Chapter 6


The saying used to be that when it rained, it poured. Whoever had thought that saying up had never lived on this planet. If mankind had grown up in the Arch, instead of back on Earth, they might have developed a saying that went more like, “when there is lightening, there is fire.” Flashes of lightening never seemed to come in just one’s or twos around here. If you saw one flash it was usually followed by what could only be described as sheets of light that seemed to rap around the very horizon. At night, like now, it could be exciting to watch if you were in the right place, with the right people, and most of all in the right frame of mind.

Dorsey Pendleton did not consider any of those factors in his favor. That was especially true when he looked up at the estate that he was parked in front of. It had a huge central tower with all of the trappings. It had a gothic looking, cast iron, weather vain and border rails. The tiles on it looked sharp and pointed. The windows almost made a face and the two that were in the position of eyes were actually lit up! The huge clock face was painted in such a way that, in the right lighting, it almost resembled a giant spider web. There was plenty of the right lighting tonight. Every time another sheet of lightening lit up the surrounding area, the clock face almost glowed in a pale green light.

Why anyone would want to build a place that looked like this was beyond Dorsey’s grasp. All he knew, was that he had no choice in the matter. He had to come here. He pulled the thumb sized computer drive out of his pocket and held it as if it were his very life line. He even decided to kiss it just before he got out of the car. There was no sense in waiting now. If he did then the rain might start so, why not? It was time to go and get this over with.

Dorsey expected a door bell that sounded like a fog horn. He was a little bit surprised to hear a pleasant chime that sounded kind of like, “hi honey I’m home.” It put him at a bit more at ease and then the door opened. It was not that opening doors were particularly frightening to Dorsey. The problem here was that no one was opening it. The thing also had a wicked creak. Dorsey stuck his head inside and called out, “is anyone here?”

If the rain had not started right at that moment, Dorsey might have decided to go back to the car and give up on the entire scheme. The rain gave him pause and in that time he convinced himself, yet again, that he could not afford to turn back. What he had was both too dangerous too hold and could make him very rich if he did the sensible thing and just dump it on some poor schmuck with more money than sense. With that in mind he entered the giant mansion.

The door closed behind him and Dorsey panicked. He thought about trying to open it but, his fear would not let him. What if it really did lock? Could he get out again? Could the windows be smashed out? Where was the buyer?

“Come,” said a voice that sounded as if it came from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Dorsey shrieked. Then he called out into the dark mansion, “who is that? I have a gun!”

The voice repeated, “come.”

A light came on in a far off room. Dorsey fumbled around for the weapon in his pocket. He called out for the voice one more time but, this time, there was no answer. He took one careful step after another until he reached the light. His hand was shaking as he peeked into the room. His shriek grew into a scream when he saw what was there.

The lights went out and Dorsey began shooting blindly. All it drew was laughter from nowhere. Then, as Dorsey looked back into the foyer, he saw the pale green light that was glowing on the far side. He yelled out again, “I have a gun!”
The light did not seem to be in any particular place. Like the voice before it, the light was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Then a low moaning voice called out, “DORSEY.”

That prompted yet another shot. Dorsey spun around looking for something more tangible to shoot at. Then he saw it. It was a pale looking figure that was only partially there. Dorsey could see right through most of it as the man shaped thing began to descend the spiral stair case. Dorsey gave up on the shooting. He ran for the front door. When it really would not open he tried the only option he had left.