“They?” Lamont asked, visibly shaken. “Who?”
The man whom he had called Ashton smiled, Constance thought, like a child who was holding a straight-A report card. He had a wild appearance, his sleeves rolled up and his mousy hair disheveled. A light stubble of beard covered his lips and receding chin. “The cloud of witnesses,” he answered proudly.
Lamont made an expression like a wince, all but leaping from the elevator to physically block the man from coming any closer. “Listen, Clifford, did you see someone? Do other people live in this tower?”
“Not exactly,” The silver-suited man replied.
“We’re here because something’s happened to Westward,” the newspaperman explained. “We tried to find you, but–”
“I saw everything,” Clifford acknowledged calmly, putting a hand on Lamont’s shoulder.
“Is it safe?” Lamont asked, gesturing back toward the elevator. “Is it safe for these people to be here?”
“The safest place of all,” Clifford smiled, “is in the center of God’s will.”
His face still turned toward the elevator, Constance saw that he was making that wincing expression again. No one cringes like a Brit, she reflected.
“We haven’t time for this,” Lamont muttered, chewing his lip.
“Amen to that,” Barney Downs blurted. “Are y’all going to let us out of here?”
“I need to talk to that man,” Mrs. Anna said, speaking for the first time since they had arrived, as far as Constance was aware.
Lamont shook his head, stepping aside while still interposing himself between Ashton and the visitors. “Clifford’s coming back to Westward with me.”
“Why would I do that?” Clifford protested, his pale eyes darting back and forth to watch the visitors as they processed tentatively out of the elevator. “There’s so much more to learn, so much more to–”
“Look,” Lamont interrupted, turning to grip the man’s shoulders, “I’m certain you can come back later if Milo gives you a clean bill of health. Most of us are going to be here while the ship is being repaired. But Rico will personally eviscerate me if I don’t bring you back.”
Ashton looked around at the edenic space with a hesitant expression. “Do you promise?” He asked.
“You have my word,” Lamont agreed.
The other man’s lip stiffened. “They’ll hold you to it,” he said, and then he shuffled into the now-empty elevator.
A year and a half I've returned here in hope, feeling like Clifford watching the elevator... Last week I finally deleted my bookmark. Today, huzzah!
This same scenario last time. Seems I need to delete my bookmarks sooner!
Glad you are feeling it again, e!
I know I am.