Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (142 page)

             
"
Our
guide
says
that
we
should
descend
quickly
to
the
house
again.
If
we
leave
now
he
says
we
should
be
under
shelter
by
the
time
that
storm
strikes,
"
the
lieutenant
said.
"
Come
on
my
fine
fellows,
we
had
best
make
shift
to
escape
it.
"

             
Eamon
Barclay,
his
face
flushed
with
the
heat,
looked
at
the
gathering
clouds
and
said,
"
A
bit
of
rain
won
'
t
go
amiss,
sir.
"
He
plucked
his
shirt
from
his
chest
and
continued,
"
At
least
it
will
cool
us,
but
I
hope
we
may
reach
the
residence
before
the
storms
begin.
"
Eagerly
he
followed
Kit
and
Harry
as
they
began
their
descent
along
the
pathway,
grumbling,
"
Surely
we
could
take
shelter
here
until
it
ceases
and
then
descend
in
the
coolness?
"

             
"
Perhaps
Eamon,
perhaps
not
–
the
guide
says
these
storms
usually
follow
one
another
through
the
afternoon
and
evening.
If
we
descend
now
we
may
miss
the
start.
If
we
wait,
we
may
spend
the
night
waiting
for
the
train
of
storms
to
cease.
"

-

             
The
descent
seemed
interminable
and
the
heat
appeared
to
be
increasing
as
they
followed
the
guides
down
the
track.
Overhead
the
clouds
were
swelling
and
expanding
rapidly
but
at
last
the
residence
compound
was
in
sight.
Already
lightning
played
among
the
lower
edges
of
the
overcast
and
the
rumble
of
thunder
increased
in
menace.
The
wind
began
to
gather
strength,
though,
as
yet,
it
remained
gusty.
These
were
swift
and
sudden,
dying
away
to
almost
nothing
while
the
smell
of
rain
hung
heavy
on
the
air.
With
a
bare
hundred
yards
still
to
cover
the
storm
broke
over
them.
Lightning
flashed
in
a
dazzling
display
as
they
hurried
toward
shelter
and
then
the
rain
began
to
fall.

             
Suddenly
the
world
lit
up
in
brilliant
blue-white
light
and
Harry
saw
Kit
'
s
hair
stand
on
end,
knowing
that
his
own
was
doing
the
same
thing.
He
felt
a
wave
of
heat
wash
past
him
and
stumbled
as
if
someone
had
pushed
him.
Then
realisation
dawned.
The
lightning
strike
had
been
close
–
very
close.
He
turned
and
saw
the
lieutenant
and
the
Parson
staring
at
the
blackened
stump
of
a
tree
immediately
to
their
right.
The
stench
of
burnt
tin
filled
Harry
'
s
nose
and
then
they
all
raced
for
the
house.

             
"
Phew,
"
gasped
the
lieutenant.
"
That
was
far
too
close
for
my
comfort.
"

             
"
Or
mine,
"
panted
the
Parson.
"
Divine
the
lightning
may
not
be
,
some
at
least
would
argue
it
is,
but
the
effect
upon
us
all
just
prior
to
the
strike
was
remarkable.
Did
you
not
note
it,
sir?
Your
own
hair
was
standing
away
from
your
head
in
a
most
amazing
manner.
"
He
recovered
his
breath
and
watched
the
storm
as
it
gathered
fury.
"
I
think
I
shall
write
to
the
Royal
Society
with
my
observations
on
the
phenomenon.
"

             
The
lieutenant
glanced
around
the
group
as
he
ushered
them
toward
shelter,
"
Where
is
Mister
Barclay?
Was
he
struck?
Petersen,
did
he
fall?
"

             
"
I
don
'
t
think
so,
sir,
"
replied
Dick
Peterson,
doubtfully.
"
I
think
he
ran
for
the
house,
sir.
"

             
"
You
think?
"
The
lieutenant
looked
back
as
they
reached
the
shelter
of
the
veranda.
Lightning
glared
overhead
and
the
roar
of
the
thunder
was
almost
continuous,
hastening
their
run
to
shelter.
"
Did
anyone
else
see
what
became
of
him?
"

             
"
Yes,
sir,
"
Kit
replied
carefully.
"
He
ran
for
the
house
as
soon
as
it
struck.
I
believe
him
to
be
within
even
now.
"

***

             
The
lightning
bolt
was
a
salutary
reminder
to
the
party
of
the
violence
of
nature.
That
it
had
so
narrowly
missed
striking
them
was
not
lost
on
Harry
or
Kit.
But
the
effect
on
Eamon
Barclay
was
remarkable.
He
had
bolted
indoors
and
refused
to
emerge
at
all
from
his
bedroom
where
he
had
taken
refuge.
The
lieutenant
found
him
in
his
bedchamber,
shaking
with
fright.