Chapter Thirty
A rude awakening – the ring – breakfast – rats or beavers? – Dr Whittaker’s journal – the mill – unimpressed by aeronautics
Wakefulness came painfully. Charlie’s head hurt so abominably that he almost wished he had fought Heaney. Perhaps Gladys would be looking at him with rather more sympathy and rather less annoyance.
Why was Gladys looking at him from so far away? He seemed rather low to the ground, while she was standing. A little investigation revealed he was lying on some cushions that had been laid on a carpet. And the carpet was in a little room in… an inn? Fresh air and rustic furniture. The country. Fewsham? Hamford?
“Why am I not on the bed?” he asked. “Or at least the sofa.”
“You collapsed where you are,” Gladys replied. “I couldn’t lift you. Best I could ma
