She had
reached the top of the world. . . .
It was long, long after that she awoke, returning to earth with the
feeling of one revisiting old haunts after half a lifetime. She
was very tired, and her head throbbed painfully, but at the back of
her brain was an urgent sense of something needed, something that
must be done. She raised herself with immense effort,--and met the
eyes of Burke seated by her side.
He was watching her with a grave, unstirring attention that did not
waver for an instant as she moved. It struck her that there was a
strange remoteness about him, almost as if he belonged to another
world. Or was it she--she who had for a space overstepped the
boundary and wandered awhile through the Unknown?
He spoke, and in his voice was a depth that awed her.
"Do you know me?" he said.
She gazed at him, bewildered, wondering. "But of course I know
you! Why do you ask? Are you--changed in any way?"
He made an odd movement, as if the question in her wide eyes
pierced him. He did not answer her in words; only after a moment
he took her hand and pushed up the sleeve as though looking for
something.
She lay passive for a few seconds, watching him. Then suddenly,
blindly, she realized what was the object of his search. She made
a quick, instinctive movement to frustrate him.
His hand tightened instantly upon hers; he pointed to a tiny mark
upon the inside of her arm.
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