The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 71: Meeting the Doctor

 Tinean plopped Sam down on the a black-leather sofa.

"Stay there," commanded Tinean, pointing at him.  "The Doctor will be with you shortly.  And don't even try any incantations.  They won't work in here."  Tinean hissed.

Sam looked up at him.  The overhead chandelier reflected on Tinean's glass eye.  It shimmered in the light like a diamond.  Sam couldn't help but stare at it.  He then noticed the tattoo on the back of his left arm.   A series of letters and symbols ran in a row from his inner elbow down to his wrist.

Tinean helped himself to some wine on a table.  Avoiding the use of a glass, he removed the stopper and drank directly from the decanter.  Wiping his mouth on the nearby curtain, Tinean let out an obnoxious belch.  Sam was grossed out by him.

Sam watched Tinean stagger to the door and slammed the door behind him.

Sam stood up and immediately said the incantation that would take him home.  "Domum me."  Then he said it again, and again.  Nothing happened.

"Guess he was right."  Sam sat back down, feeling the slick upholstery of the sofa.  It sat in front of a wide fireplace. Sam could feel the rolling heat from the blazing fire.

Sam got up and roamed around the room. 

The chairs were in the same leather and had shiny metal legs and arms.  Abstract paintings hung on the walls.  Their human subjects had been twisted and distorted in wild and vivid colors.  The round carpet filled the largest part of the center of the floor.   Pure white marble flooring lined the outskirts of the room.

By the fireplace sat a towering high-back chair, upholstered in deep blue velvet.  At the top, Sam could see a carved face of a scowling man along the top crest.  Its white eyes looked real and glared brightly down at him.  They seemed to follow him as he backed away from the chair.

Nearby, Sam spotted a red painted wooden chest about the size of a toy box.  It had a metal plate on top with the engraved monogram "U.G.H." Sam opened the heavy lid.  Inside was a wrapped present in aged green paper and faded blue bow.  Sam started to reach down to touch it.

"Do not touch that," came a voice from behind him.

Sam let go of the lid and it slammed closed.  Looking around the room, Sam didn't see anyone.

From behind a black velvet curtain, opposite the door where Tinean left, emerged a stately, well-groomed gentleman.   He reminded Sam of a character from an Edward Gorey picture story he had read at the library.

"It is impolite to snoop while in someone else's house."

Sam's bravery hit a new high.  "Yeah, well, it's also impolite to kidnap someone."

Dr. Herkeimer raised his eyebrows and grinned.  "Touché, my dear lad.  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Dr. Herkeimer.   I hope you weren't too roughed up. Tinean can be obnoxious."  His voice was calm, steady, and pronounced.

"I'm fine," said Sam, studying the Doctor.

"That is good to hear."

"Why does that box have "ugh." on the top?"  Sam pointed at the silver plaque on the lid.

Walking to the chest, the Doctor pushed Sam away and ran his hand across the plaque.  "Those are my initials."

"Your initials spell 'ugh'?"

The Doctor responded in angry tone.  "Yes, my initials spell 'ugh.' What of it?"  His face had turned red.

"Nothing," said Sam, stepping back.  "Just asking."  He stared at the Doctor, pushing himself against the arm of the sofa. "Just asking, that's all."

"Please, sit down and let's get to know one another."  The Doctor pointed to the sofa Sam was leaning against.

Dr. Herkeimer sat down in his towering high-back chair.  As Sam moved to sit down on the sofa across from the Doctor, the entire bust seemed to move.   The whole head turned to watch Sam.   Sam was mesmerized.  It appeared to broaden its grin.

"Is that face up there watching me?"

Smugly, Doctor Herkeimer leaned back and folded his hands in his lap.  He grinned, only saying one word.  "Perhaps."

Sam sat down across from the Doctor.  "Why am I..."

"I'll ask the questions," snapped the Doctor.

"You are the one.   The one that idiot woman chose to join their group.  Steers must be desperate for members if she's recruiting young boys."

Sam was angered by the words "that idiot woman" and rose to her defense.  "She is..."  Once again, he was stopped.

"Boy, don't try my patience.   I will state just one last time.  I will ask the questions."

"I wasn't going to ask one," said Sam.

Dr. Herkeimer glared at him, then breathed deeply and relaxed.   Sam didn't know the Doctor that well, only from stories the others had told him, but at least he was holding his temper.

"Your name is Samuel Henry.   You are the son of George and Emily Henry.  Your Father died. You and your Mother moved earlier this year.  Your Mother works at the library.  You have relatives in New York City.  You are eleven.  Steers has selected you to be the keeper of the books."

Sam looked puzzled.  "Keeper?  And how did you know..."  Sam stopped himself in fear of risking an outburst from the Doctor.

"Don't play dumb with me, boy.  The books.   Namvelt's books.  You are the one to keep them.   Why else would you be living with her?   Steers has chosen you to be...  what do they call them?"  The Doctor leaned forward in his chair.  "Ah, the fall guy."

Sam wondered what that meant. He couldn’t leave using the incantation.  He then realized nobody knew where he was. He had to buy time and figure out a method of escape. Hopefully, someone would realize he was missing. Mrs. Steers would alert the others and they would find him.