Read Online The Forever Journey by Paul F Gwyn - Free Book Online
Authors: Paul F Gwyn
Tags: Steampunk
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caught an imprint of you.” Arnaud took tentative steps towards Nathanial. “I’ve kept the plate ever since, because it felt like I had a part of you with me at all times, and that made me feel…it made me happy, despite the risk. I could not let you be taken away from me again.”
Nathanial looked Arnaud up and down, at a loss for words. Usually he would have had a witty retort for him, but Nathanial’s mind was rocking like a boat during a storm. Instead of continuing their conversation he headed to the door, turning back to look at Arnaud once more before leaving.
“I cannot…I need to think…” He shook his head. This was wrong. “I need to be alone,” he mumbled, hating himself for the look of hurt that took control of Arnaud’s usually joyous expression.
5.
NATHANIAL RUSHED OUT of the laboratory, and headed directly for the one place often devoid of people. The greenhouse. He glanced through the door, checking the cost was clear, and once sure he entered. He made his way deep into the greenhouse, until he found himself by the window looking out to the aether. His reflection cast a haunted look back at him.
Just what was Arnaud doing bringing the plate on board the flyer? Or keeping it at all? He paced the greenhouse trying to calm himself. His mind was full of questions, and not enough answers for his liking. He was most fond of Arnaud, but…
What Arnaud had said; his reason for keeping the plate. It was absurd! They were both men, and this was… This was not how God made man to be. So many years he had spent wrestling with this, trying to find a reason, to understand. He had hoped that perhaps out in the aether he would meet God, and discover the truth, but since leaving he had seen so much more. Things his mind could not have imagined. And… No.
How could he explain his own feelings for Arnaud?
He started to pace the greenhouse, stopping when he caught a glimpse of someone at the rear of the room. There had definitely been no-one in the greenhouse when he had entered. How had someone managed to sneak in without his realising? He walked around to the person and caught himself.
“You… What…what are you doing here?”
The figure spun around and greeted him with a grin. The man was tall—not as tall as Nathanial, of course—with white hair. Nathanial approached him.
“Sir, what are you doing here? Did Arnaud bring you aboard somehow?”
The man looked at Nathanial and laughed a deep, fulfilled laugh. “Come now, Nathanial. There is no need for formalities now, we are well acquainted. Call me Sébastien.”
And it was true; it was Arnaud’s father, Sébastien Fontaine, looking just as he had when Nathanial had last seen him in London. “Very well, Sébastien,” he replied, regaining his senses. “Will you not tell me how you came to be aboard Esmeralda ? One does not simply appear on a flyer mid-…” He stopped abruptly, and thought of the Mercurian plate. “Of course, another ghost. I was right, this is all because of that damned plate.”
Sébastien shook his head. “That is not of importance right now. There are other, more pressing matters to which we must attend.” He directed Nathanial to the chairs adjacent to the window before saying politely; “please sit.”
Nathanial nodded.
“I know how you are feeling right now, confusion could not be worn more clearly on your face.”
Nathanial felt his face flush. This was beyond the pale. “I’m sorry for my rudeness,” he said, wondering at the notion of apologising to a ghost. But that did not make any sense. If Sébastien was a ghost, then that would mean Arnaud’s father was dead. Nathanial shook his head. Nothing was making sense any more. “I am pleased to meet you again, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?” he asked, feeling more and more incredulous by the moment. “I…have a lot on my mind.”
An unperturbed stare greeted Nathanial. “I am very aware of that, I am here to help you. You need to
Nathanial looked Arnaud up and down, at a loss for words. Usually he would have had a witty retort for him, but Nathanial’s mind was rocking like a boat during a storm. Instead of continuing their conversation he headed to the door, turning back to look at Arnaud once more before leaving.
“I cannot…I need to think…” He shook his head. This was wrong. “I need to be alone,” he mumbled, hating himself for the look of hurt that took control of Arnaud’s usually joyous expression.
5.
NATHANIAL RUSHED OUT of the laboratory, and headed directly for the one place often devoid of people. The greenhouse. He glanced through the door, checking the cost was clear, and once sure he entered. He made his way deep into the greenhouse, until he found himself by the window looking out to the aether. His reflection cast a haunted look back at him.
Just what was Arnaud doing bringing the plate on board the flyer? Or keeping it at all? He paced the greenhouse trying to calm himself. His mind was full of questions, and not enough answers for his liking. He was most fond of Arnaud, but…
What Arnaud had said; his reason for keeping the plate. It was absurd! They were both men, and this was… This was not how God made man to be. So many years he had spent wrestling with this, trying to find a reason, to understand. He had hoped that perhaps out in the aether he would meet God, and discover the truth, but since leaving he had seen so much more. Things his mind could not have imagined. And… No.
How could he explain his own feelings for Arnaud?
He started to pace the greenhouse, stopping when he caught a glimpse of someone at the rear of the room. There had definitely been no-one in the greenhouse when he had entered. How had someone managed to sneak in without his realising? He walked around to the person and caught himself.
“You… What…what are you doing here?”
The figure spun around and greeted him with a grin. The man was tall—not as tall as Nathanial, of course—with white hair. Nathanial approached him.
“Sir, what are you doing here? Did Arnaud bring you aboard somehow?”
The man looked at Nathanial and laughed a deep, fulfilled laugh. “Come now, Nathanial. There is no need for formalities now, we are well acquainted. Call me Sébastien.”
And it was true; it was Arnaud’s father, Sébastien Fontaine, looking just as he had when Nathanial had last seen him in London. “Very well, Sébastien,” he replied, regaining his senses. “Will you not tell me how you came to be aboard Esmeralda ? One does not simply appear on a flyer mid-…” He stopped abruptly, and thought of the Mercurian plate. “Of course, another ghost. I was right, this is all because of that damned plate.”
Sébastien shook his head. “That is not of importance right now. There are other, more pressing matters to which we must attend.” He directed Nathanial to the chairs adjacent to the window before saying politely; “please sit.”
Nathanial nodded.
“I know how you are feeling right now, confusion could not be worn more clearly on your face.”
Nathanial felt his face flush. This was beyond the pale. “I’m sorry for my rudeness,” he said, wondering at the notion of apologising to a ghost. But that did not make any sense. If Sébastien was a ghost, then that would mean Arnaud’s father was dead. Nathanial shook his head. Nothing was making sense any more. “I am pleased to meet you again, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?” he asked, feeling more and more incredulous by the moment. “I…have a lot on my mind.”
An unperturbed stare greeted Nathanial. “I am very aware of that, I am here to help you. You need to
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