Chapter 9 (Pt 3)
�To zis place, you mean?�
Christian nodded.
�Vell,� Robert shrugged again, straightening himself out on the stool, �I retired. I vas too old to keep around anyvay, you see. Besides, Debray made sure I vas far enough from all civilization to not cause any troubles.� He smiled bitterly, the pale-blue eyes flashing with a brief spark of anger, before returning to their usual imperturbable calmness.
Christian was about to ask something else, when, suddenly, he realized the implications of what Robert had just said, and that realization sent cold shivers down his spine.
�Wait a minute,� he asked, his voice clipped with urgency, �are you saying Debray knows about this place?�
The old man frowned at this sudden concern. �Yes, but he vould never think of looking here. Besides, he is ze only one who knows about it. Ze ozers, his employees, zey do not.�
�Can you be sure of that?� Christian objected, secretly hoping to hear something reassuring in response. But the look he saw on the old man�s face destroyed whatever hope was remaining.
He wasn't sure. Great!
�Where�s Xandrie?� he asked trying to conceal the fear that was threatening to break his voice.
Robert shook his head. �She ran past me out ze door. I believe she must have gone to ze lake. She likes to go zere � to think.�
�Well, I think now is a really bad time for self-reflections,� Christian quipped, as he slowly maneuvered himself to the edge of the bed.
�Vhat do you think you are doing?�
�I have to go find her and get us the hell out of here,� he muttered, clenching his teeth against the pain. Slowly, remember to move slowly. His feet were finally planted firmly on the floor, and Christian lingered for a few moments on the edge of the bed, mentally preparing himself for his first attempt to stand up.
�You love her very much, yes?�
The question startled him, and he looked up to find himself staring straight into the old man�s eyes.
Robert watched the emotions play out on the young man�s face, as he waited patiently for his answer. Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps it could work out between them after all. Maybe they just needed a little push.
�Yes,� Christian said finally in a quiet, guarded voice. �Yes, I do.�
�Zen you should not let zis thing come between you,� the old man urged. �Talk to her. Vork it out.�
Christian let out a sigh of exasperation. �With all due respect, Monsieur DuBois, right now I am more concerned with this thing killing us. Once we are safe, I�ll start worrying about it coming between us, and I�ll try my damnedest best to fix it. But this isn�t the time for talking. We need to get out before it�s too late.�
As if in response to his words, a deafening sound of crashing glass exploded behind them, and a low rough voice remarked coolly: �I am afraid it already is.�