Chapter 30.
DAVID WEIR CLIMBED THE stairs and entered Ellen Duncan's tiny second bedroom where she was watching over Vikki, now tucked into the little divan bed. The candle light caught the sudden stab of fear in the girl's eyes when the door opened but she relaxed when she saw who it was. Ellen leaned forward and stroked her hair away from her face. `It's all right, Vikki -- it's only David.'
`Fax line and shop line both out,' David reported, setting down the candle he was carrying. `Your mobile's dead and so's mine. No gas or no mains water -- the power cut must be widespread to have knocked out pumping stations and the mobile phone masts. I found your camping Gaz stove. Full bottle luckily. It's in the kitchen.' He smiled down at the bed. `Hallo, m'dear. How are you feeling now?'
`She'll feel a lot better after a hot drink,' said Ellen quietly. She kissed Vikki on the forehead. `David and I are going to make some tea, Vikki. We won't be a minute.'
`Please don't tell my mother, Miss Duncan.'
`Vikki -- I really think we should.'
`But she won't be worried, really. She thinks I'm staying with a friend -- Sarah Gale. Please don't tell her.'
`Well -- the phones aren't working. David came here in his dump truck that doesn't have lights, and I don't have a car, so we won't be doing anything just yet.'
In the kitchen Ellen tried to fill a camping kettle from the cold water tap, realized her mistake and used the hot water tap.
`That's tank water,' warned David. `You'd better boil it thoroughly.'
`I think she's lost her artificial hand,' said Ellen, keeping her voice low. `She wouldn't let me change her out of that skirt -- she kept her left hand jammed tightly in the pocket all the time.'
`Poor kid.'
`One wonders what else she's lost but she doesn't want to talk about it. Her doctor's Milly Vaughan but she doesn't want to see her. But I think she should. How do you feel about going around and knocking her up?'
`Milly would pump me full of strychnine,' David protested. `The Hippocratic Oath doesn't cover people banging on her door at night.'
`Not with a real emergency, she wouldn't.'
There was a tentative knocking at the shop door. David went to answer it. It was Sarah -- immensely relieved at having discovered Vikki's whereabouts.
`We were at a party at the House during the power cut,' she explained to David and Ellen in the kitchen. `The alarms went off and some stupid cu-- idiot yelled something about a fire. I couldn't find Vikki so I thought she was outside. Then she came rushing out and didn't hear me. Just went hareing off, going like the wind, her clothes all torn. I thought she'd gone to my place but she hadn't. Then I thought--'
`Sarah!' Vikki cried out.
`Can I see her?'
Ellen gestured. `Room opposite.'
Ellen followed Sarah into the little bedroom. The two girls were embracing and sobbing in relief, exchanging garbled sentences. The older woman noticed that Vikki used only her right arm to hold her friend.
Chapter 31.
BOB HARDING CONSIDERED that sending a police car to his shop at 0420 in the morning, blue lights strobing the night and alarming Suzi, was either mistaken identity or an over-reaction to an unpaid parking fine.
A power cut. Damn!
He had to grope around for a torch before stumbling downstairs and unbolting.
`We're extremely sorry to disturb you, Mr Harding,' said Harvey Evans. `But we need your advice on an urgent matter.'
Fifteen minutes later Harding was at the police's southern road block, pressing his fingers against the yielding, invisible wall, and was utterly baffled. Not only by the bizarre resistance but the fact that the road ended suddenly just beyond the resistance.
He moved to where a headlight beam was better positioned, clenched his fist, and punched. It was like hitting a cushion. He noticed the slight blackening around his fist as the strange force pushed back. Whatever it was wasn't entirely invisible.
`We can try it with a car if you wish, sir,' said Evans.
`Yes please.'
This time the blackening effect was more pronounced as the Peugeot nosed forward, and became almost opaque in the area around the shuddering car as its wheels spun on the road. Eventually the car was forced back. The driver stopped the engine and looked expectantly at Evans.
`Again, sir?'
`That'll be enough,' the police officer replied. He took Harding to one side. `I believe I'm what might be defined as an authorised person within the meanings of the Official Secrets Acts, Mr Harding?'
`I think that's likely,' Harding agreed cautiously.
`I also believe that you're an advisor on several government scientific committees?'
`That's true.'
`Then perhaps you'd be good enough to tell me what all this is about?'
Harding watched a policeman leaning against the force wall, arms outstretched so that he looked certain to fall. `You say it's all around the town?'
The police officer shone his lamp on a map spread out on a car's bonnet. He pointed. `A three mile radius around Pentworth Lake. I haven't the manpower to have checked all the footpaths and tracks yet, but it seems that the town's completely cut off. No electricity, no gas, no water, telephones -- radio and TV. Everything. Even the roads stop.'
There was a silence.
`Well it explains everything and yet it explains nothing,' said Harding at length.
`I beg your pardon, sir?'
`Perhaps not quite everything.' Harding pointed at the moon and stars. `Light's getting through it.'
Evans' tone hardened. `So what is it, Mr Harding? Some sort of experiment that's gone wrong?'
Harding met the police officer's gaze. `I don't know, Mr Evans. I simply have absolutely no idea.’
Chapter 32.
DR MILLICENT VAUGHAN'S REPUTATION for waspishness was largely undeserved. When necessary she was a model of kindness and understanding. Her smile in the candle light was warm and comforting and did much to ease Vikki's embarrassment at having to answer her very personal questions.
`You're sure about that, Vikki? No penetration?'
The girl nodded.
`And he didn't eja-- he didn't come on you or in you?'
`No, doctor.'
Doctor Vaughan nodded. This was a case of sexual assault and not rape therefore there was no point in subjecting the wretched girl to an internal examination; she had been through enough that night. She had already made a note of the bruising on Vikki's legs but she knew enough about police work to know that bruises of this nature were not good evidence.
`Well, Vikki. I've given you a jab for that cut on your foot. I'm not going to disturb the dressing because I know Ellen would've done a good job. That leaves only one thing. Your left hand.'
`It's all right, doctor.'
`Then why have you been hiding it? Vikki -- I'm not stupid. Ever since I arrived you've been careful to keep your left hand hidden. What about that growth you showed me this afternoon?'
`It's all right now, doctor -- really.'
`You mean the growth's gone?'
`Well... Sort of.'
The fear in the girl's eyes reinforced Millicent's determination. `In that case, you'd better show me, Vikki. I won't leave until you've done so.'
Vikki gave a little sob and withdrew her left arm slowly from the depths of the bed covers.
The doctor could only marvel at British Aerospace's workmanship; in the soft light of the flickering candle, the hand looked perfect. Her tone softened. `You'll have to take it off, Vikki. I can't look at your--'
`I can't,' Vikki whispered, panic catching in her throat. `It's grown into a real one. Look.' She concentrated hard and succeeded in waggling two fingers.
Millicent sat frozen into silence. It was some seconds before she could speak. `Do that again,' she said very quietly.
Vikki complied but it seemed to take an effort.
Again a long silence. The girl's fear-filled green eyes were staring fixedly at her.
`Can you make a fist?'
Vikki did so but drawing the fingers and thumb closed took several seconds.
The doctor held Vikki's left hand and ran her fingertips over the wrist and knuckles. She opened the palm and touched each perfect finger in turn. She had examined the girl's stump on countless occasions over the years. She knew every misshapen contour of the aftermath of that terrible accident in Spain all those years ago. And now she was holding a perfect hand. She took Vikki's other hand and held them side by side. Despite her inner turmoil and confusion she noticed that the patterning of freckles on the back of both hands was identical.
`It started last night,' said Vikki in a small voice. `And it just kept on growing and growing.' She broke off, tears filling her eyes. `It's horrible, doctor. Some sort of horrible, horrible...' She searched for the right word and then choked it out: `Miracle.'
All Millicent's agnostic and humanist principles rebelled at such a conclusion. She opened her mouth to speak but was unable to form words. She was holding the irrefutable evidence of something terrible or something wonderful and she didn't know which.
`Why do you say horrible, Vikki?'
`Because it's useless! I can't do anything with it. I won't be able to wear my proper hand any more and I'll be helpless!' Vikki leaned forward, convulsed with sobs.
`Vikki... Vikki -- listen to me. Why do you say you can't do anything with it?'
`Because I can't!' The answer was spat out with uncharacteristic vehemence.
`Have you tried?'
`Yes!'
The doctor decided that her black bag might be too big and placed her handbag on the bed.
`Try picking that up, Vikki.' She had to repeat the request. Eventually the girl wiped away her tears and moved her left hand hesitantly towards the handbag. Her fingers hovered over the handle and made uncertain movements that clasped at air, like a baby learning to pick up a toy brick.
`You see?'
`Try again, Vikki. Concentrate hard.'
This time Vikki succeeded in knocking the bag over. Millicent stood it up again. `And again, Vikki!'
`I can't...'
`You can. Now do it!'
Somehow Vikki managed to exert more control and hooked her thumb and forefinger around the handle. She looked from the doctor to the handbag in wonder, the despair fading from her eyes.
`Lift it, Vikki... Lift it!'
Vikki lifted the handbag off the bed. Tears welled up in her eyes that were suddenly alight and alive. `It works, doctor!'
`Of course it works... Have you ever seen a baby trying to pick things up? The way it has to learn what movements work and what movements don't work? Well you've got to go through that process, Vikki. Providence or some such has given you a new hand and now you have to learn how to use it.'
`Providence? You mean God?'
`Well... Whatever. You're a Catholic, Vikki -- you tell me.'
Thomas jumped onto the bed, gave the doctor a scornful, yellow-eyed look, and rubbed himself against Vikki. She smiled for the first time in a long while and returned the favour, using her new hand for an awkward stroke that the black cat accepted. She even managed to curl the fingers to scratch him under the chin. Thomas responded with loud purrs and insistent head butts that broadened Vikki's smile. The therapeutic powers of pets never ceased to surprise Millicent. The big, friendly cat was an unwitting healer even if it did start demanding more than its fair share of space on Ellen's spare bed.
`But... I don't want anyone else to know about it, doctor -- not just yet -- I need time.'
`You can't hide it for long, Vikki... Wait a minute.' The doctor searched in her handbag and produced some foundation cream that she rubbed on the hand to give it an even, unnatural texture. A final touch was a bandage around the wrist. `There --better?'
Vikki studied the effect of a slight clench, the default configuration of her artificial hand, and nodded.
There was the sound of a car drawing up outside. `That'll be your mother. Mr Weir borrowed my car to fetch her.'
`You won't tell her, will you?'
`Not if you don't want me to. What about charges against that thug?'
`No!'
David Weir and Anne Taylor were being greeted by Ellen as Millicent came down the narrow stairs.
`Your daughter's fine, Mrs Taylor,' she said briskly before Anne could speak. `Nothing untoward happened to her. She's come to no harm whatsoever other than a few cuts and bruises. Some delayed shock but that's wearing off. Sleep is all she needs now. Plenty of sleep.'
`But--'
`My keys please, Mr Weir.'
David handled over the car keys. `Is she--?'
`Sleep,' the doctor repeated sternly, eyeing them all in turn. `Vikki is fine. Better than she has been for many years, in fact. I think it would be best if she was left alone. Doctor's orders which you will all obey without question. I've left a colleague up there in charge.'
They stared at her in bewilderment.
`A large, black cat. Doing a better job than I ever could. I'll call round at ten o'clock. Goodnight.'
Millicent drove her car 200-metres and had to stop, such was her trembling. She pressed her head against the steering wheel.
For the first time in her life she felt a powerful need to visit a church.
Any church.
Chapter 33.
NELSON FARADAY CONSIDERED himself tough but not when it came to facing up to the wrath of the Divine Sentinel, Father Adrian Roscoe, founder and leader of the Bodian Brethren.
It was the eyes that sent a berserk food blender churning dementedly through Faraday's stomach -- those ice cold chips of cobalt isotopes that seared through him like twin thermic lances.
`Forty minutes!' Roscoe raged, pacing up and down his office. `Forty minutes without power! Forty minutes in which the duty sentinels abandoned the temple! Forty minutes without prayer! Forty minutes in which the temple and the Divine Johann Bode were wreathed in darkness! Forty minutes in which this planet lay helpless before Satan and his demons and witches!'
`There was a fire alarm--' began Faraday limply, wanting to look at the carpet but unable to tear his eyes away from that compelling gaze. Even the dim light of the solitary 40 watt desk lamp that lit the room was enough to make Roscoe's eyes burn relentlessly into his soul.
`Fire!' Roscoe thundered. `Fire! Of course there'll be a fire! A fire that will crisp your flesh on your bones if you've left the door ajar for Satan! We make a welcome for Satan and the Lord will surely and swiftly smash this planet!' He calmed down and sat in his chair, drumming his fingers on his desk while staring at the artificial hand. `It's your job to check the generator each day -- to make sure it kicks in immediately when there's a power cut. When did you last check it?'
`This morning, father.'
`Liar! You were out most of the morning. I checked the log.'
`I checked the jenny before I went out, father.' There was a hint of defiance in Faraday's voice but not enough to aggravate Roscoe more than he was already.
The cult leader picked up the hand. Faraday braced himself for another onslaught. `So how did this gatecrasher get in?'
`That's what I was about to ask her when the power failed, father.'
`In the guest bedroom?'
`It was away from the noise.'
`And she hit Helga with the bottle when trying to escape?'
`It was a deliberate, unprovoked attack, father.'
`I shall get at the truth, Nelson.' He held up the artificial hand. `This thing beats a glass slipper. The girl won't be hard to find. If I find that you've been lying...'
Faraday said nothing. No doubt Roscoe would go over the details with the girls but he was confident that they would stick to the story they had agreed and say nothing about the embryonic hand they had seen growing out of the girl's stump. That would be sure to start Roscoe raving, particularly if he found out that the girl worked for the hated witch, Ellen Duncan, but he was hardly likely to ask about something he didn'
t know about.
Roscoe looked at his watch. `Two hours the power's been off now. You'd better make sure the generator's tank's full. it looks like it's going to be a long one. Radio and TV stations down.'
`I filled it just before you summoned me, father.'
Roscoe turned to his computer, forgetting for the moment that the machine was down. `We'd better log the assault on Helga and her injuries. Damn... Can we spare power for this thing?' `I don't think so, father. The temple needs the jenny's full output. Your desk lamp and the corridor lights take it close to overload. It'll be okay in daylight. We'll have to do half the milking by hand in the morning.'
`Remind me to order a bigger generator on Monday.'
Faraday was about the leave when there was the sound of a heavy vehicle entering the courtyard. Roscoe crossed the office and drew the curtain aside. He gave Faraday a puzzled look. `Southern Area Security's coach has returned. With all their men on board by the look of it. And some guests' cars. Now why do you suppose that is?’
Chapter 34.
BOB HARDING WAS TOO INTENT on his work to take much notice of Cathy Price who had poured herself into a catsuit and was down on her hands and knees picking out the last glass splinters from the Mac's broken monitor out of her bedroom carpet's pile.
He checked a compass and an Ordinance Survey map on the table beside him, and swung Cathy's magnificent telescope to a new bearing. It was a bright, sunny morning with the humidity touching 80 per cent which made it seem abnormally close and sticky for March. Apart from rising columns of smoke from barbecues, the air was reasonably clear. There was some wind movement -- the smoke columns were drifting east towards Pentworth Lake.
Another check on the telescope's bearing so that it was pointing at Pratchetts Farm.
But there was nothing. Where there should be a huddle of barns and outhouses just beyond the line of the force wall, there was nothing but windswept downland. He focussed the image carefully to get maximum sharpness.
`Cathy... Can you spare a moment please.'
Temple of the Winds Page 17
