“I am truly amazed, Jonathan,” said Karen. “When you were describing what you could do with your mind I was very sceptical. I really thought you were having me on. But you’ve shown me it’s real!”
“It’s an interesting trick to do at parties,” said Jonathan.
“No! It’s amazing! I am sure we can find a good use for your skills. In fact, I have an idea. Would you be prepared to go with me to visit a friend? He lives up in Scotland and I think he would be very interested in what you have to offer.”
“How well do you know this guy?”
“He’s one of my authors. I have been working with him for the last couple of years. We are publishing his memoirs. He’s a great guy, lives in a castle near Fort William, lovely place.”
Jonathan looked doubtful.
“Oh! Come on! It would be such fun! I’m off work between Christmas and New Year and we could go up then. Let me talk to him and at least sound him out.”
“Go ahead, then. I’m up for it. To be honest I’ve not got much else planned after Christmas.”
“Great! I need to see him about his memoirs, anyway. I can use that as an excuse. Can I use your phone, please?”
Jonathan gestured towards the phone and Karen picked up the handset. She pulled a notebook out of her briefcase, looked up the number then punched it in.
After a few rings, a gruff Scottish voice answered.
“This is Mac.”
“Mac, this is Karen, from Greystones. Your publishers?”
“Oh yes! Karen. How the devil are you?”
“I’m doing great, Mac. Look, I’ve got a couple of things. I need to go over some changes we need in your manuscript and since our office is closed between Christmas and New Year I was wondering if I could come up to see you? You know how I love coming up to the Highlands.”
“Of course. It would be great to see you. You could stay the night. I’ll get one of the guest rooms ready for you. We could talk over dinner.”
“Thank you, Mac.”
“You said you had a couple of things?”
“Well, there was something else. I have a friend who I would like you to meet. I think you would find him very interesting.”
“Bring him along.”
“Thanks, Mac. I’m sure you’ll like him. He’s a really interesting person. How about we come up to see you a couple of days after Christmas? Say, the twenty-seventh?”
“I’ll look forward to it. Are you coming up by train?”
“Yes.”
“Let me know what time you’ll be getting to Fort William and I’ll come down and pick you up from the station.”
“Thank you so much, Mac. See you on the twenty-seventh, then. Have a great Christmas!”
“Happy Christmas to you too, Karen!”
Karen put the phone down and looked across at Jonathan.
“Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose,” said Jonathan.
Karen clapped her hands with glee. “I can promise you, you will have a really interesting time there.”
“I trust you, Karen. Actually, I need a project to get involved in. Thank you for setting that up.”
“Can we go up by train?”
“Sure. We would have to change trains a couple of times but we could do it. We could go from here to Carlisle, then to Glasgow, then up to Fort William.”
“Great! I can come up from Leeds and meet you here.”
Jonathan looked at his watch. “Talking about Leeds, your next train is due in about ten minutes.”
“We’d better get down to the platform then.”
Karen closed up her briefcase and stood up.
“Jonathan, thank you so much for a great day. I am so glad we may have sorted out a project for you.”
“I really enjoyed the day as well.”
“It’s time for my train!”
Jonathan walked over to the door and held it open for Karen. They walked down the outside stairs and onto the platform.
“We need to get across to the southbound side,” said Jonathan and he led the way along the platform towards a footbridge that crossed over the line just south of the signal box. It was late afternoon and starting to get dark with just a few old-fashioned lamps casting pools of light on the platform. Karen and Jonathan walked over the bridge to the southbound platform.
“What are you doing for Christmas, Jonathan?”
“I’ve been invited for Christmas lunch by a family down in the village.”
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“No problem!” Jonathan picked up the phone on the wall of the station building. “I’ll just notify the dispatcher that we want the train to stop here.” The dispatcher confirmed the request and Jonathan put down the phone. A few minutes later the two-tone horn of the train sounded and it pulled to a halt in the station. The doors hissed open.
“OK, Karen, off you go!”
Karen stepped into the carriage and turned round.
“Thanks again, Jonathan! See you after Christmas. Happy Christmas!”
“Happy Christmas, Karen! I’ll call you.”
The train doors hissed shut. Karen waved through the windows and blew a kiss as the train accelerated out of the station and disappeared into the night.
Jonathan watched the lights of the train disappear as it rounded the curve south of the station and then walked back over the footbridge.