The Seer's Stone

by Frances Mary Hendry

  She slipped down to lift a set of Room 3’s keys, unseen, and then watched from the top landing until Mr Mandrake went down to dinner. Then she went into his room again.

  The lock of the small case couldn’t hold out against her skill with a hairgrip. She had the crystal out in less than a minute. With reluctance, she made herself take hold of the chain and concentrate. “Oh, well. Here goes. Where’s this stone, then?”

  The sharp prickle ran through her fingers again, and she felt a tug towards the door. She was led out, and then, to her surprise, up the stairs, the tingling growing stronger with every step.

  It led her to the door of Mary’s room. Should she..? She reassured herself, “Ain’t pinching nowt. It’ll be hidden under a floorboard or in a mousehole. Sure it will.”

  However, to her dismay she was guided over to the dressing table; to the top drawer. “It’s in here! In among Aunt Mary’s things.” She hesitated... but somehow she had to go on.

  Slowly she lifted out an old chocolate box from the back, behind a pile of scarves. It was full of small bundles of tissue paper. “It’s her jewellery. Never thought she’d know about it! Can’t stop now, though. This is it, this one!” The sting of the pendulum was actually painful, but as soon as it touched one particular package, the crystal died and dangled, only a pretty trinket. She stuffed it into her shirt pocket and rubbed her fingers.

  Then, her hands trembling slightly, she unwrapped the parcel.

  On the rustling paper lay a flat stone, an uneven circle about six centimetres across, with a hole through the centre. One side was dark, smooth grey, almost black; the other was almost white, sparkling with mica. She laid it on the palm of her hand. “I’ve found it.”

  At the door behind her, Mary asked quietly, “Found what, may I ask?”

  Tanya froze.

  Woodenly Mary walked across the room and looked at the bundles of tissue paper left in the chocolate box. Without glancing at the stricken youngster, she said, “Well?”

  “Ain’t like it seems, Aunt Mary,” Tanya whispered. “Honest!”

  “Honest?” Mary regarded her for what seemed like a long time. Then she sighed jerkily. “This is why you were so interested in the Brahan Seer. Right. Let me think.” Rather blindly, she stuffed away her little box of jewellery, found hairpins and pinned up her slipping chignon again.

  Behind her, Beth appeared in the doorway. The work at dinner had, as always, worn away her bad temper. “That’s the tea tray up to the lounge, mum - hey, that’s better, you were starting to look like Rapunzel - what’s wrong? You look awful, mum!”

  “I’ll - I’ll be all right.” Mary’s knees started to tremble. She sat down on her bed.

  Tanya skulked by the door, glaring defiantly at Beth, who was going red. “What is it, mum? Tell me!” What had Tanya done that could make them both look so terrible?

  At last, Mary lifted her head. “You asked about the stone at dinner.” The youngsters looked at each other. “Beth. Tell me. I want to know what’s going on. Why did you ask about the Brahan Seer’s stone? No, Tanya. Be quiet.”

  “The stone? Oh, that’s all!” Glad to be able to put things right, Beth happily told all she knew about the stone, and Mr Mandrake’s search for it. “And he says it may be worth a lot of money, mum, enough to do all the repairs and alterations! Dry rot and everything! So can we go and see him again after the dishes are all done, to try and find out where in the house it is?”

  “You needn’t bother.” Mary’s voice was dry. She lifted a finger to point to Tanya. “She’s found it.”

  “What?” Beth’s voice was a squeak. She stared at the stone Tanya held up. She could scarcely believe it. Tanya had found it? By herself? How? Where?

  “I had it. If you’d told me all about it like sensible girls, I could have given it to you, without all this carry-on of secrets and magic and - and stealing.”

  “But - I never knew you had it, mum.”

  “No?” Mary regarded her rather sourly. “You mean there’s something even you didn’t know? Alec told me years ago about the family tradition that this was Kenneth’s stone. I didn’t believe it, but he did. He said it felt uncanny Apparently his grandfather once saw something in it, but was too frightened to look again. Alec couldn’t use it himself, nor Iain, Tanya’s father. But when he knew he was dying, Alec told me I was to keep it safe and away from prying scientists and museum-keepers, and pass it on to you, Beth, when you were eighteen.”

  “Too late, yer better to learn early how to handle magic things, or it don’t come as easy.” At Mary’s cold glance, Tanya bit her lip. “Sorry.”

  “I nearly told you when you asked about it at dinner, but I thought you were too young.” Mary shook her head. “And Tanya came looking for it, rummaging through my things, and found it.”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Mary.” Tanya’s voice, for once, was subdued. “I thought it’d be hidden somewhere...”

  “It was.”

  “Somewhere under a floorboard or some­thing! Not - not where you had it. Were going to give it yer! Just wanted not to let him get it! At least -” she hesitated. What had she intended? “Just - just wanted to find it. I had to, somehow... the dowsing thing - it drew me along. Couldn’t stop. But I meant to help!”

  “You had no right to go into my room or my drawer. I’m - I’m disgusted, Tanya. And hurt.” Mary shook her head. “But I’ll accept that you didn’t intend to steal from me. Not really.” Her expression became even more severe. “I’m angry with Mr Mandrake more than with you. You’ve been childishly selfish. Arrogant. You didn’t care what I’d feel about you going through my private things, taking what belonged to me.”

  “Didn’t think about that.” Tanya was angrily ashamed of herself.

  “No. I know you didn’t. But you should have!” Mary sighed. “All right. You meant no real harm. But he’s been - well... I think magic is the use of forces which we don’t yet understand. Compasses and marsh lights and rainbows were called magic, until we learned about magnetism and so on. But, at the moment we’re like people poking about the back of a TV set, trying to change programmes with a screwdriver. Magic is dangerous. It can derail people’s minds. Mr Mandrake had no business getting you involved in even as simple a thing as dowsing without telling me. Give me that pendulum. I’ll see him about it later.” Her voice was grim as she held out her hand to take the little crystal. “For now - we’d better go down. There’s the dishes to do.” She turned and marched out. In a while she’d maybe get her feelings sorted out.

  Behind her, Beth glared at Tanya. “You’d no business doing that! Going into mum’s things! And without me!”

  Oh, yeah? Tanya thought. Which was worse? She felt rotten. She stuck the stone in her pocket. Aunt Mary had forgotten to take it back. But she would. What would she do with it?

  Beth didn’t know what to say. Tanya had raided her mum’s chest of drawers; Tanya had upset mum; Tanya was a pest, a rubbishy, disturbing, thieving, sickening pest. But Mr Mandrake said she had power, they both had... She was all confused.

  As Mary reached the first-floor landing Mr Mandrake opened the door of Room 3, smiling pleasantly. “I do hope you’ll allow the girls to come and talk to me again, Mrs Mackenzie. They charm away my loneliness. Far more interesting than the television.”

  “I’m sure they are.” Mary’s tone was cutting, pitched to reach the girls on the floor above. “But I’m afraid not, Mr Mandrake. There’ll be no more little sessions with the pendulum. Not while I have anything to say about it. You had no business to involve them in such matters without my permission. So you can scarcely be surprised if I don’t trust you with them in future.” She held out the pendant to him. “You’ll just have to content yourself with the TV.”

  He smiled as he took the crystal. His eyes were very blue. “But they still need my help, to find what they were looking for.”

  “The Brahan Seer’s stone, you mean?” He blinked. “You mean you need their help. And in any case, you’
re wrong. Maybe your magic’s slipping. They’ve found it.” This time, she was the one to smile at his astonishment. “Oh, yes. I had it all the time. If they’d asked sensibly, straight out, I could have given it to them right away.” She nodded in satisfaction, turning to run down the last stairs.

  She didn’t see the anger in Mr Mandrake’s face. But she felt the carpet suddenly stick and lift under her shoes, twisting as if it was actually throwing her down the steep steps. She spun in mid-flight and saw him standing above her, hand raised, the blue of his eyes almost aglow. She crashed against the wall, and down again; her arm cracked between banisters; the agony in it, in her shoulder and head vanished as she blacked out.

  At the scream and thud, Beth leapt down the stairs, Tanya right behind her. Mary was crumpled at the foot of the stairs, and Mr Mandrake was running down towards her, calling, “Are you all right, Mrs Mackenzie?”

  “Mum!” Beth pushed past him, reaching to tug at her mother’s shoulder.

  Mr Mandrake stopped her. “No. She’s hurt. Look, her wrist’s broken.” Her right hand was wedged under her at an unnatural angle.

  Beth gasped again, then steadied herself and nodded. “Her back could be hurt as well. That’s right, don’t move her. I’ll call the ambulance.” She ran for the telephone.

  Crouched by Mary’s side, Mr Mandrake considered. “Tanya, I believe we could make her more comfortable,” he murmured. “Go round to that side, and slip your hands underneath. Ease her up, gently, until I straighten this arm. That’s it. Down now, careful. That’s better.” He checked Mary’s pockets while he smoothed her skirt. No stone there. Where was it? Upstairs? How had they found it? And how could he get it? Because he would get it...

  Try the easy way first. Keep up the appearance of friendship. It shouldn’t be difficult.

  Doctor Spalding and the ambulance arrived almost together. While the ambulance men were loading Mary into the ambulance, Doctor Spalding reassured the girls. “Don’t worry, now. Her wrist’s broken, you know, and her collarbone. I can’t say yet about her ankle. But she’s starting to stir already. I don’t think there’s any real damage to the skull or her spine. But you shouldn’t have moved her. You could have paralysed her.”

  Beth gasped. “Oh, no! I told you not to move her, Tanya!”

  “No, I’m sure she’ll be okay.” The doctor smiled encouragingly at Beth. “Are you going in to Raigmore with her, Beth? She’ll wake up in the ambulance, I expect.”

  “Oh! I never thought! I’ll get my anorak.” Beth hurried off.

  The doctor rubbed his chin, and spoke to Tanya. “Now, who’s going to look after you?”

  She knew what was in his mind but she knew it was hopeless. They were under age... For the first time ever, she suddenly wished she looked more normal. Skull earrings and black nail polish didn’t help when you wanted to look respectable and reliable and old.

  Mr Mandrake stepped forward, gently reassuring. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”

  Lips pursed, the doctor eyed him doubtfully. “Are you a relative?”

  “No, no, just a friend. But a good friend.” He smiled warmly at Tanya.

  She didn’t want to accept his help. “We’ll be okay,” she snapped defiantly.

  “Of course you will, my dear!” Mr Mandrake’s tone was silky and patronising, but somehow, in its adult superiority, it soothed the doctor. “Really, there’s nothing to worry about, Doctor. In case of any trouble, they’ll call on me. Won’t you, Tanya?”

  Tanya nodded slowly. They needed his assistance - for the moment, anyway. She didn’t trust him, not as far as she could throw him, but... “Yeah. Ta.”

  Beth, racing back, nodded hastily. “Yes, thanks, Mr Mandrake. It’s very good of you.”

  “Have you money? To get home with?” She gaped. “Here.” He reached for his wallet and gave her two bank notes. “That’ll pay your taxi back. On you go, then, my dear.” Absently smiling and thanking him, all her attention on the stretcher bed with her mother on it, she clambered into the ambulance. The doors were shut, and it pulled out of the courtyard and away.

  Her obvious familiarity with this man, and the casual way she accepted the gift of money, reassured Doctor Spalding that he wasn’t a stranger. It was only for a couple of days, after all. Beth was a sensible lass. And the man’s eyes were so blue and kindly... He nodded, climbed into his car and drove off.

  Tanya took a deep breath. One danger down, one to go.

  Mr Mandrake smiled down at her. People were watching. A day at least before the mother would return. No need to push it. “I’m sure you’ll manage beautifully, Tanya.” He nodded jovially and went inside.

  For a few minutes, Tanya was kept busy reassuring people about Mary, just a hurt arm, nothing serious, and yes, they could stay, of course they didn’t have to move to another hotel. Her face ached with smiling, and her mind ached with watching her language. Eventually the nosiest of them all, Mr Craig, assured her, “I’m absolutely certain, Tanya, you’ll look after us just fine. We’ve got every confidence in you and Beth, haven’t we, Babs? Even if Mary doesn’t get back for a day or two. And boiled eggs for breakfast, nothing fancy! For everybody, right?” Everybody nodded helpfully. “And if there’s anything we can do to help, just ask. Anything at all, we’ll be only too glad to, won’t we, Babs?” His wife nodded in agreement.

  Tanya grinned. “Well, ta, that’s great of yer. But we don’t need no help just now. Unless yer wants to wash dishes? Neh, just a joke, honest!”

  The water in the sink was cold. Draining it, and running the tap to get hot water, Tanya was wondering how long before Beth got back.

  A hand touched her arm. She was so startled she jumped, to her embarrassment.

  Beside her, Mr Mandrake chuckled gently. “Did I startle you, Tanya? I do apologise. I merely came down to see this marvellous stone. You do have it, don’t you?”

  His eyes were greedy. She felt chilled, repelled, but drawn to gaze into those cold blue eyes - blue - no! Rebelliously, she tore her gaze away. “Ain’t mine. It’s Aunt Mary’s. See her about it, when she gets back.”

  “Why not let me have a look at it? It’s my job, handling such things, and this is one of the most important undiscovered items around. Naturally I’m interested, my dear.”

  “No way. I done enough damage, findin’ it.” She could feel his annoyance building up behind her, and concentrated on filling the sink with near-boiling water. “An’ don’t call me dear.”

  There was a pause. She turned off the tap. His hand touched her arm again - and the cup she had carefully filled and kept ready she tossed, the hot water splashing right in his face. “Hah! You keep yer hands off me, see! Or -”

  “Or what?” His voice was icy. He dried his face, folded his handkerchief again and put it away carefully. “That was a mistake, Tanya.”

  “Only mistake I made were listening to you. You an’ that stone got me into right trouble.”

  His lips were tight. “You can get into a great deal more.”

  She shrugged. “What yer gonna do? Push me down the stairs? Here - was that how Aunt Mary - an’ then yer moved her, could’ve paralysed her -” Shocked, she stared straight at him. His eyes snapped at her - so blue...

  “How ridiculous, Tanya! I am your friend.” No! That wasn’t right! But he reached to hold her wrist lightly. “I showed you the crystal, remember? I’m your friend.” She gazed at him helplessly. She had to fight - fight... “And all I ask in return is to see the stone.” His touch stilled her, while that cool voice purred, “Calm, Tanya. Relax. I’m your friend. Trust me. I’m your friend. You trust me, don’t you?”

  Mindlessly, she nodded.

  “Good. Good.” He sighed in satisfaction. So easy, really. A touch of mental pressure and she was quite overcome. Like taking candy from a baby, as the saying went... The marvellous stone, Kenneth Odhar’s scrying stone, was at hand. He could see whatever he wanted, wherever or whenever it was, discover every secret... “You trust me, I’m
your friend. So you want to show me the stone. You want to. I’m your friend. Trust me. Show me the stone, Tanya.”

  Dull, muffled, Tanya’s mind mumbled, ‘No, don’t...’ but she couldn’t hear it properly... She had to - what? Show him the stone... Yes...

  Chapter 5

  “Show me the stone, Tanya.”

  “Yes...” He was a friend... Tanya started to turn towards the pantry.

  “Tanya, sweetie pie, Babs and I just decided -” Mr Craig was talking before he had the door fully opened, but hesitated, surprised by their stillness. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

  “Of course she is!” Mr Mandrake snapped. But he had been distracted. Tanya blinked, awakened and tugged away from him.

  She swallowed. “Er - yeah. Yeah. We’re fine.” Just. She drew as far away from Mr Mandrake as possible, rubbing her freezing arm. “Come on in, Mr Craig! An’ Mrs Craig! Right pleased to see yer. What can I do for yer?”

  The tall, skinny man chattered on happily. “I just thought, my dear, Babs and I just thought, well, we’d just come and give you a hand, with Beth away. Isn’t that right, Babs? All these dishes! Far too much for a little girl like you! Though I know you’re very good! Why don’t you wash, Tanya, I’ll dry, and Babs will set the tables ready for the morning?”

  “Great!” Tanya turned back to the sink, carefully not looking at Mr Mandrake. He stood undecided for a few seconds in the middle of the floor, and then huffed out. Hah!

  The Craigs stayed for over an hour. Tanya kept them as long as she could, as a shield against Mr Mandrake, but at last they gossiped themselves out and up the stairs.

  What now?

  She had to get the stone away. Ey, lucky that she’d hidden it before starting the dishes - if it had still been in her jeans pocket, she might have just handed it over, before the Craigs came in! She lifted the smallest of the row of teapots. The stone slid out of its hiding place, heavy and cold in her hand. She must hide it better - but where?