TW08 The Dracula Caper NEW Read Online Free PDF Page A

world. It began in the 20th century, when America started to adopt certain so-called 'socialist' ideas to put them into practice in a democratic society and the Soviet Union began to adopt certain 'capitalist' ideas and put them to work in the framework of a totalitarian, communist society. They were still paying lip service to different ideologies and they were still antagonistic, but the techno-economic matrix was already placing them on a course that would eventually intersect. Not even war could stop it. And that was precisely what Wells predicted, except he didn't use the same terms. Instead of a world state, what we wound up with is a sort of 'world confederation,' because the techno-economic matrix became a more powerful motivating force than any political ideology. It became a political ideology in itself and if you read him carefully, you'll realize that Wells knew it would happen!"
    Steiger pursed his lips thoughtfully and sat in silence for a moment, thinking.
    "You still think it was a waste of time?" said Andre.
    "Maybe not," said Steiger. "And you're right, Finn, it does make me wonder. But the question is, did Wells arrive at his conclusions on his own or did they come about as a result of temporal contamination? And if they did ... what can we do about it?"
     
     
    From the outside, the Lyceum Theatre resembled a small Greek temple, with its six tall columns supporting the roof over the entrance
.
Originally a concert hall, it later housed a circus and Madame Tussaud's first London wax museum. It was the meeting place of the Beefsteak Society and renamed the 'theatre Royal Opera House in 1815. After being destroyed by a fire, it was rebuilt and reopened as the Royal Lyceum and English Opera House. In 1871, an unknown actor named Henry Irving was hired to take the leading roles in the productions staged by Col. Hezekiah Bateman. Within a few short years, Irving had taken over the management of the Lyceum and he had become the rage of London, acclaimed as
the
Hamlet, the actor's actor. As he rehearsed the company in his own adaptation of Lord Tennyson's
Becket.
    Henry Irving had no idea that he would soon reach the peak of his career by becoming the first actor to receive a knighthood.
    "No, no.
no!"
he shouted, storming across the stage and running his hands through his long hair, his long, thin-featured face distraught. "For God's sake, Angeline, you must
project!"
    He said the word "project" as if it were two words, rolling the "r" for emphasis. His strong, mellifluous voice filled the empty theatre.
    "You are understudying Miss Ellen Terry! Consider the burden, the
responsibility
that is upon your shoulders! You arc
whispering!
No one shall hear you beyond the second row!"
    The young blond actress covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry, Mr. Irving," she said in a small voice. "I . . . I am not feeling very well. I ..."
    She swayed and almost fell. Irving caught her, a sudden expression of concern upon his face He lifted her chin and looked into her face intently. "Good lord. Angeline, you're white as a corpse!"
    "I am sorry. Mr. Irving." she said her voice fading. "I fell ...cold ... so very cold . . ." She sagged in his arms.
    "Angeline!" said Irving, holding her up. "Angeline? Heavens, she's fainted. Stoker!
Stoker!"
    Irving's manager, a large, red-headed man with a pointed heard, came hurrying from the wings.
    "Help me with her," Irving said. They gently lowered her to the stage.
    "Angeline?" said Stoker. He picked up her hand and patted her wrist. There was no response. He placed his hand upon her forehead, then felt her pulse. "Dear God," he said. "She's dead!”
    Irving gaped at him, thunderstruck. “
Dead!"
lie shook his head. "No, that's not possible. She merely swooned."
    "There is no pulse, I tell you!" said Stoker. tic bent down and put his car close to her mouth and nose. "Nothing. Not a whisper of a breath.”
    "Mother of God," said Irving. "And I said she was as white as a corpse!" He put