then they joined the NeviIles, Monckton, and Renault in the den. Monckton and the girl turned sharply when they entered, Renault casually, Neville, thought McNeely, like a snake eyeing its prey.

”We're staying,” c.u.mmings said, appointing himself spokesman.

”How nice.” Neville chuckled.

McNeely made himself smile. ”You seem to have expected that, Mr. Neville.”

”I think I read men fairly well,” he said, a challenge in his tone. ”But I'm glad you're all staying,” he went on more heartily, rising to his feet. ”Simon?”

Renault handed a doc.u.ment to each of the men. ”Please read them and sign, gentlemen. I think you'll find nothing to disapprove of.”

The doc.u.ment spelled out all the conditions of which the three had been told, plus several more, one of which gave McNeely pause. ”Could you be any more explicit,” he asked, ”about this fourteenth item, the part about performing any reasonable request that does not endanger us or others?”

”Not to be blunt, Mr. McNeely,” said Neville, ”but for the next month you three are servants, albeit highly paid ones. I don't intend to treat you like kitchen help, but my wife and I do intend to treat you as bodyguards. I think in that context the clause is clear enough, don't you? Are there any other questions? From any of you?”

There were not; the papers were quickly signed and went into Renault's briefcase. ”Now the checks,” Renault said. Wickstrom chose to keep his, while McNeely and c.u.mmings both instructed Renault to deposit the sum in bank accounts.

”Your luggage has been taken to your rooms,” said Neville. ”Mr. McNeely, Mr. Wickstrom, you will be in the Bear and Whitetail Suites in the west wing. Mr. c.u.mmings will be in the east wing in the Eagle Suite. I'm sure you'll find the accommodations satisfactory. Now, if you'll just give your wrist.w.a.tches to Mr. Renault . . .” They took off the watches and saw them disappear into Renault's briefcase. ”Say goodbye to time, gentlemen,” Neville said, ”to the sun and moon and all that, and say h.e.l.lo to the long night of The Pines, and whoever dwells within.”

”For your sake, Mr. Neville,” said McNeely, ”I hope no one's oiled the doors. A little creaking would complement your dialogue.”

A short time later Monckton and Renault said their farewells to the rest and left through the front door. Then the four men went to the locking unit at the end of the Great Hall and took out the keys that Monckton had just soldered around their necks. At Neville's instructions, they each placed a key in the proper hole and turned it.