The Dark Gateway: A Novel of Horror. John Burke

it would stop,” said Denis.

      It was not a particularly brilliant remark. Frank supplied a mild, polite smile, but Nora found the words too close to her own thoughts, and Brennan obviously agreed with her.

      Then they heard Jonathan coming. He must have walked softly through the snow until he came close to the path that Denis and his father had tried to keep clear up to the door. Jonathan’s feet crunched on the path, and rang the usual two different notes on the flagstone and the doorstep above it. He came in, brushing his coat with great, exultant, sweeping movements of his hands.

      “Gone off,” he said happily. “Here we are at peace again. Quiet, and calm air.… Delightful!”

      He looked at Brennan, his eyes twinkling.

      Denis said: “You didn’t get very wet, then?”

      “Only at first, and that didn’t take long. Soon over. Tranquillity after the blizzard—splendid, is it not?”

      Frank pushed his chair back. “I might have a shot at getting home now,” he said. “If it’s reasonably clear—”

      “I suggested you should leave earlier,” said Jonathan quietly. “You’ve left it a trifle late.”

      He was moving across the room towards the door into the passage. Denis made a movement towards him, then hesitated.

      Frank said: “I think I’ll try.”

      “I’ll come with you,” said Denis.

      “Don’t be silly, old man: you’d only have to turn round and come back.”

      “Well, I’ll come part way.”

      “No, you won’t.”

      “No sense in it,” said Mrs. Morris.

      “I’ll be all right,” said Frank.

      Jonathan went out, still smiling. As soon as he had gone, Brennan said, in a choked, urgent voice: “Take me with you. I want to come with you.”

      “But—”

      “Much better if you stay the night and be comfy until tomorrow,” said Mrs. Morris.

      “No. You go through the village, don’t you—that’s the way you go from here?”

      “As a matter of fact, it is,” said Frank, “but I really think that if Mrs. Morris doesn’t mind—”

      “You’ve got to take me,” said Brennan. “I’ve got to try to get there tonight. I must come with you.”