by Jon Jacks
She couldn’t fail to notice the surprise on Beth’s face.
‘Ah, you wonder how I know all these things, eh? Well, there have to be some advantages in being dead, don’t there?’
She ignored Beth’s shock.
‘Fact is, I still don’t know everything, to be honest love. But as I said, I’m lucky because I wouldn’t be here to tell you anything I know if I’d been killed just that little bit earlier. Well, if I hadn’t been killed after that calendar you found clicked into position, in fact!’
‘The calendar? Mum, what would the calendar have to do with you being able to tell me what you know?’
‘Well, for a start love, I couldn’t tell you what I know if I wasn’t here now, could I, eh? And, see, even you, love, wouldn’t have been able to call me back to have this nice little chat, would you, if I’d been killed earlier? See, I don’t know where all the ones who died normally, the ones who died before the calendar moved, are.’
‘Mum, the more you tell me, the more confusing all this gets!’
Beth had so many questions she wanted to ask she wasn’t sure which should come first.
‘What do you mean, people who died normally? Where are you?’
Reaching across the table, her mum took Beth’s hands in hers.
In the blink of an eye, Beth was seeing everything from her mum’s point of view.
She could see herself sitting at the table. But instead of the kitchen behind her, all Beth could see were countless hideous, shambling creatures.
They moved around as if there was neither ground nor walls, no up or down.
The creatures walked aimlessly on different planes, some of which were vertical, some at an angle.
It was only as some of the creatures drew near that Beth began to recognise certain human qualities. In some cases it was roughly shaped legs. In others, it was the approximate form of a head or arms.
Now that Beth was looking harder, she could see that some in the distance were almost wholly human, at least in their outline.
They were all naked, but it was the lack of anything that could be called flesh that gave them their repulsive, contorted character.
They could have been crudely formed by a child from angrily mashed boxes of coloured crayons, the wax forced together as it warmed in hot, sweaty hands.
Solly! The soldier!
This is what their flesh had looked like when they had been injured or killed!
Farmer Hayart too; the bullet’s exit wound had become visible when the odrad had turned him to face the wall. Where the jacket and shirt had shredded, the flesh beneath swirled like paints wheeling in turpentine.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen anyone who had – as her mum had put it – died normally since the calendar had clicked into position.
‘But I don’t understand.’ Beth was looking through her own eyes once more. ‘Surely it’s only our bodies that get damaged when we’re hurt or we die? Surely our spirit’s supposed to remain, well, you know, untouched, perfect. As we’re supposed to look – isn’t it?’
Her mother’s answer was a self-satisfied chuckle.
‘Well, that’s what we’re always taught, isn’t it love? In school and in church? That we’ve got this thing called a spirit inside us, and that just leaves our body behind when we die. Yes?’
Beth nodded.
‘But it turns out your body is your spirit, Beth – it’s just hardened spirit, see? It’s no longer fluid and free! Only that calendar – well, that made it all fluid again didn’t it?’
Hardened? Fluid? Spirit? Beth recognised these terms.
Galilee had said everything had been hardened, taking away the fluidity that allowed him to create his spells. Heddy, too, had said that the laws had changed, that everything was fluid once more.
And hadn’t Galilee also said something about the countryside looking so beautiful, so wonderful, because they were seeing the perfect spirit of nature?
‘Mum, are you saying that…that people aren’t flesh and blood anymore but – well, spirit?’
‘Well, almost. As I said, it’s more fluid, somewhere halfway in between.’
‘And so now when anyone’s injured – it’s their spirit, not just their body, that’s damaged!’
Beth’s hand flew to her mouth, as if she were the one who had made it true by uttering such a dreadful thought.
Now it was her mum who nodded.
‘And now they’re just waiting, Beth; waiting until we’re all called for the final days of judgement.’
‘You too mum!’ Beth anxiously clasped her mum’s hands. ‘You’re there too! Waiting! Waiting until Judgment Day!’
‘Oh Beth, don’t be silly! Didn’t I say it’s not long at all?’
Beth’s mum smiled blissfully.
‘That’s why everyone’s changed, love – because we’ve already reached the End! Everyone’s already living in the Last Days of Judgement!’
*
Chapter 47
‘Mum?’
Beth gazed uneasily into her mum’s eyes.
The blissful smile had frozen on her mum’s face. The eyes were blank, unmoving. Unseeing.
Look, this is all very touching; but if I might just interrupt? We are in the middle of a battle, remember?
Beth sensed that Lynese was studying her mother curiously.
She came out of that fire surprisingly well! What she said about there being this special thing inside her again, by the way – impossible, I’d say! Luck more like – and well, these days that’s not impossible, is it?
‘You mean she could have been badly burnt?’
Beth was both horrified and furious. She didn’t know which she felt more.
‘And I’d have seen her like that, like I saw all those deformed spirits?’
She shivered at the thought.
What choice would I have had? You wanted to see her, Beth. You wanted to see her no matter what! I felt you granting me the leeway to enable you to see her!
‘Lynese. Can’t I have longer with her? Can’t you do something?’
Something? Darling, I can’t continue to freeze time just so you can have your little chat. Unless…no no, you wouldn’t let me.
‘Wouldn’t let you what? Unless what?’
There was an urgency in Beth’s voice.
Well, it’s just that, obviously it’s not easy casting difficult spells like this when, well, when you’re keeping me firmly in control. You don’t know any spells, do you?
‘You can do that? You can let me stay longer with mum if I just let you have a little more…control?’
Beth’s enthusiasm abruptly paled as she reached the doubtfully spoken ‘control’.
More freedom, not control. Just give me a little more freedom Beth! You’ll be amazed at what we can do! We’ll even take care of Argothoth!’
‘Argothoth? Who’s Argothoth?’
Ohh, er, you know; this Foley friend of yours. You won’t survive against him Beth, unless you–
‘So you know this Argothoth? How come–’
Look, can’t we have this little discussion later? What did I just say about only being able to hold back time for so long? All you need to know for now about Argothoth is that he will kill you, Beth, unless you give me cont– a little bit more freedom.
‘But Galilee said I had to be careful how much control I let you have.’
Lover boy? He’s just jealous that we’ll be more powerful than he is! And what good’s his advice if it leaves you dead, eh, Beth?
Beth felt an involuntary flexing of all her muscles, a surge of something that felt like adrenalin rushing around her entire body.
She wanted to allow it all to happen, to give way to Lynese’s desire to take more control of her body.
&nb
sp; She wanted to see more of her mum.
She wanted to have the power to defeat Foley, this Argothoth.
Yet there was a part of her unconsciously resisting, holding Lynese back.
What’s wrong with you girl? Can’t you see we’re both going to die?
‘Don’t let her Beth!’
‘Mum?’
Although remaining rigidly still, although her eyes were still glazed and vacant, Beth’s mum was mumbling through virtually motionless lips.
‘Don’t let her!’
How’s she doing that? She’s not supposed to be able to talk like that, unless I let–
‘Unless you let her? You’re controlling her, you mean?’
How else do you think all this is happening? Did you really think you were doing it?
‘…something else the spirits said...’ Beth’s mum was struggling hard to get out her words. ‘…about Morr–’
Beth, sorry, but I can’t hold this together any longer!
‘About more what mum?’
Her mum shivered, flickered, breaking up into – it seemed to Beth – small, multi-coloured flames.
They shrank as they danced. They left more and more space between them, until there was just an empty chair.
‘Mum!’
Don’t worry! She’s not gone forever! But neither has Argothoth! I need you to let me take him on Beth! You can’t do it yourself!
‘No! You heard what my mum just said!’
Since when did you listen to what your mum said?
‘Since she died, I suppose!’ Beth answered tartly.
Oh, then please yourself girl! Obviously you’re determined to meet her by actually dying yourself! Though I’d just like you to know – I really resent the fact you’re taking me with you!
*
Chapter 48
The flames twirling and pirouetting around them should have unnerved Foal.
Yet the small wolf remained calm and still as Beth cradled her.
If I’m going to die, Beth thought, let’s hope that it’s like mum – instantly and without pain.
Please, please just let the air be sucked from my lungs! Foal too. Don’t let us burn!
*
Beth spun around, hearing an unnerving creaking and snapping off to her side.
A wall was shaking, the mortar crumbling. Perhaps pushed to its limits by first the rapid burrowing of the odrad, then the swift temperature changes of cold water and incredibly hot flames, the wall was swiftly fracturing.
Even Foley appeared surprised.
Stepping back warily, he momentarily forgot to expand his encircling walls of fire.
With a thunderous crack, the stones broke free of each other.
Cascading into the room, the stones brought with them an avalanche of debris. Glass, heavy beams, and the splintered wood of broken wall cabinets all crashed and spilled across the floor, suffocating the fire beneath it.
The stones rolled and rumbled over each other as if in a race. A choking, billowing cloud of dust added to the confusion.
Small chunks clattered around Beth’s feet, symbols of how close she had come to being struck by the heavier pieces.
The way they had fallen, though, helped her see what had happened more clearly than Foley. The dust clouds had wafted out either side of what looked like a bridge of rubble, stretching over an avenue of dancing flames.
It was a bridge leading to a bright, clear day beyond the burning building. The day was ridiculously normal and peaceful.
Beth stepped onto the crude crossing and sprinted across it.
She giggled with relief. The wall had fallen so perfectly it had almost been magical, as if she had been helped by Galilee–
Galilee!
He was still unconscious! Still under the table and in the middle of the fire!
She hesitated, looking back into the fire as she wondered how she could rescue him.
Then she saw Foley languidly stepping through the flames towards her.
Water! She could sense the presence of water!
It was water she hadn’t been able to draw on previously because it had lain outside her range of influence. But now that she had moved, she could feel that more water was available if she would only draw nearer to it.
She ran farther along the rubble bridge, leaping over what remained of the wall.
In the yard, she kept on running, bending slightly to let Foal down to the ground as gently as she could. She hoped the poor creature’s good legs would be able to bear its weight.
She ignored Foal’s whimpering, just as she ignored the panicked neighing and dull lowing of horses and cows that had smelled and feared the fire.
Her full attention was on the presence of the water. She was working out how much she would need. Working out how much more water was coming into her range as she ran.
Then she turned, her arms outstretched. She called on the water collected in the gutters, drains, butts and troughs surrounding the stable.
The water rose into the air, coming together as a vast plume that made even Foley stop and look up in awe.
Cresting as a curling wave, it fell down towards Foley as a tsunami.
Foley casually met it with his own creation, created out of nothing but a rearranging of atoms. It emanated from his hands as a rolling, swirling barrier of fire. It easily generated enough heat to turn the water to steam before it fell any farther.
But the water didn’t fall any farther.
It curled back up into the air, splitting into multiple spouts. They swerved around the edges of the flaming wall, soaring over a triumphantly grinning Foley.
They came together once again as they fell, drenching the fires still consuming the farmhouse.
Just as Beth had intended all along.
*
‘Missed!’ Foley chuckled, giving Beth a sarcastic bow.
Immediately, he sent jets of flames flying through the air towards Beth.
At the last moment, as Beth vainly ducked, the plumes of fire wheeled off to one side.
It left her feeling scorched, but alive.
‘So did you!’
‘Did I?’ Foley grinned archly.
Behind Beth, the wailing from the animals was suddenly more urgent and terrified.
Spinning round, she realised that Foley had deliberately directed his flames at the stables and cowsheds. His flames had instantly set them ablaze.
Water! She needed more water!
Gerry and Heddy were already rushing towards the furiously blazing buildings, a whimpering Foal pathetically limping after them.
Heddy, being familiar with the farm, was the one giving directions. She had obviously snapped out of her trance; whether that was because the spell had worn off, or because it could be broken by urgent situations, Beth couldn’t be sure. After all, she had only instinctively cast the spell rather than considering its conditions.
Beth knew for certain, however, that Heddy and Gerry would need help rescuing all the petrified animals.
She began to run again, her mind focused on identifying a fresh source of water.
‘Run, run, poor, pathetic Annie!’ Foley laughed uproariously. ‘All this compassion! You’re no longer fit to hold your role! Admit it, Annie!’
Listen to him mocking you! I can create the water for you, you silly girl! Out of nothing. Just like Argothoth did with the fire!
‘How?’ Beth snapped. ‘How do I do it?’
As she ran, Beth directed small fountains of water onto the flames. She was drawing it up from where it had steadily collected in discarded metal and plastic containers tow
ards the rear of the buildings.
Not you; me! I need more control!’
What little effect the water had on the blaze was immediately counteracted by another blast of roaring flame.
This time, the fire seemed to come from nowhere rather than emanating from Foley.
Beth glanced behind her, to see if Foley had moved. He was still unhurriedly following her, somehow seeming larger than ever.
It was like he was growing, growing even as Beth studied him. His skin appeared to be stretching painfully.
Yet Foley chuckled wickedly, as if he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
‘Admit it Annie,’ he roared. ‘Your time is over! You’re too weak. I shall take your place! As you know I’ve always wanted to do!’
He’s right! We’re not strong enough to take him on like this!
As more water came within her range, lying within yet another scattering of discarded containers, Beth once again dragged it up into the air. She sprayed it over the worst areas of the fire.
She ducked through an archway cutting through one of the longer buildings, hoping she could grab a few minutes when she would be out of Foley’s sight.
It would give her time to think.
Chuckling at such obvious desperation, Foley launched a vast, blazing ball towards her.
It careered through the archway, the flames rolling and turning back on themselves as it struck the walls and ceiling.
Beth leapt out into the open, throwing herself to the ground. She scattered water from a nearby ditch over her as a protective layer.
The muddy water hissed, steamed and evaporated. The fire roared over Beth’s back.
The flames hurtled across the field, setting the ditch’s thick hedgerow alight.
Quick, while Argothoth can’t see us! He’s not taken full control yet. Letting me have more control can save us!
Farther along the line of blazing sheds, a sweating, smoke-stained Gerry and Heddy were forcefully dragging out petrified horses and cows.
As Beth rose to her feet and padded farther into the field, she silently cursed herself.
She had now endangered her friends by getting Foley to follow her out to this side of the buildings.
She had to defeat him, no matter what.
‘Okay – so what happens to me if I say yes? If I allow it?’
You? You won’t even notice the difference! You’ll just have more power than you ever imagined possible!
‘So what do I do to–’
Beth was interrupted by a thunderous roar of fire.
Flames turned and spun like a condensed sun within the confines of the archway. Foley appeared from the midst of this raging inferno, calmly strolling, as if determined to make a theatrical entrance.
He was demonstrating the ease with which he was toying with her life.
