The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

break our necks. I’m—I’m terrified to go out there now.” The memory of the other night was too real.
    “What is there now to be frightened of, Fredericka? As you say, Margie’s dead. But don’t you see, we’ve got to get those things before Thane takes them away. He’s sure to now. And then he’ll put two and two together and know the truth. Don’t you see we’ve got to protect Margie? It’s most terribly important.”
    “I can’t see what harm it is for Thane to know now. Surely you’ll tell him, won’t you?”
    “Of course I won’t tell him. What of her mother and the Suttons and the business? Everything’s at stake. And I promised Margie. That’s as important to me as if she were still living.”
    Fredericka stood up. “It’s utter madness. The police are bound to find out sooner or later and I’m not going to explore that jungle before daylight. I’ll set the alarm, if you like, and I’ll go out with you at six A.M., before Jim gets back. But I won’t go now.”
    “Very well then, I’ll go myself—alone. I did not know when you say you are timid that you are so timid. It is nothing except the darkness and I’ve got a flashlight in the car. I’ll get that.” Suddenly her voice dropped. “Oh, please, Fredericka, I suppose I’m really a little frightened to go alone. But I must, otherwise I can’t sleep. Please come with me; it’ll only be a minute and then we can go to bed and know that everything is all right.”
    “I can’t see how it will be all right,” Fredericka persisted. “Thane and Peter will ferret this thing out even if you don’t tell them. They won’t leave the case open. They’ll have to know the truth in the end.”
    “Oh, Fredericka, I thought you would understand. What can Thane and Peter do without proof? The family and the Farm are my whole life now. Margie is dead. It is all over. In time it will be forgotten. Perhaps it is madness. Perhaps you are right. But please, anyway, just come with me. You see, I must .”
    She put her small strong hand on Fredericka’s arm, and suddenly Fredericka was too tired to care. What did it matter? It was all part of the nightmare and the sooner it was over, the better. Peter seemed very far away. “All right,” she said quietly.
    “You will? Oh, bless you, Fredericka. I’ll fly and get the flashlight.”
    When she had gone, Fredericka stood still in the silent room, trying to collect her thoughts and to absorb all the things Philippine had told her. Then, reluctantly, she walked across the room to the door. As she heard the quick returning step on the front path, a sudden thought occurred to her and she hurried out to meet Philippine. “Have you got the flashlight?” she asked at once, and when Philippine held it up she went on quickly, “Oh, thank goodness, you see there’s an open well out there. We haven’t got it properly covered yet. I’ll have to go first and then I can show you where it is. Do keep the flashlight low and shine it ahead of me. I’ve no desire to walk into the thing myself.”
    “Of course, but that is nothing, nothing at all, Fredericka,” Her voice sounded excited—almost happy, Fredericka thought, and her own anxiety increased. “Yes,” Philippine went on quickly, “you lead the way and I’ll follow just behind you and direct the flashlight ahead of us, like you say. Good, Fredericka. Oh, good.”
    The back door slammed behind them. This is madness, Fredericka thought, utter madness. She’s lost all sense of reason. But if it has to happen, it’s best to get it over and done with. Otherwise she’d be at me all night. She stepped out boldly into the small bobbing circle of light on the grass.
    Chapter 14
    After a few steps, Fredericka allowed herself to look up from the magic circle of light moving ahead of her. The sky was overcast now and the stars that she had watched so happily from Thane’s living room window, had disappeared. How long ago that seemed; and how normal and sane and infinitely remote from this world of madness and delirium.
    Philippine spoke from just behind her. “Can you see now? Is it all right if I hold the flashlight like this?” she asked.
    “Yes. Yes. It’s fine. The path’s easy to follow if you keep the light just as it is.”
    “Good. I will then. And I follow you.”
    They moved slowly forward in their private pinpoint of light. It seemed to intensify the darkness that walled them in. There was no escape, Fredericka thought wildly,