Chapter 9 : House of Lights
Patrick and Marie walked all day. Marie told him about her life. Her family had come to Ireland many years ago. Now they were all dead. She also claimed to have a grandmother who knew Pharoah, an Egyptian king. Patrick did not know much about Egypt and he did not want to argue with her.
It was getting dark. Patrick was getting hungry. He asked her about the place which she claimed had something to eat. Marie told him that it was not far. Patrick had to keep quiet and do exactly as she told him when they got there.
Patrick was very happy to have Marie for company. He no longer felt alone in the world. Marie was full of life and had a wonderful smile. Her teeth were like pearls. She also had the biggest, dark eyes he had ever seen. She was so different from the tired and hungry people of Skullgoraph.
They reached a small forest. Inside were a lot of tall, thin and very hungry people. Marie was smart and alert. She picked up a thick piece of wood and asked Patrick to do the same. She told Patrick they must protect themselves from starving people who sometimes behaved like cannibals.
Patrick held on tightly to his stick. Patrick was uneasy at the thought of people being cannibals and eating each other. He was very relieved to reach the end of the forest and were once again out in the open.
They continued to walk for a few more miles. They came to a high stone wall which ran alongside the road. They reached an 'impressive iron gate.' It was the mansion of a rich English Lord. This enormous mansion had hundreds of windows and it was brightly lighted.
A 'glittering coach' pulled by six horses stopped at the gate. Two servants jumped off the back of the coach and opened the gate so the coach could pass through. Marie grabbed Patrick's hand and they walked along the wall. They stopped at a spot where a small tree was growing.
Marie surprised Patrick by climbing up the three and pulling herself up onto the top of the wall quickly. Patrick climbed up in the same way. It was a moonlit night. Patrick could see that the house was surrounded by a large park. It was full of flower beds, rows of bushes and beautiful old trees.
Patrick could hear strange, beautiful music coming from the house and it fascinated him. Suddenly, Marie jumped from the wall into the park. She asked Patrick to follow her to find their dinner. She did not wait for his answer. She went straight to the house.
Patrick was stunned. He could not let Marie go off on her own. She might need his help. He also jumped into the park and quickly followed Marie towards the house of lights.
No comments:
Post a Comment