Chapter 9 Episode 1 | The Machine God | The Drifting Isle Chronicles
September 23rd
The young Chorister serving as Melody Hall's gatekeeper was apologetic but firm: "The Choirmaster cannot see you, nay, he will not see you."
"But why not?" said Adewole. "Has a bad report of my character come to him? If so, I wish to address it with him, not through third parties."
"Nay, nay, you have the wrong of it, sir. Choirmaster Chandler turns away all from Dunalow."
"Why? What has happened?"
The baby-faced girl frowned. "Have your own folk not told you? Summon from Dunalow stole a Duet, sir--Poole, the creature. That 'un's the prince of all lies," she muttered.
Adewole must have missed some crucial events while buried in books. "But no one can leave the island without an autogyro, and there are few places to hide here. Surely he has been caught."
"He has not, else your Major hides him, the false deludin' man. And here I am, made a fool, Duet and heart stole together!" Color mounted high on her cheeks, and her eyes were puffy. "Now go along, sir. The Osters speak well of you, but Choirmaster says no one from Dunalow in the Hall ever again, and that's fine by me."
