by Nigel Bird
I flick back to the conversation in the hotel room. The one where he mentioned that payment had nothing to do with money. “You expect me to carry out your errands in exchange for staying young?”
“I’d say that was more than fair remuneration.”
“I could get minimum wage working on the checkouts at Asda.”
“Sure. And you’ll age and wrinkle like the rest of them.”
There’s nothing easy about comparing an eternal life as a teenager to eight pounds an hour. They’re like apples and oranges. It’s a good thing for me that I like all kinds of fruit.
“Think about it.” Ravenna settles back in the chair as if she’s a lawyer whose case is complete. “A few drawings here and there to help people reach their final destination. What could be simpler?”
“Don’t listen to her.” Rory. His voice is loud and insistent. “If you take her up on the offer, we’ll never be together again.”
“Oh, shut up Rory,” Ravenna barks. “The whole world may have revolved around you in the land of the living. Where you are, things are a little different.”
Everything jolts to a halt. My brain cells go into overdrive and begin to overheat. It takes a moment for the world to fall back into place, but when it does, it lands with full force.
“You can hear him?” Is it possible that Rory hasn’t simply been the product of my crumbling imagination?
“Clear as anything.”
“So he’s really here in the room?”
“I’m sure he sticks to you like glue.”
I look around. Register the smile on Bernard’s lips. There’s no one else to see.
“Rory?”
“Right beside you, Nat. Just like always.”
“You think I should ignore this opportunity?” I carry on talking to the air.
“I’m not sure I can bear living forever without being able to touch you.” His throat sounds tight and dry, like he’s on the edge.
“Poor Rory.” Ravenna’s sarcasm kind of suits her. “Living in a land of milk and honey with no one to give him a cuddle before he goes to sleep.”
“It’s all right for you.” Rory’s in a huff. “You weren’t separated from the love of your life before you were ready to leave.”
“Nobody’s ever prepared to cross over, Rory.” Ravenna fiddles with her earrings. “You get what you get and that’s all there is to it.”
“Stop it you two.” I’m sick of the pair of them already. “I need some quiet so I can think.”
The room settles. I close my eyes and collect the pieces of my world into one place. Dee’s in hospital. Arturo lies battered in the crypt of a church. Valentino’s dead. The woman in front of me is offering me some kind of immortality. My dead boyfriend is stalking me and he wants me to join him on the other side. And I’ve not long since collected the soul of a lovely old man and made his wife a widow. It’s completely bananas, the lot of it.
I shake it all away. Open my eyes. Ravenna files her nails with an emery board. Bernard fiddles with his phone. I have no idea what Rory’s doing, but I know he’s hanging around somewhere.
“How long before I have to decide?” I ask.
Ravenna curls her fingers and blows their tips. “Normally you get twenty-four hours, but I can see that there are complicating factors.” She puts her board down and straightens her back. “I could stretch to forty eight if you think you need it.”
Two days. I figure that should be enough.
Ravenna takes a card from her case. Passes it over. “Call Bernard as soon as you know. If he hasn’t heard from you by this time on Tuesday, the deal’s off. You’ll have to take full responsibility for any consequences.”
If that’s a threat, I haven’t got the energy to worry about it. I pick up my bag. Take out my wallet and slide Ravenna’s card in next to the one Red and Green gave me.
“And now, Bernard. Would you be so kind as to take our guest to wherever she’d like to be.”
Bernard puts his phone away. Makes a fist and crunches his knuckles. Does the same with the other hand. Stands and pulls the car keys from his trousers.
“I’ll be in touch,” I say and leave the room without turning to say goodbye.
*
It doesn’t look like Arturo’s moved since I last saw him. I kick off my damp shoes and rush over, hoping like hell that he’s still alive. His chest rises and falls. Relief whooshes through me like a wave.
The bruising around his eyes looks worse than ever and the swelling of his mouth must be full of pain. I bend down. Kiss him gently on the lips to make them better. He’s warm and clammy and tastes sour like yeasty bread.
“Are you just doing that to hurt me?” Rory.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I tell him that, but he might just have a point. “I’m just glad he’s okay is all.”
“I don’t reckon Florence Nightingale ever snogged a patient while they were unconscious.”
“That was the Crimean War for God’s sake.” He’s really trying my patience. “And that wasn’t a snog. It was just a...” I’m not sure there’s a word for it. “Peck.”
“He doesn’t look too good. I’d get him to hospital if I were you. To someone who knows what they’re doing.”
He’s probably right. I’m not sure I have what it takes to bring him back to health.
“And if this is what Ravenna means by keeping someone safe, I’m not sure you should be signing your life away to her.”
“I’ve signed nothing,” I remind him. “It’s not my fault she’s impressed by my work.”
“Fair enough.” This time his words are soft and close.
My neck prickles as if he’s blowing love over my skin.
“I’m sorry for being so selfish.” His whisper is right in my ear. The tickle lights up my soul. “I just need to touch you. Two people becoming one again. Like a pair of melting marshmallows you used to say.”
It’s how he made me feel. No longer just me, but totally mixed in with his being. Like paints on a palette being blended until an entirely new colour was invented. They were the happiest moments of all.
“Imagine having all that again.” His words bring me out in goose bumps. “Only this time it would really be forever.”
I want his arms around me, strong and safe. Need his body close. Could leave my life right now if I really knew we would be reunited.
“That you Nat?” Arturo breaks the spell. The magic is gone.
“I’m here.”
“And Valentino?” He pushes himself up. His eyes search the room. He looks so frail, I’m not sure he can cope with the truth.
“He can’t be here just now.” Which isn’t even a lie. I pick up the glass of water from the bedside table. Hold it out. He leans forward to meet the drink. I tilt it and pour water into his mouth. Some of it misses the target and drips down his chin. The effort seems to exhaust him and he falls back down into the pillow.
“You were talking to someone.”
I get a towel and pat him dry. “Only to myself.”
“The first sign of madness.”
“If that’s true, I’ve always been crazy.”
“How come I always fall for the insane ones?”
This guy’s impossible. There’s no way he should have the strength to flirt. Not that I mind. “Has the doctor been?”
“He was here a few hours ago. There’s medicine in a bag by the sink and he wrote you a note to go with it.”
“That’s great.”
“He hoped to see you in person.”
“I had to go.”
“Did you forget what I said about staying here to stay safe?”
“There wasn’t any choice. Valentino brought you a job. You were unconscious. Even if we’d woken you, your fingers are in no shape to draw.”
He holds up his hand. Looks at his bandaged hand. Nods.
“So what happened?”
“Valentino saw my sketchbook. He said that going through with the job was the only way we could k
eep you safe.”
“What was the work?”
“An old man falling from a ladder in his home.” The cheery notes of the guy’s whistle echo around my mind.
“That must have been tough.” It’s nice of him to care.
“There wasn’t time to think.”
“But it’s not easy witnessing the end of a life.”
“No.” I see him take his dying breath. Block out the picture before it can overwhelm me.
“And you managed to pull it off?”
“According to Ravenna, yes we did.”
“You met Ravenna?” It sounds like an accusation.
“She sent Bernard for me.”
Arturo sits up, eyes wide. “Then this must be serious.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
I’m not sure whether he’s strong enough for any of this. Decide that anything which keeps the subject from Valentino is worth talking about. “She’s offered me a job.”
“As?”
“As a collector. Just like you.”
Arturo’s face crumples with concern and then relaxes. “Wow. That’s an enormous compliment.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Did you take it?”
“I need time to work things out.”
“She offered you eternal youth?”
“Yep.”
“Then what’s to work out?”
I wonder if I should tell him about Rory. Bring up his objections. Can’t. “It’s not as simple as it might seem.”
“Well I hope you take it.” He points to the glass. I give him another drink and return it to the table. “It would mean we had another thing in common.”
“Oh? And what exactly is it that we share?”
“We’re both good looking for a start. We love paintings and we’re talented artists.”
“Thank you.”
“We adore Florence and we both like to talk to ourselves.”
“Everyone loves this city.”
“That’s right. But how many of them have the opportunity to live for ever?” It’s a good point. “You being offered this job, it’s like it’s our destiny to be together. Just like I thought the moment I first saw you.”
“Give it a rest.” Rory is loud and insistent. If he were physically here, I’d give him an elbow in the ribs.
“It might not be that simple,” I tell Arturo. “I’d be working in England while I’m studying. Relationships never work when distance is involved.”
“We could work something out.”
“Who said anything about us having a relationship anyway?”
“You did.” Rory again. “Idiot.”
I want to slap Rory across the face. Instead, I go over to the sink and pick up the bag the doctor left. Pull out the note and read.
Two painkillers every three hours. Next dose, 6 pm.
The handwriting is almost illegible.
Try and get him to eat. He needs a lot of fluids and plenty of rest. I’ll return tomorrow to dress the wounds.
I check my watch. It’s almost seven. I take out the bottle and unscrew the lid. Shake two pills onto my palm. Drop them to the floor when a knock on the door makes my whole body jump.
“Hello?” The voice outside is timid. “Is this Arturo’s room?”
Arturo looks to me for an answer. I don’t have one to give.
More knocks. Firmer this time. “I have something for you. A rush job. Ravenna said it was important.”
Hormones pulse through me at the mention of her name. I do my best to keep my head. Breathe out slowly and count to ten. Need to deal with our visitor outside and make sure Arturo doesn’t hear.
“I’m on it.” I go to the door, open it and begin to step through. The spotty youth on the other side has other ideas. He pushes past me and stands in the middle of the room, a courier bag hanging over his shoulder.
“Thank goodness for that,” he says, pulling off his leather gloves. His hair is greasy and he smells of Patchouli oil.
I grab hold of his shoulder. Turn him and try to move him from the room. “It might be better if we do this outside. Arturo isn’t...”
“I’m fine.” Arturo stops me in my tracks. “Whatever it is that’s happening, I need to know.”
“It’s a job. Over in the main square.” The pimply guy addresses us both, as if unsure about which of us is in control. Checks his watch. “There isn’t much time.”
“I don’t understand.” Arturo sounds worried. “Valentino always brings the news.”
“Haven’t you heard?” The boy’s voice quakes. “Valentino...” His gaze sweeps the floor. “... has passed over.”
I know he’s only the messenger, but I’d shoot him if I could.
“What’s he saying, Natalie?” Arturo looks confused, as if the courier has been speaking in a different language. If I can get the courier out of the room, maybe I can stall the truth a little longer.
“This afternoon,” the guy says. “Came off his bike down by the river.”
Arturo looks like he’s drowning.
I can’t bear to see him hurt. Try desperately to think of something that might soften the blow. “It was over quickly.” The words spurt from my mouth like clumsy elephants. I rush to my friend to help him digest what I’m trying to say. Get there too late to stop the convulsions of his grief from ripping the seams of his heart. I rest my hand on his side. He rolls up into a ball and pulls himself away. His energy evaporates and I worry again that he’s not going to pull through.
There’s only one thing I can do to help.
I grab the envelope from the courier and tear open the seal.
Episode Nine
“Dee. It’s me.”
The squeal in my headphones practically bursts my eardrums. “Nat! Thank goodness. I was getting worried.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m not the one who’s in hospital. How are things?”
“The doctors are delighted. Everything went swimmingly.”
“Great.” I pace around outside the church as we talk, watching for signs of Barabbas and his crew.
“My only problem’s going to be getting through airport security with all these screws in me.” She chews on something. I guess I’m interrupting her breakfast. “Talking of screws, how are things with your hot Italian?”
I bite my nails. “It’s complicated.”
“Don’t tell me he’s married.”
“No. He’s lovely.”
“Then what could possibly be wrong?”
I suck in air. Prepare to deliver the line I’ve rehearsed. “It’s Rory. He’s not happy.”
The pause is almost as deafening as her shriek. “Tell me all about it.” Her voice is calm and soothing. She’ll make a great GP one day.
“He won’t let me go.” I know how ridiculous it must sound, but I need to get it off my chest. “I think he might be jealous.”
“And what kind of things is he saying?”
“About how much he wants to be with me again.”
“Does he say how he thinks this is going to happen?”
She’s taking me further than I want to go. I’m not sure how to answer. “That I could take my own life and join him in heaven.”
“Oh Nat.” She’s like the big sister I used to depend on. “You are taking your medication aren’t you?”
“Without fail.” Or not far off.
“And you’ve never been tempted to try and...join him?”
“Never.”
Dee sighs. “Thank goodness. You had me worried.”
“I do have a mind of my own, you know.”
“Boy, don’t I just.” She laughs.
“I need you to tell me what to do, Dee. I’m not thinking straight. I wish you could come out here and give me a cuddle.”
“I’ll send hugs in a text.”
“Thanks.”
“And after that I’ll get in touch with your therapist. Would you mi
nd?”
“No.” I shake my head even though she can’t see me.
“I’ll make sure she gives you a call. She’ll know what to do for the best.”
“Okay.”
“And you need to hang in there. It won’t be long before we go to university. If you’re not around, I won’t be able to enjoy a thing.”
“Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?” There’s still the matter of the results to contend with. “Let’s not make plans till we know for sure. I don’t want to jinx it all.”
“It’s in the bag, Nat.” She’s so full of confidence. It’s one of the things I love about her and it’s exactly what I need just now. “I creamed those exams. You did too. They’re lucky to be getting us and so will all those tasty guys we’ve yet to meet. So don’t you worry about a thing.” The way she paints the pictures, college life will be all play and no work. Course, I know that as soon as we get there her head will be buried in books or rooting around in dissected corpses. Whatever else you can say about Dee, her head is definitely screwed tightly on. “And if Rory comes back to try and persuade you to do something stupid, remember that he wasn’t perfect.” She never really took to him. “In fact, he could be a bit of an arse.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“He didn’t want to share your life so completely when he was still with us. Keep that in your head and you’ll be fine.”
“I can do that.”
“Good.” Job done, I hear her thinking.
“There’s one more thing you could do for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Get in touch with my mother.” I can’t face talking to her right now. I’d break down in tears. She’d get on at me to take the next flight home and I can’t do that with Barabbas after me. “Tell her everything’s fine. That I miss her and that the weather’s been fab.”
“And that you’re taking all the vitamins she packed.”
“That too.”
“Anything else?”
“Remember that I love you.”
“I do.”
“And don’t forget to send those hugs.”
“They’re on their way, doll.” She blows a kiss into the phone.
“Get well soon,” I tell her and hang up. It’s time to get back into the sanctuary of the dome and work out what I’m going to do about Ravenna’s offer.
