cellar is out back of this room, and there’s only one way in to this room, which is through yonder door.” He pointed to the barricade of flour sacks. “We’re safe, because that door is the only way in or out.”
Reassured, Jonathan pulled his pipe and headed for the old man. “Then before I turn my mind to our escape, I think I’ll take the time to enjoy our meal.”
“Sounds like a right good idea,” Alfred said as he kicked out a chair for his new friend. “Do you not think the creatures will simply wander off?”
Jon lit his pipe, and then shook his head. “There number has at least tripled. They ain’t going nowhere.”
“Pa, I have found old man Marsh’s guns. They are all loaded and in good order. He has two hundred rounds of shot, and powder for twice that. Not only did I find the ammunition, but also four sticks of dynamite and a yard of fuse.”
“Really. Well, that is at least some good news. I’m starting to think we will get out of here after all.”
“What are you thinking of doing, Pa?”
“Let's not talk of my plans now, for they are still scattered and flimsy. Instead, let me fill my stomach, which in turn will help me fill my head. After we’ve eaten I will tell you what I’m thinking.”
Callum smiled. “Pa, can I have a pipe?”
“Sorry, Boy, I only have this one.”
“I think I can remedy that,” Alfred said as he struggled to his feet. The old man hobbled over to the fire, and took a corncob pipe from the mantel. “This is my son’s, but I guess it’s alright if you have it.”
Callum looked at his father, and Wentworth the elder nodded slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Marsh.”
Soon all three males found themselves sat around the table smoking, but only one looked green faced. A hacking cough quickly followed each inhalation Callum took. Jonathan smiled and tipped a wink at old man Marsh. Alfred smiled and leaned back in his chair, lifting the front two legs from the floor. Jonathan did the same. Callum started to mirror the other men, but a coughing fit caused him to lose balance, and he crashed to the floor.
Everyone erupted with laughter, Callum included. He scrambled to his feet and passed the pipe back to the old man.
“I think I need a few more years under my belt before I’m ready for this.”
Alfred held his hands high. “It’s yours now, use it as you might.”
Callum reseated himself and said, “Thank you kindly, Sir, I’ll treasure it.’
A tear formed in the old man’s eye, and he quickly looked away from the boy. Callum stood instantly, and move to Alfred’s side. Without a word, he simply placed a caring hand on the old man’s shoulder. A moment later, Alfred’s hand found the boys.
Jonathan Wentworth watched his son, and in that moment, no man could have felt any prouder. He looked towards the stove and saw Sally simply staring at the boy. She looked at his son with a kind of awe. Slowly, her eyes moved from Callum, and fixed on his father. She smiled shyly, then, red-faced, turned back to her pots.
Did Jon recognize the spark of love in this young girl? He had met Emily at Callum’s age, and he had loved her from that moment on. Was this the spark of new love? He hoped it was. Love was what the world needed, especially when things seemed darkest.
He smiled to himself and thought, my empty belly seems to be making me maudlin. The sooner I get some of that fine smelling food in me, the better.
Chapter 8
After all had eaten, talk turned to the creatures outside, and to Jonathan’s plans of how to rid themselves of them.
Jon pushed his plate away and relit his pipe. After two deep puffs, he turned his attention to old man Marsh.
“Tell me,” Jon asked as he absentmindedly examined his pipe. “Is there a way of stopping the wheel?”
Alfred placed his elbows on the table and leaned towards his guest. “Well yes, but what good would that do?”
“I’ll come to that, but first I need to know how much lamp oil you
Reassured, Jonathan pulled his pipe and headed for the old man. “Then before I turn my mind to our escape, I think I’ll take the time to enjoy our meal.”
“Sounds like a right good idea,” Alfred said as he kicked out a chair for his new friend. “Do you not think the creatures will simply wander off?”
Jon lit his pipe, and then shook his head. “There number has at least tripled. They ain’t going nowhere.”
“Pa, I have found old man Marsh’s guns. They are all loaded and in good order. He has two hundred rounds of shot, and powder for twice that. Not only did I find the ammunition, but also four sticks of dynamite and a yard of fuse.”
“Really. Well, that is at least some good news. I’m starting to think we will get out of here after all.”
“What are you thinking of doing, Pa?”
“Let's not talk of my plans now, for they are still scattered and flimsy. Instead, let me fill my stomach, which in turn will help me fill my head. After we’ve eaten I will tell you what I’m thinking.”
Callum smiled. “Pa, can I have a pipe?”
“Sorry, Boy, I only have this one.”
“I think I can remedy that,” Alfred said as he struggled to his feet. The old man hobbled over to the fire, and took a corncob pipe from the mantel. “This is my son’s, but I guess it’s alright if you have it.”
Callum looked at his father, and Wentworth the elder nodded slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Marsh.”
Soon all three males found themselves sat around the table smoking, but only one looked green faced. A hacking cough quickly followed each inhalation Callum took. Jonathan smiled and tipped a wink at old man Marsh. Alfred smiled and leaned back in his chair, lifting the front two legs from the floor. Jonathan did the same. Callum started to mirror the other men, but a coughing fit caused him to lose balance, and he crashed to the floor.
Everyone erupted with laughter, Callum included. He scrambled to his feet and passed the pipe back to the old man.
“I think I need a few more years under my belt before I’m ready for this.”
Alfred held his hands high. “It’s yours now, use it as you might.”
Callum reseated himself and said, “Thank you kindly, Sir, I’ll treasure it.’
A tear formed in the old man’s eye, and he quickly looked away from the boy. Callum stood instantly, and move to Alfred’s side. Without a word, he simply placed a caring hand on the old man’s shoulder. A moment later, Alfred’s hand found the boys.
Jonathan Wentworth watched his son, and in that moment, no man could have felt any prouder. He looked towards the stove and saw Sally simply staring at the boy. She looked at his son with a kind of awe. Slowly, her eyes moved from Callum, and fixed on his father. She smiled shyly, then, red-faced, turned back to her pots.
Did Jon recognize the spark of love in this young girl? He had met Emily at Callum’s age, and he had loved her from that moment on. Was this the spark of new love? He hoped it was. Love was what the world needed, especially when things seemed darkest.
He smiled to himself and thought, my empty belly seems to be making me maudlin. The sooner I get some of that fine smelling food in me, the better.
Chapter 8
After all had eaten, talk turned to the creatures outside, and to Jonathan’s plans of how to rid themselves of them.
Jon pushed his plate away and relit his pipe. After two deep puffs, he turned his attention to old man Marsh.
“Tell me,” Jon asked as he absentmindedly examined his pipe. “Is there a way of stopping the wheel?”
Alfred placed his elbows on the table and leaned towards his guest. “Well yes, but what good would that do?”
“I’ll come to that, but first I need to know how much lamp oil you
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