She turned, expecting him to step into the small chamber beyond, but he did not come through the gate. "Vincent?" She waited for him.
He said softly, "It is still daylight outside."
She nodded and decided to accept that, although they had talked here in the daytime hours before. "Who is Sam?"
"A helper. A good man."
"And you take him medicine."
"Sometimes I do...sometimes Kipper, or one of the others."
"Where does he live?"
"Above." And as Catherine watched, he stepped back and swung the gate shut. He cocked his head strangely at her, and she watched as the heavy door slid shut between them.
Catherine did not like the suspicions which came to her as she walked home through the park. Almost four weeks had passed since Vincent's ordeal Above, and she told herself he obviously had been too ill to consider going up again. But she also knew Father would not have asked Vincent to go on an errand Above if he had not felt Vincent was ready.
Three evenings later Catherine was surprised to find Kipper at her front door. He explained Father wanted her Below, and the boy was to take her to Father's study. Refusing to answer any of her questions, Kipper led the way down to her basement and through the Tunnels to Father's chamber. When they arrived, she found Father sitting in his chair, quietly ignoring the book in his lap. He looked up as she entered. "Catherine. Come in." He indicated a chair across from him. "Please...sit down." He looked at the boy. "Thank you, Kipper. You may go now."
She frowned in concern. "Father, what is it? Is Vincent..."
He waved off the question. "Vincent is well."
She sat watching him as he restlessly fingered the book and finally snapped it shut. He pushed it far back on the table in front of him, then leaned back in his chair and sighed. "No...I don't mean that completely... He is healing nicely...physically." He shook his head. "I don't like involving you in a family matter."
"Father, where is he now?"
"I'm not sure."
She waited.
At last Father took off his reading glasses and laid them beside the book. "We...had words... He left."
"Words about what?"
"I don't know. Senseless things...questions." He ran his fingers through his hair leaving it badly rumpled.
Catherine frowned again, and she almost whispered, "You asked him about what they did to him."
Father looked up quickly. "Yes...but how did you...?"
"I have asked him, too."
"Catherine, I am concerned. He's unpredictable...moody... And his nightmares..."
"Father, you must know he will sense that you have sent for me."
He nodded. "Your bond. I know."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know. Maybe this was a mistake..."
She stood up. "Where do I start looking for him?"
Father looked up at her, then lowered his eyes, and shook his head.
When Catherine left Father's chamber she practically stumbled over Kipper who was waiting in the Tunnel. He took her out of Father's hearing and told her the children had seen Vincent wearing his cloak, heading for the park entrance. The boy led her most of the way, until she explained to him that she must go on alone. She waited until he retreated out of sight, then she turned back toward the distant entrance.
She was within a few yards of the gate to the drainage tunnel when she saw the hooded shadow seated, leaning against the wall. Vincent was in the interior Tunnel. The sliding panel was open, and he was quietly picking up small pebbles from the Tunnel floor and tossing them through the bars into the chamber beyond. She stopped in the shadows and watched him. Suddenly he was very still, then he folded his arms across his chest and stared out the gate. She was certain he had felt her there. Without speaking she came to him and sat down at his side. Moments passed, but he did not move. At last Catherine broke the silence. "What are you thinking?"
He slowly turned his head to look at her, and upon his face was the vacant stare which neither revealed nor hid the truth from her. He pushed his right hand against the floor, and with an awkwardness caused by wounds recently healed, he rose to his feet. He stepped to the gate and faced the open passage. Beyond him, Catherine could see reflections of moonlight playing upon the drainage pipe walls. She said softly, "There is a moon tonight. Vincent...will you walk with me?"
She held her breath, but he did not move. Then slowly his left hand came up and tripped the hidden lever which closed the sliding panel. As the great door ground shut, he was silhouetted against the dark metal. Then he turned and came to stand over her. He stared down at her with a look in his eyes which made her almost afraid. The look softened, and he put his hand out to her. "Come. I will read to you." She extended her ownhand and let him pull her to her feet. Then, hand in hand, they walked back down into the Below.