Journeyman

by Heather Atkinson

  Raven stifled a shiver. She was afraid of no one. Except Silas Hagen.

  CHAPTER 3

  One Eye woke slowly, languidly, contenting himself with enjoying the warm bed he was lying in. He could hear the soft murmur of voices. The clinical smell told him he was in a hospital. Although he’d been fortunate enough to visit them very infrequently he knew enough to recognise one.

  He took his time testing his aching body, a headache pulsating behind his eyes. When he moved his right leg pain shot through his ankle, which felt swollen and tender. Sensing a presence standing over him, he opened his eyes to see a severe-looking nurse staring down at him.

  “So you’re finally awake,” she said.

  “I’ll take your word for it, you’re the medical professional,” he rasped, throat as dry as sand.

  Her stony expression indicated she didn’t appreciate the joke. “The police are keen to talk to you.”

  “Me, why?”

  “They want to know why you were found lying in the middle of the road in the dark with no personal possessions or identification. It also looks like you’ve been in a fight.”

  “Before I do any more talking I would appreciate a drink of water please.”

  She assisted him to sit up and poured out his water from the jug on his bedside cabinet, acting more from detached professional efficiency than compassion.

  Once he’d drunk his fill he settled back into the pillows. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. You’re dehydrated, which is why you’re on an IV,” she said, indicating the needle sticking out of the top of his left hand, which was linked to a drip. “Your ankle is badly sprained too. I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere on that for a while. You also have some minor abrasions and bruising. Nothing life threatening.”

  “That’s good to know. Thank you.”

  “So what do we call you?” she said, his good manners softening her to him slightly. “At the moment you’re called John Doe, we couldn’t find any ID on you.”

  “My name is Nik. Nik with just a ‘k’. No ‘c’.”

  “Nik what?”

  “I’m not sure, I can’t remember,” he said, making a show of putting a hand to his head and frowning in what he hoped resembled dazed concentration.

  “You can’t?” she said, not bothering to hide her scepticism.

  “No. It must be the trauma. I’m sure it’ll come back eventually.”

  “Trauma of what? You only slid down a small hill. Or was there more to it than that?”

  “I wish I could remember. It’s all vague shapes and shadows, nothing definite.”

  “Can you at least tell me where you’re from?”

  He pretended to think before sighing and shaking his head. “No, sorry. That’s gone too.”

  “I’m not sure what PC Connell will make of this,” she said before stalking off to attend to another, less annoying patient.

  One Eye settled back into bed with a smile. It wasn’t the first time he’d feigned amnesia, nor would it be the last. It was such a wonderful cover because it couldn’t be medically proved and this particular case was going to last just long enough for his ankle to heal.

  He wrung his hands together when they were seized by an attack of the shakes. He’d been diagnosed with essential tremor years ago, it was why he’d found and trained Raven to take over his work, Damon being far too volatile. Not much was known about the condition and he had been told it might clear up all on its own one day but on the contrary, it had only got worse. Fortunately it was confined to his hands, for now. It came and went of its own free will, there was no rhyme or reason to it. Its appearance at an inopportune moment had been the reason why he’d come off worse last night during the confrontation with his nemesis.

  “Oy pal,” called the teenage boy from the bed across the room in a strong Scottish lilt.

  “Me?” said One Eye.

  “Aye you. Where’s your eye?”

  “I sold it to a witch in exchange for ancient knowledge.”

  The boy’s jaw dropped. “Really?”

  “No,” he chuckled. “I lost it in an explosion.”

  “Quality. Did it fall out of your head or did it fly out like a ping pong ball?”

  “Neither. Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said before turning on his side and settling down to sleep. Soon his pursuer would be back on the hunt and he needed to be at full strength.

  One Eye was woken again by a presence hovering over him. It came so close he thought it might be Silas returned to finish the job. He opened his eye to see a pale, pasty face staring back at him, only quite young, late twenties or perhaps early thirties. It was difficult to judge accurately because of his premature baldness.

  The man’s light blue eyes widened when he found himself staring into the empty eye socket. He straightened up, trying not to look as disconcerted as he felt.

  “Who are you?” said One Eye, pushing himself upright.

  “PC Connell,” he replied, regaining his composure. “I’m here to interview you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you were found injured and covered in mud, lying in the middle of the road.”

  “Is that an offence?”

  “Err no, although it might have been if you’d caused a traffic accident.”

  “But I didn’t.”

  “Still, you were found injured and unconscious with no ID and the nurse tells me you have amnesia.”

  “I do so I’m afraid I’m not going to be much use to you.”

  “Judging by the accent you’re not local. You don’t sound Scottish either. In fact that accent could be from anywhere.”

  “Well, I am a bit of a wanderer.” One Eye had long ago trained himself to lose his native Norwegian accent, so no one could tell where he was from.

  “You’ve done a lot of travelling then?” said Connell.

  “I do vaguely recall some things, unfortunately not the details of my life.”

  “You said your name is Nik. Is it short for Nicholas?”

  “I don’t know, I can’t remember but I do know it’s spelt N-I-K, not N-I-C-K.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  Connell sighed with frustration. “It looks like you fell down the embankment by the woods. Can you remember what you were doing in there?”

  “No idea, although I do have a vague notion of wanting to take a walk,” said One Eye, deciding he had to give the poor boy something.

  “A walk? So you must have come from somewhere then?”

  “Naturally but I have no idea where that was.”

  Connell sighed. “Well, fortunately we have computers that may be able to identify you. We have a scanner that reads fingerprints.”

  “Wonderful. Do you have it with you?”

  “No,” he frowned. “It’s at the station on the mainland.”

  “Oh dear.”

  “And your fingerprints will only be on the database if they’ve been taken. Have you had any run-ins with the police? Don’t bother answering that,” he sighed, knowing what this strange man would say to that. “When you’re released and feeling up to it, come down to the station and hopefully we’ll help you remember who you are.”

  “So kind, thank you.”

  “I’ll leave you my card,” he said, placing a neatly printed business card on the nightstand. “Call me if you remember anything.”

  “I will, thank you. Oh, one thing before you go.”

  “Yes?”

  “Where am I?”

  “In hospital.”

  “I mean where in the country?”

  “You don’t know?” he spluttered.

  “I have amnesia, remember? Or is it contagious?”

  Connell’s lips pursed and he took a step back. “You’re in Dunvegan Hospital on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. You were found in the village of Caillte at the north eastern tip of the island, about as far as you can go without falling into the Atlantic ocean. Ring any bells?” />
  “None whatsoever but you never know, it might help.”

  “I live in Caillte. The people who found you fetched me and I travelled with you in the ambulance.”

  “So kind.”

  “You were muttering a lot while you were unconscious but I couldn’t make out a word.” Connell gestured to One Eye’s empty eye socket. “Did you have a patch or something covering that?”

  “I think so. Must have come off in the fall.”

  “Ah ha, so you do remember something then?”

  “No, you told me.”

  “I did not.”

  “Yes you did. You said it looked like I fell down the embankment by the woods.”

  Connell cleared his throat and wiped away his confused look. “Right, well I’d better be off, things to do.” He grimaced at One Eye’s empty socket. “I’ll ask the nurses to get you a new patch.”

  “Thank you.”

  One Eye watched him go with a smile. He doubted Connell would be capable of giving him any trouble.

  The sun had just risen by the time Raven and Damon reached Inverness. It had taken them just over six hours to reach this city on the north east coast of Scotland. They’d only stopped once at the border, so Raven could grab a coffee.

  “I need some sleep,” she yawned. “Let’s find somewhere to stay. We can use it as a base to track One Eye.”

  “You wouldn’t be so knackered if you’d let me drive,” retorted a put-out Damon.

  “I told you, no one drives my car but me. If we’d taken your motor we’d still be in the same position because you don’t let anyone drive yours either.”

  “Yeah…well,” he said before going silent, knowing she was right.

  “That place looks nice,” she said, gesturing to the large sandstone building on the banks of the River Ness. “It’s big too, so we won’t stand out.”

  “Suppose,” he muttered.

  “And I’ll pay for the rooms,” she added as a concession.

  Damon brightened. “You’re on. I hope the breakfast’s good. I’m starving.”

  Raven swung the car onto the hotel car park. After collecting their bags from the boot they wandered into reception.

  “Good morning,” beamed the attractive blond receptionist. “My, you are early birds.”

  “Wow, I love your accent,” said Damon with his most charming smile, leaning on the reception desk.

  The receptionist glanced uncertainly at Raven, assuming she was his girlfriend.

  “I apologise for my brother,” said Raven. “I can’t take him anywhere.”

  “Oh I see,” replied the receptionist with a relieved smile, looking back at Damon with definite interest. “And how can I help?” she purred.

  “We’d like two single rooms please.”

  “I’m afraid we don’t have any singles free,” she said, keeping her gaze on Damon, her cheeks reddening. “But we do have two executive suites.”

  “They’ll do nicely,” said Raven, handing over her debit card.

  “Thank you Madam,” said the receptionist, processing the payment. “You’re in room seventeen and you Sir,” she added, pressing Damon’s key into his hand. “Are in room twenty. Both rooms have a view of Inverness Castle. And king size beds,” she added, giving Damon another meaningful look, his lips curling into a smile.

  “Come on,” said Raven, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him away.

  “I’m in there,” he grinned.

  “Have you forgotten rule number three already?”

  “What harm can it do?”

  “We don’t know, that’s the point. What if she has a jealous boyfriend who comes after you?”

  “Then I’ll throw him through a window.”

  “Understated, remember?”

  “That’s you, not me. I don’t know how to be understated.”

  “I don’t know why when One Eye’s your dad. He’s the king of understatement. Who do you think taught me?”

  The mention of his dad brought Damon down off the high flirting with the receptionist had given him. “Okay, I’ll do my best. I can’t say any more than that.”

  “Thank you Damon,” she said more gently. “Once we’ve found One Eye you can do what you like.”

  He came to a halt. “What if we don’t find him?”

  “Course we will.”

  “Everyone’s luck runs out one day.”

  “Fortunately One Eye has a heck of a lot of skill to rely on too. He’ll be fine. Do not entertain any other outcome. Okay?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “Here’s my room,” she said, gesturing to the door on the left. She unlocked it and stepped inside, smiling approvingly. “Nice and what a gorgeous view.”

  “Wow, the receptionist was right, the beds are huge,” said Damon, waggling his eyebrows at her suggestively. His smile fell at her stony look. “Yeah, rule number four. I haven’t forgotten,” he sighed before slinking off to his own room.

  At visiting time Nik wasn’t expecting to receive a visitor of his own. In fact he was content listening to the other patients chattering with theirs, the boy in the bed who had asked about his eye clinging onto his mother when she arrived. Apart from the fact that his lower left leg was encased in plaster the boy was the picture of health, so One Eye surmised he just missed her. But still, the tears were a bit much.

  Just before visiting time he’d been given an eye patch to cover the hole that seemed to offend everyone, so he wouldn’t frighten the general public. It had always baffled him as to why people were intimidated by something just slightly out of the ordinary. His steel grey hair had been neatly combed back off his face, brushing the tops of his shoulders and he wore a crisp white hospital gown. He was a long way from the wild man of the forest who had been brought in.

  Consequently it took his saviour a moment to spot him. One Eye however recognised her immediately, her eyes holding the same clear confidence he’d seen the night before. She carried a bunch of green grapes in a clear plastic bag and she was followed by the large blond man who wore a sheepish expression, no doubt because he’d disgraced himself.

  “Hello,” smiled One Eye as they approached his bed. “I wasn’t expecting to see you two again.”

  “We wanted to make sure you’re okay,” smiled the woman. “My name’s Helen Wilson and this is Simon, my boyfriend.”

  “Pleased to meet you and I’m glad you came to see me. I would like to say thank you for your assistance. If you hadn’t found me I could still be lying in the middle of the road.”

  “Oh, it was nothing,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “And you’re welcome by the way. We brought you some grapes,” she added, holding up the bag before placing it on his bedside cabinet. “I hope you like them, although you might not remember. PC Connell told us you have amnesia.”

  “That’s true but yes, I do believe I like them,” he said, picking up the bag and holding it out to her.

  “Thank you,” she said, accepting a grape.

  He held it out to Simon. “Would you like one?”

  “No thanks, I’m good,” he replied, gaze continually drawn to his eye patch, to One Eye’s amusement.

  “So you really can’t remember who you are?” said Helen.

  “I’m afraid not,” said One Eye.

  “That must be so scary.”

  “I’m coping.”

  “I’m sure it’ll come back soon.”

  “I’m sure it will.” One Eye liked her, there was a refreshing honesty about her and she got straight to the point. He respected that.

  “My mum and dad own a B&B in Caillte, that’s the village where we found you. They said you could stay there until you’re better because the hospital won’t let you stay here much longer.”

  “Thank you, that’s very kind. I do have a little money to pay. I lost my belongings but I have some cash in my pockets…”

  “Don’t worry about that.”

  Despite his vast life experience, One Eye was
staggered by this generosity and also a little suspicious. “That’s very nice of you and your parents but I’m not sure I can accept, not without a form of recompense.”

  “The B&B’s always quiet this time of year. It’s a different story in the summer, it’s so busy then but the season’s finished and we’ve only one guest who’s so boring. You’ll liven things up.”

  “You don’t even know me and you’re willing to put yourselves out like that?”

  “We won’t see you out on the streets and you’re not going anywhere on that ankle for a while. You look strong, you can always do some work in lieu of payment. We’ve plenty of odd jobs that need doing.”

  “Well, I must say I’m immensely touched and of course I’ll do anything I can to help. Very well, I accept.” Besides, he had little choice.

  “Great,” she smiled. “I’ll get the nurses to call me when you’re ready to be discharged. It’ll probably be tomorrow. You need to give them your permission to share your information with us.”

  “I will and thank you Helen. I’m not sure what I would have done without you.”

  “You’re very welcome. Right, we’d better be off, Simon has to start work soon. We’ll see you tomorrow Nik.”

  One Eye watched them go in astonishment and with a little uncertainty. Was this truly the altruistic gesture it seemed or was there more to it? After all, he still had enemies out there. But he was left with little choice but to accept. He would just have to remain vigilant.

  He lay back in his bed, wondering who he should contact. Silas was still hunting him, he had no doubt about that and he needed back-up, especially in his present feeble condition. However he couldn’t ask the staff if he could make a call as he was supposed to have amnesia. Once again he chastised himself for texting Damon that SOS, he didn’t want his son or adopted daughter anywhere near Silas Hagen. Fortunately he hadn’t given him a location. No, he wouldn’t contact his children, they were better off staying in Yorkshire, well away from this mess.

  CHAPTER 4

  Raven grabbed four hours sleep before taking a shower and enjoying breakfast in her room, after which she felt revived.