Alice Parker & the Curse of Fate

by Nicola Palmer

  ‘Himmelswillen!’ shrieked Brigitte. ‘What is happening?’

  A woman in a suit was battling to stay on her feet behind the reception desk. In a state of panic she pressed several buttons on a control panel and garbled a message in to a microphone. But the only response was a crackle followed by an impressive fountain of electrical sparks. ‘Es dreht zu schnell! Halten Sie bitte fest!’ she shouted.

  ‘Yes, hold tight everyone!’ said Matthias as he staggered back to the table. ‘This is certainly not normal!’

  In a matter of seconds the restaurant was spinning at a dizzying speed. Glasses and bottles were toppling over and smashing on to the floor. Plates were sliding around on tables and food flying through the air. Matthias was kneeling on the floor, clinging on to his mother’s chair and trying to calm her down. Alice and Thomas crawled under the table and persuaded Grandma to join them. At least they were protected from falling objects if they held on to the table legs and kept it upright. Grandma clung on and closed her eyes tightly. Her face was a ghastly shade of green.

  ‘Now do you believe me?’ yelled Alice, struggling to make herself heard over the screams and shouting all around. ‘This is aimed at us! I swear that Isabella is going to wish she’d never ...’

  ‘Calm down!’ ordered Thomas. ‘Your wings will be out in a second if you’re not careful! Isabella couldn’t do this. She can only produce heat.’

  ‘Someone who can control electricity could do it. The same person who started the fire at Gendarmenmarkt!’

  ‘What fire?’ croaked Grandma, opening her eyes. ‘You never mentioned a fire!’

  At that moment Alice realised where she had seen the man with the beard before. The chaos at Gendarmenmarkt flashed through her mind and she remembered glimpsing his face. He was the man who pushed past her so roughly in his haste to get away through the crowds. It was him! He was the person responsible for these ‘electrical faults’. He must be! First the star lights, now the rotating mechanism at the restaurant. Could he make it spin so fast, it would fall off the tower? If he could they would all be killed! Alice dragged herself to her feet and searched for the bearded man. He was no longer at his table or anywhere near it. Alice couldn’t see him in the restaurant at all.

  ‘You’ve got to do something, Thomas!’ she screamed. ‘Make it stop! Or at least slow it down.’

  ‘I wish I could. But I can’t see the drive system, so I can’t focus on it to control it.’

  ‘Try! Please! Just guess!’ pleaded Alice.

  Thomas shouted something to Matthias, who pointed at the floor in the centre of the restaurant. Immediately Thomas began to crawl in that direction, dodging furniture and airborne crockery. He stopped near the middle of the room. Alice knew it wouldn’t be easy for him to concentrate. There were objects and people blocking his view, and he must feel just as dizzy as she did. He tried so hard to focus, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. But nothing happened.

  ‘I can’t!’ he shouted. ‘It’s impossible!’

  ‘You can! You must! Try again!’

  With an exasperated groan, Thomas struggled even closer to the centre of the restaurant on all fours. Alice watched as Matthias scrambled over to join him, presumably hoping to help with whatever Thomas was doing. In desperation Thomas lay down and pressed his forehead into the carpet. A heavy stainless-steel bar-stool flew past his ear and pinned a waitress to the ground. She screamed in pain as she fell. Then the screams subsided. Not just hers, but everyone’s. The restaurant was slowing down. Thomas had done it!

  Her head still spinning, Alice staggered over to help him up, but he was already on his feet trying to help the injured waitress, who was slumped against the bar. She seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness. Thomas dragged the stool away from her and examined her leg.

  ‘Don’t look, Alice. This is a nasty break. Hide me from the others for a minute.’

  Alice grabbed a tablecloth and held it up to shield him. She turned her face away, having no desire to see a bone where it shouldn’t be. After a couple of minutes she heard a stomach-churning crunch as it snapped back in to place and healed within seconds.

  ‘Sorted!’ announced Thomas, pulling the tablecloth from Alice’s hands. ‘Let’s move before she wakes up again. With a bit of luck she’ll think she imagined it.’

  Guessing what Thomas and Alice had been doing, Grandma nodded knowingly when they joined her, but she still looked traumatized.

  ‘Please, can we just leave?’ she asked Brigitte, who was informing the restaurant manager that they had no intention of paying their bill. ‘I don’t feel at all well.’

  ‘Come on, Mother, just leave it,’ advised Matthias. ‘I will take us all home straight away. I wish I had never made this reservation. I am so sorry.’

  ‘It’s not your fault,’ said Grandma kindly. ‘It was a very pleasant meal until it turned in to a fairground ride.’

  ‘Even more pleasant because it was free!’ said Brigitte proudly.

  *

  ‘Shame we never got our coffee,’ Thomas remembered on the way home. ‘I bet they would have served chocolates with it.’

  ‘Is that really all you’re worried about?’ growled Alice.

  ‘Are you all right, Matthias?’ asked Grandma suddenly. ‘You’re very quiet. What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing. Well, perhaps nothing.’

  ‘Perhaps?’

  Matthias frowned. ‘Before the ... er ... incident, I thought I saw someone in the restaurant that I recognized.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘So ... I think it was the same man I have seen in a van outside my house. The van has been there for a few days.’

  ‘Perhaps he’s working in your street,’ suggested Thomas.

  ‘No, that is the strange thing,’ replied Matthias. ‘The man just sits there, reading his newspaper all day.’

  Alice’s heart sank. ‘Was it the man with auburn hair, a beard and glasses?’

  ‘Yes! How did you know?’

  ‘I thought I recognized him too.’

  *

  Grandma telephoned Grandad as soon as they got home. Brigitte was in the kitchen, pouring herself a brandy to calm her nerves, while informing Matthias and Thomas that she was going to call the local newspaper and tell her story of the horrendous incident at the restaurant.

  ‘I’m sure someone has already reported it,’ said Thomas. ‘So you needn’t worry.’

  ‘I am not worried. It is too late for that now. But they might pay me for my story! The fear, the chaos, the screaming ...’

  ‘Das reicht jetzt, Mutti,’ warned Matthias. ‘No horrible story is needed. It was just an unfortunate accident.’

  ‘That’s right. A blip in the electrics,’ agreed Thomas. ‘I’m sure it won’t happen again.’

  Grandma was devastated by the whole incident and when Alice walked in to her bedroom, she heard her telling Grandad that she couldn’t cope – she was not capable of protecting Alice and Thomas. Alice took the phone from her hand.

  ‘We’re fine, Grandad. We’ll just have to come home, that’s all. We’re putting everyone at risk here and it’s not fair. When we get back I’ll read some of my books from Aunt Jennifer and find out what’s going to happen. There’s no other option.’

  ‘No,’ said Grandad after a moment. ‘Don’t go back on that decision, Alice. You were right to leave them unread. Once you glimpse the future in those books, it will change your life. It will alter how you think, how you live – it’s not a good idea.’

  ‘Well, we can’t live like this either! Thomas and I are ruining everything for those around us!’

  ‘There is another option. You could ask Hugh to track down Isabella and wipe her memory again. This time Lionel won’t be able to remind her; she’ll go home and he will still be in Germany.’

  ‘No way,’ said Alice without hesitating. ‘I don’t want him involved again. We’ve got enough problems with one Rowbottom over here.’

  ‘But he helped us last tim
e! So he can’t be all bad.’

  ‘NO! I still don’t trust him. We’ll sort this mess out without him.’

  ‘Just sleep on it, please Alice,’ begged Grandad. ‘I think I should come and join you. In fact, I’ll start packing now.’

  ‘Don’t bother. We’ll be on the first plane home tomorrow.’

  *

  Alice regretted saying that. After today there was no way she could get on a plane. What if Isabella’s bearded sidekick tampered with the electrics of an aircraft? Hundreds of lives would be at risk. Clearly Isabella had no regard for others in her mission to obliterate her and Thomas. Lionel must be providing an irresistible incentive.

  When would things improve? Alice was fed up with being afraid, fed up with running from danger. Why was she wasting her life battling against people who hated her instead of spending time with friends in Finwip village at home?

  ‘Perhaps I should force myself to read all of my books about the future,’ she said aloud. ‘If I know what’s going to happen, maybe I can just accept it and plan my life around it.’

  ‘You? Accept what you’re told? Never!’ laughed Thomas. ‘Anyway, where’s the fun in that? That would be like reading the end of a book before you start it!’

  ‘Maybe. But all this trouble is our fault. It’s one thing being in danger ourselves, but we’re putting other people at risk all the time, wherever we go. I wish I’d never become a Finwip.’

  ‘I remember your grandad saying that once,’ said Grandma. ‘But I wouldn’t change him for the world. You two might not be who you are now.’

  ‘That wouldn’t bother me at all,’ replied Alice woefully. ‘Life would be much simpler.’

  ‘You should think about Grandad’s suggestion, at least,’ said Thomas. ‘It’s not such a bad idea, contacting Hugh. You know my thoughts about that scrawny weasel, but I have to admit, he’s been pretty useful this year. If he’s still trying to make amends for what he’s done in the past, well ... maybe we should let him.’

  ‘Ah! So you admit that Isabella has found us now!’

  ‘I suppose it looks that way. She’s obviously paying someone to do her dirty work for her. I don’t know why they would bother watching Matthias’s house, though.’

  ‘She’s keeping an eye on the whole family. It’s ridiculous! Lionel’s revenge trip has got out of hand.’

  ‘I’d like to know the price on our heads, if Isabella is prepared to go to these lengths for him. There must be something worthwhile in it for her. Especially if she’s paying this other bloke to help.’

  ‘She’s just good at wrapping people around her little finger. He’s probably just a lonely Sinwip she met in their village here. All she has to do is flash some cash and flutter those awful false eyelashes, and people can be very gullible where she’s concerned. Can’t they?’

  Thomas scowled. ‘So, are you going to call Hugh?’

  ‘Don’t push me. I’ll think about it, that’s all I’m saying.’

  *

  Alice could think about nothing else that evening. Feigning tiredness, she went to bed early and finally decided to make the call. Grandad was right; as annoying as it was, it seemed a more appealing option than delving in to her future. Alice was even more averse to finding out what her future held since Isabella had discovered something about it that made her furious. Reluctantly she dialled Hugh’s number. A beeping sound was followed by a recorded message.

  ‘The number you have called is not recognised.’

  Alice tried several times, but the message was always the same. He must have changed his number. Perhaps Lucinda would have it. It took a while for her to answer, and when she did Alice could hardly hear her.

  ‘Lucinda? Where are you? Is that wind I can hear?’

  ‘Alice! Oh, I’ve been so worried about you. Isabella has gone to ...’

  ‘I know, I know. Are you all right?’

  ‘No, not really.’ She sounded as if she was crying. ‘I’m in the stable. I’ve been sleeping in here. It’s freezing!’

  ‘What are you doing in there?’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Alice. Isabella said if I warned you of her movements, she’d burn down the stables. I believe her! I know what she’s like now! So I’ve been sleeping with my horses. I had to keep quiet, do you understand?’

  ‘It’s OK. I’d do the same for my animals. But how did she know we were in Berlin? I didn’t even tell you!’

  ‘You didn’t see her? She was on the same flight, Alice! She set off to find that horrid statue and found you on the way!’

  Alice was flabbergasted. How was that possible? She had been looking all around and not spotted Isabella. Her hand shaking as she held her phone, she tried to pull herself together. ‘Listen, do you have a new number for Hugh? I need to speak to him.’

  ‘Yes. But he’s on holiday. He’s just gone to New Zealand for a month. I phoned him yesterday to ... and he was ... airport. He said he ... So I don’t think ...’

  ‘You’re breaking up! I can’t hear you! Please try and keep warm!’

  ‘Be careful! You’ll be all right when ...’

  Alice lay down and thumped her head against the pillow repeatedly. How could they have been so unlucky? How had she missed Isabella? Was she wearing a hat? Had she dyed her hair? It didn’t matter now. She knew exactly where they were staying. They were sitting targets.

  Chapter 7

  A Country Retreat

  The hours dragged on as Alice lay wide awake, a confusion of thoughts swirling around in her head. Isabella on the same plane as them, Hugh on another to New Zealand, Lionel somewhere in Berlin and a mystery Sinwip pursuing her and Thomas on Isabella’s behalf. What a mess.

  Just after 3.00 a.m. she noticed a tapping sound. Was someone knocking at her door? She hesitated for a moment. The tapping continued. It was coming from the window, not the door. Alice panicked. Who could it be?

  ‘Don’t be stupid!’ she said to herself. It must be the tree at the back of the apartment block, rattling against the glass. To put her mind at rest she pulled up the blind to make sure. A face stared back at her. She froze. She wanted to scream, but stopped herself just in time. Instead she nearly choked on a sharp intake of breath. It was Ralph!

  Horrified that he had seen her in her pyjamas, she grabbed her night gown and put it on before opening the window.

  ‘At last!’ spluttered Ralph. ‘I am freezing!’ Alice helped him climb in, his wings squashed flat against his body as he squeezed through the window. She offered him her duvet, but it was no use until his wings retracted. They practically filled her small guest bedroom. Alice inched her way around his wings so that she could lock her door. The last thing she needed was Brigitte finding a boy with wings in her room.

  Alice wasn’t sure if it was fear of someone seeing Ralph, or excitement that he had come to see her that was making her heart beat so fast. Judging by his delighted smile it was the latter. Annoyed at herself for betraying her feelings again, she decided to be blunt.

  ‘What do you want?’ she whispered. ‘You’ll get me in to trouble!’

  ‘In fact, I am trying the opposite. I want to help – you are already in trouble. I came to tell you something.’

  ‘How did you know where to find me? Oh, let me guess, Grandad told you exactly where we stay.’

  Ralph nodded. ‘This Sinwip who is looking for you, is she part Aquatrox?’

  Alice’s mouth fell open. ‘You know about Aquatrox?’

  ‘Of course! They are not unique to England, you know!’

  Alice bit her lip, feeling rather stupid. ‘In answer to your question; yes, she is. Why?’

  ‘I’m afraid she found the entrance to our village today. I was travelling in the lift when I saw something in the lake. I thought it was some mad person, swimming at this time of year. But she came closer, looked at me through the glass, and I realised she was not human.’

  Alice sat down next to Ralph now that his wings had retracted. ‘Are you sure? Did she have scaly
brown skin? Oh, and teeth like a llama?’

  He smiled. ‘Yes.’

  ‘That was Isabella.’

  ‘Then you must not return to our village, Alice. It’s not safe for you any more. That glass lift ... if she attacks from the water ...’

  ‘If she attacks from the water, I won’t drown. My swimming ability won’t let me.’

  ‘Your swimming ability will not save you if she boils the water in the lake. I know what she can do. She heated the water before she swam in it. And that is not all. I have seen her before. Yesterday after you left, I stayed in the security room for a while and I saw her hanging around near the lake. She met a man and I think he gave her bad news. She was very angry and they argued for a few minutes. Before she stormed off she pushed him in to the water. He climbed out screaming – the water had burned him! I could see steam rising from the lake!’

  Alice sighed. ‘I bet the man had a beard.’

  Ralph nodded. ‘Promise me you will stay away from the lake, Alice.’ He took her hands and held them tightly. ‘Please. I do not want to lose you and I know you feel the same about me.’

  Alice was trembling. He’d only just met her and yet he was reading her innermost thoughts – the thoughts about him, anyway. That was an ability that she really didn’t like. What a nerve! She pulled her hands away and stuffed them in to the pockets of her night gown.

  ‘You won’t lose me,’ she replied curtly. ‘I know for a fact that I live to a ripe old age.’

  ‘Ah, your books! Have you read them all? Do I feature in them? Your grandfather would not say.’

  ‘Grandad told you about my books? He’s told you far too much!’ she hissed. ‘But he kept you a secret from me! I know nothing about you!’

  Ralph looked at her with sadness in his eyes. ‘That hurts me. I do not understand why he did not tell you. He talked about you a lot and showed me a photograph of you. When I saw it I knew I just had to meet you.’ He leaned forward until their foreheads were almost touching. ‘I know you have been thinking about me a lot since we met, Alice.’