When Everything Changes in Thirty Seconds — The Blue Castle

One June evening Valancy and Barney boat around the lake, fish, then walk to Port Lawrence. Her sensible shoes have failed, so she wears foolish patent leather heels with slender tops, liking her ankles despite Barney's teasing. Leaving town, they cross deserted railroad tracks as a through train approaches. Valancy's heel catches in a switch crevice. Barney dashes back, tries to wrench her free, and slashes her lace with a knife as the train thunders round the curve, dragging her clear without her shoe. They sit white and shaking on the station bench. Then Valancy remembers Dr. Trent's warning that excitement could kill her.

She survived the worst thirty seconds of her life without heart failure. Was it possible he made a mistake? Horror follows: if she is not dying, she may have trapped Barney in a marriage he never chose for life. His silence on the walk home, steering through sunset Mistawis without a word, feels like cold resentment. He asks if she is worse for the shock; she wishes she could honestly say yes. He shuts himself in Bluebeard's Chamber pacing. An hour ago she was perfectly happy.

His silence on the walk home and pacing in Bluebeard's Chamber feel like cold resentment. She would give anything to honestly say the shock harmed her heart, but she cannot.