《Sleep now in the fire》 Chapter 1. Gift horses Chapter 1. Gift horses 1888 Port Campbell Australia Innis noticed the straw coloured twine amongst the wreckage of the ship. In the sheltered inlet, he watched it eddy and swirl around the hands and feet of the dead. It caught on his rolled up sleeves and bare legs, and it followed in his wake as he and Florry dragged the bodies of the passengers and crew ashore. Since arriving at first light he¡¯d had a growing sense of unease. Standing in the shallows he scanned the cliffs above and the track that led down to the beach. There was nothing out of place - except the bodies and debris that he and Florry had brought ashore, and picked through for anything of value. His Nain had often said, the guilty flee when no-one pursues. He smiled at the thought of the sour old crow - but even repeating her words to himself, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was being watched. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. * Glenample station was a large pastoral holding surrounded on three sides by flat, almost featureless land. To the south, it was bordered by nearly 50 miles of unbroken sea cliffs and the wild ocean of the Bass Straight It was at Glenample station that Innis met Florry. Innis had been part of a group of travelling stonemasons who''d made additions to the homestead and built outhouses on the property. Mr.Gibson the station owner, had offered him a job as a general roustabout, and he''d stayed when the others had moved on to the goldfields in search of work. Florry was a jack of all trades, who worked seasonally across the district. He¡¯d worked on boats in the straight and along the coast, as a whaler and a sealer until a badly broken leg put him ashore in the nearby settlement of Port Campbell. Both were from Cornwall and had become fast friends almost as soon as they''d met. Mr. Gibson called them his pair of Cornish bastards. * They were mending a fence when a stockman rode up. "Where are you off to George?" Innis asked. The stockman was on his way to the telegraph office at the nearby railway siding. "Mr. Gibson is sending a message to Port Melbourne about the shipwreck." Florry put down the roll of fencing wire he was carrying and wiped his hands. "What shipwreck would that be then?" "Off Mutton Bird island," George said. "maybe five or so miles from the homestead." The day before George and another stockman had been mustering when they came across a survivor from the shipwreck walking along the cliff path. A search party had been organized and another survivor had been found in a cove below. "Where are they now?" Innis asked. "Both of them are resting up at the homestead. Mrs. Gibson is looking after them." As George rode off, Florry turned to Innis. "If we get an early start and go further east along the coast, we could get a full day of going through whatever washes up before anyone comes looking." Florry smiled. "They don¡¯t call this the shipwreck coast for nothing." * The next day they arrived before dawn on a clifftop that overlooked a series of sheltered coves and inlets. In the early light Innis was astonished to see a glowing green cloud in the current. "What do you make of that?" Florry spat on the ground and scowled. "It''s as bad an omen as I¡¯ve ever seen." Then he laughed and clapped Innis on the shoulder. "Don''t be getting spooked. I¡¯ve seen it before. It''s phosphorous matches that were bound for the mines." Innis said nothing. He watched the glowing cloud start to fade as the sun began to rise. Something felt out of place, but he couldn¡¯t say what it was. There was enough light to walk the track down from the clifftop to the shoreline. "Stop faffing around Innis, gift horses don¡¯t wash up every day." * Chapter 2. A new found friend Chapter 2. A New found friend It was mid-afternoon. Innis was dragging the last body through the shallows when he saw movement on the cliff top above. He stopped and the trailing body bumped against him. Two peregrine falcons squabbling over a catch flew off. Innis sighed in relief. He rolled the uniform clad body over and looked at the bearded face. "You ever get the feeling that something''s not quite right, but you can¡¯t put your finger on it." Water poured from the dead man''s open mouth. Florry called out from the beach. "When you¡¯re finished chatting with your new found friend can you give me a hand with this fat bitch." Innis laughed, he was about to say something when he heard a noise behind him. He turned and stumbled back in surprise. Standing further out was a woman, with only her head and shoulders showing above the water. Her eyes were closed and her face was tilted toward the sun. Innis was stunned - why hadn''t he seen her before now? "Do you need help?" The woman didn¡¯t respond, so he called again. The woman put a finger to her her lips and breathed out slowly. She opened her eyes and smiled. "There is a sweet irony in all of this. Forgive me for taking a few moments to savour it." He had no idea what she was talking about. "Were you on the ship that ran aground?"This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. The woman started to wade toward him. "The ill-fated Loch Ard. Under the command of the recently departed Capt. Gibbs." She paused mid-step. "To whom I believe you were just speaking." Any thought of asking how she had survived the shipwreck fled from his mind. There was no way of telling what the woman had seen, or what she might say if she ever left the inlet. "Let me help." Innis held a hand out to her and reached for a knife he kept in the small of his back. An expression crossed the woman''s face he couldn''t read. When she took his hand, Innis told her that he was sorry and stabbed her in the neck. It was steel against steel. Pain shot the length of his arm. The knife twisted and cut his hand as it fell into the water. Its tip and blade broken. The woman''s hazel eyes shimmered. "There¡¯s no need to be sorry." Every part of him had rung like a bell and now he was frozen in place - paralysed. Still holding his hand, the woman moved closer. "You really should be more careful who you shake hands with." Turned her head from side to side, she looked intently at him - the way a bird of prey looks at what it has caught in it''s talons. She let go of his hand, and Innis fell backwards into the water. " My name is Eurides." Innis gasped for breath and almost retched at the thought of how easily she could of killed him. "I hope we can get past this awkwardness. I thought you were reaching for some sort of religious trinket." "Never put much store in such things." he spluttered. Eurides smiled. "I like that about you Innis." How does she know my name he wondered as he slowly getting to his feet. Standing face to face, Eurides was almost a head taller than him. Innis held his cut hand close to his chest. "What are you?" "I''m a traveller." Eurides said. She hummed to herself for a moment. ''''I don''t believes in coincidences Innis. So I find myself wondering just what exactly you are." Under her gaze, he felt like an insect in a glass jar. Eurides looked past him to the shore line. Innis realised he''d forgotten about Florry. He turned to shout a warning but the words caught in his throat. Florry stood motionless in knee deep water. His eyes were closed and his arms hung limp by his side. "You have a decision to make." Eurides said. "Your friend can''t come with us." Dread crept over Innis. "I''m not going anywhere with you. If hurting Florry is part of a test or a bargain of some kind, the answer is NO. I want no part of it. Just kill me and be on your way." "Would your friend say the same?" Eurides said "Maybe he would." Innis said. "He would leave you in a ditch by the side of the road and you know it." Eurides said. She called out Florry''s name. Florry opened his eyes and the blank expression on his face was replaced by a look of childish happiness. Happier than Innis could ever remember seeing him. "Hello Gert." he said. "Is Elky here?" "Of course she is Florry. Can you do something for us?" "You can count on me." Florry stood at attention. "Soldier can you collect some firewood for a bonfire tonight?" "It will be the best bonfire ever Captain." Florry said. He saluted and marched to the shore. "What was that all about?" Innis asked. "Florry had two older sisters who adored him and they both died when he was young." "He''s never said anything to me about them." Innis said "You never told him you were a Pastor''s son." How did she know that? Innis could hear Florry singing to himself as he combed the beach for driftwood. "Florry and I have some work to do before nightfall." Before Innis could say anything, he felt his body straighten and walk toward the shore - then his mind went completely blank. * Chapter 3. Sleep now in the fire Chapter 3. Sleep now in the fire It was night when Innis woke up on the sand, lying beside a bonfire. Had it been a dream? He sat up and saw Florry slumped over further down the beach. "He''s just sleeping." Eurides said. She was sitting near him opening a timber packing crate. "Is he alright?" "He won¡¯t remember a thing. He¡¯ll wake up tomorrow, find his satchel full of jewellery and coins, and be on his way like a startled rabbit." Innis smiled at the thought of it. Eurides rolled the crate onto its side and tapped the knife she was using against it. "You''re a pragmatic man Innis. I don''t mean any disrespect in saying it - but each year is finding you worse for wear." "True enough." Innis said. He saw that Eurides was using the broken knife he''d dropped in the water and remembered the cut on his hand. The wound was completely healed. "I want you to look after something for me." Eurides peered inside the open crate. "There you are." She lifted out a porcelain statue of aThis tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. peacock. It''s glaze glistened in the firelight. "There was two of them on the ship. A peahen and a peacock, a matching set." "Are they yours?" Innis said. "No, I saw them side by side on the dock at Graves End in London before we embarked. The Captain had them both unpacked and checked for damage before they were loaded." "Is that what you want me to look after?" Her laughter surprised him. It was light and almost girlish. "If only it was that simple." Eurides turned the statue over in her hands. "I occasionally give in to nostalgia. The colours remind me of another place, another world all together." She sighed and carefully slid the statue back into the crate. "What are you going to do with it?" Innis asked "He''ll be safe from the tide here. Someone will find him." Eurides stood up. "Help me stack the fire." Innis stood next to her as she threw in broken boxes. "You still haven¡¯t told me what you want me to do." Eurides stared into the fire. Innis tossed in some rope and driftwood. He saw her face in the firelight and thought how beautiful she was. "It is a most faithful mirror." He tried to guess she meant, then watched in horror as Eurides walked into the fire. Innis turned away not wanting to see. The flames drew back as if in surprise then closed around her with a roar. He looked for her body in the flames. Eurides stood in the bonfire with her back to him. She swayed slowly with outstretched arms. Waves of motion flowed through her body. The strings of tattoo markings that adorned her pulsed and glowed. The fire was giving up its heat and light to her. The flames rolled and changed in shape and pattern. A halo and crown. A set of golden wings and royal garments. Eagles soared and lions lay down next her, Eurides movements slowed. She turned to face him and held out a hand. Innis stepped to the edge of the fire and felt nothing more than a gentle warmth. "You still have a choice ." "Either way," Innis said, " no-one is going to shed a tear for me." He took her hand. "Close your eyes." He stepped into the fire and emerged in the walled garden of his Father''s rectory in Wiltshire. He could feel the spring sunshine on his face. He could hear the hum of bees and smell the freshly cut apples that his Mother had picked. "Why am I here?" "I want to prepare you for what¡¯s to come." They were sitting on a garden bench. "The world won''t change. History will take its course regardless of what you do. That''s the way it has to be. What''s going to change is the way you see it." Innis could feel his mind starting to drift. "How will I see it?" "That will be entirely up to you." Eurides said. The sound of her voice and the feel of her presence began to fade, until Innis realized that he was alone. He was suddenly present and fully aware in the centre of the bonfire. He screamed as his clothes and hair burst into flames. Flames filled his mouth and clawed at his face and ears. Innis screamed as his skin split open and the muscle and fat beneath it simmered. He screamed until his throat closed and he couldn¡¯t scream anymore, then he fell blind to his knees and the fire engulfed him. * Chapter 4. All that glitters Chapter 4. All that glitters Florry woke up on alone the beach. He recognised where he was but he had no idea how he''d gotten there. What he did know, was that his satchel was full of valuable bits and pieces. As he made his way to the track that led up and off the beach he passed the warm remains of a fire and saw a skull in the embers. "What the fuck." He brushed away some ashes with a stick. There was only one body, but it was easy to see by the footprints that another person had been there. "Whatever this is, it has nothing to do with me." He climbed the track to the headland. At the highest point, as he looked back down over the inlet, a familiar voiceIf you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. called out. Startled, he turned around. "You sly old bastard I thought I might find you out here." It was John Borlace. "You scared the living shit out of me." Borlace chuckled. "It''s that guilty conscience of yours Florry. Some of the lads already got pinched trying to make off with what washed up near the wreck site. So I thought I might try my luck out this way." "Anyone else come with you?" Florry asked. "Just me. Didn¡¯t even see anyone else on the trail." Florry adjusted his satchel and stepped closer to the edge of the cliff. "It looks like there¡¯s wreckage already down on the beach." Borlace smiled and rubbed his hands together. "Out of the way Florry let me have a look." He stepped around Florry and looked over. "Your right old son and there¡¯s still some in the current as well." He turned around grinning, and Florry shoved him hard in the chest. Borlace grunted and a look of surprised fright crossed his face. He tripped backwards over his own feet and grabbed at thin air as he went over the edge. Florry looked at Borlace''s body on the rock shelf below. He watched as each swell surge tugged and pulled at the body until it disappeared into deep water. "Don''t take it personal like John boy." Florry hugged his satchel. "A bit of luck finally comes my way, there''s no fucking way I''m gonna share it." TurnIng to leave he heard his sister call out. Florry''s vision blurred and he was a child again. "Have you seen you seen Elky?" Gert asked him. "Is Elky here?" he said. "We¡¯re playing a game of hide and seek. Can you help me find her?" "I''m the best at playing hide and seek." Florry said. "I think she¡¯s hiding in our bedroom." whispered Gert. Florry beamed with excitement. "Are you ready? We have to be quiet, hold my hand now." They rushed through the open door whooping and laughing. Florry tumbled through space and landed broken on the rock shelf below the cliff - a few paces from where John Borlace had lain. His satchel burst open, and nothing more valuable than pebbles and shells tumbled into the sea. * Chapter 5. Interwoven Chapter 5. Interwoven The sway of the train carriage nudged Innis awake. Sitting next to him, Eurides looked out the window at the passing countryside. He rubbed his face. "Where are we?" "On a train to Port Melbourne." Eurides said. The last thing Innis remembered was the fire. He leaned back against the seat. "How did I get here?" "You left the beach before first light and walked until you reached the railway siding. You had a pleasant conversation with a rather surprised telegraph operator. Then you paid for a ticket and boarded this train when it stopped for water."A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "I see." Innis said, "it was as simple as that." "It was." Eurides said. He looked at the clothes he was wearing. "Whoever these clothes belonged to, they''re very well made." "Dr. Carmichael booked passage on the Loch Ard with his wife and children in the hope of starting a new life in Australia." "Didn''t work out the way he intended." Innis said. "Things seldom do." Eurides said. "Did any of the family survive?" "One of the daughters, Eva." "How do you know that?" "I helped her ashore." Eurides said, "although I doubt she will remember it." There was a medium sized bag on the seat next to him. "I believe it¡¯s called a Gladstone," Eurides said. "It''s a carry all for a Doctors¡¯ tools of the trade." Innis unclipped the clasps, looked inside and whistled. "Do all Doctors carry around a small fortune hidden in their bag?" "I don''t think the good Doctor will be asking for it back any time soon, so it¡¯s yours now." "Why are we going to Port Melbourne?" Innis asked. "For you to start a new life." Eurides said. "Do whatever you want, come and go wherever you please. The only thing I ask - is that whatever you do, you do it quietly." "What does that mean?" Innis asked. "If you¡¯d gone to back to the Glenample homestead, and Eva had recognized that you were wearing her Father''s clothes, it would of caused a fuss, and whether you wanted to or not, I would of made you kill them, all including Eva." Innis nodded his head. "Quietly it is then." Eurides leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Our lives are intertwined now." Her hazel eyes glowed. "Thank you." He sensed she was leaving. "Wait." he said. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but Eurides was already gone. The train travelled on and when it emerged from a tunnel, Innis caught sight of his reflection in the carriage window. He was a young man again, fresh faced and even featured. * Chapter 6. Home Chapter 6. Home 1888 Kalgoorlie Goldfields, Australia "Fuck you George." Innis said, "I thought I was done with all this shit." George lay sprawled face down in a growing pool of blood that spilled from where Innis had stabbed him. "Doesn''t look like you are." Eurides said. Innis wiped the blood off his knife on the dying man''s shirt. "I gave him and that idiot oversized brother of his a job, and this is how they repay me." "The fault lies not in the stars dear Brutus." Eurides said. "No it does not." Innis muttered. He picked up the gun whereA case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. George had dropped it and walked back to the mine office. Standing outside Innis could hear laughing. Through a window he saw two men sitting at a table drinking. George''s brother Rudi was the larger of the pair. Innis opened the door, stepped inside and shot him in the face. The bottle the big man was drinking from exploded into glass shards. The second man, who Innis didn''t know fell backwards in his chair in fright. Innis stood over him and looked around the room. "What is your name?" "Jonas. My name is Jonas." "Jonas, this is your one and only chance - who hired you?" Jonas balked. Rudi was still sitting upright in his chair, he groaned and fell forward onto the table. Innis placed the gun against the big man''s temple and pulled the trigger. Blood and brain flecked across Jonas¡¯s face. "It was Fields your partner." he spluttered. "He paid us half up front and said he¡¯d pay us the rest when the job was done." "When the job was done." Innis said slowly. "Is that your bag by the door Jonas?" "Wait!" Jonas said holding a hand in front of his face. "What for? " Innis said, and shot him twice in the chest. "What for indeed." Eurides said. Innis finished a drink on the table. "Tomorrow, my business partner Mr. Maurice Fields will be joining his hired help at the bottom of the mineshaft where an unfortunate mishap with explosives is going to bring the roof down on all of them." "What about you?" Eurides asked. "Me?" Innis thought for a moment. "After the dust settles, I''m going to sell up. There''s always plenty of buyers for a successful mine - even a collapsed one." "That¡¯s not what I meant." Eurides said. She wet a cloth with whiskey from an upturned bottle and gently wiped blood from his face. "You''re still floating along wherever the current takes you. If you really have had of enough of all of this. Find a home and put down some roots." "Home." Innis said, then he said the word again. He''d almost forgotten what it meant. * Chapter 7. Gyre Chapter 7. Gyre 1890 The Kalgoorlie Goldfields, Australia Before he closed the front doors, Pastor Fields made sure all the windows of the Chapel were firmly shut. He stood outside on the alcove stairs and watched the towering outer wall of the dust storm as it moved towards the town. There was no denying how menacing it looked. There was a primal inevitability in it''s slow approach. Last years dust storms had blanketed the town and surrounding goldfields for days, blinding and choking anyone unfortunate enough to be out in it. The Pastor smiled, it was going to be an excellent cover for dealing with the bothersome visitor in town. For some days now the man had been asking questions and poking about in affairs that whereThe author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. none of his concern. The only thing the Pastor knew about the man was his name - Ithaniel. Tonight that was going to change, he''d reached out and invited him to dinner. His men knew what he wanted done. Their reputation was enough to keep trouble at arms length, but they did have a bad habit of getting carried away and beating senseless people the Pastor wanted to talk to. The sky began to darken. * When he reached home the Pastor was surprised to find Ithaniel sitting by himself at the dining table. "Good evening Pastor Fields, I would introduce myself but I am certain you already know who I am." The Pastor said nothing. Ithaniel poured himself a glass of wine and then another for the Pastor. "I must confess to being impressed by how much influence you have in this community. The networks you''ve quietly built. Take a seat, your house keeper was kind enough to put out some soup and bread before she left." In my own fucking house the Pastor thought bitterly. "There is usually a man by the front door to greet guests such as yourself." he said as he sat down. Ithaniel soaked a piece of bread in the soup. "I hope you don''t think I am doubting your hospitality. Your man and his colleagues greeted me when I arrived earlier today." "And yet," the Pastor said. "here you are, by yourself." Ithaniel buttered another piece of bread. "You really should try some of this soup." "Where are my men?" "All dead I''m afraid." Ithaniel said. When the Pastor tried to push away from the table Ithaniel stabbed the knife he was holding into the Pastor''s hand pinning it to the table. Pastor Fields started to shake as he looked at his hand. "Your brother Maurice was part owner of a mine that collapsed." "That had nothing to do with me." the Pastor said. Ithaniel dipped a spoon into his soup and sipped. "I''m going to ask you some questions about his partner, a man named Innis, and you are going to tell me absolutely everything that you know about him." The winds of the dust storm howled through the town''s empty streets and no-one heard the Pastor''s screams. * Chapter 8. Finn Chapter 8. Finn 1894 St.Ives England Innis heard his twin daughters starting to stir in the nursery. He gently patted them till they were quiet and watched as Charlotte and Beatrice reached for each other in their sleep. That''s all any of us want he thought to himself. As he got back to bed, Miriam turned to him and said she''d had a dream about her Mother. Innis had never met Miriam''s Mother, she''d died when Miriam was still in her teens - long before they''d ever met and married. "We were sitting on the house stairs and she was brushing out my hair. My sister Edith and I used to put twigs and flowers in our hair and run through the forest and hedgerows pretending to be druid princesses." Innis smiled. "As Mother was brushing my hair, she told me that we''d be alright."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Who would be?" "The baby and me." Innis sat up. "Are you pregnant?" "I''ve been thinking I might be." He reached for Miriam''s hand under the blankets, the twins had been a difficult pregnancy. Through the windows Innis could see the night sky starting to lighten. "Not much chance of going back to sleep now," he said, "I''ll fix us some tea." "Let me finish." Miriam said. "On the step next to her was a beautiful statue of a peacock. I''d never seen it before, so in my dream I asked Mother about it." Innis felt his chest start to tighten. "Mother said she was looking after it for someone." Trying to keep the fright out of his voice, Innis asked Miriam if her Mother had said anything else. Miriam didn''t answer. He looked over and saw that she was fast asleep. Innis had talked to Miriam about his time in Australia. He''d told her about some of the things he''d seen and done, but he''d never spoken about the Loch Ard shipwreck or the peacock statue.. It had been almost 5 years since he''d returned to England. He''d settled in Cornwall, married and started a family, and in all that time, not a word or a whisper from Eurides. Why is she speaking to me now? and why through Miriam? Innis got out of bed, checked on the girls and went out into the garden to think. It was cold outside, he started a fire and warmed his hands. Low on the western horizon, only Venus and the thinnest sliver of the moon remained of the night sky. Innis thought about the second chance at life Eurides had given him. "If I have anything to say," his breath steamed in the morning air. "It''s thank you." . * Before the birth, the mid-wife listened to the baby''s heartbeat and declared it to be that of a young bull. "If it''s a boy,'''' Innis said. "His name will be Finn." Miriam smiled weakly and squeezed his hand. The mid-wife shuffled him out of the room. Miriam''s Father Finn, was one of the most decent men that Innis had ever met and now he was gone too. The wind howled across the roof tops for most of the night. Innis could still hear it tugging at the shuttered windows, when the mid-wife handed him his swaddled newborn son. "Miriam is resting now." she said. Baby Finn yawned and stretched in his arms "It''s been a long night for all of us my friend." Innis said. Baby Finn opened his eyes and smiled. "You don''t see that too often," the mid-wife said. "He seems to know who you are already." Innis looked into his son''s hazel coloured eyes and knew his agreement with Eurides had changed. * Chapter 9. Falling star Chapter 9. Falling star 1895 St.Ives England Finn crawled behind the curtains chasing the family cat. Innis swooped him up and lifted him high into the air. Finn squealed with delight. "Inky''s too quick for you my friend." It was late afternoon, Joan the housekeeper had made dinner for Innis and Finn and put it on the oven top to keep warm. "Are you sure you don¡¯t want me to stay and help look after Finn. Miriam told me to keep an eye on both of you while she''s away with the girls." Innis put Finn down and laughed as he watched him crawl after Inky again. "We¡¯ll be fine thank you Joan, dinner smells delicious. Go home and have an early night for once."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Joan untied her apron and hung it up. She picked up Finn and kissed him on her way out. "Be a good boy for your Da." From the kitchen Innis watched Joan walk down the hill towards her home. Miriam''s involvement with the Women''s rights movement was taking up more and more of her time. Employing a housekeeper had been her idea. Innis had been against it at the start, but there was no denying how much easier Joan had made their lives. A governess to help with the children''s education was next on Miriam''s agenda. After dinner, Innis wheeled Finn''s cot out of the nursery and set it up next to his bed. "Don¡¯t tell your Mother about this" It annoyed Miriam that Finn squirmed in her arms if he caught sight of Innis. "''You''re such a Daddy¡¯s boy." * Finn was asleep. Innis took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "That''s enough of Mr. Shakespeare for one night." Innis put the book of plays on the nightstand and pulled up the blanket that Finn had kicked aside. When he turned off the light, he saw Eurides standing next to Finn''s cot. "Am I dreaming?" he said. Eurides smiled. "I wasn¡¯t sure if I would ever see you again." Innis said "I''m sorry I''ve been away for so long Innis. There have been some things that I had to consider." Eurides reached down and stroked Finn''s hair. "Let me tell you a story." That surprised Innis, in all their time together Eurides had rarely, if ever said anything about herself. If he''d asked - she''d answered in only the vaguest of ways or not at all. Eurides walked around the cot and lay down next to him. Innis turned to face her, enjoying their closeness. "Centuries ago, I fell to earth in a land of deserts." "You fell?" His head spun at the suggestion of it. "Are you telling me you''re an Angel?'''' Eurides laughed. "Nothing so prosaic." She stroked his face. "I lay in pools of molten glass where the sand had melted beneath me. I had no memory of who I was, or from where I''d come. " "Why are you telling me this?" "Our story has to start somewhere." Eurides whispered. "Our story?" Innis said. He sank into a deep dreamless sleep. In the darkness another voice spoke. "Innis believes we are one with Finn." Eurides saw a mirror image of herself standing next to Finn''s cot. "We are." she said. "We are many things." the other said. Eurides smiled. "We are," * Chapter 10. Old friend Chapter 9. Old friend 1904 Wiltshire England It was night and the Manor house was fully engulfed by flames. "Goodbye, widow Barnes." Ithaniel said. He stood in the deep shadows of the tree lined carriage way. As the third floor collapsed inwards, he turned to the man standing next to him. "Her money will keep us in the comfort we have become accustomed to Mies." Mies showed Ithaniel the diamond necklace he had taken from Jemima Barne''s body, before he''d set the fire. "Keep it," Ithaniel said. "you earned it tonight." There was blood on the necklace and Mies smiled as he felt the sting of the broken skin on his fists. Ithaniel patted him on the shoulder. "Your hypnotic induction was almost faultless tonight." Mies basked in his teacher''s praise. "I knew I¡¯d found the right student in you Mies." * Mies watched Innis walk his children down the hill from their home and across the train lines. Hidden amongst the crowds of the train station he followed as they made their way through the streets of St.Ives to school. Mies waited across the road from the school gate for Innis. "This time will be different." Ithaniel had said. "You¡¯re going to be on your own, and it has to be done out in the open in broad daylight." Mies was unsure, but he knew better than to question his teacher. Ithaniel had reassured him. "You''re ready for it." Innis came out of the school gates and walked back into town. It was Thursday and Mies knew Innis was going to visit his Australian painter friend Hayley Lever. As he followed, Mies rehearsed his cover story and mimed the technique that Ithaniel had shown him. Today is the day he thought to himself. * The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Innis helped Lever carry the painting equipment from his studio through the town and up to the Chapel of St. Nicholas. The Chapel faced St. Ives and sat high on a promontory that overlooked the sea on three sides. As he painted, Lever talked about Australia and the possibility of the two couples taking a European trip together. Himself and his wife, Innis and Miriam. Innis noticed how many jars of turpentine Lever had laid out to clean his brushes. "Do you really need all this?" Lever stepped away from his easel and wiped his hands on a rag. "When I want advice on how to paint from a Cornish know-nothing shite, you¡¯ll be the first person I ask." Innis laughed. He wasn¡¯t sure what he enjoyed more - Lever''s prickly bluntness, or how thick his Australian accent became when he was annoyed. He sat with Lever for another hour until it was time to do for his errands in town. "Don¡¯t forget that Miriam''s dinner party is tomorrow and she¡¯s still annoyed with you. She thinks you snubbed her friends last week." Lever returned to his easel. "That¡¯s because I did." "You lucky bastard." Innis said. "I wish I had that option." Innis took the steep western path down off the promontory. The path rose and fell as it hugged the coastline. After a staircase climb he walked along the stone walls that looked down onto Bamaluz Beach. "Hello Mr.Page." Innis turned to see who greeted him - a thin well dressed young man. Not a working lad he judged and not a local boy. "I''m sorry," Innis said smiling, "Have we met before?" "In a roundabout way Sir." Mies replied. "My Mother is part of your wife''s group." Innis sighed theatrically. "You¡¯re the son of a suffragette then." Mies shook his head and smiled ruefully. "It could be worse you know," Innis said. "you could be married to one." Mies laughed. "My name is Mies, Mr.Page." "Call me Innis." Innis shook Mies outstretched hand, and as he did, Mies pulled Innis towards him. The suddenness of the movement unbalanced Innis and he stumbled forward. Mies put his other hand on the back on Innis¡¯s neck. "Under." Mies said. Innis¡¯s world shimmered and went silent. "Listen to the commands I give you. There is nothing more important to you than my voice. Walk with me." Innis walked beside Mies, eyes open and unaware that anything out of the ordinary had happened. "With every step you take, you are falling deeper and deeper under my control." Ithaniel had shown him the snap induction technique and it had worked even better than he had thought possible. It was a short walk back to the harbour. At the end of the harbour wall, Mies found an empty bench seat. "Sit down." He looked around at the day tripping tourists. Nothing to see here he thought to himself, just two old friends enjoying the view. Mies stretched his fingers and cracked his knuckles. "I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for weeks." He thrilled at the thought of what was to come - of what he was going to do to Innis and his family. He sighed with pleasure. A female voice intruded on his thoughts. "You should of stuck to yout parlour tricks Mies ." Mies gasped. Between himself and Innis now sat a woman with straw coloured hair. He tried to jump up but found that his body was frozen in place. He stared in disbelief. "Struggle all you like Mies, there is no hope of escape.... not for you." Eurides looked at Innis and smiled as he stood up and picked through his pockets until he found his watch. Mies watched Innis shake his head and start to walk away. "Innis will have no memory of ever meeting you." Eurides said. "He''s unaware that you and I are even sitting here." Mies tried to yell for help - hoping that by drawing unwanted attention it might break Euride''s concentration, and maybe loosen the muscle lock she had on him. His shout was no louder than a wheeze. "What are you?" Eurides didn¡¯t answer, she looked out across the harbour. Fishing boats still tied to their moorings, lay beached on the sand. "The tide is still running out, when it turns in an hour or so, you are going to swallow your tongue and slowly choke to death." "Fuck you." Mies hissed. Eurides stood up and whispered in his ear. "Nothing to see here, just two old friends enjoying the view." * Mies was drowning in fear. Each minute that passed was an agony as he sat alone on the bench. He tried to remember everything that Ithaniel had taught him hoping to find a way out. He had no idea of how much time had passed when unannounced and seemingly out thin air, Ithaniel sat down next to him. "Hello Mies." "Ith.¡± Mies rasped. "Thank fuck you''re here. Can you see what that bitch has done to me?" "I can," Ithaniel said, "and to tell you the truth Mies, I think you got off lightly. I''ve seen her do much worse." "Unlock me." Mies begged. "Why would I do that?" Mies could feel his tongue starting to swell in his mouth. "I¡¯ve done everything you asked me to do." he whimpered. "Yes you have." Ithaniel said. "You''ve done everything that I wanted you to do." Mies groaned, he saw it clearly now. Ithaniel had used him to do his dirty work. He''d given him the tools and shown him how to use them, but they were never partners. Ithaniel had set a trap and staked him out in it. Mies face was wet with tears. "Please Ith." Ithaniel watched as gulls circled overhead. They called out to each other before landing on the exposed sand banks. "This world is so full of visual pleasures." Mies began to sob. "Cheer up Mies." Ithaniel said. "It looks like the tide is about to change." * Chapter 11. Empire Chapter 11 Empire 1914 London A raven that quotes Chaucer - Dr.Gideon Marchant shook his head in disbelief, even after a month it was still uncanny. "Nothing ventured nothing gained." the raven cawed. He fed it a slice of pear as it perched on the window sill. The War Office had taken over the building and the bird had been inherited from the previous tenants. Gideon held out another piece of fruit. "No empty handed man can lure a bird." The raven crooked it''s head as if considering his words then took what was offered. Gideon looked at the crowds gathering in the street below. Each day he watched theThis tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. numbers of men who wanted to volunteer for War service grow, and it had been that way since August. The English army had its first engagement with the much larger and more experienced invading German forces at Mons in Belgium. After a small initial victory, it was an almost inevitable defeat with heavy losses. What followed was a demoralizing two week retreat into France. Everyday now more and more men waited for the enlistment depot doors to open. "And thus the sins of the Father." Gideon said to the raven, "will be visited upon the sons." * When the medical board offered him a civilian position with the War department, Gideon closed his practice in Oxford and moved to London. He told his family and friends that he wanted to do his bit for the war effort. It was a lie, he didn''t care at all about the War or the King, or his damned British empire. The position was nothing more than regular paid employment and the chance to escape the insufferable musings of the Oxford social set. He shared a terrace house with his sister Aida in central London that overlooked Regents Park. Most mornings he walked the two miles to the enlistment depot in Scotland yard and often shared the streets with men he would see later in the day. Walking unnoticed among them he listened to their conversations. Some were after adventure. Some like himself, saw it as nothing more than a way to earn money in difficult times. But the majority? They wanted nothing more than to fly the colours for King and country. Their blind patriotism sickened him. Why were they so eager to defend an Empire that had nothing but contempt for the working class? Had they thought about what would happen to their families if they didn''t come home, or worse, came home broken beyond repair. The men that stood out most to him though were the older ones. Sober and quiet, they usually walked alone appearing sometimes to be lost in thought. He knew what they were. They were veterans like himself. Men who had seen what the harvest of War brings. * Chapter 12. Intercession Chapter 12. Intercession There was a knock at the office door and a recruit entered. He has an open intelligent face thought Gideon. It was a game that he liked to play - trying to guess as much about a prospective recruit before they handed him their papers. Tall and well nourished. The product of affluent middle class parents he guessed. "Finn, is it son?" "Yes Sir." Finn replied. ''''There''ll be plenty of time for all that nonsense later, Dr. Marchant will be fine for now." Finn nodded. Gideon began the sight and hearing tests and looked through Finn''s papers. He had a vague sense that he had seen Finn before. ''''You put your occupation down as a student. What are you studying?"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Anthropology." "If I hadn''t gone into medicine, I would of chosen Anthropology. It''s a fascinating field. Which university are you at?" "Oxford." Finn said. "Your Miriam Page''s son." Gideon said. "My mother''s shadow seems to follow me around wherever I go." Finn sighed. "I have Aunts and nieces who are part of your Mother''s group. They tell me that different views on the War are causing a bit of division in the suffragette movement." "The War won''t be a total waste of time then." Finn said. Gideon laughed. "Have you told your Mother you''re enlisting." "No and I have no intention of either. I''m travelling to St.Ives next week to tell my Father." "Your parents lead separate lives." Gideon said. Finn nodded. Gideon looked through Finn''s paper work. "Lift up your shirt Finn. I''ll have a quick listen to your chest, then we''re almost done." "Can I ask you a question Dr. Marchant." ''''Of course you can." "How did you lose your arm?" The question surprised him. He looked at Finn''s face. There was no artifice or social awkwardness intended. Finn wasn''t the type, he was sure of that. It was just a question. "I was an army surgeon in the Second Boer War in Africa." Gideon rubbed the stethoscope on his shirt to warm it. "I was attached to a field hospital that was being transported by train closer to the front. The Boer guerrilla''s decided to blow up the rail bridge as we were crossing." He placed the stethoscope on Finn''s chest. "When I came home to England, my arm and some other things stayed behind on the Transvaal." "Other things?" Finn said. Gideon moved the stethoscope across Finn''s chest. ''''Mostly foolish ideas about the world and my place in it. Now take a big breath in and hold it for me." There was no reaction from Finn. "Take a big breath in and hold it for me Finn." There was still no movement. Gideon pulled back and looked at Finn to see if something was wrong. He was astonished to see Finn standing motionless - eyes open, appearing as if he had somehow been caught between one second and the next. Even more confounding, was that he could see himself standing with an outstretched arm listening to Finn''s chest. * Chapter 13. Quid pro quo Chapter 13. Quid pro quo Gideon stared at himself, then at Finn, and tried to make sense of what he was seeing. "Hello Gideon." He turned to see who was speaking. Standing next to him was a tall woman who had a strong attractive face. "My name is Eurides." She touched his shoulder as she walked past. Speechless, he watched Eurides look around his office. She picked up a framed photograph from his desk. "You looked very handsome in your uniform." "What is happening?" Gideon asked. ''''Think of it as passing daydream." "What are you then?" he said. Eurides walked to the window and looked at the men gathering in the street below. ''''I am Finn''s guardian Gideon and I have a favour to ask." There was a sudden flap of wings and the office raven landed on the window ledge. Eurides reached out and stroked the bird''s feathers. "Finn wants to play his part in this war - and he will Gideon, but not as a regular soldier." Gideon looked at Finn''s paperwork. ''''He put down his preferred choice of regiment is the infantry."This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Eurides took a piece of fruit from a shelf next to the window and fed it to the raven. ''''Yes he did." Gideon thought for a moment. "I could get Finn placed in the Army Medical Core if I make some recommendations. Although I doubt he will ever thank me for it." Eurides smiled. "He doesn''t ever need to know." "Quid pro quo." the raven churled. Eurides laughed. The black bird bowed its head and she gently ruffled its neck feathers. ''''You are as clever as you are handsome." "Something for something." Gideon repeated slowly, eyeing the raven with suspicion. "Agreed." Eurides said." Something for something." He wasn''t sure of what kind of deal was being struck and was about to say so, when the world beneath his feet lurched forward. * Finn was surprised when Dr. Marchant dropped his stethoscope and stumbled forward. He caught him and sat the Doctor back in his chair. "Are you alright Sir, do you want me to get some help." The Doctor was pale. "Thank you Finn. That won''t be necessary, sometimes if I don''t have enough to eat by mid-morning I get a bit light headed." Colour was slowly starting to return to his face. Gideon took a cube of sugared turkish delight from a jar on his desk and put it in his mouth. "I''ll be right in a minute or two." As Finn sat quietly waiting for Dr. Marchant to recover he noticed a ring on the Doctor''s hand. "If you don''t mind me asking, what sort of ring is that?" Gideon looked at his hand first, then at the ring. There was a look of surprise on his face. "This has been a day of revelations." he said. "I thought I''d lost it. I thought it was gone forever, but here it is on my hand as plain as day." Finn wondered if the Doctor was still dizzy. Gideon closed his eyes. He could smell the cordite explosive that was used to destroy the rail bridge. He could hear the screams for help of the injured and dying. That was when he had last seen the ring - in the burning wreckage of the carriage, still on the hand of his severed arm. "Are you sure you don''t want me call somebody." Finn said. Gideon opened his eyes and sighed. "My Mother gave me this ring the day I sailed for the War in South Africa. She told me that I when I came back, I was to give it to my sister Aida for her wedding day glory box. My Mother was upset that I was going, so I took it." Gideon reached for another sweet, ''''I suspect in her mind that she was making a bargain with fate." He offered a sweet to Finn. "It''s a Roman promise ring. My Father found it in Bath when he was a boy, and he gave it to my Mother when they married." "Do you know what the symbols mean?" Finn asked. Gideon turned his hand over and looked at the ring. " A twig and a flower usually represents Spring - the promise of things to come, but I think it''s closer in meaning to an agreement that''s already been made." * They shook hands and Gideon wished Finn luck. After Finn was gone, Gideon sat at his desk and looked at the ring again. He made changes to Finn''s enlistment papers, added some notes and signed them. The raven perched on the window ledge watching him. "You were in a daydream I had." Gideon said. ''''Perhaps I''ll see Eurides again as well." The raven clacked it''s beak and cawed. It went to fly off, then turned to him and spoke. "Be careful what you wish for Gideon " * Chapter 14. Inscription Chapter 13. Inscription Aida was no fool - at first she blinked. "Is this what I think it is?" Gideon had spent weeks thinking of what would be the best way to tell her about the return of the ring. She turned it over and looked closely at the inside of the band. There were two barely legible initials: L and M. Gideon felt suddenly ashamed that he''d worn the ring for nearly two years and hadn''t known they were there. ''''Lillian Marchant." he said softly. "Mother." Aida said ''''How Gideon? How after all these years." Before he had a chance to answer, Aida burst into tears and hugged him. * Alone in the house Gideon sipped his tea and enjoyed the peace and quiet. He knew it wouldn''t last. What he hadn''t foreseen, was Aida with ring in hand, immediately catching a train to Bath. Home to their sprawling family estates and the house they grew up in. With both their parents now passed, it would be home to the arms of their gossip starved Aunts and Uncles, and the extended family. The ring and it''s loss was part of family folklore. * A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The visitors started to arrive soon after Aida returned to London, but they were a different social set to what Gideon had expected. Aida told him that Bath had changed. It was now full of feminist radicals she said, who were still passionate as ever about their cause, but were now frustrated that the War had put a stop to their political campaigning. Gideon was getting ready for his day at the enlistment board. "Why don''t they do something useful then, like join the land army or work in a factory and support the War effort. That would be something." Aida ignored him and continued arranging the flowers on the table she was setting. She went into the kitchen to get more cutlery. "The flowers look beautiful Aida." Gideon said as he walked out the door. "Don''t forget we have guests tonight." Aida said. * Gideon arrived home late and found the house already full of the happy chatter of guests. After changing and freshening up, he found a seat at the table where a place name had been set for him. Looking around the room there appeared to be far more dinner guests than seats, not that anyone seemed to care. The guests were mostly young women and nearly all of them had a drink in hand. Next to him sat a woman closer in age to himself who had fashionably short blonde hair. "May I introduce myself." he said. "I was rather hoping you would Gideon." the woman said. "Have we met before?" he asked. "We have not. My name is Edith, Aida has told me a great deal about you." Gideon contemplated the sherry in his glass. "Let me apologise for my sister''s shameless attempt at match making." Edith smiled. "Pre-dinner drinks started quite early this afternoon and no one noticed when I switched name cards to make sure that I sat next to you." Edith''s eyes were clear and bright. His face warmed as he blushed. "May I ask why?" "I''ll tell you that when we have lunch together. I''m in London till the end of the week." Edith sipped the gin in her glass. "As for tonight, let''s get to know each other better and let the young ones have their fun." * Gideon left the enlistment offices at midday and walked to the lake in Regents park where Edith''s note said she would be waiting. As he walked past the boarded up entrance to the London zoo, it occurred to him that he knew next to nothing about her. The dinner party had been a wonderful night and he''d enjoyed her company, but he couldn''t remember a single thing Edith had said about herself. Edith had asked him all sorts of questions about his life. Surely at some point in the night he must have asked about hers. There was a time he thought himself when he was far more certain of the people around him. The morning after the dinner party Aida was nursing a terrible hangover. She handed him the note from Edith. "Did someone make a friend last night." she said with a grin. "You''ve been invited to a picnic." * Edith had laid out the picnic blanket on the sunny sloping bank of the lake. They sat each side of a wicker basket from which Edith took a small wheel of cheese and sliced it on a timber plate. "Aida''s visit to Bath and the return of her ring was the talk of the town for weeks." she said. ''''I''m sure it was." Gideon replied. She dipped a flat knife into a jar of paste and passed a biscuit to him. "But what I found most interesting of all, was when Aida told me that you''d seen my nephew Finn at the enlistment board." Gideon almost choked. ''''Your nephew?" ''''Miriam Page is my sister. The story of Aida''s ring and your chance meeting with Finn - it makes me think that perhaps we have a a mutual friend." Gideon watched two swans circling each other on the lake. "Perhaps we do." he said. * Chapter 15. A favour asked Chapter 15. A favour asked Edith began her story. "I was thrilled when Miriam asked me to be a Governess for the children. Innis added a room to the family home and I moved in when Miriam and Innis were abroad. Finn had only just started walking, so he must of been about a year old. Joan the housekeeper had taken the girls into town for a treat and I was minding Finn. He was fast asleep on a daybed in the sun room. It was a quiet afternoon, so I thought I''d catch up on some darning. I was looking for a needle land thread in the sewing room when I heard the back door open. I thought Joan and the girls had come back, but when I didn''t hear their voices I went to check on Finn just in case, and sure enough he was gone. Through the bay windows I could see him toddling across the backyard towards a stack of the timber the workmen had set fire to that morning. I called out his name, he turned and gave me a cheekyThe author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. grin but he didn''t stop. By the time I got to the back door it was too late. I saw him tumble into the pile of burning timber. I screamed and ran toward the fire. I couldn''t believe what I saw. Finn was sitting in the middle of the flames happily playing with the burning sticks and glowing embers as if they were toys - that''s when I saw her for the first time." Edith glanced sideways at Gideon. ''''Eurides.'''' he said. "Eurides." Edith said. "She was sitting beside him in the fire, smiling and looking on like a doting Mother. I didn''t know what to do. I thought maybe I could try to coax him out. When I moved closer Eurides looked at me and smiled. ''Hello Edith, let him play a little longer.'' It frightened me that she knew my name. Finn was laughing and waving his hands through all the coloured patterns and shapes the flames made. When he started to get tired he climbed into her arms. Eurides lulled him to sleep, then she stood up and kissed him and held him out to me, naked as the day he was born. All of his clothes had been burnt away and he was covered in soot and ash. ''Don''t be afraid'' Eurides said. I carried Finn into the house and looked back to see if she was following but she was gone. I washed Finn, found some clothes and put him to bed. The routine of what I was doing made me start to think that maybe what I had just seen wasn''t real, maybe I had imagined it. I tucked Finn''s blankets around him and when I stood up, Eurides was standing beside me. ''I have a favour to ask of you'' she said. "What did she want you to do?" Edith smiled. "Isn''t your lunch break just about over." "The War department employs me as a civilian not as a soldier, so there''s some give and take in the hours I work." Edith took off her sun hat and smoothed out her hair. "Eurides told me she was Finn''s guardian and that she only wanted what was best for him." Gideon recalled a similar conversation. ''''She wanted my help to watch over Finn until he was older." Gideon wondered what Eurides had given Edith in return. "Does anyone else in the family know about her." he asked. "Miriam and the girls certainly didn''t." Gideon found that hard to believe and suspected Eurides subtle influence. "I thought Innis and Joan knew, but they never spoke to me about it. I lived with them until Finn was in middle school. Joan still lives in the house. I asked her once if she''d ever noticed anything out of the ordinary about Finn." "What did she say?" "She said that an apple doesn''t fall far from the tree." "What on earth does that mean?" Gideon asked. ''''I have no idea." Edith said. * Hidden from view in a stand of oak trees, the raven looked on as Edith and Gideon talked. ''''An apple doesn''t fall far from the tree." It repeated the sentence, then chortled and clacked it''s beak in amusement. "Yes, very good. Very good indeed." * Chapter 16. Inversion Chapter 16. Inversion Finn changed trains at St.Erth for the branch line to St.Ives. He''d lost count of how many times he''d taken this trip to and from Oxford with his family. He idly rolled the crystal marble in his hand that the fortune teller had given him after she''d read his cards. He could hear his Father''s voice - "What sort of idiot thinks that a trinket or baubel can protect them from harm or bring good luck. It''s superstitious nonsense, is what it is." Finn held it to his eye and watched the inverted countryside go by. As he opened the window to throw it out, it caught aThe tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ray of sunlight and cast a rainbow crescent in his hand. You are a pretty thing he thought. He put it back in his pocket as the train started to slow for it''s arrival in St. Ives. * That morning, Finn had started out early to catch the first train to St.Erth. When he''d gotten to Oxford station, the ticketing office and platforms were already crowded with soldiers. Every seat on the train was taken and some passengers were even standing in the carriage aisles. The idea of being jostled by people he didn''t know, and standing up for the entire trip, didn''t appeal to him. Finn decided to try his luck with the next train. There was a bakery a short walk from the station, so he decided to get something to eat and sit down by the river and wait. * He passed a pleasant hour sitting near the Osney bridge, watching the boats on the river and sketching in his notepad. Walking back to the train station Finn passed a terrace house that had a display set up in it''s front window selling second hand books. The common theme appeared to be fortune telling and the mystical. One book in particular appealed to him. On it''s cream and sepia cover was an Angel wielding a sword and swathed in three sets of wings. He had no intention of ever reading it. It was going to be a present for Nain Joan. She liked that sort of thing. Finn knocked on the door - there was no answer. He waited and was about to knock again when a short wiry woman opened the door. She looked at him without saying a word, then looked up and down the street. "Can I help you?" she said. "I was walking past and saw the books in your window." The woman smiled. '''' Come in dear boy." * Chapter 17. Ophelia Chapter 17. Ophelia The books in the window had been a good trick, but Yolanda didn''t want to push her luck. The local policeman she was paying to turn a blind eye to her fortune telling told her that she was starting to attract too much attention. It was time to pack up and go north to the mid-lands where the army camps were the size of small towns. There would be plenty of opportunities for an enterprising woman such as herself to make some money. There was a knock on the door. It was a young man who wanted to buy a book out of the window. Yolanda hid her surprise - the books all had prices on them, but she''d never actually sold one. She gave the books to the pigeon''s after they paid for a reading, that way if the law was to get involved laterThe tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. she had an out. She could say she was selling the books and giving free demonstrations of the craft. No laws broken here your Honour. The young man introduced himself - Finn. He was quietly spoken and polite, which made it easy for Yolanda to talk him into a card reading he didn''t want. Another pigeon and some extra money for the road. Yolanda lit the scented candles on the sitting room table. She told Finn to deal out six cards face down. ''''The first pair will represent your past, the second pair your present and the third pair your future." She let her words hang in the air to add some drama. ''''Before you turn the cards, show me your hands." Finn put his hands on the table palms up and Yolanda placed her hands on top of his. "Close your eyes." Sitting like this she could usually pick up clues about the pigeon and weave them into the reading for good effect. His hands were soft - a young man who hasn''t had to do hard physical labour, from a wealthy family perhaps. An unsettling feeling of losing her balance started to come over her. Yolanda tried to let go of Finn''s hands. She became frightened when no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t. Finn''s eyes were still closed. A woman''s voice spoke. "You have flown in the wrong window little bird." Yolanda screamed as an aura of darkness began to bloom behind Finn. It grew and grew until it filled the room and Yolanda was lost in it. An ice cold hand touched her shoulder. "If you ever want to feel the warmth of the Sun on your face again, you will do exactly what I tell you." * Days later, down stream from the Osney bridge, a lock keeper saw a body in the reeds. He recognized who it was straight away - the gypsy woman Yolanda. She was floating face up in the reeds with her eyes open. With the War going badly and the lists of casualties growing, his wife and other ladies from the parish went to Yolander asking about their loved ones fighting in France. All desperate for hope the lock keeper thought. The river water was cold and it made his bones ache as he pulled her body to the bank. "I wonder if you saw this coming, in those cards of yours?" * Chapter 18. The fall of Achilles Chapter 18. The fall of Achilles 1916 The Somme. France The cold squalling rain had finally stopped. With the heavy cloud cover, dawn appeared to be hours late breaking over the battlefield. A red cross dog walked over a tangle of bodies and sniffed at a soldier lying still and caked in mud. It pawed at his shoulder and nuzzled his neck. When it picked up the soldier''s helmet to return to theIf you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. lines for help, Ithaniel rolled over, wiped mud from his face and smiled. "Hello there." The saddle bags the dog carried contained medical supplies and water, and had a name written on it. "Achilles, is that your name?" Achilles wagged his tail and dropped the helmet. "I think others might need your help more than me." Flares lit the gloom overhead. "I''m just waiting for a friend." Ithaniel patted Achilles as an artillery barrage shook the ground. "Although I will admit I''m rather enjoying the show." Achilles licked his face and moved on. Ithaniel watched the red cross dog criss-cross the shell cratered ground looking for wounded Allied soldiers. A wounded German soldier caught in rolls of barbed wire called out to Ithaniel in broken English for help. Ithaniel turned and spoke to him in German. "It''s hard to believe - that dog has been trained to know the uniforms worn on the battlefield. He actually can tell one side from the other." Ithaniel scraped some mud off his helmet. "He would of sensed you were still alive - but he had no intention of helping you, a bit like me really." The soldier spat blood at him. Ithaniel laughed. "That''s the spirit. Maybe the rats will save you." There was the crack of a gunshot and the unmistakable sound of a dog whelping, then a second shot and a third. Ithaniel scowled. His body began to glow like molten metal as he stood up. A bullet hit him in the jaw and made his head twist to the side. Ithaniel burst into flame and walked towards where Achilles had fallen. * Chapter 19. Looking glass Chapter 19. Looking glass Finn took the same short cut from the St.Ives railway station that he''d taken since he was a school boy. When the train arrived, he jumped off the platform and crossed the train lines. He climbed the embankment on the other side and walked along a paddock fence until it came to a cross road. As he walked uphill towards home he looked back over the town. The beaches and port hadn''t been blighted yet with the defences that other coastlines had. Outwardly St.Ives hadn''t changed much - but there was different feel to it. The town''s population had swelled with soldiers billeted throughout the area. Some buildings and open communal spaces had been taken over for military training. The feeling of a sleepy seaside holiday town was gone. Finn came into the house yard through a gate at the bottom of the property. He smiled when he saw Nain Joan hanging out laundry. There was a chance that some of the sheets onUnauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. the line may of hidden his approach. As children it was a game that he and his sisters played - trying to sneak up on Nain Joan, it was nearly impossible. Maybe just this once he thought. He slowed his steps and tried to be as quiet as he could. ''''Look who''s grown taller and even more handsome." Finn smiled. It didn''t surprise him that Nain Joan was now standing behind him. He turned and hugged her. "How long will you be staying for?" "Three or four days then I have to report for training." Nain Joan sighed. ''''Your Father''s gone away to London for a week." Finn was annoyed with himself. "I should of told him I was coming, but it was a last minute decision." "At least you sent word that you''d enlisted." Nain Joan went back to her washing basket. "He''ll be disappointed that he missed you, but he''ll understand. It''s just the two of us for dinner tonight." "Is that rabbit stew I can smell?" Finn said. Nain Joan smiled. "Peg out the rest of the washing for me and I''ll go and get dinner sorted." * Finn unpacked his bag in his old room. Everything was just as he remembered it. There was no mustiness or dust - the room had been aired and there was fresh linen on the bed. Nain Joan set a small table in the kitchen. As they ate dinner and talked, Finn remembered the marble in his pocket. "What have you got there?" Nain Joan asked. He held it up to his eye for a moment then passed it to her. "It''s some sort of crystal charm. A fortune teller in Oxford gave it to me. She said it would keep me safe from harm and bring safe travels." "A fortune teller you say." Nain Joan traced the outline of the dove that was etched on it with her finger. "It''s not crystal Finn, it''s soft desert glass. My Mother''s family came from near Damascus, on the edge of the great desert. She had a collection of these stones that her Uncles had found on their travels." Nain Joan held the marble to her eye. "None of hers were carved or as clear as this though." Finn dipped bread in his stew. ''''Can you see anything in it?'''' Through the marble Nain Joan could see Eurides walking the fortune teller into a river and drowning her. She smiled in agreement. "What it has shown me is that you are in need of two things." Nain Joan picked up a napkin and wiped some butter from Finn''s face. Finn lifted his chin, enjoying the feeling that he was a boy again sitting up at the dinner table. "Number one is a full beard - I''ve always been vaguely suspicious of clean shaven men." Finn laughed. '''' And number two?" ''''A young lady on your arm." ''''The War is going to get in the way of both things for awhile I think." Finn said. He kept eating as Nain Joan started to clear the table. She kissed him on the top of his head as she went into the kitchen. "Then we shall just have to wait and see." * Chapter 20. Market garden Chapter 20. Market garden The next morning Finn and Nain Joan walked down to a farmers market in town. The markets were held every weekend in a paddock near the train station. As Nain Joan looked at the caged birds, Finn heard the stall holders talking amongst themselves. This was going to be the last market for awhile until somewhere else could be found to set up - the army wanted to use the open paddock space. "This War is going to bring food shortages." Nain Joan said. Finn had noticed the freshly turned garden beds and newly built chicken coops in the house yard. "Who''s going to work the farms and get the crops in when all youStolen story; please report. men go off to your War, and it won''t just be England either, it''ll be all the European countries that are involved. Even the folk in Germany." That was something Finn hadn''t considered. He was still thinking about it as he walked back up the hill carrying bags of market produce. He helped set up a trestle table undercover at the back of the house and watched as Nain Joan sorted out the different vegetables. Some to go into the garden beds as root stock, the others to go into the kitchen pantries. ''''Hello, is anybody home?" There was some one at the front door. "Coming." Nain Joan called out. "Go and see who that is Finn will you. If it''s the market people with the hens, tell them to come around the side of the house." Finn wiped his hands and went to see. At the front door he was surprised to see a school friend he hadn''t seen since they''d both left to go to university. ''''Hello Bish." Bish smiled. "I thought I saw you and Nain Joan at the markets this morning." "Still studying Law at Cambridge?" Finn asked. "I am, or rather I was. I enlisted, my call up is at the end of next week. Are you still at Oxford?" "I enlisted too." Finn said." My call up is in a few days as well." "We''re having bit of a get together up at the house. Most of the family have moved back here to St.Ives to get out of the way of all the War business in London. It would be great if you could come along tonight." "Thanks for invite Bish, but I was planning a quiet night in." Bish grinned. "My sisters have invited quite a few of their unattached female friends." "Have they now?" Nain Joan said. Finn laughed, of course she was standing behind him. "It''s very nice to see you again Nain Joan." "And you too Bish." Nain Joan produced a bottle of whiskey from behind her back and handed it to him. "Finn will be there at eight." * Chapter 21. Violet Chapter 21. Violet The party was in full swing. Sounds of laughter and music drifted across the lawns to where Bish and Finn sat in the garden. Paper lanterns hung amongst the wisteria vines that climbed through the arches of the summer house. "You built this?" Finn asked. Bish raised a glass of the whiskey Nain Joan had given him. "Designed, sited and built it myself. I was going to start planting a hedge of camellias around it next." "You''ve missed your calling." Finn said. It was a mild clear night and the summer house looked out over the lights of St.Ives and the harbour. "My cousin Violet would like to meet you Finn." ''''Your cousin? Where is she?'''' ''''In the house.'''' Bish said. "Why doesn''t she just come out and say hello." "I told her I would talk to you first." "Your being a bit old world aren''t you Bish?" "Violet and I are close Finn. We''re the youngest cousins in our family. We''ve spent just about every summer holiday and Christmas together. Last year she told me a story she saidIf you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. she''d never told anybody. I thought it was a flight of fancy, and to be honest I didn''t take much notice of it at the time, but when I saw you at the markets this morning - I made the connection." "What on earth are you talking about?" Finn said. Bish stood up and went into the house and returned almost immediately with a petite red haired young woman who walked directly behind him as if she didn''t want to be seen. ''''Finn, may I introduce to you my cousin Violet, also known to her nearest and dearest as Vie." Bish spun on his heel and went back into the house. "You two children play nice now." "You b-b- bastard Bish." Violet stammered. Finn smiled. "Hello Violet." Violet looked like a deer caught on the train tracks. ''''I w-w-wanted t-t-t....'''' she spluttered in frustration. "There''s no rush." Finn said. "Take your time Violet, my Aunt Edith had a stammer. She lived with us when I was little and the way she spoke is a happy childhood memory for me." Violet smiled. Finn thought it was beautiful smile. "May I call you Vie." "I w-would like that.'''' Violet said. "D-do you remember the last time we met." Finn was trying to think of a polite way to say that he didn''t, when Violet rushed forward and hugged him. She was warm and smelled of jasmine and in a cloud of her unruly hair he remembered. * It was years ago - Finn was in his last year at school. "How did you end up in the sea that day Vie?" Vie stepped back and took a breath. "It was the end of the holiday. I got talked into going to lunch at the Tinners arms in Zennor with B-Bish''s sisters and s-some of their friends. After an hour I''d had enough of their stupid conversations so I decided to walk the coastal p-path b-back to St.Ives. I got to the Seal island lookout when I thought I heard voices calling out from one of the rocky inlets. M-maybe someone was in trouble. I got off the track and climbed down a b-bit to see what was going on. It was sea lion pups playing and barking in the rock pools. I''d never seen them that close on the shore before." "That''s how you ended up in the water." Finn said. "They seemed so happy. I wanted to get a better look, so I climbed further down, and I slipped and f-fell." "Down the cliff, into the sea." Finn said, surprised that Vie hadn''t been seriously hurt in the fall. "I tried to get b-back onto the shore but the backwash from the waves hitting the rocks kept pushing me away. I hurt my hip. It was all I could do to just tread water." "Seal Island is about a mile from where I saw you." Finn said. "That''s how far the current d-dragged me. I called out for help until I was nearly breathless. I was getting weaker. The more I struggled the lower in the water I sank. I started to go under and it was t-taking more and more out of me to get back to the surface." Vie started to cry and Finn put his arms around her. "I w-wanted to tell you that I was sorry." she said. "What for?" Finn asked. "For running away." * Chapter 22. The mermaid of Zennor Chapter 22. The mermaid of Zennor Finn sat on the edge of the low black granite bluffs that bordered Zennor beach and ate the sandwiches Nain Joan had packed for him. He looked through his sketch pad at the drawings he''d done. Tonight at home he was going to tidy them up and add water colour to the ones he was happiest with. He was about to get up when something caught his eye in the swell below. The winter storms had left long strandsIf you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. of reddish brown kelp in the shallows near the shore. At first Finn thought he was looking at a small bloom of kelp, then he saw a rolling movement. He kept watching and saw clothing appear, then a face - a girl''s face. She was deathly pale, but she was alive. Without thinking, Finn kicked off his shoes and jumped in. He lost sight of her when he landed in the water but the girl surfaced near him gasping for air. Finn grabbed her by the hair and it swirled around him as he held her head above the water. "I got you." * "I was so sure I would never see my family again. The only thing I was thinking about when we reached the beach was getting back to them. I''m so sorry I ran off without thanking you." Finn smiled. "You have nothing to be sorry for Vie." ''''I didn''t tell anyone in my family about what had happened, and we left to go back to Perwillowen the next day." "It''s getting late," Finn said, "and I''ve got an early start in the morning." They walked arm in arm across the lawn towards the house. "You don''t have to go." Vie said." Stay here tonight." Finn stopped before they went inside ''''Will you do something for me Vie?" ''''Anything Finn, just ask." "Come to lunch tomorrow, I want you to meet my Nain Joan." * Chapter 23. Wish upon a star Chapter 23. Wish upon a star Finn and Bish made plans to catch the same train back to London. They stood in the carriage windows waving until steam clouds blocked the view of the platform as the train pulled away. Bish lifted a bag onto the overhead rack and sat across from Finn. "What are your intentions with Vie?'''' Finn put a bag under his seat and sat down. "Vie is the one with all the intentions Bish, ask her." Bish laughed and looked out the window. "I love my cousin Finn. She means the world to me. Promise me you''ll look after her when I''m gone.'''' "What are you talking about Bish?" "I''ve had the same dream a few times now. I''ve seen what''s going to happen - how it''s going to end, as clear as I''m sitting here next you. I''m not coming back from this War." Finn was lost for a moment. ''''If you''re that certain Bish,This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. just don''t go. Get off the train at St.Erth and sit the War out. Become a conscientious objector." Bish shook his head. "There''s no escaping your fate." Finn wondered what was there to be gained in believing in such a stupid concept. "Do you remember those two brothers from school who lived at the end of Swan Rd?" Finn was glad for a change in subject. "If they''re on the train we should sit together." ''''Unlikely." Bish said. "They''re both dead. Killed in separate actions in the first few weeks of the War. I wonder if they thought they were coming back." Fate can go and fuck itself thought Finn. * After the train was out of sight, Bish''s sisters walked into town. Nain Joan and Vie walked back up the hill together. "You didn''t want to go with the girls?" Nain Joan asked. "To be truthful I find their company to be painfully dull. They''re a coven of dowagers in waiting." Nain Joan laughed. "There''s always room at our house for you Vie. I could use some help in the garden." Vie smiled. "Thank you Nain Joan. Do you think F-Finn''s Father would mind if I visited." "He will be very pleased to meet you Vie." Nain Joan saw that Vie was carrying something close to her chest. "What have you got there?" Vie opened her palm. She was holding the desert glass marble. "Finn gave it to me. It''s beautiful don''t you think." "It is." Nain Joan said. "Finn said that it''s meant to keep you safe and bring you good luck. He said that if I looked through it, I might even be able to see into the future." Vie pressed it to her chest. "Last night when I was lying in bed I looked through it and thought I saw a falling star." Nain Joan saw the innocent longing in Vie''s face. "So I made a wish on it, does that sound silly?" ''''It doesn''t sound silly at all." Nain Joan said. "I think that falling star has a wish set aside - just for you." * This is Book 1 in a series. Book 1. Sleep now in the fire Book 2. Wake now in the fire Book 3. Breathe now in the fire If you would like some visual context for Eurides, Youtube search - Regiment tribal fusion dance Any feed back or comments you care to give would be welcome.