Part 14 (1/2)

Gwen followed Brian, catching his arm just before he reached the door. 'h.e.l.lo, Mr Dixon. Would you-'

Brian shook her arm off and carried on. Which was good in one way as Gwen had no idea how to finish that sentence. On the other hand, there was a good chance that Mr Conatello would be displeased to make his acquaintance.

'Brian!' Cam was next to her, and he grabbed Brian's arm but with considerably more success. Brian executed a balletic turn to face Gwen, Cam's other arm firmly across his shoulders. He blinked at Gwen and then at Cam. To the untrained eye, he probably looked drunk. To Gwen he looked enchanted.

'Let's take a walk!' Gwen said brightly.

'Come on, mate,' Cam said. 'I think you need some fresh air.'

Cam led Brian out of the cafe. One of the tourists leaned out of her seat and patted Brian as he pa.s.sed. 'Don't you give up, honey.'

The drizzling rain had turned into hail and Brian was putting up some resistance. 'Got to go to her,' he mumbled.

'What now?' Cam said over Brian's head.

'He needs to sober up.' What he needed was to be disenchanted, but Gwen wasn't about to say that to Cam.

'I don't think this is just alcohol talking,' Cam said, peering into Brian's face.

Gwen hid her surprise. 'We need to get him away from here.'

'Should we take him to hospital to get checked out? What if he's having a breakdown?'

'He's upset,' Gwen said. 'And he's in love.' And someone had been burning verbena.

Brian's eyes flicked open. 'Love!'

'Uh-oh.' Cam renewed his Vulcan grip on Brian's shoulder. 'Come on, Brian, we're going for a walk.'

A few steps down the street, Gwen's hair was plastered to her face and Brian's grey jacket was black from the rain. Cam was soaked, too, and looked rumpled for the first time since she'd arrived back in town.

They made it as far as the toy shop at the end of the street, with Brian pulling against Cam all the way. The rain was mixed with stinging hail, and Gwen couldn't see how she was going to ditch Cam. Even if he agreed to leave, Gwen would lose Brian the moment she let go of him. She didn't know how she was going to get Brian to take his cure, or even if it was going to work. Just do it.

'Hold on,' Gwen said, and Cam stopped half-dragging Brian.

Gwen tugged them both to the shelter of the toy shop awning. 'Sorry about this,' she said to Brian and then licked his cheeks, the left and then the right. Brian didn't seem as surprised as he should've been.

'What on earth was that?' Cam looked horrified.

Gwen thought about lying, but couldn't think of anything convincing. Besides, she had messed things up with Cam thirteen years ago. What did it matter if he thought she was a lunatic?

'I'm just checking to see if he's under a spell.'

'What?'

Gwen reached up on her tiptoes and licked across Brian's forehead and up the middle. She tasted soap, which was something of a relief.

'Stop licking him!' Cam said, sounding annoyed.

'Salt,' Gwen said, wiping her mouth with a tissue. 'He's been hexed. Enchanted. Whatever you want to call it.'

'Maybe he's salty because he's been sweating, Gwen.' Cam was speaking in the slow voice of one speaking to a toddler with a hunting knife. Gwen ignored him.

'Okay, Brian. I need you to put this under your tongue. Let it dissolve, right?'

Brian gazed over Gwen's shoulder in the direction of the Hearty Baker. 'Let me go to her. I know what I have to do.' He looked beseechingly at Gwen. 'It's all so clear.'

'I'm sure it is. Open wide.'

Brian obediently opened his mouth and Gwen popped the slice of dried lemon inside.

His face twisted. 'Urgh.'

'Don't spit-' Gwen said, just as Brian spat the lemon onto the floor.

'Are you going to help?' Gwen said to Cam. 'Hold his jaw shut this time. Like when you're giving pills to a dog.'

'I don't have a dog,' Cam said. 'What is that, anyway?'

'Dried lemon slice covered in salt.' One of the more useful things she'd learned from her flaky mother was to always be prepared for the worst. She'd been carrying hex-removing lemon slices around with her since she was fifteen, along with the stub of a candle, some thread, and a feather. She was like a freaky Girl Guide.

'And that's supposed to do what exactly?'

'Lift the curse,' Gwen said.

'Of course.'

'Open up, Brian.'

Brian looked marginally more with it. 'I don't feel right,' he said.

'This will help,' Gwen said.

'You promise?' Brian said.

'I promise.' Gwen gave him the lemon slice and watched as Brian slipped it underneath his tongue. His shoulders convulsed and he pulled extraordinary faces, but the lemon stayed in.

'I hope he doesn't sue you,' Cam said.

'At least I know a lawyer,' Gwen said, avoiding Cam's eye.

After a moment, Brian swallowed and coughed. His eyes were watering, but they looked a little clearer. He wasn't pulling at Cam, either. He sank to the ground instead, and sat on the wet pavement.

Gwen crouched down beside him. 'Brian? Mr Dixon?'

Brian raised his head. He was crying. 'Holy Mother of G.o.d, what have I done?'