Subject: spine plumage

From: "Eddy Gunn" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:23:56 -0400

If we were driven muchout of a straight course, our petrol might run short. Tell me,did you ever come across in your researches the name of the Fieldsof Eden?
Then to my surprise he went for me tooth and nail. And then he proceeded to certain halting deductions. Yet, as luck wouldhave it, that aimless walk had its consequences.
Only human boots make that kind ofclumsy slipping. What did it matter to anyone what theold cat did? I cant, I cant, he wailed, and his jaw dropped like a scaredchilds.
I was very satisfied with what I had learned.
Im going to take you downwith me to my lodging in the valley. Then I got a modern map, and fixed the location on it.
He strode out welland breasted the steep path like a mountaineer. Then he returned to Tryssil, andlater I saw a dejected figure tramping up the Snaasen track. Im afraid I behaved rather badly yesterday, sir. Revenge to a mind like his would be a consumingpassion.
I approved of that, but inthe meantime I resolved to do something on my own account thatnight. He was the best fellow alive, but discretionhad never been his strong point.
One of the threehostages is at this moment sitting on your cabin-box.
We met Newhover coming back, but we heard hima long way off and were in good cover when he passed.
I think it might bea good plan if you went for a walk, Hannay.
It was a rather shy and self-conscious Mercot that greeted me. It was very dark there, but I couldsee a faint light where the scrub thinned round the stream.
But afterbreakfast I gave up that line, for it led nowhere. It might be a beast, but it struck me that no wildthing would move so awkwardly. Once I was up against an iron pole,and to my surprise saw wires above. There is ample spacethere for a man to be concealed. Poor devils, he said, but I do not think he really took in thesituation. All I ask is that you letme have my innings with him when the time comes. But he had struck a vein of serious drama which he had foundsoporific. Whatever his secret was it was hidden inSnaasen, and to Snaasen I would presently go. What Im keepingfor Newhover is the best hiding man ever had.
And with this clearing of the foreground came alightening of the background.
It was the figure of aslight young man, dressed in rough homespun such as Norwegian farmlads wear. Newhover, in a suit that lookedlike khaki and wearing a long mackintosh cape. But afterbreakfast I gave up that line, for it led nowhere.
I think he found it comforting to know thatthere were others in the same hole as himself.
Therewere tears in his voice, and his eyes were wild.
Themaps showed nothing, nor did the books at first. Then longing started, passionatelonging for something which he knew was his own.