Free The Sphere by Martha Faë Page B

strange as it seems I feel that I can trust her. I can’t help feeling like she’s my savior.
    “Are you going to tell me how to get out of here?” I ask, sounding like a hopeful little girl.
    Beatrice doesn’t answer. I guess I deserve it; she’s repaying me in kind. It’s not like I’ve been too talkative. We turn toward South Street. Nearly everything is in ruins or more run-down than I remember it being. Some businesses are different. There are old shops instead of the regular stores, and where the big bookstore on the corner used to be there’s a maternity hospital. In the distance a tall shape is walking toward us—the first person we’ve crossed paths with in all this time. It’s a man wearing a long coat and a cap with earflaps tied on top. He walks along with his back straight, one hand in his pocket and the other periodically reaching for the pipe in his mouth.
    “Good day to you,” says the man in a pompous tone. “My own day is becoming even more lovely now that I have had the good fortune to encounter you, my cherished Beatrice.”
    “Good day,” she answers, bobbing her head. “This is my friend Eurydice.”
    Friend? I wouldn’t say that. The man greets me with a bow that I do my best to match.
    “You seem worried, Mr. Ho—”
    “William, dear Beatrice, call me William. I thought we’d already agreed on that, isn’t that right?”
    “Forgive me, so we had. You seem worried, William. Is something troubling you?”
    The man takes the pipe out of his mouth and makes an indecipherable gesture. Obviously he has no eyes; at this point I’d be surprised to meet someone who did. But it’s not the missing eyes that make his face so difficult to read. Up until now everyone—even without eyes—has been expressive. Beatrice, for example, radiates unmistakable sweetness. This man, on the other hand... William... How can Beatrice tell he’s worried? She must have a sixth sense; she certainly did with me.
    “There’s nothing worrying me, darling Beatrice. Only I do wonder, since I’ve had the good luck to happen upon you, whether you might have seen Karenina recently.”
    “Anna?”
    “Quite right.”
    “Well, no. I haven’t seen her for some time. But she should be by the train tracks. Have you looked there?”
    “Yes, I looked at the tracks,” William answers, as if he’s avoiding the subject.
    “And at her house? Anna is not at home?” Beatrice’s voice trembles.
    William clears his throat and turns to look at me. Well, normally I would say he was looking at me, but his face is so blank... Suddenly Beatrice’s arm falls to her side.
    “My dear Beatrice! Are you well? Your lovely eyes are dim!”
    It’s clear that Beatrice isn’t well. I don’t know how I can tell—I just know it. Her wooden face seems emaciated. But to claim that her nonexistent eyes are growing dim...
    “The shadow...”
    Beatrice’s voice is barely audible, but William jumps back, startled.
    “Don’t speak, my beautiful lady, don’t speak.”
    “The shadow,” Beatrice says again, forcefully.
    “If you’ll allow me, miss,” William says to me. “I believe that it is of the utmost importance to take Beatrice somewhere so she can recover. Obviously she is unwell, and now is not the best time for socializing. We shall see you another time.”
    “I want Eurydice with me. She is the answer to my prayers. The Creator has sent her. She is the savior.”
    “Me?” I ask, astonished.
    “My beloved Beatrice, this hardly seems like the proper time to...”
    “I will not be separated from her,” insists Beatrice weakly. “We were going to my house to have tea, and our plan has not changed. If you would care to join us, you are most welcome.”
    Now I’m the one offering my arm to Beatrice. William hesitates for a few seconds and finally decides to come with us.
    “Dear, beautiful Beatrice...”
    “I am perfectly well, truly. Let’s go to my house.”
    We go into the gardens that lead to St Mary’s