Part 5 (1/2)

Mind if I join you?' he asked, sitting down. The twins looked at him with some surprise and the dog slunk away. He put the drinks down in front of them. I hope you don't mind. I feel like a bit of company and I'm afraid you ' - he wagged a finger at the girl - are the only person I've met around here.'

She laughed without reserve, a reaction he hadn't expected. Hardly met!' she said. Perhaps she felt safer with her brother there. The evening light suited her. How could he have thought her plain?

Othman shrugged and grinned sheepishly. I know, but everyone else in this place is...' He pulled a face.

We call it a pre-graveyard,' Lily said, nodding. I know what you mean.'

You're Lily Winter, right?' So far, he hadn't yet looked at the boy.

She didn't seem too pleased he'd found that much out about her, perhaps because there were other things to discover, which she feared he'd also picked up. And you are...?' she asked, a little coldly.

He told her.

Are you foreign?' she asked. No, of course not. Are you a Gypsy, then, or something? What an unusual name.'

He shrugged again, offering no further explanation.

This is my brother, Owen,' she said, gesturing to her companion, or did you know that too?'

Othman shook his head. No. Pleased to meet you.' He met the boy's eyes for the first time, expecting territorial surliness, and found, to his relief, he was merely looking at Lily's eyes again. Uncanny: a mixture of caution, amus.e.m.e.nt, and a certain cynical awareness of his purpose. He realised, half unpleasantly, that these two somehow knew him. Was this a disadvantage or not? The boy was more presentable than he'd first thought as well. How fortunate to find these creatures here; their acquaintance might provide more experience than he could have hoped for.

He lurked outside the post office for me,' Lily said to her brother, flapping a hand at Othman. She did not deceive him. She and Owen had undoubtedly discussed the matter already.

Owen smiled.

I do not deny it,' said Othman. As a contrast to the hags in there, you were like a G.o.ddess!'

The twins exchanged a secret glance, but it did not altogether exclude him. They were willing to play, he felt. He experienced a delirious moment of weakness, as if the performance was not his, but theirs. It was a strange and unfamiliar sensation, but not unpleasant.

Are you on holiday?' Lily asked him, drinking from the gla.s.s he had given her, but keeping it low to the table. Her eyes smiled at him over its rim.

A travelling holiday,' he said. The twins both made noises of interest, so he began to relate some stories about his experiences, a few of which were fabrications and distinctly less interesting than the truth.

So, are you lost now?' asked the boy. This is nowhere. How did you end up here?'

I never know how I end up anywhere. I just keep moving. It's the best way, I find. Sometimes, I discover wonderful things. I don't look for them, I just make myself receptive. How did you end up here?'

We live here,' Lily said.

You don't seem typical of the natives.'

She made a careless gesture. Well...'

Our mother was an outsider. We inherited the house,' Owen said.

It was perhaps rather an odd way to put it, but at least implied they lived alone and might have s.p.a.cious accommodation. The traveller had the distinct impression that Owen was thinking the words: wasn't that what you wanted to know?' but was aware he might be projecting his own desires onto these people, reading more into their behaviour than was actually there.

So, what is there to see around here?' he asked, taking a drink.

Nothing!' the twins said, in unison. They laughed.

There is always something,' Othman said, anywhere. Always something.'

Don't count on it,' Lily said. What sort of thing are you looking for?'

He shrugged. Just places of interest.'

Monuments, ruins, that sort of thing?'

Yes, that sort of thing. I like history.'

Oh, there's plenty of that here,' Lily said. History. No present though, and certainly no future. Nothing changes.'

Sounds idyllic.'

Depends on what you like, I suppose,' she said. Living here gets very boring.'

If you don't like it, why stay?' he asked. Couldn't you sell your house?'

We could,' Owen said, but if we went to a bigger town, we'd have to work. Our income is enough for Lil'moor. We don't want to work for anyone.'

I can't say I blame you,' Othman said. It was a sentiment he shared.

You're staying here, then?' Lily asked.

For the time being. I acted on your recommendation.'

It was hardly that!' she said. What do you think of the Eagers?'

I don't think Mister likes me. She seems all right.'

Lily nodded. They've only been here a year or so. Now, they think they own the place!'

They do a lot,' Owen said, which implied criticism rather than praise.

She once wanted to start up some kind of church business,' Lily said. Must have got the idea from some sad, women's novel about country life. Fetes and things, I ask you! It was absurd. Lil'moor doesn't even have a vicar of its own. A man comes out from Patterham now and again, that's all. Hardly anyone ever goes to church any more. It's so old-fas.h.i.+oned!'

I didn't see a church,' Othman said.

Oh, it's a way out of the village,' Lily told him. Almost as if Lil'moor was bigger at one time, and has just shrunk away from it. You'd like it; it's very old.'

We could show it to you,' Owen said.

Lily looked at him sharply and then smiled. Yes, we could. Do you want us to?'

It's very kind of you.'

It's just something to do!' she said, and stood up. Well, come on, then.'

What? Now?' Othman was taken aback.