and guided by a man’s firm grip. He fought ferociously in his head, but his body had no response. Then he was thrown him into a cart, which suddenly lurched into motion. With squinted eyes he tried to make out the driver. All he comprehended were two dark blobs, one considerably larger than the other. The world appeared black, the rough roads rocked him about in the cart, until finally his dreadfully heavy eyelids overpowered him and he fell into a sleep.-Above, and Below, the Postern Stairs-A heavy thunder rolled in the skies above Cloisterham. The stale night gained an eerie glow as the clouds began to drain. Periodic flashes ignited the air with an eerie glow. Through the foggy window Neville, in Datchery’s faade, stared up at the incoming storm. During one of the brief, glowing flashes, he saw a figure ascending the postern stairs. A following flash revealed the individual to be none other than Mr. Grewgious. Checking his wristwatch, Neville saw that Grewgious had arrived nearly half an hour early. Thinking little of this, compared to the excitement yet to come, he returned to watching the storm. After a short while he saw another figure ascend the postern stairs. Knowing this to be Crisparkle, he crossed the street and also climbed the postern stairs.On the other side of town, Jasper awoke from his opium slumber by hitting the ground. Regaining consciousness, he recognized the sound of a cart clattering off in the near distance. Standing, he found that his vision had improved but his senses and thought remained clouded. As he began stumbling home, he was forced to stop periodically and recollect himself. He became aware of the cracking thunder that grew louder with each strike. Understanding the impending storm, he quickened his pace. The entire time, the words of the haggard woman circled in his head, her accusation stabbed at his heart, and his mind scrambled to make sense of it all. Finally reaching the postern stai...
