Torn Curtain pt 54
Part 54: Soon
From where he sat, he watched the pair of them. It was the third time this week that he happened upon Lieutenant Groves experimenting with the gun powder. The man was clearly fond of the explosives, making tiny fire-displays. Tonight, however, he was joined by the youngest Kensington girl who carried a basket of bread.
Shifting his weight on the wooden beam upon which he sat, Will continued to look down thoughtfully at the two of them. Judging by the way Miss Margaret was looking at the Lieutenant, he surmised that it was not the first time that the girl had witnessed Groves’s penchant for pyromania. Furthermore, it appeared that the girl, herself, was fascinated.
“Lieutenant,” the girl said tentatively, “What is it that plagues you so? You yourself told me that you only light fire to things when you are feeling pensive.”
Interesting.
“Many things Miss Margaret,” the Lieutenant told the girl. “You should not be here. It is past dark and your mother . . . Your mother worries.”
“My mother has sent me in search of my father,” the girl said. “But I find you instead.”
Suddenly, Will heard a crackle louder than any he’d heard previously. It was followed by a beam of fire that looked to be at least as tall as the Lieutenant. He watched as Miss Margaret turned to the beam with an amazed expression on her face. Quickly, the Lieutenant pulled her out of the way before the flammable sparks started to shower. The flames falling toward the ground were big enough that, had they touched the girl, would have burnt the hair off of her head.
Very interesting.
“As I said, Miss Margaret, you should not be here,” said the Lieutenant sounding exasperated.
“I hope you find your peace, Lieutenant,” said the girl, sounding like she had difficulty speaking.
The girl turned to scurry from the scene. It appeared that the Lieutenant had successfully chased her away, and Will wondered what it was that bothered the man to the point where he nearly burnt down the stables. After a brief moment, he saw the Lieutenant hurry after the girl.
“Forgive me,” the man said with his head bowed. “Allow me to help you find your father.”
“Only if you will tell me what it is that plagues you,” the girl said with more spirit than Will had expected from her.
“Failure,” the man said. “I do not know if I can explain further without offense.”
“I am afraid that I do not understand, Lieutenant,” the girl said.
“All the better that you do not, Miss Margaret,” the man said in return.
Will raised a brow, wondering if he interpreted the Lieutenant’s meaning correctly. If he was right, the information might be useful at a later date--- and the officer’s penchant for lighting fire to things might serve well his plan for escape.
“Now, shall we find your father?” the Lieutenant asked the girl, extending his arm.
The girl nodded. And as Will watched them leave, he noted the surprisingly indulgent manner in which the officer smiled at the girl. It appeared that the girl was a favorite of the Lieutenant’s--- another useful detail.
Jumping down from the beam that held him, he smiled.
“Soon.”
Author's Notes:
They are in the stables, but there are no horses. (I would have added a line to that effect, but it sounded too expository and forced.)
And, with his explanation, Theo is desperately trying to be a gentleman. (I know the reference is crass, but it goes somewhere later, I swear.)
I think I really like stalker!Will...
Feedback and concrit both welcomed and encouraged.
From where he sat, he watched the pair of them. It was the third time this week that he happened upon Lieutenant Groves experimenting with the gun powder. The man was clearly fond of the explosives, making tiny fire-displays. Tonight, however, he was joined by the youngest Kensington girl who carried a basket of bread.
Shifting his weight on the wooden beam upon which he sat, Will continued to look down thoughtfully at the two of them. Judging by the way Miss Margaret was looking at the Lieutenant, he surmised that it was not the first time that the girl had witnessed Groves’s penchant for pyromania. Furthermore, it appeared that the girl, herself, was fascinated.
“Lieutenant,” the girl said tentatively, “What is it that plagues you so? You yourself told me that you only light fire to things when you are feeling pensive.”
Interesting.
“Many things Miss Margaret,” the Lieutenant told the girl. “You should not be here. It is past dark and your mother . . . Your mother worries.”
“My mother has sent me in search of my father,” the girl said. “But I find you instead.”
Suddenly, Will heard a crackle louder than any he’d heard previously. It was followed by a beam of fire that looked to be at least as tall as the Lieutenant. He watched as Miss Margaret turned to the beam with an amazed expression on her face. Quickly, the Lieutenant pulled her out of the way before the flammable sparks started to shower. The flames falling toward the ground were big enough that, had they touched the girl, would have burnt the hair off of her head.
Very interesting.
“As I said, Miss Margaret, you should not be here,” said the Lieutenant sounding exasperated.
“I hope you find your peace, Lieutenant,” said the girl, sounding like she had difficulty speaking.
The girl turned to scurry from the scene. It appeared that the Lieutenant had successfully chased her away, and Will wondered what it was that bothered the man to the point where he nearly burnt down the stables. After a brief moment, he saw the Lieutenant hurry after the girl.
“Forgive me,” the man said with his head bowed. “Allow me to help you find your father.”
“Only if you will tell me what it is that plagues you,” the girl said with more spirit than Will had expected from her.
“Failure,” the man said. “I do not know if I can explain further without offense.”
“I am afraid that I do not understand, Lieutenant,” the girl said.
“All the better that you do not, Miss Margaret,” the man said in return.
Will raised a brow, wondering if he interpreted the Lieutenant’s meaning correctly. If he was right, the information might be useful at a later date--- and the officer’s penchant for lighting fire to things might serve well his plan for escape.
“Now, shall we find your father?” the Lieutenant asked the girl, extending his arm.
The girl nodded. And as Will watched them leave, he noted the surprisingly indulgent manner in which the officer smiled at the girl. It appeared that the girl was a favorite of the Lieutenant’s--- another useful detail.
Jumping down from the beam that held him, he smiled.
“Soon.”
Author's Notes:
They are in the stables, but there are no horses. (I would have added a line to that effect, but it sounded too expository and forced.)
And, with his explanation, Theo is desperately trying to be a gentleman. (I know the reference is crass, but it goes somewhere later, I swear.)
I think I really like stalker!Will...
Feedback and concrit both welcomed and encouraged.