The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 70 -- Poe

 Edgar released the doctor's arm, his hand dropped down onto the bed, and made one last comment before he went silent and exhaled.

Sam heard the words perfectly from where he was standing.   "Hmmm...  That's an interesting thing to say."

"Edgar?  Can you hear me?"  The doctor shook Edgar several time, but no movement came.  He felt Edgar's neck for a pulse.    Edgar Allan Poe was dead.  Outside, somewhere, a bell tolled five times.

The other two men in the doorway wore dark suits and hats.   Sam thought they looked like undertakers.  One remained in the doorway; while the other went to the foot of the bed.  Both watching and waiting for the doctor.

The men took off their hats.  The one at the end of the bed spoke first.  "Edgar Allan Poe is dead.  Such a sad day for literature."

Stunned, Sam walked up next to the doctor and looked down at Edgar's face.

Sam teared up, wishing that he had paid closer attention.   "Mr. Poe, I really liked your stories."

The doctor pulled the sheet up over Poe's face, then turned to leave.  He paused to pat his forehead with a handkerchief, then walked over to the man in the doorway.  Sam thought he was going to speak to him, but instead he walked right through him and out into the hall.

Sam's eyes got wide.  Before he could move or speak, the man in the doorway grabbed him, holding him tight with one hand over Sam's mouth.

"We've got you now, boy!  Don't bother to struggle or yell.  No one's coming for you."

The other one pulled a white piece of cloth from his pocket and tied it over Sam's mouth, then grabbed his wrists and tied them with rope.

Sam recognized him.  From the great hall of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.  It was Vincent.  Now it became clear. He was being watched, lured here to be kidnapped.

"Well Tinean, the Doctor will be very pleased."  With a tight hold on Sam, Tinean was unprepared for a blow to the shin.  Sam kicked him hard and tried to run.  Unable to untie his hands, Sam staggered down the hall, trying to push the cloth out of his mouth.  Right behind him, Vincent reached out grabbing Sam, but toppled off to one side.

From his belt, Tinean pulled off a whip.  With a single crack, the whip was wrapped around Sam's ankles.  Sam fell to the floor.  Before he could move, Tinean grabbed him.

"You little bastard."  Tinean raised a hand to slap Sam, but Vincent grabbed his wrist.

"No. I won't allow that.  You never strike a child."  Vincent stood up to Tinean and pulled Sam closer, away from Tinean.   "The Doctor's instructions were clear.  Unharmed.  We are to bring the boy back unharmed."

Tinean glared at Vincent, then Sam.   Relaxing a little, Tinean composed himself, recoiled his whip, and straightened his overcoat.

"Very well, but be warned, boy.  Do that again and I'll cut you."   Tinean pulled out a short machete from the holster strapped to his leg.

"Behave," said Vincent, staring at Tinean.  "Fine. Let's be off.  This means we'll have to carry him."

Tinean hoisted the bound and gagged Sam over his left shoulder.  Once again, Sam had found himself being carried.   The last time, Ari had done so while running through the alleys of Whitechapel, and now Sam was being carried off to Dr. Herkeimer.