Master of the Moors by Kealan Patrick Burke Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kealan Patrick Burke
indeed a shame."
Again, Neil was struck by
the lack of sincerity in the stranger's voice. "Can I get you
anything else?"
The man said nothing.
Neil frowned.
"Well?"
"If you were offered your
sight, would you take it?"
Neil clenched his fists.
Few things angered him more than when people assumed they had to
right to discuss his disability just because he didn't hide it. "I
beg your pardon?"
"I think it's a rather
simple question. Your eyes are quite remarkable as they are. Don't
misunderstand me. I'm merely hypothesizing. Say if you could see
again, if someone could return your sight to you, would you accept
the gift?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's an absurd
question."
"You think so?"
"It's not something that
can be cured, so if you're done being ridiculous..."
"Oh, don't be so sure of
that, young Mansfield. Small villages breed small minds incapable
of seeing the breadth of the sky above their own chimneys or the
world beyond their gates. But not everything is so simple, or
clearly defined. There are ways of fixing even the most impossible
problems. There are other ways of seeing."
"Yes...well right now
nothing would satisfy me more than to have you see yourself to the
door."
"Aren't you at all curious
why I asked?"
"Are you a
doctor?"
"Insofar as I offer people
what they need, I suppose I am."
"I don't have much time
for doctors. Our current one leaves a lot to be desired. To
describe him as shabby genteel would be complimenting the drunken
lout."
"So I've heard." Boots
scuffed the floor as the stranger drew closer. "But right now I'm
more interested in you, Neil."
The boy felt a pang of
unease and slowly moved away until his back was pressed against the
notched shelves. "Why?"
"Because I believe I can
change your life."
"What makes you think
I want my life
changed?"
"Come now, every boy your
age has a wish, something that they'd give everything to have. And,
as preposterous as it might sound, I do believe I'm in a position
to give you exactly what it is you need."
"I need you to leave. Can
you grant that wish?"
"My, my. You are spirited,
aren't you?"
It was not a question, so
Neil made no attempt to answer it, but the silence the lack of
response provided made him uncomfortable. To his relief, it didn't
last long. "I've upset you," the stranger said, "and for that I
apologize, but I do believe we'll speak again, young Mansfield. In
fact, I dare say we're bound to become steadfast friends, once you
realize I mean you no harm. Quite the opposite, in
fact."
"Believe what you like.
You've wasted enough of my time." Neil turned back to the shelves
and began to trace the notches, even though there was nothing he
wanted but to preoccupy himself with something other than the
stranger.
"You're correct. We'll
have ample time to discuss our secrets," the man said. "Perhaps
when our paths next cross you can tell me more about that pretty
young girl who came to see you earlier."
Neil froze. The idea that
this foul-smelling, deranged stranger might know about Tabitha
disturbed him more than it had any right to. "Mind your own
business," he grunted, but the sound of boots crunching gravel told
him the man had already left. He turned to face the breeze soughing
in through the open doorway. The man's voice, seductive and cordial
and yet colder than anything he had ever heard before, echoed in
his mind.
I believe I can change your
life.
5
"I wouldn't celebrate just
yet," Doctor Campbell said, as he stepped into the hallway and
pulled the bedroom door closed behind him. The sleeve of his
oversized coat snagged in the jamb and he muttered first an
apology, then a slew of obscenities as he struggled to worry it
free.
Typical , Kate thought.
At last he tugged and the
door slammed shut with a bang, the echo like thunder in the quiet
house. The doctor grimaced, ran a hand over his coarse hair and
licked his lips. As usual, he reeked of whiskey. While Grady waited
patiently, Kate tapped her foot on the floor
Again, Neil was struck by
the lack of sincerity in the stranger's voice. "Can I get you
anything else?"
The man said nothing.
Neil frowned.
"Well?"
"If you were offered your
sight, would you take it?"
Neil clenched his fists.
Few things angered him more than when people assumed they had to
right to discuss his disability just because he didn't hide it. "I
beg your pardon?"
"I think it's a rather
simple question. Your eyes are quite remarkable as they are. Don't
misunderstand me. I'm merely hypothesizing. Say if you could see
again, if someone could return your sight to you, would you accept
the gift?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's an absurd
question."
"You think so?"
"It's not something that
can be cured, so if you're done being ridiculous..."
"Oh, don't be so sure of
that, young Mansfield. Small villages breed small minds incapable
of seeing the breadth of the sky above their own chimneys or the
world beyond their gates. But not everything is so simple, or
clearly defined. There are ways of fixing even the most impossible
problems. There are other ways of seeing."
"Yes...well right now
nothing would satisfy me more than to have you see yourself to the
door."
"Aren't you at all curious
why I asked?"
"Are you a
doctor?"
"Insofar as I offer people
what they need, I suppose I am."
"I don't have much time
for doctors. Our current one leaves a lot to be desired. To
describe him as shabby genteel would be complimenting the drunken
lout."
"So I've heard." Boots
scuffed the floor as the stranger drew closer. "But right now I'm
more interested in you, Neil."
The boy felt a pang of
unease and slowly moved away until his back was pressed against the
notched shelves. "Why?"
"Because I believe I can
change your life."
"What makes you think
I want my life
changed?"
"Come now, every boy your
age has a wish, something that they'd give everything to have. And,
as preposterous as it might sound, I do believe I'm in a position
to give you exactly what it is you need."
"I need you to leave. Can
you grant that wish?"
"My, my. You are spirited,
aren't you?"
It was not a question, so
Neil made no attempt to answer it, but the silence the lack of
response provided made him uncomfortable. To his relief, it didn't
last long. "I've upset you," the stranger said, "and for that I
apologize, but I do believe we'll speak again, young Mansfield. In
fact, I dare say we're bound to become steadfast friends, once you
realize I mean you no harm. Quite the opposite, in
fact."
"Believe what you like.
You've wasted enough of my time." Neil turned back to the shelves
and began to trace the notches, even though there was nothing he
wanted but to preoccupy himself with something other than the
stranger.
"You're correct. We'll
have ample time to discuss our secrets," the man said. "Perhaps
when our paths next cross you can tell me more about that pretty
young girl who came to see you earlier."
Neil froze. The idea that
this foul-smelling, deranged stranger might know about Tabitha
disturbed him more than it had any right to. "Mind your own
business," he grunted, but the sound of boots crunching gravel told
him the man had already left. He turned to face the breeze soughing
in through the open doorway. The man's voice, seductive and cordial
and yet colder than anything he had ever heard before, echoed in
his mind.
I believe I can change your
life.
5
"I wouldn't celebrate just
yet," Doctor Campbell said, as he stepped into the hallway and
pulled the bedroom door closed behind him. The sleeve of his
oversized coat snagged in the jamb and he muttered first an
apology, then a slew of obscenities as he struggled to worry it
free.
Typical , Kate thought.
At last he tugged and the
door slammed shut with a bang, the echo like thunder in the quiet
house. The doctor grimaced, ran a hand over his coarse hair and
licked his lips. As usual, he reeked of whiskey. While Grady waited
patiently, Kate tapped her foot on the floor