Part 16 (2/2)

*Yes, of course.'

*It worries you that much? Not having a phone?'

*Yes.' She forced herself to smile.

*You're scared, out there on your own, aren't you?' His voice was very soft.

*No. Not scared.' She took a deep breath. *But I am inconvenienced. I need the phone for my work. I need to speak to my editor; and I need it for research.'

*Busy lady.' He put down the sketchpad and stood up slowly. *And of course you want to phone the man in America. Well, I'm sure it will be mended soon. The wiring is old. They are always having trouble with phones round here. Next year, I gather, our exchange will be updated to the s.p.a.ce age. Heaven knows what will happen then. If they keep the same old telegraph posts and fraying wires it will still go off if it rains.' He paused, eyeing her thoughtfully. *So, how is your book progressing?'

*Do you really want to know?'

*I would not waste time asking unless I wanted to know.' He shaded in part of his drawing, the strokes of his pencil sure and firm.

*Then thank you. The book is going well.'

*Good.' He glanced up. *Kate. You saw Allie, yesterday. You know the state she was in. Please use your influence to dissuade her from going on with this archaeological plan of hers. It's upsetting her too much. She's having nightmares a all kinds of horrors. She's imagining G.o.d-knows-what monsters climbing out of the grave. You must see how bad it is for her. It's like some awful horror movie.'

Thoughtfully Kate moved round the desk and took Roger's chair. She leaned forward, her chin on her elbows. *It's not knowing what's there that is worrying her, Greg. If you cover it up and bulldoze it all into the sea the effect will be the same. It, whatever ”it” is, will still be there because it's inside her head. It would be much better to get some professionals in to look at it. They may say ”Look this is all nonsense. This is no more than a spoil pit. There was no grave here,” or they may say, ”Yes, this was a grave, an Iron Age cremation perhaps. Look. It's all gone. There's nothing left except a few shards and some metalwork”. Her worst fears would be laid to rest. And I am sure they would enlist her help. Help her with her project. Encourage her. Talk about it. That's the best course of action, I really do believe it. The worst thing you could do is pretend that there is nothing there.'

*Quite the psychologist, aren't we.'

She refused to let herself be roused by his deliberately mocking tone. *No. I think it's common sense.' She stood up. *Patrick said there would be some coffee in the kitchen. Are you coming through to get some?'

He shook his head, not raising his eyes from his sketchpad.

*Then, if you'll excuse me, I think I will. It was a long walk through the woods and I'm very chilled a '

*Kate.' He had put down his pad. *Tell me something. Do you think it's all her imagination?'

She held his gaze for a full half-minute. *Not completely. No.'

*That's a little ambiguous, if I may say so. Do I gather you still suspect me?'

*There is a particularly irritating phrase which is in this case I think suitable. If the cap fits.'

*Obviously you think it does.'

Walking towards the door she shrugged. *I find it hard to make up my mind, Greg. Put it this way. If it isn't you, then I think that maybe we should all be worrying with Allie.'

*Let me show you something before you go and get your coffee.' Greg stood up. He went across to the desk and rummaged in the bottom drawer under a pile of notebooks of his father's. Bringing out a photograph wallet he laid it on the desk. *I had your pictures developed at Boots.'

She glanced up at his face then she felt in the pocket of her jeans for her spectacles. Reaching for the wallet she flipped it open and pulled the photos out. The room was silent as she studied them. When she looked up at him again her face was even whiter than before. *You could have faked these.'

*Oh come on. I would hardly bother to go that far.'

*Have you shown them to Allie?'

*Obviously not.'

She looked down at them again. They had come out well in spite of the strange light. Every grain of sand was visible, every line of strata, every trail of weed and every sh.e.l.l. In three of them there was, clearly visible, something else, something which she had not seen when she took the pictures.

*What do you think it is?'

Greg was leaning over the desk beside her. He pointed to one of the pictures. *It looks like something spinning: a dust devil; a whirlwind perhaps. What did it look like when you took the pictures?'

She shook her head mutely. *I didn't see it. I didn't see anything odd at all.' She gave an involuntary s.h.i.+ver. *The light wasn't very good. To be honest I didn't think they would come out.' His head was very near hers as they leaned towards the desk. She was surprised to feel a strange tingle of something like excitement as his shoulder brushed hers. Cross with herself, she moved away sharply. Taking one of the photos she carried it to the lamp where he had been sitting. The entire periphery of the photo was clear and fully in focus but about one third of the way down, slightly to the left of centre was a strange, swirling, bright ma.s.s. *Do you think my camera was letting in the light somehow?' she said slowly. She held the photo closer to the lamp.

*I don't think so. The whole picture would have been spoiled. If you look at the edges of that thing you can see everything completely clearly. Here. Try this.' He picked up a magnifying gla.s.s which had been lying on the desk. *You see, the thing, whatever it is, is clearly superimposed on the background. It was in front of it, blocking it off.'

Taking the gla.s.s from him she squinted through it. *What is your theory?'

*I think it's an energy field.'

*And where do you think the energy is coming from?' Her question was guarded.

*The way I see it, there are only three possibilities. The first is a human source. You.' He glanced up at her. *Could you have been projecting some kind of force field? Repressed anger, perhaps? Indignation? Frustration?' He grinned. *I should imagine you've been feeling all three since you arrived at the cottage.'

*Very probably,' she retorted tartly. *But not in sufficient quant.i.ties I think, to create a whirlwind.' He was standing very close to her again, staring down at the picture in her hand. This time she did not move away. *What are your other two suggestions?' she asked.

*That it was just that, a whirlwind, and somehow you missed seeing it. Or the energy came from the earth.'

*The former is out of the question.' She hoped he hadn't noticed the sudden tremor in her voice.

*And the latter?'

*Earth energy? Like ley lines, you mean?'

*That or perhaps from some external source in the ground.'

There was a long silence as she digested his words. *Greg. What are you trying to say?' When she looked up at him his face was very close to hers. He was, she noticed for the first time, unshaven. The shadow of beard was a rich golden colour, far brighter than his hair.

He shrugged. *I'm just wondering whether perhaps it could come from something that is buried there.'

*Something or someone?'

*It is someone, I'm afraid.'

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