you did you’d come to grow into it. But you’re not like me. I can spend a thousand years up here and still not lose interest. I am one of those people happy in my own company. I have my owl of course, and he’s enough for me.’
The owl blinked and climbed down from her head, to walk up to Alex and stare him directly in the face. Alex found this very disconcerting and tried to ignore the bird, but it was difficult when you were the sole object of some-one’s attentions. The owl continued to peer at him with unwavering intensity.
‘Look somewhere else,’ he muttered at the owl. ‘Go on, shoo!’
The three of them were sitting together on the edge of the water tank, looking out over the wavelets that had gathered purple light to themselves. Technically the bird was standing, but it seemed as if he were squatting, since he was all hunched, with feathers fluffed.
‘A hermit,’ Alex stated, continuing their conversation. ‘Is that what you want to be?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t like that word. It sounds old and stuffy. I’m not old and stuffy.’
‘No, you’re not,’ he said bravely, ‘you’re the most exciting and interesting person I’ve ever met.’
The owl nodded, as if satisfied, then climbed back on to his perch on Amanda’s head.
Amanda glanced at Alex quickly. ‘Oh, dear – Alex.’
‘No, no – I’m not saying I want you for a girlfriend,’ he added. ‘I just think you’re – you’re really cool.’
This was not the first time he had used phrases or words which meant very little to her.
‘I hope I am your friend, even though a girl.’
‘Well, yes, I didn’t mean that …’
‘And I don’t mean to be cool towards you, but you must understand a young woman like myself has to maintain some distance, some decorum. The Organist didn’t understand that.’
‘What I meant was,’ he said desperately, ‘is that I like you and I think you’re great company.’
She gave him an elfish grin. ‘Thank you, that’s a very nice compliment.’
A fresh draught suddenly caught Alex unawares. It ran its invisible fingers over his face. On its back it carried many scents and fragrances, as well as a few less pleasant odours, but one in particular made him sit up and take heed. There. There was a faint whiff of curry. Was it curry? Yes, surely it was. All of a sudden he missed his mother’s cooking. Dipa could whip up a curry that would have you drooling before a single mouthful was taken. If he stayed in the attic he would never taste his mother’s curries again, would he? And with the thought of that loss a thousand others came crowding in, things he missed about home and family, things that would be out of his reach for eternity if he remained a bortrekker. He loved his mother and sister, was growing fond of Ben and Jordy, and he needed Marmite on toast for breakfast like people needed to breathe air.
‘Will you ever go home, do you think?’ he asked Amanda, as the owl turned a complete circle on her head. ‘You might want to one day.’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘I cannot. I have been here too long.’
‘Does it hold you then?’
‘In a strong grip – of which I approve,’ she added hastily. ‘This was my choice, to stay up here. You are not yet in its thrall, but the longer you stay, the less likely it is you will be able to go back. You must make your choice soon, you know. To remain, or to return. Ah, I see a new light in your eyes, Alexander the Great, you have made up your mind.’
‘Yep.’ He stared out over the waters of the tank. ‘I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t. I need to go home. I know you say time has stopped for me and them, but I’ve got this image in my head, of my mother crying, putting notices in the newspapers, searching for me. I can’t get hold of the idea that nothing is moving down there. It’s got to, somehow or other, and when it does I won’t be there. I can accept that time has stopped for me, but I can’t get the idea that it’s stopped for them. It just doesn’t work in my head, no matter how many times you tell me it’s true.’
‘It is a difficult concept to grasp,’ she admitted. ‘It doesn’t hold with the science we’ve learned in