by David James
Sarah nodded, 'Oh yes. I even got invited round for a nice cup of tea. And dinner!'
'Really, I never got invited,' he replied.
Sarah thought about her time trapped in the strong room of the post office with Cynthia. 'Turned into a bit of an inquisition though,' she said.
'Doesn't surprise me,' said Ben.
'Turned out that everyone in the room was a psychologist, I felt like I was defending myself all the time.'
Ben thought for a moment 'Could be a coincidence I suppose.' He didn't seem convinced.
Their conversation was interrupted by the clanking of tea cups.
'Thank you,' said Ben as everything was ceremoniously laid out on the table.
Ben waited patiently until the waitress had left.
'I needed to get away from the village. Things, as you may realise, were getting a bit difficult for me there,' said Ben. 'Anyway, since getting away from there I have learnt as much if not more about the place.'
Sarah was still not totally sure about Ben. It all sounded fairly plausible. And she was certainly glad to see a friendly face again. But she decided not to mention anything about the documents Cynthia had shown her.
Ben leant forward again and said 'The people round here have some decidedly unflattering things to say about the village. It's not got the best of reputations.'
'Go on,' said Sarah encouragingly.
'Now you understand that this is based on conjecture and quite frankly, gossip.'
'Right up your alley then.'
Ben looked slightly affronted but said 'Thanks for that. Anyway, the place seems to be very insular, if you aren't part of the village then you are treated like some form of outsider. Not to be trusted.'
'I can believe that,' said Sarah.
'Well, there's all sorts of rumours about the people from the village. Some people say that a while back there were several of them seen near here.'
Sarah had involuntarily leaned forward whilst listening to Ben.
'The place where I found you, well that's part of where they were. Apparently. If you believe the gossip.'
The waitress arrived with the bill and placed it on the table in front of Sarah. Sarah started to fumble for some money.
Ben stepped in and handed over the requisite money. 'Thanks very much, it was all very nice,' he said.
They finished off the last of their tea and Ben said casually 'So that's what I am doing here. What are you doing here?'
It was a logical question. But Sarah had no logical answer. At least without telling Ben what she had learnt about her father. And she wasn't ready to do that.
'Oh, it was something Cynthia said,' she replied. It was at least partially true.
Ben looked at her, he clearly expected her to say more.
Reluctantly Sarah continued 'When I was at dinner, she mentioned something. And here I am.' She almost winced, it was such a weak reply.
Ben looked at her. It was obvious that he knew she wasn't telling him everything.
'Ah, I see,' said Ben.
Sarah could only presume he meant that he knew she was holding back.
Ben drained the last dregs of his cup and said 'So, what's next?'
Sarah knew what she wanted to do. To return to the woodland and make a better job of searching. She instinctively knew that with Ben it should be easier. She just needed to trust him. It was time to make up her mind about Ben.
Ben allowed Sarah time before saying 'Penny for your thoughts?'
'Sorry, miles away,' she said.
‘Missing the children?’ said Ben.
Sarah almost winced as he said this. She wondered if this was one of his blunt questions to push the interviewee into reacting.
‘I do, yes,’ she managed to say.
Ben nodded, ‘How do you think they are managing without you, back at the institute?’
Sarah had visions of them being treated by Susan Brannigan, they were strapped in chairs being intravenously fed drugs. She shook her head to clear it of the image.
‘I’m not sure, I don’t really know what they want to achieve anymore with the children,’ she replied.
Ben was puzzled by her reply, surely they just wanted to get them to talk. But he didn’t quiz her as to why she said that, for now.
Then Sarah looked directly at him and said in a lowered voice 'I want to go back into the woods. I know something is there, I'm just not sure what.'
Ben nodded slowly.
He thought for a moment before saying 'I don't think you should go back to the village just now. They may have seen you with me and I'm not sure what reception you might get now.'
'You think it is that bad?' said Sarah.
Ben sighed and said 'I know you think I am being paranoid, but everything is not all it seems there. You may have been safe before, if they saw you as no threat. But now...' He left the rest of his sentence unsaid.
Sarah looked at Ben. He looked a little less kempt than she remembered. His unshaven appearance gave him a slightly wild look. But she didn't think he looked deluded. And who else exactly did she have to turn to out here? She would just have to trust him.
'I have got pretty much all I need with me anyway I suppose,' she said.
Ben had noticed that Sarah seemed to be almost permanently clutching a small bag, she seemed reluctant to let go of it at times.
‘Got everything in there have you?’ said Ben.
Sarah reacted by clutching her bag even tighter to her body. She almost glared at Ben as she said defensively ‘Why do you ask?’
Ben was taken aback by her reaction to his seemingly harmless comment. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything Sarah. If there is anything else we need we can pick a few things up before we set off anyway.'
Chapter Forty One
They arrived back at the clearing three hours later, more suitably attired after a brief shopping trip.
'Well at least we look like we know what we are doing now,' said Ben.
'We look like an old married couple out for a Sunday stroll,' she said.
'I suppose there are worse looks,’ said Ben.
Sarah chose not to read too much into his comment. She didn't think he was really suggesting that they got married and grew old together.
They entered under the tree canopy and within moments most of the sun had been blotted out.
'It's like a different world under here,' said Ben as he followed Sarah.
Sarah retraced her steps from earlier, she had to admit that she felt more relaxed than before. The noises she heard didn't make her jump like they had. Her mood was helped by Ben's gentle chatter as they forced their way deeper into the forest.
After what was about an hour, they had reached the furthest point she had previously managed.
Sarah stopped and pulled the notes out from her jacket.
'Is that a map?' asked Ben.
'Not exactly. Just something I picked up from Cynthia's.'
'That was unusually helpful of her.'
'I’m not sure she meant to be this helpful,' said Sarah.
Ben looked puzzled. Sarah could hardly blame him, but she didn't want to divulge any more information to him. Not yet at least.
Ben peered over her shoulder and Sarah reflexively pulled the notes away from him.
'Are they secret then?' said Ben.
'I'm sorry Ben. It's just that there is some personal stuff in there as well.'
'This is a strange map indeed,' said Ben.
The truth was that Sarah knew it was no map at all. It was just a collection of crude drawings; brief recollections and notes about her father; things that the children had written in the journals, and worst of all some memories that she feared were simply from her dreams. If he realised quite how unconvincing it all was, he might just laugh and head home. 'I think this way,' said Sarah unconvincingly.
There was still a path to follow, and as she pushed on for several minutes Sarah kept looking at the notes she had made to reassure herself. There was no
thing but a mesmerising display of almost uniform trees ahead. She decided to strike up a conversation to take her mind off the endless trees and the feeling that they might already be lost.
'So you met Cynthia then?' said Sarah.
'Only briefly – I wasn't considered good enough to be invited to her home. But I heard a lot about her from other people,' said Ben.
'What did they say?'
Ben thought for a moment. 'Divided into two camps really. Those who were regarded to be part of the inner circle, like you apparently Sarah, and those deemed outside, like me. One group fiercely loyal, the other, well “frightened” would be too strong. But they wouldn't say a word against her.'
Sarah nodded, she wasn’t surprised. 'She certainly seems to hold an important position in the village,' said Sarah.
Sarah's head was now bent over her knees as she followed the path which started to fade into woodland at one point. She was not an unfit person, but this was beginning to wear her down.
'How are we doing with the map?' said Ben.
Sarah stopped, looked at her notes and said 'I'm sure it can't be far now.' She knew that if they failed to find anything, then it would mean that she had imagined it all and they would just be two people wandering aimlessly around a wood.
They continued walking in silence now. Eventually Sarah stopped, and looked again at her notes. Could she have mistaken their meaning?
Sarah let out a slightly exasperated sigh. This had all looked so much easier sitting on her bed in the guest house. It was just that reality was turning out to be wrong.
'Could you perhaps be mistaken about this?' said Ben tentatively.
'Mistaken? About the whole thing?' She hadn't meant to snap, but she was tired and frustrated and Ben was only saying what was already in her mind.
'Sorry, sorry,' said Ben.
Sarah stood up hurriedly. 'It's not far down this way,' she said and started walking quickly. She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince; she looked back after walking a hundred yards wondering if Ben was still there. She was surprised and relieved that he was.
As he caught up with her she said 'I'm sorry Ben for snapping. You just hit a nerve that's all. I know this could be a wild goose chase, it's just that I owe it to the children and my father.' She immediately regretted her outburst.
'Your father?' said Ben.
Sarah mumbled 'Sorry, didn't mean that. I'm just a bit tired.'
Ben looked at her. He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but he decided to bide his time.
'Maybe it would help if you showed me what we were looking for. Don't worry I won't look too closely,' he said with a smile.
Sarah carefully unfolded the map, only allowing a small part to be visible, and showed Ben what they were looking for.
'What is it?' said Ben. 'Is it natural?'
'I'm not really sure,' said Sarah.
'At least It should stand out, even in all these trees,' said Ben.
They set off again. The monotony of the surroundings – just rows and rows of trees – made it difficult to gauge time and distance. She looked down at her phone and was not surprised by the lack of any signal. It did at least tell her that they had been wandering around for over three hours.
The path which had hardly been wide when they set off, was now becoming less distinct. It was becoming more difficult to tell what was path and what was just rough ground. They walked along in silence.
Sarah had learned to ignore the occasional sound of a branch falling, or a bird disturbing the leaves. She had allowed herself to become spooked too easily before. Besides, she had the reassurance of being with Ben this time. But just occasionally the sound was too loud for her to ignore.
She stopped and signalled for Ben to stop. The noise abruptly stopped.
'Everything okay Sarah?'
She nodded. 'Just a touch of paranoia,' she replied.
'Self diagnosis I guess.'
'Something like that,' said Sarah.
'How long since we last stopped?' asked Ben.
Sarah looked down at her phone. 'Just over an hour.'
'I guess most people would have given up walking further into the woods, unless they knew there was some end point,' said Ben.
'I guess that might have been the point,' replied Sarah.
'Good job we are made of sterner stuff then,' said Ben.
Sarah sensed that there was something else Ben wanted to say. She gave him enough time to carry on speaking, but he simply stood there waiting for her.
'Right then, as you say it's a good job we are made of stern stuff,' said Sarah and set off with the most confident stride she could manage.
They trudged on, the trees were beginning to mesmerise her and strangely making her feel annoyed. She just wished for a time when she could look up and there would be a sight that wasn't another damn tree. Ben seemed to be reading her mind.
'After this I'll be glad not to see another tree for a while.'
It was the last time anyone spoke for a while. It was hard to tell under the canopy, but she was beginning to think that it was getting slightly darker now. She wondered how much longer they could carry on.
And then the monotony was broken; and she felt worse. In front of her, the path divided in two.
They both stopped walking.
'I'm guessing you weren't expecting this,' said Ben wearily.
Sarah didn't feel the need to reply. She slumped forward with her hands on her knees.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, before Ben spoke.
'Not much option then, I guess we have to split up.'
It was not what Sarah had wanted to hear, even though it was the conclusion she had reached herself.
'How do we communicate?' said Ben, 'You know, if one of us finds something.'
Sarah looked down at her phone.
'Tried that,' said Ben, 'no use I'm afraid.'
'Maybe we look for an hour or so and retrace our steps back to here?' said Sarah.
Ben frowned. 'So if we find something we will have to come back then?'
'Can't see any other way.'
Ben eventually nodded. It wasn't ideal, but he had to agree with her.
They both looked down at their phones. 'One hour then,' said Sarah. ‘You know what you are looking for?’
Ben pondered for a moment and said ‘If I could have a look at the map to remind me?’
Sarah reluctantly handed him what he had euphemistically described as her map.
‘Got a good idea now,’ he eventually said as he handed the notes back to her.
'Good luck then,' he said managing a half smile, and with that he set off on the path to the left.
Chapter Forty Two
Sarah sighed as she watched Ben leave; the sound of his footsteps was soon engulfed by the forest. She wearily started walking along the path to the right. She walked slowly, glancing down at her phone periodically. It said she had only been walking for ten minutes. This could turn out to be a long hour. She stared at her feet, trying not to fall over the roots that criss-crossed the path. Each time she looked up, she hoped to see what she was looking for and each time she was disappointed.
The path didn't seem to be going straight forward, though at times it was difficult to tell. At one point she began to suspect that she was walking in a gentle circle, only for the path to veer sharply in the opposite direction.
It was very disconcerting and she now felt more disorientated than ever.
She looked down at her phone; she had been walking for forty five minutes, and looked up again.
Suddenly in front of her eyes flashed a dark shape. She stopped walking and stared into the forest. There was nothing to see; just the trees. Perhaps she imagined it? The hours of walking and monotony of her surroundings had meant that she felt a form of snow blindness. She would almost welcome seeing miles of endless snow and ice at this moment. Anything but the drabness of the trees.
She started walking again; but nothing stirred. Then s
he wondered if there really was something out there; maybe it had waited until she had been distracted by her phone to move. Or maybe she really was getting paranoid now. There was only one way to find out. She made a deliberate movement to look at her phone and away from the forest.
There was a sound close by. She steadied her nerve and didn’t look up. She stayed looking down for as long as she dared, then she raised her head again suddenly.
The shadow moved again; only this time it was nearer. She could feel the panic rising in her. She thought about crying out; but who would she be shouting for? Ben would be nearly an hour away by now. She thought about turning and running back down the path.
Perhaps it was Ben ahead of her? He had found something and didn't want to wait the hour.
There was a noise directly ahead of her. She stared hard and could see some movement ahead in the trees.
She plucked up courage and shouted out 'Who's there?'
And then there was a sound directly behind her.
She spun round, but there was nothing to see.
It would be only moments before the scream would be impossible to restrain. She could feel her head throbbing and the rush of anxiety from within her. She knew the symptoms; she had only moments before it overwhelmed her. She reached down and pulled the tablets out of her pocket. But she pulled too quickly and they cascaded out onto the floor. She scrambled around frantically, desperately trying to pick them up from the ground. But the more desperate she got the more she just covered them in the leaves and soil on the floor. The bright white tablets disappeared into the brown colouring of the dead twigs and leaves.
She forced herself to follow her deep breathing regimen, slow and steady, slow and steady, and eventually her breathing began to slow. She finally managed to grab two of the tablets and forced them down her throat. Their effect was almost instantaneous; her heart rate began to slow and her head became less light headed. She started to think more clearly.
She began to remember why she was here. The children deserved better than this pathetic spectacle. She dragged herself upright and forced her legs down the path and further into the woods, her eyes fixed firmly ahead.
Ben looked over his shoulder and could see Sarah setting off along her path. He had half wanted her to say that they should stay together; he was not the sort of person who was happy outdoors. Give him a filthy, overcrowded city and he was happy. As he looked ahead at the seemingly endless trees he felt even more out of his depth. Still, if Sarah could manage then surely he could as well.
