'Dead-' I croaked and I staggered in the doorway. 'You were dead-'
'I am alive.' And Mr Rune rose to my assistance. 'You're all done in,' he said. 'You need some food inside you. There's a bit of toast left, I think.'
And I flung my arms around him (in a manly kind of way). 'Alive,' I cried. 'Alive! I am so glad.'
'Calm yourself, my friend.' And Mr Rune patted at my head. 'Your hair needs cutting,' he said. 'It is you.' I looked up at him. 'It really is you?'
Mr Rune guided me to a chair and set me down. 'Do you still have it?' he asked. 'Have what?' 'The map,' said Mr Rune. 'The map, of course.' 'I do,' I said. And I rootled about in my pockets. 'And my stout stick also, how thoughtful.'
I found the map and handed it to Hugo Rune. 'But how?' I asked him. 'Tell me how.'
Mr Rune poured coffee for me and I drank it. But he downed that last piece of toast.
'I had to know,' said he, 'the location where the Chronovision is hidden, and it seemed the only way. I put my trust in you and you did not let me down. Bravo.' 'But how?' I asked once more. 'I put my ear to your chest, but you had no heartbeat. You were dead. And whatever evil magic the count was up to would not have worked if you had not been dead.'
'Exactly. It was the only way. The balance of equipoise must always be maintained and cursed is the man who dares to tamper with the scales. I stopped my heart temporarily using a technique taught to me by my very good friend the Dalai Lama, in return for me teaching him how to play darts. Stopping your own heart and putting yourself into a state of suspended animation is a dangerous and painful process and I could not have held out for long. It was well that you acted as promptly as you did, as promptly as I had hoped that you would.' And Mr Rune studied the map.
'Incredible,' I said, as I finished my coffee. 'Simply incredible.'
'Well, I wouldn't credit it,' said Mr Rune, 'if someone told it to me. I'd probably say that stopping your heart was naught but an urban myth.'
'Please do not speak of those,' I said. 'I have had my fill of them.' 'Ah,' said Mr Rune, looking up. 'Your ride back to the hotel. Somewhat upsetting, that, I suppose.' 'You know about that?'
'It took considerable skill for me to conjure up that nail to puncture the tyre of that ethereal Morris.' I shook my head in some wonder.
'And so we have it,' said Mr Rune, tapping at the map with a forefinger that was considerably larger than that of Norris the Morris-driver from Hell. 'The location where the Chronovision is hidden.'
'Yes,' I said. 'And I did take a look before I threatened to throw the map on to the bonfire, just in case I had to.' 'Most professional. And so you know?' 'Where it is hidden? Yes.' 'Now we must acquire it. And fast.' 'Ah,' I said. 'Ah?' said Mr Rune. 'Well, that might not be quite so easy as it sounds.' 'And why might that be?' Hugo Rune asked.
'Well,' I said, 'Firstly because it is hidden somewhere so frightful that few men living would ever dare to go to that place and seek it. And secondly, I am beginning to think, after what you just said regarding the balance of equipoise, that perhaps I was a little hasty when I did not fulfil my side of the bargain offered to me by Norris Styver in his Morris Minor.' 'To whit?' said Mr Rune.
'To whit,' I said, 'that I do not think I can get out of Lewes.'