Page:Restless Earth.djvu/222

He waited, turning his head slowly towards the door.

“Jimmy!”

There! Again!

An expression of incredulity crept into his eyes. He could almost imagine that his dead wife had spoken.

“Jimmy! Is that you?”

He stood as though turned to stone. A terrible fear took possession of him. He heard the voice of the dead! He was mad! There was no longer any doubt.

Patricia moaned, trying to speak. He gave no heed to her.

“Jimmy!”

“Yes?” he whispered shakily, lifting his eyes and looking into space.

There was silence.

“Yes?” he shouted fiercely, as though he defied his reason to collapse.

“Jimmy!”

The voice was unmistakable now. It rang with happiness and tears. He heard the sound of someone rising from a bed.

The fury drained from him. The poker clattered upon the floor. He stared from side to side quickly, panic fastening upon him. He stared at Patricia, horrified that he had felled her. She was struggling to lift her face to him. She supported herself upon her knees with her hands flat upon the floor. She was gasping with pain.

“What is that?” he whispered, pointing to the door with shaking hand. “What is it?”

“Go to her!” Patricia gasped. “Go to her! Don’t let her wander in the dark!”

Harley looked at the door, and listened to the sound of bare feet approaching it across the hall.

He straightened and backed away towards the window.