Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

Strange incidents abounded in the Raz Cathedral and the Rothlich family, and they all came from the same purpose and the same motive.William Stolitz was the only possible perpetrator.All of this was done by clever tricks, it is impossible...to take away the Eucharistic Bread and the bride's wreath, it must not be a trick used by a magician!Then it occurred to me that the German might have inherited from his father some scientific recipe, some secret invention that made him invisible... as some rays of light pass through opaque objects, making them translucent... I thought Where did it go... I can't tell anyone about these baseless speculations.

We took Mira home, unconscious, to her room and to her bed.Despite all attempts to save her, she remained unconscious. She was lying on the bed, lifeless and unconscious!Doctors were also helpless.But after all, she still has a faint breath and is still alive.She has endured so much pain, the flame of life has not been extinguished, and the last cruel blow has not taken her life. It is a miracle! Several colleagues of the doctor came after hearing the news.They gathered around Mira's hospital bed and saw her lying on the bed, unconscious, her eyelids closed, her face pale, her heart beating irregularly, her chest heaving and falling, her breathing was weak, and she was only one breath left, which might disappear at any time !

Mark took her hand, called her name, begged her to wake up, and he wept: "Mira... Dear Meera..." She couldn't hear anything...she didn't open her eyes. Mrs. Rothlich's voice was choked up, and she kept crying: "Mira...my child...my daughter...I am here...by your side...your mother..." She still didn't answer. The doctors have tried various panacea, and it seems that she is gradually waking up... Yes, a few indistinct words came out of her lips, and no one could understand what they meant... Her fingers moved in Mark's hand... Her eyes were slightly opened... But, under the half-open eyelids How sluggish is the look in his eyes!There is no intelligence in the eyes!

Mark understood too well, he fell to the ground and let out a painful cry: "She's crazy...she's crazy!..." I had no choice but to rush forward, and Captain Haralan helped him up, and I couldn't help worrying whether he could withstand the blow and whether he would lose his mind! We dragged him to another room, and the doctors rushed to take emergency measures, otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous! How will this tragedy end?With time, is there hope for Meera to regain her sanity and the doctors to cure her of her dazed demeanor, her delirium only temporary?

Captain Haralan, when he was alone with me, said to me: "Things must come to an end!" Done!What is he trying to say?What is he announcing?Undoubtedly, William Storitz has sneaked back to Raz, he has desecrated the sacred wedding ceremony, he is the chief culprit of this tragedy! ...But how to find his trace, how to catch that bastard, that invisible, floating guy? What should the city people think now?Will they accept a scientific explanation?This is not France. In France, these strange things would all be ridiculed in the newspapers and magazines, and the pubs in Montreal would sing songs of sarcasm.But in this country, everything is different.I have pointed out to you that the Magyars are superstitious by nature.Their belief in anecdotes is deeply ingrained in the ignorant classes, and they can be attributed to some physical and chemical inventions by educated people.But if science can't explain it, then it can only be the work of the devil.William Stolitz would be seen as the devil incarnate.

In fact, Governor Raz ordered the expulsion of the German so daring that it could no longer be concealed.The secrets we have kept to ourselves have become widely known after the incident at St. Michael's Church. The old story was brought up again in the newspaper.They connected what had happened at the Rothlich house with the strange happenings in the church.The city that had been calm for a long time has set off a new panic.The public finally learned of the connection of these events.In every house, in every household, the mention of William Stolitz's name set off a chain of memories.The monster lived in the house on the Avenue de Kaili, wandering like a ghost in the silent high walls and closed windows.

As soon as the news was publicized by the newspapers, the crowd, driven by an irresistible force, involuntarily flocked to Dai Kaili Street, which is not surprising. Ten days ago, people crowded the Spremberg cemetery in the same way.But there, the scholar's fellow-citizens always expect some miracle to happen, without any hostility.But in Raz, on the contrary, there is a fierce hatred of the scumbags in people's hearts.The desire for vengeance is on the verge. Don't forget, gentlemen, what an atmosphere of terror the turmoil in the church has created in this pious religious city!

The most disgusting acts of the Holy Spirit take place right in front of public eyes.During Mass, at the moment of the Eucharist, the Eucharist flew out of the hands of the Priest, passed through the nave, was torn to pieces, and was thrown on the pulpit! Is the church, a holy place where consecrations take place, deaf to the prayers of faithful men and women? It is worrying that this feverish excitement will continue to rise.Most people are reluctant to accept the only plausible explanation: the invention of invisibility. The state of the city worries the Governor.He ordered the Chief of Police to take all necessary measures if circumstances so compelled him to do so.It is necessary to respond to all changes with the same and prevent excessive panic, otherwise, the serious consequences will be unimaginable.In addition, as soon as the name of William Stolitz got out, the police sent to protect the house in Dai Kaili Street.Hundreds of workers and peasants gathered in front of the house to prevent the fanatical people from rushing into the house and looting their property.

But if a man has the power of invisibility (which I find beyond doubt), if the fairy-tale Regis' ring in the palace of Condor comes true, the public is never safe!Not to mention personal safety!William Stolitz has returned to Raz, and no one has seen him!No one can be sure whether he is still in the city!He is the only one who has mastered this invention of his father. Did his servant Hylmen also participate in this matter?Is there anyone else using this invisibility technique for him to drive?As long as they are happy, they can enter the citizens' homes at any time as they like, and spy on the privacy of others. Who can stop him?Will the private life of the family be completely destroyed? ...People are locked at home, but who can guarantee that there are no others?Who can guarantee that they will not be eavesdropped or spied on?Unless you are in deep darkness.Outside the house, on the street, you are always afraid of being followed, he is staring at you, but you can't see him, he can do whatever he wants! ... All kinds of violations are so easy, how can you guard against him?Does not this constitute a perpetual disturbance to social life, which is about to be destroyed?

The newspapers talked again about the episode that had happened in the Gaoloumen market, where Captain Haralan and I both met.The farmer claimed that he had been knocked to the ground violently by a man who did not see him.Is that person kidding himself?Couldn't it have been William Stolitz or Hellman or someone who had hit him?Everyone is uneasy in their hearts, afraid that such an event will happen to them?Doesn't this danger increase with every step? The abnormal phenomenon encountered in the past is also vivid: the marriage notice of the city government was torn off.During the search of Storitz's house, footsteps were heard in the room, and the small glass bottle on the shelf unexpectedly fell to the floor and broke!

Yes, William Stolitz was in the room at the time, and Hellman probably was.After the engagement party, they didn't leave Raz as we expected.In this way, the soapy water for washing in the bedroom and the fire burning in the kitchen stove, everything seems reasonable.good!The master and servant followed us through the courtyard, the garden, the room... We found the bridal wreath he hid on the platform, but it was because the sudden search made William Storitz panicked and it was too late to take it away and hide it! Then the truth of my journey by boat along the Danube from Pest to Raz became clear.The passenger, I thought he landed in Vukovar, but in fact he was on board the whole time, it's just that he couldn't see him! ... Obviously, he can use this invisibility technique at any time. He can become invisible and visible as he wishes... Just like a fairy in a fairyland, all he needs is a touch of his magic wand.But this invisibility is not magic tricks, sorcery, visions, or spells uttered by wizards.But although he can hide the body, hide the clothes, he cannot hide the objects he holds in his hands, because we have seen the bouquets torn, the wreaths stolen, the communion wafers broken and thrown under the altar .Obviously, William Storitz has the formula of this drug, and it will be effective after he drinks it... But where is the potion?It must be the liquid in the glass bottle, as soon as it overflows, it evaporates immediately!But how to formulate it, which is the point of the question, we don't know and probably never will! Besides, although William Stolitz's body has disappeared, is it impossible to seize it?If it can escape people's sight, I don't think it can escape touch!His physical shell is like that of all human bodies, but consists of three dimensions: length, width, and height.He was always flesh and blood.It is possible to hide the body, but it is impossible to touch it!Ghosts can be erratic and unpredictable, but it is not ghosts that deal with us! I thought there was always the possibility of grabbing his arms, wrapping around his legs, grabbing his head.Even if everyone can't see him, this possibility always exists.Even if everyone can't see him, at least they can touch him... No matter how powerful he is, he can't penetrate the thick walls of the prison! This is only an acceptable reasoning, anyone can think so, but the situation is not optimistic, and the safety of citizens is threatened.People are in constant panic.No one feels safe, day or night, inside or outside the house.There are slight noises in the house: the occasional creaking of the floor, the rustling of the shutters being blown by the wind, the groaning of the weather beacon on the roof, the buzzing of flying insects in the ear, and the whistling of the wind coming in through the cracks in the doors and windows, everything is unsettling. Frightened and full of doubts.The slightest movement in the house, whether sitting at a table, chatting in the evening, sleeping at night (if sleep is safe at all), disturbs the mind as to whether an intruder has entered it, William Stolitz Or whether others are spying on your actions, eavesdropping on your conversations, or even spying on the most intimate part of family life. That guy might leave Raz and go back to Spremberg.But who knows whether he will dedicate this secret to his motherland, so that the Germans will master superhuman abilities, and can listen to everything and spy on everything.How can there be any secrets or security in embassies, justice ministries, and parliaments of various countries! Also, on second thought (as do the Doctor, Capt. Haralam, and the Governor, Police Commissioner), can one imagine William Storitz stopping his dastardly sabotage?The city government's wedding was held smoothly only because he hadn't returned to Laz and it was too late to stop it.He could turn upside down the wedding celebration in the church; besides, if Mira regained her senses, would he continue to obstruct it?Has his bitter hatred for the Rotelichs dissipated?Has his desire for revenge been satisfied?How could one forget the vicious threat that echoed through the church... "Catastrophe shall befall the newlyweds... Calamity shall befall!" No!He wasn't joking.It's chilling to think of the actions he took to carry out his plan of revenge! In fact, even if Rothlich's house is guarded day and night, can this keep him out?Once he's in, can't he do whatever he wants: hide in a corner, break into Mark's or Mira's room... Will he be merciful? Therefore, both those who look at the matter with a scientific attitude and those who are deeply fooled by superstitious ideas will be disturbed to sleep and eat.After all, can this difficult situation be improved? ...I don't see a glimmer of hope.Even if Mark and Mira leave Raz, it will not help.Couldn't William Stolitz follow them with impunity.What's more, Mira's condition did not allow her to leave Raz. There is no doubt that he mingled among the good people, obstinately offending and intimidating them, and yet escaped the punishment of the law. That very night, in the district of the city hall (visible from Listerplatz and the Tallgate market), the windows atop the alarm clock tower were ablaze.The torches went up and down, flickering, as if an arsonist wanted to burn down the town hall. The police chief led the police, rushed out of the headquarters, and quickly climbed to the top of the alarm tower. The fire had long since disappeared without a trace, and as Mr. Staplek had expected, no one was found.Extinguished torches lay on the floor, still smelling of burning; sparks laden with resin sprang to the roof; and it was safe to say that any fire hazard had been eliminated. Nobody again! ... The arsonist (referring to William Stolitz) may have escaped in peace, or hid in a corner of the clock tower, out of sight and out of reach. An angry crowd gathered in front of the city hall, shouting vengeance: Execute the Germans!Kill the Germans!William Stolitz, hiding aside, just smiled contemptuously at this. The next morning, the criminals launched a new challenge to the panic-stricken city. Just after half-past ten, a ghostly chime flew from the church tower, like a gloomy death knell, like a terrible alarm. Returning, it is impossible for a single person to shake the bells of the cathedral.William Stolitz must have had a few helpers, at least the servant Hylmen was indispensable. The townspeople rushed to the Place Saint-Michel, and some even came from the edge of the city, frightened by the terrifying alarm bells. This time, Mr. Staplek and his men sprang into action again, and rushed to the north clock tower, quickly climbed the stairs, and came to the bracket of the alarm bell. sunshine. They scoured the floor and the passages above and found nothing...nobody!Still no one! ... When the police rushed into the support, the wall clock had stopped swinging, and there was silence everywhere, and the invisible bell ringer had also fled.