The Mansion in the Mist Read Online Free PDF

that Anthony was losing his mind. Something else was bothering him, and Emerson wanted to know what it was.
    One evening after dinner, Emerson walked out to the end of the dock and sat down next to Anthony, who was squatting cross-legged and looking out at the far end of the lake, where a dusky crimson sun was setting in a mass of dark blue clouds. The look on Anthony's face was faraway and dreamy, as if he was living in some other world. After a quick, anxious glance at him, Emerson lowered himself down onto the dock and put his hand on Anthony's arm.
    "My boy," he began quietly, "my sister and I are worried about you. You don't... well, you just don't seem to be yourself these days. Is something wrong?"
    No answer. Anthony went on staring straight ahead.
    Emerson paused. He took his pocket watch out of his vest pocket, popped the lid, squinted at the time, and put the watch back. "Anthony," he began brusquely, "I did not come down here to sit and stare at the sunset with you. If you are unhappy about this vacation trip, please tell us and we'll take you home. But this moping has become intolerable, and it has to stop!"
    Anthony stiffened. A shudder passed through his body. Then, sobbing brokenly, he turned to Emerson and threw his arms around him. "I... I've got... something to... to tell you," said Anthony in a thick, weepy voice. "But you... you have to believe me... you... really do."
    Emerson nodded solemnly as he hugged his weeping friend. "I'll believe you," he said, "because I know you're honest, and besides, it's pretty clear that you have been through an awful experience of some kind. Tell me all about it."
    When he finally had control of himself again, Anthony told Emerson his amazing tale. About the appearing and disappearing chest and the strange otherworld that he had been thrust into. When he was through, Anthony looked at Emerson to see what his reaction was. He was terribly afraid that Emerson would be amused, but Emerson wasn't laughing. He looked awestruck.
    "Good God!" he exclaimed softly, as he stared out at the setting sun. "I have heard of such things, but I did not think they were possible—not until now, that is."
    Anthony stared hard at Emerson. "Do... do you know what happened to me?" he asked in a faltering voice. "Do you know where that mansion is?"
    Emerson smiled wryly. "The mansion is a long, long way from here, my friend. A long way." Emerson paused and picked up a flat pebble that lay on the slats of the dock. With a flick of his wrist he sent the pebble skipping across the still waters of the lake. "I think," he went on gravely, "that you were projected into another dimension. Into a world that does not exist anywhere on this earth. It's not in outer space either. It's... well, I just have to say it's in another dimension. You see, Anthony, for a long time people have wondered if there were any other worlds like ours existing on different planes... you know, sort of like on different floors of an apartment house. In your case, you seem to have stumbled upon a world that is held in place by magic. These weird creatures whose conference you eavesdropped on, they are the ones who built the world—they're sort of like the folks who put together a model train layout, though a good deal more clever. I think that those black-robed characters once lived in our world. But they didn't like it very much, so they moved next door, so to speak. But there is a connecting tunnel—that chest that doesn't seem able to stay put. Now, as for this thing called the Logos Cube... well, I can only guess that it's the heart of the world our black-robed friends created. And from what you said, it seems to have been swiped by someone. Beyond that, I'm just as much in the dark as you are. But this talk about a grand design bothers me. What do you suppose those creeps are up to?"
    Anthony shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine, Mr. Eells. I'm just glad you believe me."
    "Oh, I believe you—I really do," murmured