Quoted By:
“Walpurgis…” you begin, searching for the correct words, “Walpurgis has a lot of problems, in my estimation. The locals have been less than welcoming, and your factory – while certainly impressive – is quite pungent. Though, it’s not so bad here. I suppose all those doors and walls must be doing their job. May I ask you a question, Young… Theo?”
“You may,” the young man replies, letting out a soft laugh, “I’m generous that way, you see.”
“What do YOU think of those little problems I mentioned?” you probe, taking the seat that Theo offers. He tilts his head slightly, considering the question for what seems like a very long time.
“Everywhere has problems, I would say. Some worse than others. I’m told that the locals are quite unruly, yes, though I have full confidence in my security team to manage them. As for the smell, well, that comes with the job. Really though, these are boring things to talk about,” he dismisses the subject with a wave of his hand, “Have you visited the church?”
“I haven’t quite fit it into my schedule yet.”
Theo lets out a low murmur. “It’s quite fascinating. Some local variation on the Nicean teachings, I think. Don’t you think it’s interesting, how the same faith can surface in such remote places as this?” he smiles, “Are you a man of faith, Master Pale?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?”
“I believe in certain higher beings, far more powerful than any man,” you answer vaguely, “Whether those things are worthy of worship, or even gods at all, is a different matter.”
“The gods are just a power that mankind is yet to tame,” he muses, “Is that what you’re saying?”
“No,” you tell him curtly, “Because that sounds like the last thing someone might say before being destroyed by a power they had no hope of controlling.”
Theo laughs again. “Are you speaking from experience, perhaps?” he murmurs, “No matter. Father always tells me that I shouldn’t talk about religion or politics in polite company. He’s a frightful bore, but he might be right about this one. Let’s stick to practical matters from now on. Evelyn tells me that you’re here looking for Adrian Barbeau, yes?”
Finding him isn’t the problem. It’s getting to him. You try to think about how you might explain that to a man like Theo, and decide against it. “Yes,” you answer, opting for simplicity instead, “He’s an old friend of my father, and I think he may be in danger.”
“Mm, I think he probably is,” Theo nods slowly, “I met him once, you know, in this very room. He struck me as a hunted, or perhaps haunted, man. Who else would seek out a place as remote as this? I fear that whatever he was running from may finally have caught up with him.”
“I don’t think so,” you tell the pallid man after a moment, “If it had caught up with Barbeau, you’d all know about it.”
[1]
