is Gwynder, Thomas. My younger sister. This is my mother, my mother till I was thirteen, that is. She's called Jen Udy."
Lynley glanced at Daidre. She spoke as if he and she were observers of a tableau on a stage.
Lynley said to Gwynder, -Thomas Lynley. I'm not a doctor. Just a...friend."
Gwynder said, -Posh voice," and continued what she'd been doing when they entered, which was carrying a glass to the woman on the banquette. It contained some sort of milky liquid. She said in reference to it, -Want you drinking this, Mum."
Jen Udy shook her head. Two of her fingers rose, then fell.
Gwynder said, -Your father 's well, no matter what you like." Although her choice of words could have carried a bitter undercurrent, they did not do so.
-Where are they?"
-Where else would they be? Daylight."
-At the stream or in the shed?"
-Don't know, do I. They're wherever. Mum, you got to drink this. Good for you."
The fingers lifted and fell again. The head turned slightly, trying to pull itself towards the back of the banquette and out of sight.
-Are they not helping you care for her, Gwynder?" Daidre asked.
-Told you. Past the point of caring for her, aren't we, and on to the point of waiting. You c'n make a difference in that." Gwynder sat at the top of the banquette, by the stained pillow. She'd placed the glass on a ledge that ran along a window whose thin curtains were shut against the daylight, shedding a jaundiced glow against her mother's face. She lifted both the pillow and her mother's head and slid herself under them. She reached for the glass again. She held this to Jen Udy's lips with one hand and with the other - curved round her head - she forced her mother's mouth to open. Liquid went in. Liquid came out. The woman's throat muscles moved as she swallowed at least part of it.
-You need to get her out of here," Daidre said. -This place isn't good for her. And it isn't good for you. It's unhealthy and cold and miserable."
-Know that, don't I?" Gwynder said. -That's why I want to take her - "
-You can't possibly believe that will do any good."
-It's what she wants."
-Gwynder, she's not religious. Miracles are for believers. To take her all the way to...Look at her. She doesn't even have the strength for the journey. Look at her, for heaven's sake."
-Miracles are for everyone. And they're what she wants. What she needs. 'F she doesn't go, she's going to die."
-She is dying."
-'S that what you want? Oh, I expect it is. You with your posh boyfriend there. Can't believe you even brought him down here."
-He's not my...He's a policeman."
Gwynder slowly clutched at the front of her pullover as she took in this detail. She said,
-Why've you brought...?" And to Lynley, -We're doing nought wrong. Can't make us leave.
The town council know...We've the rights of travellers. Aren't bothering anyone." And to Daidre, -Are there more of them out there? You come to take her? She won't go without a fight.
She'll begin to scream. Can't believe that you would do this to her. After everything..."
-After what exactly?" Daidre's voice sounded pinched. -After everything she did for me? For you? For all three of us? You seem to have a very short memory."
-And yours goes back to the start of time, eh?" Gwynder forced more of the liquid into their mother's mouth. The result was much the same as before. What drained out of her dribbled down her cheeks and onto the pillow. Gwynder tried to sort this out by brushing it off, with little success.
-She can be in hospice," Daidre said. -It doesn't have to go on this way."
-We're meant to leave her there alone? Without her family? Lock her up and wait till they give us the word she's gone? Well, I won't do that, will I. And if you come to tell me tha's the limit of what you mean to do to help her, you leave with your fancy man. Whoever he says he is.
Because he's not a cop. Cops don't talk like him."
-Gwynder, please see reason."
-Get out, Edrek. Asked for your help and you said no. Tha's how it is and we'll cope from here."
-I'll help within reason. But I won't send the lot of you to Lourdes or Medjugorje or Knock or anywhere else because it isn't reasonable, it doesn't make sense, there are no miracles - "