‘I’m sure that will help put them in the mood,’ said Penny.
Robert surprised us with a brief bark of laughter then, before slowly shaking his head. ‘I’m not sure anyone in this town is safe. The only thing all the stories agree on is that the curse is cruel.’
‘You really think the vicar was killed by an invisible demon?’ I said.
‘Don’t you?’ said Robert.
‘I’m not convinced,’ I said carefully. ‘I haven’t found any evidence.’
‘Then you need to look harder!’ said Robert. ‘We’re running out of time!’
He broke off as he realized his voice had risen enough to attract Nettie’s attention. She peered at us anxiously from behind her desk.
‘Is everything all right, dears?’
‘Everything’s fine,’ I said. ‘It’s just late, and the day’s problems are getting to us. But the wedding will take place tomorrow, as planned.’
‘That’s good to know, dear,’ said Nettie. ‘The whole town’s been looking forward to it. And I’ve invested quite a lot of money on getting just the right food for the buffet …’
Perhaps fortunately, we were interrupted as the front door crashed open and Cathy came striding in, grinning cheerfully. ‘OK; who wants to get the hell out of here? Your magic and reasonably-priced chariot awaits!’
‘Are you the only cab driver in this town?’ said Penny.
‘I’m the only one who’s prepared to be out and about at this time of night,’ said Cathy. ‘All the other drivers called in sick, though they’re not fooling anyone. You can’t really blame them. Everyone in this town takes the Bergin family curse very seriously. That’s what happens when cousins can’t be bothered to get out of the gene pool to take a leak.’
‘Has no one ever told you that constant cheerfulness can be very wearing?’ I said.
‘Oh yes …’ said Cathy. ‘Come on; I’ll drive you out to the old dark Bergin house. And if the bogeyman shows up along the way, I’ll run the bugger over.’
Outside, the taxi was the only vehicle parked in the street. The night was disturbingly quiet, and the harsh light from the street lamps made everything look artificial, like the setting for a low-budget horror movie. I just hoped the monster wouldn’t amount to much. Penny moved in beside Cathy as we headed for the taxi.
‘Since you know everyone and everything, can you tell us why Nettie wears such an obvious wig?’
‘Chemotherapy,’ said Cathy. ‘She puts on a brave front, but word is it’s not going well. Sorry you asked now, aren’t you? That’s small towns for you; all human life is here, the good and the bad. It doesn’t help that Nettie has to run that dump pretty much single-handed. Or that her son’s such a complete waste of space.’
‘You weren’t much better, at that age,’ said Robert, as he manoeuvred himself carefully into the front seat.
‘Are you kidding?’ said Cathy. ‘I was a real pain in the arse! But I like to think I had style.’
‘That’s one word for it,’ said Robert.
Penny and I climbed into the back seat as Cathy slipped behind the wheel. She gave us just enough time to do up our seat belts, and then started the engine with a flourish.
‘Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed, and warp factor six, Mister Sulu!’
We shot off through the town, ignoring all speed restrictions and most of the traffic lights, whatever colour they were showing.
‘One good thing about empty streets,’ Cathy said loudly over her shoulder, ‘You don’t have to worry about any other traffic. I could even drive on the other side of the road if you like!’
‘Please don’t,’ I said.
‘So,’ said Cathy. ‘Have you been having fun, enjoying the town’s night life?’
‘I wasn’t aware there was any,’ said Penny, holding onto her seat belt with both hands.
‘Mostly there isn’t,’ Cathy said airily. ‘You have to go all the way to the next town if you want to scare up some real excitement. Though I wouldn’t recommend it. The kids are animals. They drink like someone’s going to take it away, and if they don’t start any trouble the bouncers will.’
‘Have you seen anything unusual in town tonight?’ I said.
‘Not a thing,’ said Cathy. ‘The town is dead, if you’ll pardon the expression. Of course, I spent most of the evening sitting in the taxi rank in the middle of town, with my new doctor and nurse romance novel. There’s nothing like a starched uniform and surgical gloves to brighten up a furtive embrace. So, is the wedding still on?’
‘Yes,’ said Robert, staring straight ahead. Possibly because he was afraid to look away.
‘The wedding should bring the town back to its senses,’ said Cathy, tapping the brakes a few times, just for show. ‘We do love a good wedding, especially if there’s a television star involved. And Nettie always puts on a good spread afterwards.’
‘Are you invited?’ said Penny.
‘Of course!’ said Cathy. ‘Old school friend, me. I taught Gilly her first rude word, and stole her first boyfriend. You don’t forget bonds like that. I should have been her maid of honour, but I’m not respectable enough for a wedding as special as this. Right, Mr Bergin?’ She laughed cheerfully when Robert didn’t say anything. ‘Hopefully once those two are safely hitched, and nothing bad has happened, the town will gather its collective marbles again and we can all get back to normal. Curses should stay in books, where they belong.’
I felt increasingly tense as we left the bright lights of the town behind, and headed out toward the open moorland. Robert’s house wasn’t far outside the town, but there was only a single street light at the beginning of the lane that led to it, so we were soon driving away from the light and into a gathering gloom. The taxi’s headlights illuminated the road ahead, but that was all. And with no lights on inside Robert’s house, it was just a dark shape against the night sky.
Cathy brought the taxi to a shuddering halt right outside the front door. The bright headlights splashed across the front of the house, as though indicating where safety lay. I was out the back of the taxi in a moment, with Penny right behind me, while Robert took his time heaving his old bones out of the front seat. I was careful to stay in the light, and kept a watchful eye on our surroundings. This looked like a really good place for an ambush. Robert carefully sorted out some money, and handed it over to Cathy. She looked at it, and then at him.
‘You call that a tip? I’ve found more than this down the back of my sofa!’
‘I’m a pensioner,’ said Robert, entirely unmoved. ‘I should qualify for a special discount.’
‘Oh stop, please,’ said Cathy. ‘You’re breaking my heart.’
She gave us all one last cheerful wave, swung the taxi round in a tight arc and roared off back to town, taking the light with her. Alone in the dark, the night was quiet as the grave. Robert headed straight for the front door, apparently not in the least bothered by the gloom. He thrust his key straight into the lock with the ease of long practice, pushed the door back, and fished around inside for the light switch. The hall light snapped on, and a reassuringly warm glow spilled out onto the path. Robert went inside, and I hurried in after him. Picking up on my mood, Penny was right behind me. Robert closed the front door and locked it, and then patted the heavy wood a few times. To make sure the door was shut, or to encourage it to do its job and keep the bad things out.
‘Well,’ I said to him. ‘I promised you we’d find the time for a proper sit down and chat about the old days, and this would seem to be it.’
‘No thanks, Ishmael,’ said Robert. ‘It’s been a long day, and I’m tired.’
He didn’t say it out loud, but I got the impression he felt he’d said all he needed to back at The Swan. He smiled briefly as he realized it was my turn to be disappointed.
‘We’ll talk more tomorrow,’ he said gruffly. ‘You two go on up. I’ll turn in once I’ve checked everything is locked up safely. You can’t be too careful.’
; He moved off into the house, and I looked around for the switch that turned on the light for the stairs. Even then, it took me a moment before I was ready to start up the narrow wooden steps. Penny moved in close beside me.
‘Ishmael? What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘Too many things to talk about, this late in the evening,’ I said, smiling back at her reassuringly. ‘You look almost as tired as I feel. Let’s just get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow, with lots to do before the wedding.’
‘You know I can always tell when you’re keeping something from me,’ said Penny.
‘I know,’ I said. ‘But I’m tired. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.’
Some time later I lay in bed in the dark, with Penny sleeping beside me. It was only a single bed, but there was just enough room as long as we snuggled together. Penny made soft snuffling sounds as she slept. Normally I find that a comforting sound, when I wake in the night, but now it just made Penny seem more vulnerable. More in need of protecting. And I wasn’t sure I could do that any more.
I was tired, but I had no intention of sleeping. I was afraid to sleep in case the dream came back. In case my old self tried to break free. I felt like I was losing control; of myself, and my life. I was scared I might close my eyes and wake up as someone, or something, else. Like Jekyll giving way to Hyde, or a werewolf bursting out of its human host. In my mind’s eye I saw my human shape melt and twist, becoming something horrible as my humanity was overwritten by a monstrous memory.
Or perhaps I’d still look human, but an entirely different mind would look out at the world through my eyes, and see the woman sleeping beside him as the real monster.
I wondered if I’d ever dare sleep again. Though I couldn’t even be sure of hanging onto myself while I was awake, not after what happened earlier tonight; when for a moment I’d felt alien breath on the back of my neck. If this continued I’d have no choice but to leave Penny. To get as far away from her as possible, to make sure my other self couldn’t hurt her. Leave Penny and the Organization and the life I’d made for myself far behind, and head for somewhere remote and isolated. So I couldn’t hurt anyone.
I didn’t want to go. The time Penny and I had spent together was the happiest I’d ever known. But now it seemed that was coming to an end. After all these years without aging, I was dying. Because the alien couldn’t return without completely erasing me. I fought back the sudden rush of despair with concentrated anger and defiance. I’d spent so many years fighting to live life on my own terms. I wasn’t about to give up now.
I would fight to be Ishmael, to be human. Fight with everything I had, to stay in control long enough to see Gillian and Tom safely married, and make sure they survived the night after. My wedding gift to the young couple; and a long-delayed thank you to Robert, for the warning that allowed me to get away from Black Heir just in time.
And, perhaps, for not escorting me to Hazard Asylum.
I lay awake in the dark, seeing every detail of the room perfectly clearly, over and over again. I could hear Robert snoring, in his room down the corridor. Penny snuggled up against me and murmured something in her sleep, but didn’t wake. And I promised her, silently, that I would die before I let her come to any harm. I would kill the monster in me before I let it hurt her. Even if it meant killing me.
I lay awake in the dark, forcing back the tiredness minute by minute, hour by hour, all through the long and endless night.
SEVEN
Enemy Action
Even the longest night draws finally to a close.
The next morning, after a surprisingly healthy breakfast of All-Bran and fruit juices, Robert and Penny and I left the house and walked back into town. Given how tired I was, I would much rather have taken a taxi; even if it was driven by Cathy. But Robert insisted that since it was a lovely sunny morning, a stretch of the legs would do us all good. I wasn’t convinced, but if Robert could contemplate walking all the way into town at his age I didn’t see how I could reasonably object.
At first, I didn’t so much walk as stumble. After a night without any rest, because I didn’t dare relax my self-control for a moment, I was exhausted. I’d barely managed three words over breakfast, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. But the bright sunlight and the fresh morning air helped to sweep the cobwebs out of my thoughts, and soon enough Penny and I were strolling along behind Robert as he strode down the narrow lane humming what he fondly imagined was a tune.
The lane was bordered on both sides by low drystone walls and great open fields, with grass so green it was practically fluorescent. The sky was a deep blue, with clouds drifting purposefully past overhead as though they were late for an appointment. It was still unnaturally quiet, without even a hint of birdsong. As though they were hiding, afraid to draw attention to themselves. Penny punched my arm lightly, to get my attention.
‘You look awful. There are dark smudges under your eyes, you’ve barely done anything but grunt at me since you got up, and you’re walking like something inside you is broken. Did you get any sleep at all last night?’
‘Not much,’ I said.
‘You should have said something. We could have sat up and talked for a while.’
‘You needed your sleep,’ I said.
Penny gave me a hard look. The one that meant: You’re the one who needs looking after, not me. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t tell what. She slipped her arm through mine anyway, to show I was forgiven, and we walked on down the lane.
Robert strode ahead of us as though he was leading a parade, though he was already getting short of breath. I wanted to tell him to pace himself but I knew he wouldn’t listen. He was trying to convince himself he was still the same man he used to be, the last time we were together; and who was I to tell him different? I looked about me, drinking in the morning. The town was actually a lot closer than it had seemed last night, when the lane was full of darkness. Already I could hear traffic roaring through the streets, and the bustle of a town waking up and setting about its business. Penny felt me relax, and pressed my arm against her side.
‘Best foot forward, Ishmael. We have a murderer to catch.’
‘I’ll keep an eye out for him,’ I said. ‘Unless he’s invisible, of course. You know what these demons are like.’
‘I could go and walk with Robert, you know.’
Once we’d entered the town, and Robert had reluctantly slowed to an amble, Bradenford seemed very different from the night before. People were out and about everywhere, bustling up and down the old narrow streets and nodding and smiling to each other. The roads were crammed with cars and vans, buses and coaches. Apparently the town was only scared while it was dark. And yet, even though most of the people we passed acknowledged Robert with a smile or a nod, and sometimes a brief cheerful comment about the wedding, no one wanted to stop and chat. They just hurried along, as though determined to be finished with their business while the sun was still in the sky. So they could rush home, lock their doors, and feel safe.
Penny and I got quite a few suspicious looks simply because we weren’t local. Strangers weren’t to be trusted with a killer on the loose. Penny and I made a point of smiling cheerfully at everyone, but it didn’t make any difference. The traffic grew heavier as we entered the town centre, but I couldn’t help noticing that the drivers and passengers were all staring straight ahead, ignoring their surroundings. Perhaps in the hope the town would overlook them.
Robert finally brought us to the church hall, at the far end of the same street as Trinity Church. Robert stopped before the heavy wooden door and then just stood there for a moment, getting his breath back. From the sounds he was making that was going to take a while, so Penny and I tactfully turned away to study the church hall. It was another old building, with rough stone walls, shuttered windows and a gabled roof in clear need of repair. A brass plaque on the wall proudly announced that the church hall dated back to the fifteenth century. Robert stretched his back till it creaked, an
d then pushed the door open and led the way in.
The interior was one great open space, with bright sunlight pouring in through the wide windows. Judging by the colourful posters tacked on the walls, the hall was home to a great many local groups. Everything from local dramatic productions to cookery groups, flower-arranging classes and organized walks for charity. Penny studied the posters and then turned to me.
‘Cathy was right; if you’re looking for excitement you’re not going to find it here in town.’
‘I doubt the local swingers groups or black magic covens advertise for new members in a setting like this,’ I said.
‘You honestly think they have such things here?’ said Penny.
‘Big cities are nothing compared to small towns, when it comes to the more exotic forms of sinning,’ I said.
‘Do you suppose groups like that could have something to do with …’
‘No,’ I said firmly. ‘What’s happening here is a new thing. That’s why everyone is so frightened of it.’
‘Just asking,’ said Penny.
We looked down to the end of the long room, where Gillian and Tom were having quiet but determined words with a middle-aged man in a nice suit and a vicar’s dog collar. Tom was wearing a stylish grey morning suit, complete with top hat and gloves. He carried it off well; probably because as an actor he was used to making costumes look like clothes. Gillian was wearing a marvellous ivory white off-the-shoulder wedding dress, with the veil pushed well back so she could concentrate on intimidating the vicar. Penny shook her head, frowning.
‘She shouldn’t be wearing that. The groom isn’t supposed to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony. It’s all kinds of bad luck.’
‘I told her that,’ Robert said gruffly. ‘But Gillian won’t be told, once she’s put her mind to something.’
I looked across at the two other people present; David the best man, in another morning suit, and a young woman in a fluffy pink bridesmaid’s outfit. They were watching Gillian and Tom ganging up on the vicar with the look of people who were glad they weren’t involved. I drew Robert’s attention to them, and he nodded quickly.
Till Sudden Death Do Us Part Page 11
