The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 74: Intimidation

After the charade in the hallway, Dr. Herkeimer came back into the room and locked the door.  Turning to glare at Sam, he slipped the key in his vest pocket.   The Doctor made a beeline to Sam, without taking his eyes off him.  Sam had sat down in one of the chairs near the fireplace.

"The time has come for us to talk," said Dr. Herkeimer, adjusting his shirt sleeves at his jacket cuffs.

Sam pushed himself back into the stiff cushion of the chair and pulled his knees up to his chest.  He wrapped his arms around his legs, interlocking his trembling fingers.  His tears subsided.  He looked down at his worn shoes.

Doctor Herkeimer began sauntering around the room, rubbing his hands together.  "I want some information.  And you will give it to me."

Stopping in front of Sam, the Doctor stood at arm's length and silently glared down at him.  Crossing his arms, he squeezed and rubbed his fingers into his upper arms.

"Now!"  Sam jumped at the Doctor's explosive voice.  The Doctor enunciated his words.  "You will tell me what I want to know."   The Doctor brutishly quizzed Sam.  "Where are the books?"

Sam squeezed his hands tightly around his knees.  "I don't know anything about the books.  I've never seen..."

"Liar!"  Dr. Herkeimer's face turned red, his temper raising.   He dug his fingers harder into his upper arms.  "You listen to me, you sniveling brat.  I am becoming impatient!  I will make you talk.  I will make you tell me."

Sam tried to move sideways out of the chair.  All he could think about was running, getting away from this mad man.  The Doctor bent down and placed his hands on the chair's arms, trapping Sam.  His face was within inches of Sam's face.   Sam turned his face away.

"Now listen to me," said the Doctor in a firm yet quiet voice.  "Your mother..."

Before he could finish, Sam shoved Doctor Herkeimer, sending him staggering a few steps backward.  Dr. Herkeimer tumbled over the sofa's arm and landed sideways on its firm leather cushions.

"You leave my Mother alone!"

Sam leapt from the chair and ran towards the curtained windows.  Pulling the drapes back, Sam tugged at window latches, but all were locked.  The Doctor regained his balance.  He walked over to Sam and tried to grab him by the nape of his neck.  Sam was quick and ran to the other side of the sofa, just avoiding another attempt by the Doctor to grab him.

The Doctor glared at Sam.  "You are just like him. The little bastard.  He was also eleven at the time.  I hated him for what he did."

"What are you talking about?"  All Sam knew was that he had to escape, save his Mom, and then get as far away from this madman.

Clenching his fists tightly, Dr. Herkeimer became outraged.  "I wished I could have killed him myself."

Lunging forward over the sofa, the Doctor tried to grab Sam who ran to the other side of the room, hiding himself behind the drapes.  Feeling a force of air, Sam noticed a window was open a crack that he had missed before.   He worked his way towards it.  Pushing open the window as far as he could, he started to crawl out.

Throwing back the drapes, Dr. Herkeimer reached down and grabbed Sam's right leg. Pulling him back into the room, Sam kicked with his free leg, but the Doctor grabbed it and flipped Sam over, pushing him on his back to the marble floor.  Sam slid a little on the slick marble, still trying to get away.

The towering Doctor gained his balance and put right his foot on Sam's chest.  He applied enough pressure to hold Sam down.  "You will never leave this house."  The Doctor snarled down at him.  His eyes full of rage and fury.  His jaw clinched in anger.  "And neither will your Mother."

With the threat to his Mom, Sam reached up the Doctor's pant leg and dug his fingernails into Dr. Herkeimer's leg.  The Doctor squinted in pain, stumbled sideways, then fell to his knees. Sam jumped up and ran towards the open window, but the Doctor grabbed his leg once again.   Sam fell face forward and grunted in pain as his left shoulder hit the window sill.

Dragging Sam back down to the floor, the Doctor rolled him over.  This time, on his knees, Doctor Herkeimer straddled Sam.  Sam flailed his hands and arms in the Doctor's face, slapping him several times.  Dr. Herkeimer grabbed both of Sam's wrists with one hand.  Pulling his arms to one side, he slapped Sam hard across the face.

Letting him go, the Doctor stood up and backed away.  He straightened his jacket.  Sam cried and curled up on his side, covering his face with his hands.  The Doctor hovered over Sam.

"That's it.  Cry.  Cry little baby.  Cry for help.  Cry for the old lady to help you.  Cry for God's help.  Just like he did... but no one will come.  No one.  Ever.  I will have my way." The Doctor locked the open window using a key from his other vest pocket.

Sam lay still as best he could, holding his smarting cheek.  His shoulder throbbed.  His back ached from being pushed down onto the marble floor.

"You will not escape...  You will not leave this place..."  Doctor Herkeimer shook his head while making a sad face.   "No, my fine young lad..."  His last words pierced Sam's ear as he hissed at him.   "If you don't tell me what I want to know, then this will be your tomb."

There was a knock on the door.  The Doctor composed himself.   Pulling the door's key from his vest pocket, he unlocked the door.  It was Fan.

"Yes," said Dr. Herkeimer.  "What is it?"

Fan stepped in.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Sam curled up on the floor.  "I am leaving.  I must return to China to gather some information.  I will return in a few days."

"Fine.  I will send for you when I need you." The Doctor followed Fan out into the hallway, locking the door behind him.

Back in the room, Sam slowly got up.  His body ached all over from being pushed, shoved, and slapped.  One by one, he pulled back the heavy drapes around the room and inspected each of the window latches.   Outside, it was late in the day.  From what he could see, the house was surrounded by gardens and beyond a dense-looking forest.

Sam slumped down near the window farthest away from the entrance.  Staring outside, he began to question Mrs. Steers' motives.  Why had she dragged him into this?   He began to hate her for letting his Mom get caught and brought here.   He cursed Mrs. Steers' name under his breath.