Barbara Erskine - Sands of Time

In spite of himself Toby chuckled. ‘You can say that again. As was her solution. A recitation of “Mary had a little lamb”!’

‘Simple but effective,’ Phyllis replied drily. ‘You are lucky there was someone there who took what happened seriously. I suspect a great many people would have laughed it all off anyway and said you were all hallucinating!’

‘Those people were not with us in Egypt!’ Toby commented grimly. ‘You know, I would almost be relieved to think I was suffering from schizophrenia – under the circumstances it would be preferable to the other possibility.’ He shuddered.

‘You don’t mean that, my dear.’ She shook her head. ‘Now, may I suggest that you stay the night. It’s far too late to drive back to London and I doubt if Anna will come tonight. Then tomorrow we will try and establish where she is and what if anything she has done with her scent bottle. And then, and only then, can we decide what you should do next.’

Toby!

Toby, wake up you fool. She is here!

The figure standing beside Toby’s bed was tall, insubstantial in the near darkness of the room. Outside the half drawn curtains the sky was bright with stars. It was very cold. Toby had turned off the electric fire before he climbed into the high old-fashioned bed and pulled the eiderdown up over his head, and now, in the warm cocoon of mattress and blankets and sheets he turned over with a groan and settled more deeply into sleep.

Toby! The bottle contains power beyond your wildest dreams. With the help of the goddess Isis you could achieve anything, be anyone. You could rule the world. Listen carefully, Toby. I will tell you what you need to do .

Outside the window a car had driven up. Briefly the lights reflected on the wall by the door, then they were gone. As the clouds had cleared the temperature had started dropping. Soon there would be ice. The engine fell silent; the lights were switched off. A door opened and slammed and footsteps echoed up the path beneath his window. He did not hear them; nor the rattle of the knocker on the oak panel; he was not aware of the light going on, on the landing outside his bedroom, or of Phyllis, wrapped in a red chenille dressing gown, tiptoeing lightly down the stairs, opening the door, drawing Anna inside and with a glance up towards his bedroom door, leading her into the sitting room. There, with new logs thrown onto the glowing embers the two women sat down to talk quietly and urgently by the light of one small lamp.

‘I saw Toby’s car.’ Anna shook her head. ‘I nearly didn’t come in. But I didn’t know what else to do. Where to go. I sat in a coffee place for ages, then I drove round for hours before I decided to come here. What did he say? Where is he?’

‘He’s upstairs. Asleep. He explained what happened, Anna.’

‘What am I to do?’

‘Have you still got it?’

Anna nodded, glancing towards the shoulder bag she had thrown down on the sofa next to her.

In his dream Toby watched her reach over and fumble in the bag, produce the small bubble-wrapped parcel and hold it in her hand, staring down at it.

‘I am afraid to keep it; afraid to destroy it. Supposing that unleashes something? Someone? I need to hide it, Phyl. Hide it somewhere Toby and Carstairs can’t find it.’

The sleeping Toby gave a grim smile. How stupid did she think he was? He was watching her. He would know what she did with it. He knew her every thought. And every thought of the guardian priests who hovered so anxiously over her. He frowned. In his sleep he paused to wonder why the priests were so anxious. So angry. They were afraid.

Phyllis was thinking deeply. ‘I don’t believe we should hide it in the house. In fact, maybe you shouldn’t hide it at all. I will. It might be better if you didn’t know where it was.’

‘Phyl, I don’t want you to put yourself in danger.’

‘Danger!’ The old woman was indignant. She ran her fingers through her hair, leaving it standing on end. ‘I gave it to you in the first place. I gave you the diary. I sent you to Egypt. Anna, my dear, I got you into all of this and it’s up to me to get you out.’ She held out her hand. ‘Give it to me.’

Anna handed over the bottle with a shiver. For a moment both women stared round the room, sensing the drifting cold. They saw nothing.

‘Right. Now I want you to go up to your usual bedroom. I have put Toby in the green room at the top of the stairs. Get a good night’s sleep and in the morning it will all be taken care of.’

No. Don’t let her do it .

You must get it now .

That woman has inner strength. She can defy us. Anna is weak because she loves you. A cynical laugh. She can’t quite bring herself to think you would hurt her. More fool her. You would hurt her, wouldn’t you, Toby? You would do anything I ask you. You will get up and go downstairs now, Toby. You will take that bottle from the women and you will give it to me!

Under the eiderdown Toby was growing more and more restless. Twisting his head from side to side he threw off the covers and turning he thumped the pillow with his fist.

Get up, Toby!

The figure moved closer, coming to stand immediately beside the bed. With another groan Toby obeyed, his eyes still closed.

That’s right. Now move to the door and open it. Come downstairs. Now .

As the door into the sitting room opened Anna and Phyllis looked up startled. Toby was standing there, dressed in the ancient striped pyjamas which Phyllis had produced from the airing cupboard, his hair on end, his feet bare. His eyes were tightly closed. He stepped into the room and held out his hand.

I need that bottle .

Phyllis put it behind her back.

‘Toby?’ Anna was staring at him. ‘Toby, wake up! Do you hear me, wake up!’

Toby had stopped just inside the doorway. For a moment he remained unmoving then slowly he opened his eyes.

‘Anna?’ He stared at her in astonishment. ‘When did you get here? I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?’

‘It’s late.’

‘It must be.’ He moved towards the fire, rubbing his face slowly with his hands. ‘I’m sorry. I’m still half asleep. I can’t think clearly. Thank God you’re here. I was so worried about you.’ He put out a hand towards her. ‘I had such a terrible dream.’ He hesitated. He couldn’t bear to be standing so close to her and not touch her. Gently he put his finger on her shoulder, then cautiously, carefully, he drew her into his arms.

For a moment she resisted, stiff against his embrace, then she relaxed. ‘Toby. Are you all right? I’ve been so frightened.’ She was nestling against him.

‘There’s no need, my love. No need at all. You’re safe now. Quite safe.’

All you need to do is give me the bottle . His grip tightened slightly. Where is it?

‘Toby?’ Anna pulled away from him sharply. ‘Toby? What did you say?’

Toby frowned. Had he spoken out loud? Please God it wasn’t happening again. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t care where the bottle is -’ He ran his hand across his forehead, pushing back his hair. He stared round frantically. ‘I love you, Anna. I would never try and take it unless you let me.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s just that I can’t seem to see straight.’ He shut his eyes again as a twinge of pain hit him.

You will give me the bottle .

‘Phyllis?’ Anna was terrified. ‘It’s happening again. That is not his voice. His lips didn’t move.’

‘I can see.’ Phyllis backed towards the fire.