Beloved of Science

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

Burton scratched the stubble on his jaw. "Yes. Well." He wanted to be getting back to his meal so he could go back to work. "I think that is all." He thought a moment. "Oh, I may be going out for a walk today. Make sure my rain clothes are ready for me in an hour," he added. "You are dismissed."

[animerider223]

"Yes." Emma turned and left, opening the door to find Ms. Weatherbee and the two girls with their ears pressed to it. They gave shocked looks, like little kids just being caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and went back to whatever it was they had been doing before. "I have to retrieve Mr. DeTambles rain gear is ready for a walk." She told Ms. Weatherbee, although she figured she already knew that. Not being needed in the kitchen at the moment Emma left, finding the solitude of one of the halls. Emma stopped, pressing her hands to her hot face. Maybe taking this job was a mistake. The pay might be better, but... No, it's just the first day she told herself. She found her way to his bedchamber, finding a jacket worthy of rain and a hat to keep the moisture from his eyes. She folded the jacket neatly, placing the hat ontop of it, then boots below on the floor. Done with that she returned to the kitchen, finding it easy to find her way back.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

After Burton finished his meal, carefully cleaned his face with his napkin, and stood and exited. He continued across the foyer and up the stairs to his study. Mumbling, he rummaged through his desk drawers and gathered some notes. He also grabbed a small notebook and a nub of pencil, which he stuck in a pocket inside his coat. Then he hurried to his bedroom and found his outdoor clothes. Normally, Mr. Harpshire or someone would have stayed to help him into his coat, he thought, slipping it on himself. It bugged him when his normal routine was broken. But he would forgive her for it, she still had time to learn. He pulled on his nearly knee-high boots, picked up his hat and trotted downstairs. He had to hurry outside while the conditions were ideal.

Mr. Harpshire was waiting for him at the door with a walking cane and umbrella. "I would not go out at this time if I were you, Sir," he advised. "The storm is nearing."

"It isn't raining yet," Burton said.

"It will. And the lightning strikes close," his butler replied.

"Good." He took his cane and left.

It was a short while before Mr. Harpshire realized that Burton had forgotten his umbrella.

[animerider223]

Emma was given the job of washing the dishes. She had to fetch a pail of sudsy water, barely warmed up by the fire. The others left, one of the girls, Lizzy, would come and go. Rain began to pelt the window, a noise Emma loved. It was like it's own symphony. Every instrument creating a sad but beautiful melody. She carefully set down the plate she had finished drying, going up to the window. There was a gorgeous view, over looking the valley, trees painting a picture of browns and greys. She noticed a figure standing near the tree line, it was hard to make out in the dark gloom. Thunder cracked directly overhead, making her jump. What crazy person would be outside in this weather, she wondered.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

Mr. Harpshire poked his head into the room. He looked around and found Emma. "Ah, Miss Crick," he said. "The Master has forgotten his umbrella and I was wondering if someone might take it out to him shortly. I have other business to attend to at the moment. Would you be so kind?"

[animerider223]

"Oh, sure." She dried her hands on the towel and took the umbrella from the butler. She quickly went to her room and grabbed her coat and her heavier boots. She had no hat, but she could use the umbrella, then dash in... She decided that would be good enough. She went back to the kitchen, guessing that the person she saw outside would be no one else but Mr. DeTamble. She went through the back door, opening the umbrella before she stepped outside. A big gust of wind blew so hard that she nearly dropped the umbrella. Struggling she held tight, hoping it wouldn't break. The rain was hitting pretty hard, stining her cheeks before she covered her head with the umbrella. Walking was difficult thanks to the harsh wind and umbrella. She was maybe 10 feet away from Mr. DeTamble when lighting cracked, illuminating the world with a ghastly white glow. Emma nearly had a heart attack, fearing that God was going to stike her down. She had done nothing that she could think off, racking her mind for any recent sins. Nothing horrible she decided. She pressed on. "You forgot your umbrella, and the butler asked me to bring it to you." She yelled over the wind. "Might I ask why you are out here in such weather?" she held out his umbrella.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Oh...Just watching." Burton took the umbrella from her. "Thank you, I suppose," he said, then paused and watched the wind and rain whip her face, pulling stray hairs out from under her bonnet. He would have given it back to her to use, if not for the reason why he didn't want it himself. Closing the umbrella and lowering it to his side, he explained, "I daresay this thing could be a proper lightning rod, however. It's best without it. Mr. Harpshire most probably wasn't aware."
A rumble of thunder resounded, quickly followed by a flash of lightning. "The storm is very close, nearly straight above us," Burton noted. He turned to her. "Tell me, if one is standing in a field below an electrical storm, does one take shelter under a tree or remain in the open? Are not both options potentially lethal?" he asked.

[animerider223]

"Why shouldn't a person take shelter in a house, where it is safe." she answered. She looked out up at the landscape of the sky. It was very beautiful, full of violence and energy. Maybe she should draw this she decided. Whenever she had the time. Grays, with blueish tints, green here, silvery white there. She closed her eyes, trying to imprint the image in her mind.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"If one wishes to remove oneself from the excitement," he said. He watched the clouds above him some more, then turned and studied the house. "I suppose it is safest to make oneself a smaller target." Burton sat down in the spongy grass, crossed his legs and lay his cane across his lap. He pulled the small notebook and pencil from under his coat. Switching his gaze from the house to his paper, he scribbled some words on it. Rod on roof- tallest spire, east wing? Redirect electricity to basement? He mumbled to himself, momentarily forgetting that he had company.

[animerider223]

She looked down, noticing he was writing something. How could he write in such driving wind and rain? "What is that?" She asked, bending over to see.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Oh-" Burton angled his book slightly away so she couldn't read it. "It's just notes. Observances...I'm a scientist," he told her.

[animerider223]

"Oh." She wondered what it was that he was studying. I'd better return, she realized, noticing how soaked she had become. "I must return to my duties." She half curtsied, heading back to the house.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Mm," he murmured in reply, bent over his book again.
Rat
Rabbit- Bigger, better observable
Manner of death? Organs undamaged, how?
Drowning, hypothermia- Conditions replicated.
Electrodes to brain? heart

Experiment conducted on roof? Protection, how?


Things were coming together. He could begin the real work soon, he thought. He shivered and flipped up his collar.

[animerider223]

When Emma got back into the shelter of the house she was soaked thoroughly. She hung her jacket on some hooks supplied, then, trying not to make a watery mess, made her way to her room. Once inside she pealed off her wet clothes, chaning into dry ones. Luckily they supplied her with two maid outfits. She let her hair down, squeazing the water out of it. She braided it, pulling it back into a neat bun at the base of her neck. Mr. DeTamble must be a dedicated scientist to brave rain and lighting. She looked at her reflection, finding it satisfactory. She returned to the kitchen but found that some one had done her job while she had been out.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

After recording what he needed, Burton jogged back to the manor, still wary of electrocution, and entered. His hair hung in clumps, turned nearly black in its wetness. It stuck to his forehead and dripped down his face. Mr. Harpshire met him at the door and helped him out of his soaked coat and hat. "Enjoy yourself, Sir?" he asked.

"Very productive," Burton replied, stepping out of his boots.

"Good to hear." Mr. Harpshire handed him the towel he had ready, which Burton scrubbed his hair with as he went up the stairs.

He remembered something. "I think I forgot the umbrella outside," he called down.

Mr. Harpshire shook his head and attempted to squeeze some water from the younger man's hat.