fell backwards upon the bed, and began to speak, “No vision to-night. No dreams anymore, only nightmares. My life is trapped in a nightmare. Nearly two years now, my nephew gone.”“Dead, you mean.”Jasper paused for a moment, turning his head to the host. Fighting off the drowsiness, he stared at her momentarily, “Yes, dead, I suppose.” Again pausing in thought, recollecting himself, he continued, “Still after this time, the killer has not been punished, and my searches bring no new findings.”“Deary, I’m confused. You mean that they have not found you, yet.”Very alarmed, Jasper burst up into a sitting position. He stared at the host with scared and confused eyes. The trembling eyes gradually glazed over; he blinked violently to regain his vision. “What did you say? You imply that…” momentarily getting lost in his thoughts. He sharpened his glare at the woman, who sat coolly and silently, with an expression of anticipation on her face. He very slowly stuttered, pointing a trembling finger, “You imply that I k-killed my nephew.”Her face remained cold. “You forgot the many times you have shared your dreams with me? You says that you never would let him take Rosebud from you. You says that his death would bring her to you. All those visions were of him dying. That’s what you says to me. Then call me ‘unintelligible’ when you think I don’t get it, ah dearie, I do.”Jasper remained frozen, thinking deeply. He fought the smoke that began pulling strongly on his thought. Squinting his eyes, he strained to remember, “No! No!” He jumped up, and started for the door, but stumbled, falling upon his face. Struggling to regain his footing, he scrambled out the door, and into the dead night. Blood trickled out of his nose, as thunder began to growl in the distance. Staggering along the curb, his arm was grasped ...
