ASSOCIATION / CH. 6:CONFRONTATION
BLACKWOOD AREA, SUNDAY 31ST DECEMBER, 5.30PM
Vivian 'Elvira' Trevithick, initiate of the fourth grade, third in power of her coven, felt something like a tug on her mind, and felt tired. Something was going wrong, and she had to be somewhere. She wasn't sure where, not yet. It certainly wasn't time for her party, that was later, even though she was dressed for it, in her witch outfit. She put aside her book of spells and started to chant the mantra she used to enter her trance, and opened her mind to the higher reality. It was that teenage boy. The dream charm by which she'd bound him to her wasn't there any more, and it was flapping around the spiritual world, wasting her power on feeding the spirits. She'd never known that to happen before. It should have stayed in place until she reeled him in, and bound him with a stronger tie. One that he agreed to would draw from him instead of her. She tried to cancel the charm, and heard the howl of protest from the spirit being that was feeding on it. She had to wait until it was finished. She moaned in pain as it took more from her. The spirit stopped feeding long enough to tell her she needed to find the boy, and talk to him; offer him the healing spell without waiting for him to come to her again. After all, he had come but she hadn't been attentive. Maybe she'd need to offer him more than just healing, make the price one he'd be happy to pay. It was all her fault, and she needed to learn her lesson, so the spirit would release her charm only then. It took another feed from her.
The demon who fed these lies and half-truths to her imagination laughed as it enjoyed this opportunity to sink it's claws deeper into her soul each time it 'fed'. It knew that it's power over the boy had been broken by someone's prayers, but it had got bored of supplying stupid dreams to the boy anyway. And it knew knew where Daimian had planned to be tonight. Some party in the woods. It sent her there, and chortled at the thought of what might happen there, an ideal location for all sorts of things. Maybe it could abase this foolish mortal woman some more as well as gathering the boy, and maybe others as worshipper-slave. Anything to distort the image of God they carried, and tie their souls in knots, far away from God.
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Daimian told his mother about visiting the fortune-tellers, and how the nightmares had seemed to have started with that visit and be shaped to bring him towards 'Elvira'.
“You tried to warn me about that woman, didn't you, Caroline?”
“Yes. And that there were more invisible forces in the world than just God and his angels.”
“John's prayed for me, Mum. Hopefully God will answer. I'm pretty sure He will. And, I don't know why, but I think we need to know more about God tonight.”
“Oh yes? And what about your friend's party that you were so keen to go to?”
“It's not as important as this.”
“Really? You've been talking of little else this past week.”
“I've changed my mind.” Daimian said. “I'm not going. Bob's going to tell me all about him, I think.”
“Am I?” Bob said, in surprise, then recovered his wits enough to say “Ahh, right, urm, let's start with me asking what you know about him, OK?”
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6.35PM
Vivian was driving as though on autopilot, as the 'spirit guide' continued to sap her mental energy. She was half way there, and she should have been using the car's self-drive features, but she had only the vaguest sense of where she was heading for. Left here, right here, her spirit guide prompted. She couldn't think clearly, but just had a sense of doom unless she could find the boy. 'Or maybe bind another one', whispered the demon she thought of as her guide. Someone to 'restore the balance'. She had to restore the balance, the guide was whispering to her, or there would be a higher price to pay. She didn't want to think what not restoring the balance meant or would take from her, but the guide fed her with thoughts of guilt and worthlessness: she must have cast the spell badly for it to break like this, and of course she'd failed to even notice him when he was near, she'd been too busy trying to earn money. Everything was her fault. She needed to do better this time. She drove into the dark night, along minor roads where there were hardly any other cars, which was a good thing, since she was only just in control of the car, and in her haste she was ignoring the warnings from the computer. A white shape suddenly appeared in the lights: an owl, she realised, as she slammed on the breaks and swerved to avoid hitting it. Some said it was a symbol of wisdom, while others, she knew, thought it was a symbol of death. It had almost been hers, she thought, but adrenaline gave her a brief burst of rational thought. She programmed the car to take her to the next intersection. So, had that owl been wisdom or death? She pondered the thought, deciding it might be both, and vowed that when she got to where she was going, and had bound the boy to herself, then she would pour a libation to the owl-spirit.
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6.45PM, BOB AND CHRISTINE'S HOME
“It's the most important decision of your life, Daimian.” Bob said, cautiously, “Jesus said you needed to count the cost, that you mustn't start and then think again. I'm not saying don't decide for God, I'm just saying that you ought to think through the implications.”
“I know. And I have a sense that I need to make it tonight.” the boy — young man, Bob corrected his thought — replied.
Sarah got up from where she'd been lending the occasional thought to what Caroline had been saying to Daimian's mother.
“Sorry, I overheard, can I ask a few questions?” She asked.
“Fine by me, Sarah.” Bob agreed. “Daimian?”
“Urm, fine. Why?”
“Because, sometimes, I've felt God telling me things.” Sarah explained, “and sometimes it's totally out of the blue, no warning, no real connection to what I was thinking about, other times I've been ... I guess wondering about something and then I had the answer. But normally, it just seems like God is just chipping in a bit to a conversation I'm in, or something I'm listening too. Does that make sense?”
“Absolutely!” Daimian said. “That last one. That's what happened. John was praying, and it was like, I felt God offering me this fantastic gift, I got the sense of it being now or never. And I don't want it to be never, so I decided to accept it.”
Sarah looked at him, curiously, “What did you accept?”
Daimian shrugged, “I don't know. I knew it needed to be tonight, that I needed to find out tonight, that I had to put my other plans on hold. It's like... I dunno, that if I'd have gone to that party then it would have been game over, but now the offer's still open, you know? I'm not making much sense.”
“Was the party dangerous then?” Bob asked.
“I doubt it. I mean, it was just a group of us from school, we were going to go into this clearing in the woods where we often meet, have a bonfire, toast some marshmallows, and then cook potatoes and sausages in it.”
“And?” Sarah prompted.
“And nothing. Well, maybe... you know...” he reddened.
“Maybe you'd get lucky and get a kiss or two?” Sarah asked.
“Someone was going to bring some mistletoe, and there'd be music, you know, dancing.” Daimian admitted.
“Well, that would help pass the time while the sausages were cooking.” Sarah said, “Not to mention keep you warm. No drugs or drink?” she probed.
“No! Well, someone said he might be able to bring some bottles of home-made wine.” He felt that it was daring to admit it, after all wine was stronger than beer.
“You're all too young for alcohol and you all know it.” Bob said, “But it doesn't sound like anyone won't be waking up tomorrow morning, unless they freeze to death.”
“I guess the danger was most likely moral or spiritual.” Sarah concluded, “No one was planning to do any magic or anything crazy like that?”
“I hope not.” Daimian said, and Sarah saw him shudder.
“So, do you feel like with you not being at the party, you're out of danger?” she asked.
“I never felt in danger. Just in danger of losing the gift.”
“But you don't know what the gift was?”
“Not then. Just it was my last chance to accept it. I guess it was eternal life, sins forgiven. I want that.”
“God on the throne of your life?” Bob asked
“Yes! How?” Daimian insisted. “I want to know God. I want to be safe.”
Sarah caught Bob's eye and nodded. “Don't make him wait if this is his last chance, Bob.”
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8PM, BLACKWOOD FOREST
Vivian drove along the track as far as she could. The car's autopilot wasn't any help here, this was for tractors. She felt and heard something scrape the bottom of the car. A stone, probably. She looked at the track ahead, and saw it only got worse. She let our a stream of curses. She wasn't dressed for a night-time hike in the woods. She'd freeze. But she needed to find the boy. She didn't need to consult her guide to know where to go now, at least. she could see the flicker of flames and figures moving in front of it, maybe a kilometre away. That's where the party was. She'd need to go and find him, on foot, she swore again. And when she did she'd tell him that the spirits that served her had told her of his plight, and that she'd come, on this special night, to heal him.
She stopped the car and got out. Her high heels sunk into the snow. She contemplated her clothing: heels, miniskirt, a loose fitting blouse with a plunging neckline, suitable for attracting admirers who might turn into acolytes. A light-weight cardigan, of crocheted bats and spiders, suitable for wearing inside a building or driving, not outside when it was freezing; which it was of course. Why wasn't she better prepared? Because it was urgent, of course. She found she did have a raincoat in the back of the car, which was long, at least, but it was thin. It wouldn't be very much help keeping her warm.
She'd learned a charm, once, to keep herself warm. But she couldn't use it now, not with the spirits sucking her strength out of her. Might they stop? She started her mantra to open her mind to the other reality, but found it ineffective. Was it that she didn't have the strength even for that, or she was too cold, or perhaps the spirits were repelling her until she obeyed. She couldn't tell, but she was certainly afraid. She moved towards her target.
The demon had actually been too busy to notice that she'd decided to use the 'sight' that it had tricked her into believing she had. Making plans within plans, while she'd been rummaging in the back of the car, it had been concentrating its attention on the circuits in the car's computer. Delicate wires no longer connected to where they should be, but to elsewhere. Interlocks re-wired. If she succeeded wonderfully, then it would reverse the damage. Probably. Now, it could offer her ways to repair the car: A 'great spell' at sunrise; she knew that she'd would have to convince the boy to bind his soul to hers, of course, in order for that spell. The demon chortled at that fiction, which was always a good way to demean an adult woman and add a millstone of sin to her soul. Or, perhaps, she would choose to commit herself further into its service before it repaired them. Or she could choose to die, of course. The demon didn't care very much which one she chose. In any case the hated image of God would be marred.
Vivian's dark clothes hid her from the fire-blinded youngsters, as they danced and played with the foil-wrapped food. The boy wasn't there.
She called to her spirit guide. She'd come to where the guide had led her, where was the boy?
Surprised, the demon searched. The boy wasn't in the woods, the boy wasn't on the way, nor in his own house. He was somewhere else, near Christians, probably, since the demon couldn't see. The other children were sure that he'd be here sooner or later, so it told her to wait.
Vivian squatted down for a while, trying to conserve heat. It didn't work, she felt her limbs going numb. She needed to get close to that fire. She stood up and approached. There were about fifteen kids there, she saw. and guessed they were aged fifteen to seventeen. The 'dance floor' was on the other side of the fire, and most of them where there, except a couple of girls who were on this side chatting, near a big saucepan. One of them saw her and approached.
“Hey, who are you? Where did you spring from? “, she asked “What are you doing here?”
“I heard there was a party, and was going to meet someone I know here. But my car got stuck. I'm freezing.” Vivian said.
The other girl came up, clearly sizing up Vivian's shoes and clothes.
Vivian heard her decide she wanted her boyfriend's attention fixed on her, not some under-dressed stranger. “Get lost.”
“I'm not after your boyfriend.” Vivian said, “I'm after avoiding frost-bite. Let me warm up a bit, please.”
“How do you know about my boyfriend?”
“I'm a witch. I know all sorts of things.” Vivian said, too tired to think through how they might react. The second girl was stunned into silence.
“Where's your friend, then?” the first girl challenged.
“He's not here, but he should be.” she heard the confusion in her own voice.
“Some witch you are then. And I suppose you can't magic your fingers warm either.”
“Not tonight. I need to save my magic.”
“I don't think we want to invite a self-confessed witch to our party.” the second girl said to the first. “Especially when she's dressed like she wants to be the centre of attention. Especially when she's not even saying who she knows.”
“Look, I'm sorry for gate crashing the party, really. I don't remember his name, it was something unusual. D- something. I've only met him a couple of times. I was on my way to another party for people my own age, adults, you know? But I had this vision that his bad dreams were getting out of hand, and I needed to to heal him before something worse happened. He was supposed to be here.”
“So, this is some kind of mercy mission?” girl one said.
“Yes, now can I warm up before I freeze?” Vivian heard her teeth chattering.
“I guess we'd better let her.” girl two said.
“Want some hot chocolate?” girl one offered, indicating her saucepan. Vivian accepted gratefully.
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7.30PM
Daimian and his mother were invited to stay at the party, which had turned into a theological discussion once Karen and George had been introduced, and been introduced to Daimian and why he was here.
“She set demons on me. Doesn't that mean she's evil? And if she's evil, why did you pray for her, John?” Daimian finally asked the question that had been going round his mind.
John answered “She's made in God's image, Daimian. She's dangerous to herself and to others, but she's still human. Maybe she'll repent of her sins too.”
“So she's not evil?”
“Something she said to you is something the demons used. Does that mean she herself is evil? I don't know. Maybe she's just stupid, convinced of her own sense of importance and playing with forces she doesn't understand.”
“Oh. So we should pray for her to repent too?”
“Yes.”
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As the drink and fire warmed her, Vivian tried once more to use her spiritual sight. She muttered the mantra under her breath and entered the trance. This time the demon was paying attention, and fed her more half-truths and fabrications. She saw herself in a throne-room, the spirit on the throne told her 'you have tried, so we will feed on your power no more, for now.' The demon wasn't sure why it was that it couldn't be bothered to torture her more, but that made a good excuse to stop. She asked: 'Where is Damian?'
The demon told her what it knew. 'Here is where he planned to be. He is not on the way now. He is not at home, but he will surely return there.' She wanted to ask more, but the vision ended abruptly. A little while later, as she finished her hot cocoa, she heard someone approaching.
“You're Elvira, aren't you?” a boy asked.
“Yes.”
“Jez was saying you're here about Daimian's bad dreams. Is that right?”
“That's his name! I knew it began with 'D'. Yes, I am, do you know where he is?”
“He told me about you. He should be here. I'll call him, tell him you're here?”
“Please. If he's not coming here then I can go to him. I really want to help him.” she said. Help him get him into the coven, she thought. That would be wonderful. It was noisy near the fire, so he wandered off to make the call.
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“Hi, what's up?” Daimian asked.
“Where are you?”
“Chatting with the rich and famous. I'm not going to come.”
“The rich and famous?”
“Yeah. One of each, really, I guess. Friends of friends of my mum. Can't say more, but it's better than freezing up there. We're discussing all sorts of things.”
“There's a woman here to see you. Elvira.”
“Stay away from her, man. She's dangerous company.”
“She's pretty. Said she'd come all this way to help you with your dreams.”
“No wonder it was my last chance. I'm not interested in her help.”
“Oh man, lovely lady comes to help and you say you're not interested?”
“Hey, I know she's pretty, but she's not lovely, OK? You used to be the one who claimed to believe in God. We're talking practical theology here, and about staying away from the occult. She's the real deal, in league with or confused by demons, mate. Don't touch her with a bargepole.”
“She came to talk to you, got her car stuck and got frozen. Now she's drinking hot chocolate by the fire to warm up. She doesn't look very dangerous to me.”
“Maybe she's not, personally. My dreams were demonic, they told me to talk to her. Think man, what's your conclusion.”
“You sound like either you're drunk or you've got religion.”
“Better, mate, I've got saved.” Daimian said, grinning.
“Wow, man! You? You don't even believe in God!”
“I do now, mate. I guess some of what you said stuck. Stay away from her, you don't want to mess with that stuff. Tell her to go home.”
“OK, I'll tell her.”
“Hey, I've got an even better idea. Talk to Monica first, she's there?”
Monica was well known in the school for her outspoken faith. “Yes, she's here. Hold on, you talk to her.” Daimian winced and pulled his wrist unit from his ear as his best friend yelled Monica's name.
“What?” Monica yelled back.
“Call for you!”
Monica came over, checking for mistletoe “This better not be some trick, Mick.”
“Daimian's turned to Christ. Talk to him.”
“Daimian?” Monica didn't believe it.
“Hi, Monica. I've just been washed in the blood of the lamb.”
“Don't mock.”
“I'm not. God told me it was my last chance to repent tonight.”
“You're serious.”
“Yes. Mick says there's a woman there, a witch.”
“She's looking for you.”
“That's why it was my last chance. Someone here knows someone with the mind-reading gift. The witch, she's genuinely into the occult too. My dreams were from demons.”
“You sound serious.”
“I am. Pray against her, Monica. Get her out of there.”
“You mean, confront her?” Damian realised that Monica sounded scared.
“You sound scared.”
“Wouldn't you be?”
“I don't know. Should I go up there to confront her?” Daimian asked.
“No.” Sarah said. “Not alone, anyway.”
“Who was that?” Monica asked.
“Urm... That was Sarah.”
“Who's Sarah?” Monica asked.
“I suspect you're on land I own.” Sarah said. Bob nodded.
“Oh. We're not doing any harm, honest.” Monica said, worried.
“Good. Don't worry, you're allowed to be there, just don't leave a mess, damage the trees, offend public decency, or enact any pagan rituals.”
“I'm not going to, I'm a Christian.”
“Good, me too. I just thought you'd like to know that as far as I know that is on the access restrictions.”
“Will that stop her?”
“Probably not, but it means she's technically trespassing if she intends to work magic there. My husband and I will come up. I don't recommend you get into a real confrontation with her. If she starts to get nasty, cling onto God's promises. Nothing can separate you from the love of God.”
“Thanks.”
Sarah looked at Damian “What's the best way to get there from here?”
“Are you sure?” Bob asked.
“Fairly.” Sarah replied.
“It's about half an hour's walk, if you cut across the fields.” Damian started.
Christine shook her head “I'll drive you to the bottom of the mud road. About quarter of an hour from there, straight up the road. You might even meet Henry in the ATV.”
“Thanks, Christine.”
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As they got in the car, John called to Enoch [Enoch, any idea how to deal with someone with the power who's also a witch — as in spells, demons and things?]
[Not personally. Contact Selina, she knows all about it.]
[Thanks!]
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Vivian heard snatches of the girl's phone conversation. 'We're not doing any harm, honest' didn't sound like a conversation with a friend, and nor did 'I'm not going to, I'm a Christian'. So, who had they been talking to?
The boy and girl came over, looking... wary. Vivian decided.
“We've spoken to Damian. He says he doesn't want any help from you.”
“But his dreams! They won't go unless I heal him from them!”
“He's trusting God now.” the girl said, as though that answered everything.
“That won't help him much.” Vivian replied.
“More than your demon friends will.” the boy said.
“And if you do try any magic here, then you're trespassing.”
“Says who?” Mick asked
“The lady who owns this wood.” Monica replied.
“Stupid children.” Vivian replied, haughtily, “Magic is beyond any laws, and far more powerful than your stuffy, boring, God.”
Monica looked at her with incredulity.
“You really think that?”
“Of course.”
Monica sniggered. “Let's ignore her, Mick. She's crazy but maybe she'll go away.”
Vivian hadn't expected that sort of response. Derision? Magic was to be respected, feared, not laughed at. “You challenge me to show my power?”
“Oh, go away. This is a private party.” Mick said.
Vivian began a simple demonstration spell. It would make the fire flare to twice its height. But before she could release it her concentration was shattered.
[We name you, witch. You are Elspeth], she heard a woman's voice said.
[Vivian] said a male voice.
[Rachel] another woman's voice.
[Trevithick] a second man's voice
[known as Elvira.] a fifth voice, another woman.
The voices, male and female said together. [You will leave the woods and will not return. You have no magic of your own, only that which is leant you by demons. You have no life of your own, only that which is leant you by God. The power by which you hear these thoughts is also leant. What is leant may be reclaimed. Please do not make us take it from you.]
It is often said that knowing a magician's true name gives power over them. Hearing it in her mind, mid-spell, certainly distracted her. No one knew her by her full name except her immediate family. From age five she'd decided to be Vivian, thinking it was special to have a name no one knew — due to poor hearing, the registrar hadn't written her first name, Elspeth, on her birth record, and so it had never even made it onto any record or identity card. Not even the other members of her coven knew it. There was knowledge there, then, as well as power. But no magic of her own? That was quite a claim. If that were so then why did magic use tire her? The first woman's voice spoke to her compassionately [It is hard to accept, I know, but it is true. The tiredness you feel is the demons draining you. The things you see are from demons. Nothing of it is from you. The demons play you like a fiddle, and you dance to their tune. They hide the truth from you and make you blame yourself when things go wrong. They are not your friends.]
[You listen to my thoughts. I didn't invite you to.] Vivian accused.
[I do. Mostly in order to warn you from real danger, but I suppose partly because I'm an old woman used to sticking her nose in other people's thoughts. And I know them, and I recognise them from my stupid youth. God has better things in store for you than the demons, I assure you. You were going to make the fire blaze. I know the words forming in your mind. You did not speak the last three. Enter them to a computer translator and you will find them quickly enough. They mean 'eat six of my eggs'. You thought they were magic words? They are not, not really. Its just a language few people speak. It is a simple bargain: each time you've enacted that spell you have traded roughly half a year of your fertility for that flame. I know it's more complicated than that, because of biology, and natural die-off and so on, but that's roughly what you're doing. They eat, or at least kill, enough proto-eggs that you lose six real ones. It doesn't benefit them, you understand. It just ruins you some more. This is why the men have a different form, and why you felt a pain in your womb, at least the first time you enacted it. I know this, Elspeth Vivian Rachel.]
[How?]
[Because when I was as beguiled as you, I used that spell almost every night, for two months in a row. I only looked the words up too late, when my eggs were gone, and the spell stopped working. I hit menopause at twenty two.]
Vivian felt her spirit guide demanding she not listen to the woman, and give her attention to it instead, immediately, the woman spoke again.
[Silence, demon! I command you to release that woman in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Begone, and trouble her no more!]
The guide fell silent.
[It is all lies, seduction, abuse, rape and human sacrifice bit by bit, Elspeth Vivian Rachel. It's all about them defacing the image of God you bear. They draw you in and then wither you. Reject it and turn to God. At the very least, stop. Cast no more spells. Seek no more magical aid. The cost will be high if you do. Higher than you've paid before. They always demand more, haven't you noticed that? Think on this. Now I'll leave you with your thoughts.]
Vivian found that she could think clearly. Very clearly.The whole conversation had barely taken a minute. But her mind was clearer than it had been for months. They did demand more, these so-called friendly spirits. She thought of how often she'd been using that demonstration spell. Not every night for a month, certainly. But, every few weeks for... a year maybe? She couldn't remember exactly when she was given the task — a great honour. A woman, not so much older than she was now, with a haunted look in her eyes, had told her 'It's time for me to pass on my task in the coven meeting. You must call the fire now.' Elvira had wondered about that look, at the time, wondering if the woman had felt threatened by her or something. But did she know? Had she felt menopause coming? Was it a conspiracy amongst the old against the young and ignorant? She'd noticed the difference in the forms of the spell, and now, she wondered what the men sacrificed, fertility? Physical strength? She couldn't remember the male form of words, but what the woman had said rang true. She turned, heading back to her car, deep in thought. Reevaluating her life.
As before, on completing the walk, she was cold. But she was at least thinking more clearly. She'd go home and think more. She got in, and started the engine. The doors locked, and although she heard the fuel pump buzz as normal, the car didn't move. She noticed that the doors didn't unlock when she keyed the car to stand by; they should have.
This was impos.... No, she stopped that thought. A chill went up her spine. It was a long way from impossible, she knew that someone who displeased the spirits should expect trouble. She knew the protocol, even, of what happened to traitors. It was spoken of in hushed whispers in the coven. Possibly, the car would have been rigged to explode. 'Electrical fault in a poorly maintained vehicle' was... not unheard of, not at all. Not that her car had been poorly maintained, but that's what it would be reported as. Vivian considered her options and what she didn't dare to do. She could call for help. Except the radio transmissions might trigger something, so might opening the doors, of course. So, she didn't dare to use her wrist-unit, and she didn't dare to try to open the doors, at least, not without there being someone near, but safe, to call for an ambulance in case the car did explode. Windows? No they were electric too. So, she could stay here, and wait for help or death by freezing. Or she could appeal to the demon, and pay a great price, she didn't know what.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Surprise at her own thought filled her, she held her own breath. Not a spirit guide, but a demon. She acknowledged that designation, she realised. What had changed her mind? The realisation she was now a target, perhaps. Had been a target all along. She let that realisation seep through her. She wasn't going to use magic, be used by magic, again. Determination filled her, more powerful even than the determination that had carried her on this path, even though she knew it might kill her. Tears flowed down her cheeks, she was still young, she didn't want to die. “Help!” she shouted “Can anyone hear me?” No one answered. Hardly surprising.
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[Hey, guys!] Selina called [I left Elspeth alone with her thoughts like I said I would, but I've been checking on her occasionally. She was almost to her car, about ten minutes ago, thinking thoughts of leaving, but now she's sitting in the car, with a mix of repentance, terror, and not wanting to die going round in her head.]
[You've not talked to her?] Sarah asked, surprised.
[No. I sense it's not the right time. But... it was rumoured to happen... the demon might have turned the car into a death-trap.]
[So we should send for the army or something?] Sarah asked.
[Unless you've got a good contact, then better someone who's near and happy to believe in crazy stuff, and to break glass to get her out. It's probably something small and electrical. The time I heard about there were quote 'malfunctioning interlocks and a loose wire in the controller which fed the fuel-cell to bursting point'. Probably when she tries to open the doors.]
[Right. Well, if no one else can go, then we will, we're part way there already.] Sarah said.
[I think you've lived through enough explosions.] Selina said.
[We don't want anyone else to die that way, either.] John replied.
George was pretty sure that the most likely outsider to cope was the ever-pragmatic Henry, and he checked where he was.
[I think God's got it in hand, John, Sarah. Henry's just round the corner on his patrol. I'm sure he's got something in his toolbox.]
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What would have been an unthinkable thought only half an hour ago crossed Vivian's mind. Should she appeal to God? Could she appeal to God? How did you appeal to God when your whole mindset had been to treat God with derision, and demons with respect. But that woman, who had spoken to her mind, had escaped, hadn't she?
“Help!” she shouted again, the umpteenth time “Can't anyone hear me?”
No one answered. Hardly surprising.
“God? Are you there? Are you really active in the world? Are you really more powerful than magic? That girl thought I was stupid for saying you weren't. Can you get me out of here? That woman... she said I bore your image, and that the demons were trying to deface it. I don't understand that, but it sounds important. Do they hate you so much?” she considered, “Of course they do. So it can't be that they're more powerful, can it? The powerful don't hate the powerless. Maybe they tread them underfoot, despise them, but they don't hate like that. God, I don't want to die. I don't want to be defaced either. Help me please, God!”
She opened her eyes and immediately saw the shadow of her car on the trees ahead. Then she heard the sound of a vehicle approaching from behind her.
“God, is that your answer?” she asked. The vehicle was some kind of all-terrain transport vehicle, she saw, as it pulled off the road beside her, and its side-lights probably lit her quite well. The driver got out. He was maybe ten years from retirement, and she'd seen him before, she realised. A reenactor?
“'Ello, 'ello, what's this then? Damsel in distress?” Henry shouted through the glass.
“The car won't start, and it's locked me in. I'm scared.” She shouted back.
“You're that Elvira, aren't you? I'm Henry. You're not going to try and magic you way out, then?”
“No!” she said, surprised at her vehemence. “And don't call me Elvira, please. Elvira's a witch. I'm not, not any more. Call me Vivian.”
“Why can't you just open the doors, Vivian?” He asked, confused.
“I don't dare. I've angered the demons. The engine didn't start but the doors locked. They didn't unlock. I don't want to blow up.” she realised she was crying again.
“You think you car's been rigged?” He shouted back.
“It's happened before.”
“What, to you?” more confused than before.
“No. To people who leave the coven.”
“What lovely people you witches are, Vivian.” he said, amazed at how calmly he was taking this.
“I don't want to be a witch. Or dead.”
“We'd better get you out then.”
“How? Anything electrical might be the trigger.”
“Electric windows?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, miss, then I guess we'll have to break a window. Any preference?”
“None, but they're security glass, aren't they?”
“Oh, yeah, probably. But I've got an answer to that too. Wait a moment.”
“I'm not going anywhere.”
He came back with a toolkit. First he picked out a little pencil-shaped thing.
“Right, now, lass. I'm going to try for the back window. It's not always security glass; it might just be safety glass, which would be easy to smash with this. But... if it does smash then you're going to get covered in glass fragments if you're in the back, but maybe you'd say that you'd rather get out quickly.”
“I'll get in the back.” She said, thinking that a few cuts were far better than getting blown up.
“At least hide your face then.” he shouted through the glass.
“I've got my coat.” she replied.
“Tell me when you're ready.”
“Don't you want to move your vehicle?” She asked.
“Yeah, I supposed I should.” He looked around. If there was going to be an explosion then the ATV might be the best thing to hide behind. Then he thought a bit more. How did you make a car explode on command? The fuel must be involved somehow. His misspent youth came back to him. Yeah, almost empty fuel cans blew up beautifully, just add a spark, but she wasn't likely to be down to vapour, now, was she? An over-fed and shorted fuel cell would heat up quickly and go bang nicely too. Very nicely. “Hold on, I'll just sabotage the fuel line.”
“Pardon?” Was he trying to kill her or save her?
“Your tank's not empty, I presume?”
“No, it's almost full.”
“So, that's not likely to make much of bang. Your fuel cell, now, that's a bit slower than an empty fuel tank, but it'll make a lovely explosion if, say it was shorted out and over-fueled. So, if I clamp off the fuel line then that might give us more time to escape if we do trigger it.”
It made some sort of sense. “Whatever you say.” Vivian agreed. 'Oh, God, let this work', she prayed, then added 'How do I turn to you, God?'
When Henry came back, she called “I've heard about people turning to God on their death-beds. Do you know how and does it take long?”
“Wow, girl, that's out of my territory. And you're not exactly on your death bed, are you?”
“No. I might not live long though. Breaking the glass could trigger it, couldn't it?”
“Hey, you really are paranoid aren't you? Good point though. You won't mind if I just attach my gizmo here to a pole?”
“Go ahead.” Vivian agreed. She didn't want to cause anyone else's death.
“And let someone know you're playing with a possibly booby-trapped car, too”
[Scratch the 'possibly'.] Seline said [I've just looked for people in booby-trapped cars and you glow very clearly.]
[You're back?]
[I didn't want to invade your privacy, Elspeth.]
[Most people call me Vivian. I don't want to die, I don't want to be eaten or disfigured, or played with like a cat plays with a mouse. How do I turn to your God?]
[You're willing to let God be in charge?]
[It doesn't seem to worry you.]
[Of course not. God is good and he wants what's best for you.]
[I prayed, and Henry came round the corner.]
[God knows what we need, before we even ask. He's outside time, so he can set things in motion a long time before we need them.]
[So why didn't he stop me from getting in here, or get you to check on me sooner?]
[I did check. He told me it wasn't time to talk yet.]
[What? When was this?]
[Just before a friend a lot nearer to you than I am told me Henry was on his way.]
[I wanted you to talk to me.]
[What we want isn't always what we need. God said you needed a bit more time.]
[And he's in charge.] Vivian said.
[Of the universe, of coincidences, of atomic decay. Of my life. He allows us real choices, to ruin our lives, and the lives of those around us. But he's still in charge: he puts limits on evil, lets it go no further than certain boundaries. Some people, like you and me, he lets muck up until we know we need help. You want to let him be in charge of your life?]
[Of course.] Vivian said [How?]
[First, a crash course in theology: There is one God, who is mindbogglingly three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are different analogies: water, ice and steam or three sub-leaves on clover which together make up one cloverleaf. None of them are very good, but little human minds shouldn't expect to understand God. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, but the Father is not the Son, is not the Holy Spirit and so on. United in purpose, in love, and in being. Called the trinity. I think getting some kind of handle on it is very important for understanding the rest. With me so far?]
[Trinity. Yeah, I've heard of it.] Vivian said.
[Each one entirely immortal, uncreated. God doesn't need anyone else to love, he is love. Before time, before anything other than God existed, the persons of the trinity were loving one another. Before creation, God knew that mankind would rebel against God, and God the Son agreed to become one of us and open the way back to God. Demons started out as part of creation, servants of God, but probably thought God was being weak for not wiping out mankind for sinning, or thought they could do a better job than God, or something like that. They rebelled, and rejected God, they don't like humans, because we're made in God's image, and still reflect it, enough for them to hate. Not a very good image, since we keep on sinning, but still, we're not totally ruined. They want that image totally ruined, which of course will happen if we die without changing sides. One birth, one life, one judgement. And we're guilty as sin. But God wants to make us new, get rid of the sin and keep us. Keeping up?]
[Yes. I need help, I know that much. What do I need to do to earn it?]
[I'm getting there. God the Son, became a flesh and blood human being, born of a virgin, lived entirely for God, without any sin, got executed for blasphemy because he dared to tell the people that God doesn't really care about religion as much as their attitudes. That really upset the priests and religious leaders. A spotless, sinless, willing sacrifice. We sinned, he took all punishment we deserve, died in our place. You can't earn salvation - it's a gift. Our best deeds are like dirty rags. That's... a bit humiliating, people don't like it. The only valid answer to why anyone knows they're going to heaven is 'Jesus died to save me.']
[Everything depends on him? I don't contribute?]
[No. He loves us because He's God. We love him because he first loved us. We 'contribute' by trying to love Him better: living for him, rejecting sin in our lives day by day, getting to know Him better. Letting him pick us up when we fall and not kicking and screaming when he says we can't have a sweetie. Or children, or something we've worked for all our lives until now.]
[I think I get it. Which is good, because Henry's coming back.]
[Sure? One off decision, not to be rushed unless you're in a life and death situation.]
[Like I am, aren't I?]
[OK. Repeat after me or rephrase as you like...]
----------------------------------------
Bob was still on the phone when Christine got back, but he put it down soon afterwards.
“Who was that call from?” Christine asked.
“Henry. He wanted me to know what he was doing, just in case something went wrong.” Bob replied.
“What is he doing?”
“Trying to get an ex-witch out of her car without it blowing up.”
“Pardon?” Daimian asked.
“It seems like she's convinced that her demons are out to kill her. She's locked in, the motor didn't start, and he says even he can tell she's terrified. Even asked Henry if he knew how she could to turn to God.”
“Henry?” Christine asked, wondering how he'd reacted to that.
“So, he's probably got her down as a bit of a crack-pot, but he's taking the risk seriously anyway. Apparently she was convincingly desperate.”
“So, what did you say?”
“I said that we'd heard she was up there spooking the kids, and Sarah and John were going up the road on foot to tell her to get off their land.”
“What did he say to that?”
“He said he thought I should have called on him. I replied that I didn't think his immortal soul was as safe as John and Sarah's, so I wasn't going to send him against agents of the supernatural. He thought that was very considerate of me.”
“Well, at least he's not denying he's got one.”
----------------------------------------
“Vivian, I've just spoken to my boss, and he says a pair of Christians are going to be coming up the hill in a few minutes, to politely ask any witches up here to leave. Want to ask them about turning to God?”
“They've missed their opportunity. I've just done it. God is good!” She found that she wasn't terrified of death any more. It felt... liberating.
“I thought you didn't know how.”
“I didn't. Someone told me how to, and I forgot to ask her name again, bother. Go on, get me out of here please.”
“What, someone else was here?”
“No. Can I explain when I'm out?”
“You think you're getting out alive now?”
“I hope so. But I'm ready to try, whatever. And it's not exactly warm in here, you know?”
“I believe you. OK, get yourself ready then, lass, and we'll find out if this glass will break easily. Now, if it does go, you know what to do?”
“Graceful dive through the window, roll like the gymnast I used to be, and hit the ground behind your ATV.” Vivian said. Praying to God that her body would remember her gymnastics from when she was twelve.
“Sounds like a wonderful plan. Good luck, but you'll need to go through the glass, and it might be still in one piece. So if you hear a sound like a gunshot, then head out with that coat still over your head, OK? And hit the glass with your arm, not your head. OK? And if it sounds like someone's just hit it with a centre punch, and run off as fast as their beer belly would let them, then well, that's what I'm doing.”
“I understand.” Vivian said, tensing her self.
----------------------------------------
When Sarah had heard from Selina that the car was booby-trapped, she typed a message to the institute's computer. The AI would alert the authorities. A minute later Sarah got received a call from Bob they didn't need, but at least he now knew they weren't about to walk into a totally different situation than they expected, and it gave Sarah an idea.
“Bob, have you told the police? Just the basics, they don't need to know she used to be a witch, etc. Tell them there's a terrified woman locked in a car that she thinks has been booby-trapped, and your employee told you he was going to try and get her out.”
“Great idea. Why didn't I think of that?”
“Because we were thinking we didn't need to involve the authorities.” Sarah said. “But I think we ought to.”
“I didn't know we were thinking that. I was thinking I ought to warn you there might be a rigged car up there.”
“Oops.” Sarah said. “I'd better have a private word some time, then.”
“Is this urm... related to your tiara?”
“You know about it?”
“Christine helped get it made, Sarah.”
“Now why didn't I think of that! I'm so dumb sometimes. I need to chat with you both then. Once this episode is all over. Call the police.”
“I will.”
A few minutes later on, they saw the lights of the ATV round the corner, and then a bit later they saw Henry pressing the back window of the car with what looked rather like a medieval spear or lance.
“He's going to try to break his way through the window with a lance?” Sarah asked, incredulous.
“No idea. But let's wait here.” They were about two hundred metres away.
There was a loud bang, and as Henry ... loped to the ATV, they saw a figure dive out of the back of the car, curl up and land awkwardly on one side as her right arm tangled in the coat. Sarah winced in sympathy. That must have hurt. Vivian then scrambled to her feet and threw herself on the ground behind the ATV. The car stood unchanged for a while, before they saw the car leap as a sheet of flame shoot from underneath it. At the same time the bonnet sprung open, with the upper half of the fireball. It was just vanishing as the sound of the explosion reached their ears. It didn't actually sound so very much louder than the breaking glass.
They saw Henry get up and empty a fire extinguisher on the flaming car. It didn't put out all the flames though, they could still see a flicker under the back.
“It's still burning!” Sarah shouted, but it was too far away.
[The car's still on fire, underneath.] John called to Vivian.
“Henry, more flames underneath!” She passed on the message.
“This is empty. Get in, let's drive!”
She didn't need telling twice.
----------------------------------------
Sarah pressed her panic button. “There's a car on fire, a hundred metres or so up the track from me. I saw the occupant get out. The man who helped her get out also looked OK.” She reported.
“Thank you Maam. You're sure there's no one injured?”
“I'm too far away to tell, but I don't think there's any broken bones. I'm sure she's going to have some cuts and bruises — she dived out of the window.”
“And you're sure no one is in the car?”
“Yes. We were warned there was a woman stuck in there and saw her get out.”
“Thank you, Mrs Williams. Did you see the events leading up to that?”
“About thirty seconds worth. Would you like my husband and I to give statements? I presume there are officers on the way?”
“Yes please, Maam.”
“OK.”
“And don't approach the vehicle, Maam.”
“I've no plans to. The woman and her rescuer are further up the hill, by the way. I hope they can keep the kids away.”
“The kids?"
“I understand there's a group of teens cooking sausages on a campfire up there. I guess they'll need to get down sometime.”
“Thank you, Maam. A fire crew are on their way.”
----------------------------------------
10.45PM
“Yes, that is, to the best of my knowledge, a true and complete account of this evening's events.” Vivian stated.
The policeman scratched his head. “If I record this stuff about spirit guides and demons as your sworn statement then they'll accuse both of us of having celebrated the new year with too much drink. And you hearing voices...”
“Sergeant, as I have stated, I was born with the ability to hear thoughts. You are aware that there have been people talked about in the press who have what might be called an extended version of that. It is my firm belief that the voices I heard on four separate occasions this evening were from people with that... extended version.”
“Four?”
“The fourth time was when I was told the car was still on fire. My ears were still ringing, I can't imagine it was from anyone around. Who could see it, to start with?”
“Oh. Well, I can tell you there were two people shouting at you that the car was still on fire from a couple of hundred metres away. Maybe one of their voices got through the ringing.”
“Oh. Maybe.” Vivian said. It seemed like the line of least resistance, and there was maybe some reasonable doubt. But she didn't believe it; it had been much too clear.
“Please can I edit out the bit about the demons?”
“You wish me to perjure myself for the sake of your religions sensibilities, sergeant?”
“Ah, no.”
“I'm glad. That wouldn't look good on your record.”
“On my record?”
“Sergeant. I can see it's been a long day for you. Would you like to re-read my statement? The cover page included, where it states my name, and occupation.”
“You're a trainee auditor.”
“Sergeant. Read it all again.”
“Knowing this statement may be used as evidence in court and shall contain the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth, I Vivian Rachel Trevithick, civil servant, trainee in auditing.”
“Is my handwriting that bad?”
“Well it can't be civil servant, trainee is auditing. I assumed your pen slipped.”
“Sergeant, I apologise. I should have made the dots bigger, or maybe not used an abbreviation? Shall I re-write Internal Security out in full?”
“You're an Internal Security Auditing trainee?” he asked.
“Yes, and what you have here possibly represents the end of my career, certainly it will trigger an investigation over my past conduct. So, I'd very much like for it to be correct, accurate and include all the facts. All the facts are important in my job. It would not be good to try to hide any of this, since it will come out in the end, I'm sure. We're very thorough.”
“I... I understand Maam. Then if you could re-write the cover page without abbreviations?”
“Of course.”
----------------------------------------
“So, you never got to Monica and the others?” Daimian asked.
“No. Some of them came down towards the car, but Henry and Vivian and later on the police made sure they didn't get close.” John said.
“And what happens to Vivian now?” Christine asked. “New faith, no car, old friends potentially dangerous....”
“Henry said she was still giving a statement, and he was going to wait for her.” Bob said. “After that, I really don't know.”
“We've got the spare room.” Christine said. “Bob? Can I offer it to her?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Sorry, everyone, it's not quite the evening we expected. I'll go and call Henry and make the room ready.”
“Don't worry about us.” George said.
“I assure you we can eat your food and drink your drinks even when your not here, Christine.” Susan added.
“That's all right then.” Christine laughed.
“Would you like a hand, Christine?” Sarah asked.
“Oh, thanks, Sarah. I can manage.”
“I'm sure you can, but I'd like a private chat too.”
“Then by all means! What's the topic?”
“History.” Sarah said, enigmatically as they left the room. “What's on the to-do list?”
----------------------------------------
“So, anyone's history in particular?” Christine asked once they'd started working on the various tasks to prepare the room.
“Bob told me you helped get my tiara made.”
“Oh! Well, I helped make some connections. But... you do work with people called Kate and Horrace, don't you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Horrace did most of the electrical design work for it. You ought to be talking to him.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That's crazy! He's been poking and prodding it for the last half a year and said he couldn't work out what it did.”
“I guess he's forgotten. Plus of course I probably spun him a few fibs about what it was for.”
“What did you describe it as, then?”
“Urm... probably something along the lines of an idea my employer had to help him sleep. Horrace was dismissive but said OK he'd design the circuits, as long as your dad provided the input signal, and he signed a total disclaimer that he understood mucking with his brainwaves wasn't a great idea, and if he scrambled his brain it was all his own fault.”
“But why didn't recognise his own work?”
“I've no idea. Oh. I remember your dad almost rejecting the design, because it put everything on one chip, until Horace told him he could make the interconnects longer if he wanted to. So, I guess that either your dad or the manufacturer juggled with layout of the components too.”
“I don't suppose you remember who the manufacturer was, do you?”
“No. But, Sarah it's all still on your house computer, surely?”
“Maybe, but I can't get into Dad's secret files. It's all encrypted.”
“Have you tried?”
“What, guessing the password?” Sarah asked.
“Yes.”
“I set a password guessing program on it once. No results with the hundred million most common passwords.”
Christine smiled. “It's easier than that, Sarah. The files on the computer are encrypted with a really long random number, but your Dad liked to keep things easy. I had to work on things there sometimes. There used to be a picture of you with your parents on the wall above the computer.”
“Yes. It's still there. Dad used to get it down an look at it all the time.”
“He did more than look at it, Sarah. There's a data crystal on the back of it. The password on the crystal is some combination of your name and your date of birth. It was written somewhere if I remember rightly.”
“You are joking! There's a caption on the picture which says 'Our little Princess Sarah, born 2250.”
“That sounds about right. If I remember rightly you need to put in your whole birthday rather than just the year.”
“That's... Oh, wow.” Sarah had to sit down. “Auntie never knew.”
“I'm sorry to say your Aunt was mainly the one who wasn't supposed to find out. I think he actually set the computer to reject any attempt she tried. She didn't approve of your mother's ability, thought it was very dangerous. She kept the secret, from you too, I guess, but she often said the world would be far safer for everyone if your ability would just rot on the vine.”
“Well, I loved her a lot, but I don't think she was right on that one.”
Thinking of the lives her gift had saved or influenced reminded her Sarah to check on Vivian: she was just leaving the police station. “And you need to call Henry; Vivian's just leaving the police station.”
“How...?”
“Call first.” Sarah said. “I'm not running away.”
----------------------------------------
“Vivian, you know you wanted a hotel? My boss's wife, nice couple even if they're as loopy about religion as you are, is offering you their spare room.”
“Why?” Vivian asked, confused.
“Here, you talk to her.”
“Hello?”
“Is that Vivian? Do say you'll come. We've got a fairly full house at the moment, but the others aren't staying past midnight or so.”
“You don't know anything about me, but you're opening your home to me?”
“I know you've turned to Christ, I know you've got the power. Damian's still here with his mum, and she's the only non-Christian in the house. Maybe your story will convince her.”
“I don't understand. If you know all that, then why?”
“Because you're my sister in Christ, Vivian. You're forgiven, your sins have been washed clean.”
“That's very generous, but really, I can go to a hotel.”
“Your new friend Selina would be rightly cross with me if we let you go off alone or into dangerous company.” Sarah added, loudly enough to be heard by Vivian.
“Who's Selina?” Christine asked, confused.
“Someone Vivian's been talking to this evening.” Sarah replied.
“You.. you know her? She's called Selina?”
“I've known her a few months, but you probably know some of her story better than I do. We can talk more when you get here, OK?”
“So, you're coming, Vivian?” Christine asked.
“Yes, yes, please.”
“Great. See you soon.”
[Selina, could we have a quick conference, please?] Sarah called, including John.
[Of course, dear. How's things your end?]
[Vivian's going to stay with the Christian friends we're visiting, arriving soon.]
[That's great. She shouldn't be alone.]
[I thought so too. But to get her to avoid staying in a hotel I just told her I knew you, Selina.]
[Oh. Do you think that was wise?] John asked
[She needs to be shown trust, John. And she knows how to keep secrets, I'm sure.]
[You don't mind that I told her your name?]
[Not at all. You can tell her where I live too, if you like. Actually...Sarah?]
[Yes?]
[I think I'd like to talk to her. Face to face. I've not looked at the air-fares, but my pension...]
[Don't worry, Selina. I've told you, before. All you need to do is ask.]
[Thank you, Sarah.]
[It shouldn't take more than about ten minutes for me to get you the money, so there's two options I can think of: I'll book you a flight and pay from this end, or you find a flight, tell me how much and then I'll add a bit because there's always unexpected expenses. Actually, there's a third option: I'll take a wild guess at what it'll cost and then you can shop around or moan at me when I get it wrong.]
[And when I find you've given me twice what I need, then what do I do?]
[Buy a nice dress and pass the change on to some good causes?]
[Sarah, be serious!]
[God's been generous to me, Selina. Let me be give generously in turn, please.]
[Hmm. I think I'll look myself. I don't want you wasting money on a first class ticket for me.]
[Bother, I'm found out. What about compromising on business class?]
[I'll find myself some tickets and let you know. I'll ask Vivian when I can see her. I think it ought to be fairly soon.]
[What aren't you telling me, Selina?]
[Oooh, lots and lots of things, dear. It's the privilege of age. Bye!]
----------------------------------------
“That's way too much of a coincidence!” Vivian exploded.
“What is?”
“Selina's home town.”
“Why?”
“I'm due to go there at the end of the month.”
“Really?”
“Assuming I keep my job, anyway.”
“Are you able to elaborate?” Sarah asked.
“I'm a civil servant. Urm. In a certain branch of, err, law enforcement.”
Sarah heard her realise she needed to be careful.
“Is this a point where knowing that I've got clearance would help the conversation progress?”
“Depends to what level.”
“Urm, two-gamma I think it is, no sorry, two-beta.”
“But you're civilian?”
“Yes.”
“That's... unusually high.”
“Sorry, it goes with my job.”
“And I probably can't ask what that job is. Arghhh. I need advice.”
“Wait a moment, then.” Sarah got off the bed in Vivian's room, stuck her head out of the door and called “Karen, can you give some expert advice?”
“Coming.” [What topic?]
[Security]
[OK]
“Karen, Vivian wants to know if she can talk to me about her job.”
“What's your surname, Vivian?” Karen asked, typing Vivian's name onto her wrist pad.
“Trevithick.”
“Vivian Rachel Trevithick? Clearance level four alpha?”
“How...? Yes, that's me.”
“Vivian's a trainee in Internal Auditing, Sarah. Sarah can tell you where she works, but don't pass it on, Vivian, or you're in deep deep trouble. Vivian, if you feel a need to tell Sarah anything you may, that's the purpose of her clearance. As to how I know all this, I'm cleared to one-gamma. You probably have no need to for me to tell you why, sorry. But on the other hand, you might have seen my wedding last Saturday, so maybe you can work it out yourself.”
“I thought I recognised you! And, Sarah, you were Karen's bridesmaid?” Vivian asked, looking at the pair of them.
Sarah nodded. “Karen and I are third cousins.”
“OK if I leave you? I think it's my turn in the game downstairs.”
“Go ahead, Karen.” Sarah said “Thanks!”
“I can tell you anything I want to? That's... a bit shocking.”
“I work at the Institute for the Human Mind. I'm not a psych-counsellor, but, I've got the same clearance. If you think you need one, I can shout. Oh, I was also signatory number one on the ethics code.”
“And I just happened to come to see Daimian when you were up here?”
“Guess who's in control.”
“God.”
“Exactly.”
“No, hold on. I came because my link to Daimian broke.”
“When was that?”
“About half-past five.”
“That's about when my husband prayed that he'd be freed from the dreams.”
“So it's not so much of a coincidence. The demon sent me to chase up on what your husband had done.”
“True. The demon made a bad decision, didn't it?”
“Not from my point of view.”
“Nor God's, Vivian. But you were talking about there being another massive coincidence?”
“Yes. Auditing have this exchange program, sharing techniques, that sort of thing with friendly governments and vise-versa. I came out on top of my class, and won a place in the program at student level. If I do well then I stay in the programme as long as I want, six months here, six months there until I decide to settle down. There's a possibility it'd be a semi-permanent position over there, but that'd be a bit tough, I think.”
“Depends where you have the most important relationships, I expect.”
“Mmm. I expect so. I don't have many here, come to think of it, not if we exclude people in the coven. I need advice there. I was a recruiter, you know?”
“I guessed. You're thinking you should try to un-recruit them? Warn people away?”
“If they listen. But... that sounds scary.”
“Yes. We saw what happened to your car. Talk to Selina about that.”
“Do you have her contact number?”
“Ah, no, I don't.”
“Oh. I assumed you'd called her to help deal with your unwelcome witch.”
“I did. Hold on.” Including Vivian in her call, Sarah sent [Selina? Vivian here wants to ask for advice.]
[Sarah? You've got the gift?]
[Sarah, dear, be nice, you could have warned her!]
[She'd have got there in the end, Selina. She just asked for your number, and I had to admit I didn't know it. Anyway, unless you're in a real hurry to meet her, don't bother looking for tickets. She's coming to your city in what, a month?]
[Three weeks. It's been planned for months.]
[Now isn't that interesting.] Selina said, with a laugh. [I don't suppose you're staying for long are you?]
[Six months.]
[Every six months until she decides to settle down.] Sarah added.
[And there I was thinking there were too many of us in your patch of the world already, Sarah. That's wonderful news, that really is. But if it's OK with you, Sarah, I'll still get that ticket. I've got a few last duties to perform.]
[What are you talking about, Selina?] Vivian asked.
[Vivian, there's always been at least one of the gifted with our background, and I'm getting old. I can't promise it'll be you next, but it seems pretty likely from where I'm sitting. I'm not saying that I'm popping my clogs as soon as we meet, or anything dramatic like that. But I want to pass on what I know, and I'll be the one to try to talk sense into your old coven, not you. It's just sensible, OK? I've had more experience dealing with evil than you have, and the gift gives me better protection.]
[You'd risk your life for me?]
[Of course, girl. But really, I'm risking it for God, anyway.]
[It sounds like you're making a lot of plans based on me keeping my job. I'm not sure I will.]
[That sounds more like your department, Sarah. What did you want to ask Vivian?]
[You've answered; it was about the coven. You're sure?]
[Of course, girl. My predecessor did it for me, I've done it a few times since. It's never pleasant, but... once or twice it's turned into saved souls so it's worth doing.]
[What do I do if they call me?]
[I used to say I was spending all my free time following an important lead in the spirit world. Or you could say you think you've found a path to power they wouldn't imagine, or that you've met a great master, or something like that. Tell enough truth but dress it in language they'd expect.]
[One of my neighbours is in the coven, she recruited me. If she challenges me, what do I do?]
[Trust in God, and pray. Sarah, do some Bible study with Vivian. Moses before Pharaoh, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the three lads in the fiery furnace. Mark, just since it's short and dramatic, relevant bits of Acts.]
[Got it. Quick overview of a month's worth of confrontational Bible passages in what's left of the year. Should be fun.]
[What time is it there?] Selina asked.
[Urm, twenty minutes to next year.]
[Well, start the year on a good note then. God is far more powerful than magic.]
[Sounds like a good subject.] Vivian agreed.
[Bye, youngsters, now delve deeply into God's word, and then get some sleep.]
[Bye, Selina.]
“Sarah, does everyone down there know you've got the gift?” Vivian asked in a whisper.
“No. Not even the power,” Sarah replied similarly, but leading the way downstairs.
“So how do we open this topic?”
“Easy.” Sarah said. “Hey everyone. Vivian and Daimian really need to know that God's more powerful that magic, don't you think? How about we think of a passage, tell everyone some context, and then read it. If you can't find it, then tell us anyway. I'm opening with Moses beating the Egyptian magicians, unless anyone can think of an earlier one.”
“Creation? Surely everything starts there.” John suggested.
“Oh wise and most highly esteemed husband, get on with it then.” Sarah said, giving him a kiss.
“OK. Context. The Bible was written over a thousands of years, and bits of it are much earlier than others. This one? It was quite possibly passed down by mouth from generation to generation before it was written down. It's found in the first book traditionally ascribed to Moses, who Sarah wants to tell you about, we don't know if this is is reflection on what God showed him about the big bang, or if he wrote down something he'd been told ages earlier. No one really knows, except God. But anyway, it certainly is poetic and it certainly gives the Bible's perspective on a culture where the greatest pagan gods are the sun and the moon, where the sea is seen as a terrible force of chaos, and the stars are powerful forces that affect life on Earth. Genesis, chapter one, beginning at verse one.” John opened his Bible, and read.
“So their most important god was only made on day four?” Vivian observed.
“Yes. Did you notice what the stars are for?” Karen asked.
“Marking time.” Daimian said.
“Exactly. Not for controlling the future.”
“And they're also there for being too many to count easily.” Sarah said.
“How many are there?”
“According to modern science, looking out on an average night near a city, or to someone in the middle of nowhere, with perfectly black-adjusted vision, a cloudless, moonless sky and some sort of mechanism to help them not lose count?”
“Ah. Urm. Last one?”
“Depends how good their eyes are. Five to ten thousand in total, but you only see half of them at a time. So, one a second for an hour or so, without blinking or losing count or counting any double.”
“And the scientific number?”
“Can't remember, sorry.” Sarah admitted “Ten followed by twenty something zeros. Moses next?”
At twenty to one, Christine called a stop: “Hey, everyone? Were you planning to keep going until dawn? Or do you want to walk up to the cabins? The guys on the lift are only supposed to be working until one.”
“Ooops. Hurry hurry hurry! It's a long way up that hill.” William said.
“Vivian?” Sarah asked “Have you got any plans for tomorrow that mean you need to rush off? There's things we didn't end up discussing, aren't there?”
“You're welcome to stay.” Christine added.
“Urm, OK. I think I'll need to write a full and total confession anyway.”
“For your work?” Karen asked.
Vivian nodded.
“It probably wouldn't hurt to at least make some notes.” Karen agreed.
“So I'll see you some time tomorrow morning. Any time restrictions, Christine, Bob?”
“After ten?” Bob suggested.
“Sounds sensible. OK.”
----------------------------------------
They weren't the only ones to reach the ski lift late, and William told the men operating it that he'd be the last one up and would call them when he got to the top. Partly that was a precaution in case anyone fell off — some of the late-comers were a little wobbly — but it also meant that the men would know for sure when everyone was up, so they didn't have to stay a moment longer than needed. William had half expected Susan to say goodnight and go up with John and Sarah, since they were neighbours, but he was quietly pleased that she said she'd be another pair of hands if there was someone in trouble. She surprised him again at top of the ridge; rather than saying goodbye and skiing off towards her cabin, as William expected her to, she turned to look over the valley, and removed her skis.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, doing likewise.
“It wasn't exactly the evening I'd expected.”
“Me neither.” William agreed.
“But it was good. Very good. William?”
“You have my undivided attention.”
“I thought I might. Happy new year, by the way.”
“Happy new year, Susan. Is that what you wanted to say?”
“No. I wanted to say I don't want tonight to end. The views are beautiful, the company is good, and I'm not sleepy.”
“What would you like to do then?”
“Oh, I don't know. It's selfish of me, but I'd like to talk some more.”
“Why is that selfish of you? And who to?”
“It's selfish of me because you've got to get up and work tomorrow morning. And I don't see anyone around here to talk to except you, so stop asking silly questions.”
“Just checking.”
Susan took the plunge. “William, are we really being honest with each other? Or shall we confront the truth?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean about not getting romantically involved.”
“Ah. Urm. Honest answer, I'm trying to keep a lid on my emotions. Tell them it's too soon.”
“Are they listening?”
“Not really. Would you like to throw some cold realistic water on them? It might help.”
“You want brutal honesty?”
“Urm. Yes please.”
“OK background to the brutal reality is that since, roughly speaking church this morning, Aaron is ancient history. If he came and begged me to let him reconsider, I'd tell him he's too late, too non-Christian, too addicted to gambling, too inconsistent, too chaotic. If he claimed to be have turned to Christ, then I wouldn't believe him until I'd seen him live like that for the next year. He's out of contention, and off the radar.”
“Urm, that's not exactly pouring water on my emotions.”
“I know, sorry. The brutal bit is that I think I need to go home. Not just back to my cabin, you understand, back to my flat.”
William felt like he'd been punched. He'd just, well, almost, declared that he was in love with her, and she was running away from him.
“That's the logical, rational thing to do. I'm healed, I'm over him, and we're not getting emotionally involved. If I don't go then I'll be crossing a line we've agreed on. I should leave tomorrow. Well, later today.”
“Oh.” he said miserably “But you didn't want the day to end.”
“I don't. But you need to tell me to stop talking now.”
“Do I?”
“I have to stop. Otherwise I'll cross that line.”
“I don't really understand. Susan. Maybe I'm too tired. Which line?”
“The one where I talk about my feelings for you.”
“I'm still confused.”
“The line where I might say something like the only man I'm interested in sharing my life with is you, or that I long your embrace and your kisses, and the one where if I cross it now then you'll never know if I love you because you're you, or because you're not Aaron. You said, right at the beginning, if I said things like this then you wouldn't hold me to them, but that's going to be really painful, for us both I think. And I agreed it was better not to say them. That line.”
He finally understood, she wasn't thinking of leaving because she wasn't interested in more than friendship. Quite the opposite.
“We could just say we were wrong to draw that line. I love you Susan. I'm not so familiar with being in love that I can say I'm in love with you, but I know that when you talked about going away it was like a punch in the guts, like I was lost in the middle of a storm on the ocean and my boat was sinking, like I was lost in the dark with no place to go.” He drew a breath. “And when you spoke about the line I was really confused, and when you explained that you meant telling me something like you wanted to share your life with me or wanted my embrace and my kisses, it felt like dawn had come, and the storm had washed me up on a beautiful tropical island. So, Susan, please don't go.”
“You're sure?”
“I love you, Susan. I don't want you hurt. If you think crossing that line will hurt you, then OK, I guess you need to leave. But... I know I want you in my life eventually, so if you leave then I'll have to work out how to follow you.”
“That was really quite poetic, William. So was the tropical island too. And it made me feel very warm and secure. Got any more?”
“I'm not sure, but.. Milady, Susan, wouldst thou grant me the great privilege of wearing thy symbol upon my belt, and do me the honour of wearing mine upon thine?”
“Milord king! You honour thy maid with thy kind request. But afore we proceed to grasp needles to joyfully proclaim what has passed between us, there is a small favour that would be not unwelcome to me.”
“Gladly my lady, do I listen to thy request.”
“William, hold me? It's getting cold standing up here in the wind.”
He didn't need asking twice, and she was pleased that he took the initiative and risked giving her a few kisses too.