The Hound of Death - Agatha Christie [6]
‘What is the meaning of Sea?’
‘That I confess I cannot explain. I introduced the word later and got the ordinary answer of Boat. To Seventh Sign I got first Life, the second time Love. To Eighth Sign, I got the answer None. I take it therefore that Seven was the sum and number of the signs.’
‘But the Seventh was not achieved,’ I said on a sudden inspiration. ‘Since through the Sixth came Destruction!’
‘Ah! You think so? But we are taking these–mad ramblings–very seriously. They are really only interesting from a medical point of view.’
‘Surely they will attract the attention of psychic investigators.’
The doctor’s eyes narrowed. ‘My dear sir, I have no intention of making them public.’
‘Then your interest?’
‘Is purely personal. I shall make notes on the case, of course.’
‘I see.’ But for the first time I felt, like the blind man, that I didn’t see at all. I rose to my feet.
‘Well, I’ll wish you good night, doctor. I’m off to town again tomorrow.’
‘Ah!’ I fancied there was satisfaction, relief perhaps, behind the exclamation.
‘I wish you good luck with your investigations,’ I continued lightly. ‘Don’t loose the Hound of Death on me next time we meet!’
His hand was in mine as I spoke, and I felt the start it gave. He recovered himself quickly. His lips drew back from his long pointed teeth in a smile.
‘For a man who loved power, what a power that would be!’ he said. ‘To hold every human being’s life in the hollow of your hand!’
And his smile broadened.
V
That was the end of my direct connection with the affair.
Later, the doctor’s note-book and diary came into my hands. I will reproduce the few scanty entries in it here, though you will understand that it did not really come into my possession until some time afterwards.
Aug. 5th. Have discovered that by ‘the Chosen,’ Sister M.A. means those who reproduced the race. Apparently they were held in the highest honour, and exalted above the Priesthood. Contrast this with early Christians.
Aug. 7th. Persuaded Sister M.A. to let me hypnotise her. Succeeded in inducing hypnoptic sleep and trance, but no rapport established.
Aug. 9th. Have there been civilizations in the past to which ours is as nothing? Strange if it should be so, and I the only man with the clue to it…
Aug. 12th. Sister M.A. not at all amenable to suggestion when hypnotized. Yet state of trance easily induced. Cannot understand it.
Aug. 13th. Sister M.A. mentioned today that in ‘state of grace’ the ‘gate must be closed, lest another should command the body’. Interesting–but baffling.
Aug. 18th. So the First Sign is none other than…(words erased here)…then how many centuries will it take to reach the Sixth? But if there should be a short-cut to Power…
Aug. 20th. Have arranged for M.A. to come here with Nurse. Have told her it is necessary to keep patient under morphia. Am I mad? Or shall I be the Superman, with the Power of Death in my hands?
(Here the entries cease.)
VI
It was, I think, on August 29th that I received the letter. It was directed to me, care of my sister-in-law, in a sloping foreign handwriting. I opened it with some curiosity. It ran as follows:
Cher Monsieur,–I have seen you but twice, but I have felt I could trust you. Whether my dreams are real or not, they have grown clearer of late…And, Monsieur, one thing at all events, the Hound of Death is no dream…In the days I told you of (Whether they are real or not, I do not know) He Who was Guardian of the Crystal revealed the Sixth Sign to the people too soon…Evil entered into their hearts. They had the power to slay at will–and they slew without justice–in anger. They were drunk with the lust of Power.