Read Online The Place of the Lion by Charles Williams - Free Book Online Page B

Anthony asked another question.
    â€œAnd what about Mr. Berringer himself?”
    â€œWe can’t yet tell,” Foster said, “what has happened to him. Myself, for what it’s worth, I think he’s the focus of the movement; in some way we don’t understand. It’s through him that this world is passing into that. He and his house are the centre.”
    â€œIs that why everything happens in his garden?” Anthony asked.
    â€œIt is why everything begins to happen in his garden,” Foster answered. “But it won’t stop there. If I’m right, if all this world is passing into that, then the effects will be seen farther and farther away. Our knowledge will more and more be a knowledge of that and not of this—more and more everything will be received into its original, animals, vegetables, all the world but those individual results of interior Powers which are men.”
    Anthony missed part of this. “I can’t believe it,” he said. “If you’re at all right, it would mean destruction. But you can’t, you can’t be.”
    â€œWhat did you see in the garden?” Foster demanded. “You know whether you believe in the shape that was there.”
    Quentin looked up and spoke harshly. “And what of men?” he asked.
    â€œSome men will welcome it,” Foster said. “As Mr. Tighe has done—as I shall do. And they will be joined to that Power which each of them best serves. Some will disbelieve in it—as I think Damaris Tighe does; but they will find then what they do believe. Some will hate it, and run from it—as you do. I cannot guess what will happen to them, except that they will be hunted. For nothing will escape.”
    â€œCannot the breach be closed?” Anthony asked.
    Mr. Foster laughed a little. “Are we to govern the principles of creation?” he retorted.
    Anthony looked at him thoughtfully, and then said still quietly, “Well, we don’t know till we try, do we?”
    Quentin looked anxiously at him. “Do you think there’s a chance?” he exclaimed.
    Anthony said slowly, “You know, Quentin, I’m almost certain that Damaris will dislike it very much indeed. It will interfere with Abelard dreadfully. And of course you may remember that I promised to do everything I could to help her get her degree.”
    â€œEven,” Mr. Foster asked sarcastically, “to ruling the various worlds of creation?”
    â€œEverything,” Anthony answered. “I don’t know why this Mr. Berringer—no, but perhaps it wasn’t his fault, which makes it worse—I don’t know why this lioness should come upsetting us. You don’t care for the notion yourself, Quentin, do you?”
    â€œI hate—I hate it,” Quentin said, controlling himself not unsuccessfully. Anthony looked back at Mr. Foster. “You get the idea?” he asked.
    Their visitor again laughed a little. “You might as well try and stop daffodils growing,” he said. “It’s the law.”
    â€œIf it is,” Anthony agreed, “that settles it. But, my dear Mr. Foster, I must insist on being allowed to find out. Actually, of course, I feel that all this thesis of yours is, if you’ll excuse me, pure bunk. But I’ve watched some curious things happen, and now you tell me of others. I should hate anything to worry Miss Tighe—seriously; a little worry might be a perfectly good thing for her. And Mr. Sabot doesn’t want the lion, and Mr. Sabot and I have done our best for years to assist one another against undue interference.”
    â€œInterference!” Foster said, with another laugh.
    â€œWell, you can hardly call it less, can you?” Anthony asked. “I gather you’re on the side of the lion?”
    â€œI am on the side of the things I have wanted to see,” the other answered, “and if these Powers destroy the world, I