In All of Infinity Read Online Free Page B

and
doughnuts, and especially not for conversation. Oftentimes, even
though he didn’t entirely believe it, he’d been told he was a
wonderful talker.
     
    “Evil unlike anything this world has ever
seen,” the other answered, sliding one hand inside the sleeve of
the other. “She would be pleased to know you would go to such a
great length, but—” she took the other woman’s hand “—nothing you
do will ever bring her back to you. She has ascended to a higher
plane; she is at peace with herself.”
     
    “I don’t remember asking your advice…or your
so-called protection,” he replied assuredly and walked between
them, heading towards the door. “If I did, I must have been out of
my mind.”
     
    “This is our final warning to you, doctor:
do not remove the sign. If you remove the sign, we cannot help you.
The evil will enter your house and affect your world in ways that
are beyond what we can decipher. They will do anything and
everything to take from you what is rightfully yours. They will
tempt you to do wrong, rewrite what you think is right. They will
destroy you first, and by your service they will have the
opportunity to destroy all.”
     
    Emmanuel turned with spiteful words on his
tongue, but realized they were gone. He started staring at the sign
again. He was sure that he could remove it with a hammer, stuff the
holes with putty, and paint the door again. It was simple work,
unlike capturing life.
     
    ***
     
    Emmanuel delved into his work for months,
managing to invent many mechanical devices throughout the first
floor that he put to use. He created small toys and had them
walking, saying certain words, doing certain things. Still, though,
no matter how many functional beings he created, he continued to
look for ways to bring life into them. At the end of the day, when
he lay resting on the sofa, he knew he could do better.
     
    If Esme had seen him, she would feel pity
for him because he was a sight. Emmanuel didn’t bathe except for
washing himself off in the downstairs bathroom sink, and he only
did this when he knew that he smelled horrible. He didn’t shave and
slept close to four hours every night, dreaming of his work the
entire time. As for doing anything recreational, he had given up on
everything, everyone, and lived his life alone. He needed to be
alone.
     
    The weather around the house changed, going
from a windy autumn to a freezing winter. Although the other
residents of York County tried to reach him, especially the friends
he and Esme had been close to, he ignored them and put a sign on
the door saying he didn’t want to be disturbed. The sign was simple
in meaning, but it affected everyone in a negative way because they
remembered how he used to be. He even shut Father Brevard out, but
his wife continued coming by and leaving jarred preserves and
vegetables she got from her garden at his door.
     
    Mrs. Brevard, who spent
her time between the church and the local library, was one (if
not the ) perfect
citizen. She talked several other women she knew into helping her
take care of Emmanuel, from feeding him to making clothes for him.
He did come out and get everything, eventually, and that was why
they continued doing the deed. Although he wasn’t much for the
clothes, he took them in because he didn’t want to hurt their
feelings.
     
    With the tools that he had, and the
experience that he’d acquired, he was able to put the jars into
more use than the women could possibly think. He began molding them
together until they formed into a figure. Although he knew this was
as creative as he got without wanting scientific results, he was
proud of his artwork because he managed to become quite
skilled.
     
    The first time he created a figure, without
bursting the glass, it was in late November. He was standing in the
living room, near the window behind the couch, sitting at his desk
with his materials around him. The room had become something of his
laboratory for the twenty