She hurriedly worked
it out with her fingers, beginning to understand. Recognizing the word
`rope', as well as the hand which must have written it, she needed no
further explanation.
"It is your way out," she replied firmly. "Yours. Remember that, both
of you. And as you love me, do as I say. You must leave me behind
." With that she moved swiftly to the window, and wrapping the end of
the twine securely about her left hand, with her right cast the
remaining bundle as hard and as far as she could.
Michael, still at his distance, unsure of success, did not see her.
But Stephen could; and sensing the same urgency that had driven the
Highlander to sudden action, he called to him in a harsh whisper.
"Michael!"
The slender cord had unraveled perhaps half the necessary length to
reach the ground when, catching slightly, it pulled the remaining ball
back against the Tower wall. But the force of impact loosed the snag,
and the weight of the stone within carried it bouncing and unwinding
to the turf below.
Michael, coming forward, still had not seen his mother.
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