Chapter Nine
I again woke to find the sun streaming through my window – it looked as if it was going to be yet another gorgeous day. I quickly showered, and while dressing decided that I would postpone my Internet activity until this evening – the day was too inviting to be stuck indoors.
I returned to working on the Lancia. I was completely engrossed the entire morning, not stopping for a moment until the phone rang just after twelve. It was Alistair. He explained that following what I’d told him yesterday, the whole project team had an immense amount of additional work to go through. Consequently he wanted me to return to the complex tomorrow morning, to which I immediately agreed, and arranged to be collected at eight in the morning.
After putting the phone down I realised that I was now just going along with everything that was asked of me. I would drop everything – and throw myself headlong into the project and this extraordinary business of dimension travelling. If I was finding it difficult trying to get a grip on reality, I only had myself to blame. I could just say no, and walk away from it all. But that’s not what I wanted. I had had a taste, and I wanted more – a lot more. But more of what? I didn’t really know, and yet just as a moth is drawn to the flame of a candle, I was getting sucked in. In a strange almost masochistic way, I also had to accept that I did not want to stop myself from falling further into this abyss.
I worked for another hour or so in the garage before going inside for my lunch. However, my mind was continually going off in all directions and I just could not settle. With lunch out of the way I began to focus on the little free time I had left at home. I reasoned that if they were indeed to go ahead with another run, and that would be in seven days time, I could well be away from home for anything up to eight days. What if Caroline tried to contact me when I was away? I had promised that I would keep in touch with her, and I did not want her to call me tomorrow only to find that I did not call her back. It’s the last thing that I wanted after my promise to her. I glanced at my watch; it was now coming up for one o’clock. I thought for a few moments before deciding that I would jump in my car and go round to see her. At this time of day I would be there in no time at all, spend about an hour there, and I could comfortably be home by four. That would still leave me with plenty of time to sort out a few things before the day was done.
It’s funny how your day can turn out. I had been underneath my car all morning, feeling completely relaxed and oblivious to everything. Alistair then calls me and before I know it, I have committed myself to returning to the complex tomorrow morning. Then I decide to return to Cornham Hall to visit Caroline. That decision had been less than forty-five minutes ago, and here I am, turning into Caroline’s street. It was only now that the thought crossed my mind that she may not actually be in. Well, if she is out, I would simply leave her a note saying that I would be away for a few days.
As I indicated to turn into her driveway, I realised that there was a car already parked there, so I stopped on the road, leaving the driveway clear. Guessing that she had a visitor I sat for a few moments wondering whether I should go in as planned, or simply return home? After all - I was the one turning up unannounced. I decided that I would go in, even if only to say hello and that I would contact her in maybe a couple of week’s time.
As I went to knock on the door, the door opened immediately in front of me. ‘Hello Martin, we’ve been expecting you. Please do come in,’ said Kim in a rather flat formal way.
Although she spoke in a nicer manner that she had previously done in the pub, she nevertheless had ‘nasty’ stamped all over her. I did not like her rather odd greeting to me at all. Just what did she mean by, ‘we’ve been expecting you?’ How could she be expecting me, and what the hell was she up to? It also seemed strange to me that it was not Caroline that answered the door to her own house.
‘And just who is we, Kim?’ I asked in the doorway.
‘Caroline and I of course. Please do come in.’
I decided not to say anything else and walked past her to find Caroline in the front room. I heard the front door shut and Kim now followed me in. Caroline got out of her chair with a smile and gave me a short hug.
‘Hello Martin. It’s nice to see you again. Would you like some tea?’
‘Yes, it’s good to see you Caroline. Tea would be very nice, thank you,’ I replied. I glanced at Kim who was very much at home sitting down, and then I asked Caroline ‘and I believe that my visit is not a surprise?’
Caroline looked at Kim before answering, ‘I think I will go and make some tea for everyone. Please sit down Martin, I’ll be back in a few minutes.’
I sat down in the chair opposite Kim and now wondered how events were going to unfold. I could sense that there was something in the air and I knew that I was about to find out. The first thought that came mind was, why could I not just have stayed at home and enjoyed a simple life?
‘Well this is all rather nice isn’t it? You look very well Kim, seeing you here has really made the drive here worth while,’ I said with a smile.
Without hesitation Kim answered, ‘Why thank you Martin. Now I can see why Caroline has taken a shine to you. But of course, you never meant any of those kind words did you? No, you are sitting there wondering what I’m doing here. Am I right?’
My very deliberate insincere greeting to her was meant to flush her out, however it was more than obvious that she would need no prompting. She was going to come right out with whatever it was, and that was going to be right now.
Before I could respond to her, Caroline returned with our tea and a plate of biscuits on a small wicker tray. We all helped ourselves and Caroline now sat down. ‘Caroline, what time did I say Martin would arrive?’ asked Kim.
‘Ten to two.’
‘And what time did Martin actually arrive?’
‘Ten to two.’
‘You see Martin it’s like I said before, you were expected,’ stated Kim looking directly at me.
‘I expect that’s why I’m sitting here with a fresh cup of tea and some tasty biscuits, because I was expected. It’s all worked out rather well hasn’t it?’ came my response. If she was trying to impress me and get me on the back foot, I certainly did not want to show her.
‘Caroline was telling me how the two of you experienced the same dream Martin.’
‘I was under the impression that you did not believe in the strange dreams that Caroline had Kim. So why the sudden interest in me?’
‘Tell me Martin, how are your parents? asked Kim with a wry grin.
Her question hit me like a bolt out of the blue and for a few moments I had no idea of what to say, or why she had asked such a question.
‘My…parents?’ I said.
‘Yes your parents. Oh silly me, I’ve just remembered, your mother died a couple of years ago, didn’t she? Please excuse my insensitive question.’
For what seemed an eternity, I again sat there for a few moments not knowing what to think, or indeed, how to respond. I felt stunned and was completely dumbfounded. If she did indeed have some knowledge of any of my past or current life, the only possible explanation that I could think was that either she or the Gautier Association had been deliberately investigating me. But if indeed that was the case, why did she say what she did? The only reason I could think of was that she was trying to impress and warn me off. Is that was she trying to do, threaten and warn me off? But warn me off what, and what the hell did she know about me? I didn’t like this one bit, this was getting a little scary and rather sinister.
Before I was able to respond, she leaned forward in her chair, gave me an intense stare and said in her very serious tone, ‘You see Martin, when Caroline explained to me that you seemed to be suffering from the same, or should I say similar problems, I naturally became quite concerned for you. To the point where I judged that it may be in your best interest to spend some time with us as a guest in the Gautier Home. By doing so, we may be able to help you.’
‘Are
you seriously trying to tell me that I am in some way ill, and that I need help, and that you are trying to help me?’ I quickly cut in.
‘It’s obvious that you have absolutely no idea of who or what the Gautier Association is or what it does, otherwise you would not be so hostile towards me, or what I represent. However, your hostility towards us is really of no surprise to me, as it is my experience that most of the people like yourself who…suffer as you do, do not want to acknowledge that they have a problem, and are all pretty much hostile towards us.’
‘Oh I see, so the Gautier Association uses its powers to take away the liberty of people like Caroline here,’ I answered looking at Caroline who was sitting resigned to the fact that she would have to do whatever Kim asked of her. ‘And when you threaten, or actually take away their liberty, you wonder why they become hostile?’
‘Don’t get me wrong, I do see it from their point of view, I really do, but…’
I did not let her finish, as I now interrupted by saying, ‘But nothing Kim, let’s stop doing the rounds, shall we?’
Kim gave me a deliberate blank questioning look, so I now continued, ‘It’s very simple isn’t it? You don’t want me coming to visit Caroline, so you are trying to scare me off by suggesting that I am in some way ill, need your help, and if I’m not careful I’ll end up as a ‘guest’ in the Gautier Home – just like Caroline. This is just one of your many scare tactics isn’t it? Nothing more, nothing less - well I’m sorry to disappoint you Kim, but your tactics are not going to work with me.’
Kim leaned forward to take another biscuit, and leaning back in the chair she smiled, looked at Caroline then back at me. ‘Scare tactics Martin, is that what you think I’m about is it…scare tactics? You clearly do not know me at all, because I can assure you that I’m always good to my word. I never threaten or use scare tactics to anybody, as Caroline can attest, isn’t that right Caroline?’
Caroline made it plain that she did not want to be drawn in this strange debate and with a blank look simply shrugged her shoulders. Standing up she asked if we would like another drink.
‘Yes why don’t you make us some more tea,’ stated Kim.
I decided to take Caroline’s offer of drinks as my opportunity to make my escape. I really did not want, or need, this absurd conversation with Kim right now.
‘Caroline, I should really be going soon, as I have a lot to do, so I’ll say no thanks on this occasion,’ I responded.
‘Oh that’s right, you’re going away for a few days aren’t you Martin?’ stated Kim.
I decided not take the bait and returned her a blank stare.
‘Isn’t that why you’re here, to tell Caroline that you’re going away for a few days - or did I get something wrong?’ asked Kim with a mischievous grin.
I was again taken aback by what was said; in fact I was definitely gob-smacked. I had only decided to come here to see Caroline a couple of hours ago, and I had said nothing to anybody. So how the hell could Kim have known I was coming here? And, just how could she have known what I was going to say to Caroline? This was a lot more than just ‘sinister.’ What Kim had said defied any explanation that I could quickly come up with.
Kim gave me one of her stares and again smiled at me before saying, ‘I know you have a lot to do Martin, and that you want to get going, so I won’t keep you any longer. Anyway, once we complete our initial investigations on any prospective guests, we usually find that we can get them accommodation in the Gautier Home in a matter of weeks. You’ll be pleased to know that our investigations with you are almost complete, so I expect I’ll be seeing you very soon.’
I returned her a chuckle as I answered, ‘Well that’s good to know, very comforting. Yes I’m sure that we will meet again…and very soon, but I somehow doubt that it will be as a guest of your lovely home.’
I got myself out of the chair and looked at them both before continuing, ‘I really must be going. Caroline, I’ll give you a call in a week or so.’
Both Caroline and Kim stood up to say their goodbyes. Caroline came over to me gave me a short hug and as she did so whispered in my ear, ‘I’m so sorry.’ As she pulled away she then said, ‘thank you for coming Martin.’
Kim pushed her hand forward for me to shake and said, ‘Always a joy to see you Martin.’
‘Your definition of ‘joy’ is very different to mine Kim, very different,’ I responded, refusing to shake her hand.
I started towards the door when Kim said to me, ‘Now do be careful when you go away tomorrow Martin, wouldn’t want you to lose your mind with…with whatever you are doing with your friends!’
I really did not know what she knew, or how she came by her information, but I was not going to take the bait. ‘You really should stop worrying about what I’m doing – you’ll give yourself an ulcer. I’ll be just fine with my friends. I looked past her, waved at Caroline and said before I closed the front door behind me, ‘Speak to you soon Caroline.’
I never once looked back as I got in my car and drove off. I did not enjoy my drive home one bit; in fact I cannot remember the drive at all as throughout the journey I constantly dwelled on my bizarre meeting with Kim and Caroline. I did not know what to make of any of it, but I nevertheless found the whole experience to be very disturbing and sinister. I did not believe any of Kim’s threats, not for one moment, but how on earth did she know what she did? I could not begin to understand any of it. Another thing that played on my mind was what she had very deliberately said to me as I left the house. Her little statement suggested to me that she knew exactly what I had been doing, and where I was going. As far as I was concerned, she might as well have been reading my mind.
Arriving home I parked the car in the garage and for a few minutes I just sat there, not wanting to get out. I was feeling completely drained – so much for my bright idea of quickly nipping out to say hello to a new friend. I glanced at my watch, it was only half three. I had come back sooner than planned. I clearly had not stayed at Caroline’s for very long – thank God for that. Amusing myself with the memory that prior to setting out to visit Caroline, I had been thinking that if I had a problem with holding on to reality, I only had myself to blame – and I here I was, finding trouble for myself, yet again.
I got myself out of the car and with my head down, slowly walked into the house. I really needed to clear my head, so I decided that I would immediately change and take myself off for a long run.
Having changed, I left the house and walked down my driveway.
‘Going running are we?’ came a familiar voice from over the road. It was my nosy neighbour, Mr Winterbourne leaning over his garden wall. If anything was going to help me get a fix on reality, it was going to be him – at least with him you knew where you stood.
‘Yes I’m going for a run and how are you today?’ I answered as I crossed the road towards him.
‘Where do you go running? He asked. This was a first. Was he actually taking an interest in me and what I was doing?
‘It just depends Mr Winterbourne, sometimes I run along the roads, and sometimes it’s along the country paths – it’s whatever takes my fancy really.’
‘Martin, there really is no need to call me Mr Winterbourne. Please call me Gerry after all, we are neighbours.’ This was an unexpected turn around - maybe I had judged him too quickly.
We stood and chatted for another five minutes or so, before I made my excuses and left to go for my run. I had to admit that after my unsettling experience with Kim, it felt quite good to have that unexpected pleasant chat with Gerry, my not-so nosy neighbour.
I deliberately took myself on quite a long run and did not return home until gone six o’ clock. I had not managed to completely clear my head, but nevertheless, I didn’t feel quite as weird as I had earlier. One thing was for sure, I now felt pretty exhausted from my run.
I showered and decided that I would leave my boating investigations on the Internet for another time. I finished my evening with a qu
ick meal, a quick pack of my bags for tomorrow morning, and took myself off to bed with my book. I had read for probably less than hour when I realised that I could not keep my eyes open any longer. I put my book down, turned the light off, and immediately felt myself falling asleep.