silent for a moment. The breeze carried a bee past her, its drone heavy in the air.
“I broke up with my boyfriend because I realized it was time to act,” she said looking at him. He saw briefly the defiance flash in her eyes, the desire to fight, and it thrilled him. “When I knew what I was going to do I felt so free, so determined to change my life.” She sighed, looking away. “I just hope I can maintain it when I get back to reality.”
“You feel it is easy to have these thoughts now but you’re scared you will just go back to the trap, in fact willingly submit to it, despite knowing it is the opposite of what you want, what you are.”
She studied him again, amazed at his perception.
“How do I stop it?” she asked.
“You’ve already begun,” he said. “It’s normal to feel fear now but you have taken the first step. Never forget that.” He looked out to sea, the vast horizon freeing his own thoughts, his own mind. “We all travel one step at a time.”
*****
The children walked side by side pushing their bikes up the steep lane that led up out of the town and back home to the cottage.
“Well, that was an eventful morning,” exclaimed Neil.
Vicky turned to check behind them for what seemed the hundredth time.
“He’s not following us,” said Neil in exasperation.
“How can you be sure?” said his sister. “I don’t like it. What if he follows us home?”
“We can’t stay out forever,” said Neil. “Anyway, if he wants to spy on us at home bring it on I say. Gives us a chance to catch him.”
“There’s something creepy about them,” said Vicky.
“I agree. What do you think they were looking for?” asked Neil.
“I don’t know,” said Vicky quietly as she recalled the voices she had heard. It was only now that she remembered the name they had given to the key. They had called it the Key of Arachar. They had wanted her to give it to them. She shivered suddenly despite the warmth of the sun. “But I think we have to find out.”
*****
“This is just what I needed,” said Nicola between sips of her milkshake. “I’ve spent the last days thinking myself into a downward spiral.” She reached across and touched his hand. “Thanks,” she said.
“Hey, I’m glad you’re feeling happier,” said Paul feeling relieved, for he was sure he must be a burden to her.
They were sitting in a small cafe on the harbor drinking milkshakes, eating sandwiches and watching the world go by. Out in the bay a steady stream of windsurfers were being towed out to take their first lessons and Nicola watched, fascinated by their antics which involved very little windsurfing and a lot of falling in the water.
“So tell me about yourself,” said Nicola. “What do you do?”
“I’ve just finished at college. Should get my exam results in a few weeks but I don’t know what I want to do. My dad wants me to go to university. My sister could have gone but she didn’t. To be honest I don’t fancy it. I’ve no idea what to do, so why just pick a subject at random and write off three years?”
“I went to university,” said Nicola.
“Was it worth it?” he asked quickly.
“On the face of it, not at all,” she said. “I studied environmental politics and all I am doing now is working in a bank, so that’s just crap. Anyway, you’re very good at steering the conversation away from you,” she grinned. “I want to know more.”
He was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to the table.
“What’s there to know?”
She studied him, suddenly scared for him. It was as if a black cloud had appeared and washed away his spirit. Eventually he spoke.
“I have this dream.”
Her heart leapt into her mouth. For a while she had forgotten about the dream, had wanted to ignore the impossible. She could not look away as he carried on speaking.
“In my dream there is a rider on horseback, dressed in dark amor and with a sword and shield, like something out of a fantasy film. I follow them yet they never let me get close. Last night I had the dream again but this time it was different. I was the rider.”
He moved his hand forward, his fingers touching the soft, smooth skin of her arm and then following the contour of the muscle, their minds remembering.