Part 26 (2/2)

Please let me do this, Barbara. I know you'd do anything to help Louis, so let me do this.'

Barbara sighed. You are a walking miracle, Peverel Othman. Is there nothing you can't do?'

Hardly. I've lived hundreds upon hundreds of lives, and I remember every one of them, so I've learned just about every possible skill a person can.'

Barbara shook her head, smiled. I think you're probably a disgusting rogue, Pev. You could be a liar and a con-man, but if you're telling the truth about this, take the truck with my blessing!'

Keys?' said Othman.

How long're you planning on staying around?' Louis asked, as Peverel Othman drove him back to Low Mede. The night was oppressively warm and the lichened trunks of trees along the lane glowed with a phosph.o.r.escent sickness as the headlights of the Land Rover splashed over them.

I don't know.' Othman replied. I have no plans, no demands from the outside world.'

You seem to have made a lot of friends here very quickly.'

Othman wondered whether he detected suspicion in Louis' voice. I always do,' he answered glibly. Comes from travelling a lot, I suppose.'

They came to a halt outside Low Mede. Well, here we are!' Louis said. He opened the door and slowly lowered himself from the pa.s.senger seat.

Othman could tell the man was in considerable pain. His aura was full of it. Louis,' he said. What would you say if I told you I could heal your body?'

Louis looked back into the vehicle. His face was ashen in the moonlight. What would I say? I think I'd want to know how you could do that.'

Would you like to talk about it?'

Louis laughed, a little uneasily. Are you serious?'

Very. By tomorrow morning, you could be free from pain. Your legs could be strong and agile. That's a promise.'

Louis leaned against the door-frame of the vehicle. And the price? I a.s.sume there is one.'

Othman smiled. Don't worry, I'm not trying to con you. I don't charge. It costs me nothing to do it, so why should I demand payment? I earn more than enough money by other means.'

Then what is your motive?'

Othman shrugged. I don't like to see people in pain. It's unnecessary.'

What would happen if I agreed to let you try?'

I'd come into your house and heal you. It would take a few hours, that's all.'

But what do you do? What do you use?'

Othman deliberated, pulled a quizzical face. A sort of mental energy, I suppose.'

Louis regarded him warily. Some talent.'

Yes, it is. Well?'

Louis considered for a moment, then said, You'd better come in.'

Othman shook his head. Not yet. I'll just take Barbara's truck back to the pub. Then I'll return. Go into your most private room and wait for me there. Don't drink or eat anything. OK?'

Louis hesitated, and then said. All right. Anything's worth a try, I suppose.'

He sounded sceptical, but Othman scented the hope in his words, that dreary, desperate hope. He smiled. I won't be long.'

Louis let himself in and went to find Verity. She was curled on the sofa in the lounge, watching TV, drinking expensive red wine from a cut crystal gla.s.s. Hi, how was the meeting?' she asked perfunctorily.

Fine. Is Daniel in?'

Verity shook her head. No, he left a note. Gone to some night club with Owen Winter. They'll be back late, I expect.'

Right...'

Are you going to bed?' Verity looked at Louis intently, as if she perceived something was troubling him.

Er, no. I'm having a visitor in a short while.'

Oh? Who?'

Chap from the pub, the one who came here on Wednesday with Barney and Barbara.'

Verity frowned. Peverel Othman? What does he want?'

Louis smiled, a little sheepishly. He didn't want to lie to Verity, but neither did he want to confess the truth. We started a conversation at the meeting, which we want to finish. Have a drink. Talk the night away.'

Verity grimaced. An odd choice of companion for you.' Without further remarks, she turned back to watching her film.

Louis said nothing, but retreated from the room. He left the front door ajar. Would Othman ring the bell? Louis went slowly to his study. His limbs were shaking, and not just from pain. Was it possible Othman could really help him? He dared not believe it could be true.

In the study, Louis turned on the desk lamp, which threw a comforting yellow glow around the wood-panelled room. The fire, which had been lit in the early evening, was still faintly glowing. The room was hot, yet Louis felt too lethargic to take the few steps to the long windows and struggle with the stiff latches to let in some air. He sat down in the enormous leather armchair on the left side of the fireplace, where he could watch the door. His eyes were drawn continually to the gla.s.s-fronted case where he kept his guns. They gleamed there as a painful reminder of healthier days, when his body had been fit and active. Often, when he cleaned them, he thought about secreting them away, wrapping them in cloth in a trunk in the attic, but he still liked to handle them and also appreciated the way they looked, hanging there on the wall. Ornamental menace. None were loaded, of course, and the ammunition was kept in a locked desk drawer, but... Louis s.h.i.+vered. Why should he think about that?

Minutes ticked by. Perhaps Othman would not return. Louis did not feel completely at ease with the man; there was something very odd and almost sinister about him. But at the same time, Othman possessed a quality which made people want to spend time in his company. Perhaps it was simple charisma.

At half past ten, fifteen minutes after Louis had entered the study, Othman came into the room. Louis had not heard him enter the house. Perhaps he'd been dozing. Othman was a tall, dark shape against the light from the hall. He closed the door, turned the heavy key in the lock. Louis experienced a tremor of unease. He was at this man's mercy now. Is that necessary?' he said.

Othman padded across the room. I don't want us to be disturbed. It could ruin the process.' He'd already sniffed the air to see whether the son was present, and had been relieved to find he wasn't. Daniel might be a problem in this situation because he could pick up vibrations from what was happening. Othman hadn't checked over the past day or so to see how Owen was progressing with the boy, but he considered it better to have Daniel out of the way at the moment.

Othman stood before Louis, his hands on his hips. Before we begin, there are some things I would like to tell you.'

Louis nodded. Yes?'

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