Returning Without Success

Nancy bit her finger, feeling like she must be going crazy.

But she couldn't refuse Wilbur's request; perhaps she really was insane.

Nancy did not ask Professor Armitage for leave in person, as Wilbur had suggested.

She used a more effective method, which was to have Lizzie pass on her note of leave to Professor Armitage.

By the time Professor Armitage saw the note, Nancy had already driven away.

She set off at noon, and by the time she arrived at Bay State University with Wilbur, it was already close to evening.

On the way, the two barely spoke, and Nancy realized that she was starting to feel a little afraid of Wilbur.

Wilbur left Nancy in the car and went to the library at Bay State University alone.

It was almost an hour later when he returned to the car.

Nancy noticed his hands were empty and asked, "Didn't they lend you the book?"

Wilbur, his face grim, didn't answer Nancy's question, but instead said, "Go to Salem."

Nancy knew the way to Salem; they had just passed a gas station with plenty of fuel.

But she didn't start the car.

"It's getting late," Nancy said.

"It's only a little past seven," Wilbur replied curtly.

"We can still make it back to Arkham."

"Go to Salem," Wilbur said irritably. "It only takes an hour or two to get there."

He took a deep breath, his voice softening slightly. "Go quickly, Nancy, we can get there before nightfall."

Nancy started the car, and she glanced furtively at Wilbur, Wilbur eyebrows were furrowed.

He quickly regained his composure after realizing Nancy was watching him.

"Are you satisfied with the stone I gave you?" Wilbur asked.

Nancy was almost annoyed when she mentioned the stone.

But her final nod was merely out of politeness; she didn't want to belittle the gifts others had given her.

They finally arrived in Salem before 10:00, but by the time they found the Skait Library, it was almost 11:00.

The library is closed.

Wilbur let out a low growl, a sound like a wild beast, which terrified Nancy while also exciting her.

She is experiencing things she has never experienced before.

Nancy looked at Wilbur's face, her fingers trembling slightly.

They found the nearest hotel, but Nancy stopped before entering.

"I barely brought any money," Nancy said, glancing repeatedly at Wilbur, who was dressed in worn-out clothes. "I've already spent some change on gas."

"Just follow me," Wilbur replied nonchalantly.

The hotel owner was a middle-aged man with a large belly and an oily face.

He stared at Nancy, then suddenly gave Wilbur a mocking smile, and told Wilbur that there was only one room left.

"Only the best room is left," the owner emphasized. "Don't worry, it's big enough for two people, it's just a bit more expensive."

The boss was actually using a vulgar tactic.

Many hotels do this: some men bring women to the hotel, and the hotel owner deliberately tells them that there's only one room left, forcing the man and woman to share a room.

Generally speaking, this pleases men. In return, travelers have to pay more for this best room.

Nancy didn't say anything; she was only worried about whether Wilbur was really rich.

But Wilbur's already unhappy face scrunched up completely.

"Go to hell!" Wilbur said to his boss.

But before the boss could change his expression, Wilbur slammed a coin, about the length of a finger, onto the table.

This thing is quite old, its surface is covered in dirt and the patterns on it are strange, but you can still see that it shines with gold under the dirt.

The boss stared at the gold coins, his throat bobbing a few times, his body trembling slightly with greed.

"This is not a universal currency," he said.

"But this is pure gold," Wilbur said, pushing the coin in front of the shopkeeper. "Take it and examine it yourself. Do whatever you want with it. You don't need to give me change."

But now, we need two rooms. I know you have them.

Wilbur, of course, knew nothing of gentlemanly etiquette.

He didn't care where Nancy slept.

He requested two rooms simply because he didn't want anyone, for any reason, to see his mutated body.

The next day, Wilbur left the hotel early.

He returned with a gloomy expression.

His hands hung down, his face was a little swollen, and his old clothes were more torn.

Because of his appearance, a group of young thugs cornered him in an alley.

"You got hit!" Nancy covered her mouth.

"They are dead," Wilbur said.

Nancy thought he was just saying it out of anger, so she asked the shopkeeper for iodine and cotton swabs and did some simple first aid for Wilbur.

"Roll up your sleeves," Nancy said.

Wilbur withdrew his hand in annoyance. "That's fine."

"Roll up your sleeves!" Nancy commanded. "There's blood on your sleeves; your arm must be injured!"

"Damn it!" Wilbur muttered, shoving Nancy away.

His rough actions provoked the ire of several young men nearby, who, who were always polite to ladies, looked at Wilbur with disdain.

Nancy stepped between them and Wilbur, blocking their gazes from falling on Wilbur.

She gave Wilbur the iodine and cotton swabs. "Handle it yourself."

"Heh." Wilbur took it, but didn't move.

"Go back to your room and deal with it yourself," Nancy said.

Wilbur snorted in annoyance at her tone, but ultimately said nothing.

When he came out of the room, Nancy was still waiting for him outside the door.

"Did you call the police?" Nancy asked.

Wilbur shrugged. "I told you, they're all dead. Seven people in total, all of them dead."

"Whatever," Nancy said, still unconvinced. "Boasting won't get you anywhere."

She asked, "They didn't lend you the book."

"The people of Salem aren't as generous as the people of Arkham," Wilbur replied. "Those librarians got so nervous when they heard I wanted to see the Necronomicon that they almost wouldn't let me in."

Nancy asked him about the next location.

Wilbur stared at Nancy.

"What's wrong?" Nancy asked.

"We're going to the Old Kingdom," Wilbur said.

Nancy bit her finger. "But... it's too far away."

Wilbur remained silent, and his silence almost made Nancy impulsively agree to his request.

But Wilbur actually nodded, for the first time he listened to Nancy's opinion. "Alright, let's go back then."

He put down the iodine and cotton swabs he was holding and said, "I'll take you to Sentinel Hill. Trust me, it's very interesting there, you'll be satisfied."

On the way back, Wilbur handed Nancy a gold coin, the kind he used to pay for his room.

"Why are you giving me this?" Nancy asked. "You don't need to pay for the fare."

"This isn't for the fare," Wilbur replied, "It's a small gift, a little gift for you."

"A gold coin?"

"No, it's an ancient coin from a civilization you won't find in any history book. You'll like it; I saw you staring at it when I paid the bill yesterday."

Wilbur was right; Nancy was absolutely fascinated by the ancient coin.

She suddenly realized that the hotel owner would surely melt down the other coin into gold. But she wouldn't do that; she didn't care whether the coin was gold or not.

"I wasn't staring," Nancy protested.