Dreamside - By Graham Joyce Page 0,61

You worry about your own score. You can't bring Brad along; Honora certainly wouldn't want to try; that leaves me. I'm going to have to bring him, across my shoulder if necessary. I'm calculating on him being in the same condition as Honora. If he is, I'll throw him a line and he'll grab it. I'll go tomorrow, early. I figure we don't have a lot of time before something bad happens to one of us, and I want to be gone before Honora wakes up. I'll have Brad with me in under forty-eight hours or not at all. I'll phone to let you know. And you know where to meet us."

"Yes. I know where to meet you."

"I'll also need to take some things of yours with me."

"Take anything, Ella. You led me into this. You might as well lead me out."

"I led you in?"

"I never told you. All those years ago. I only ever went to that first dream meeting because of you. I stood behind you in a shadowy corridor, feeling horny, and I overheard you say you were going to the meeting. So I went. I never expected the rest."

"None of us expected the rest. Now let me tell you something about that first meeting. If you hadn't stood next to me in that corridor, and I hadn't spoken so loudly to make sure that you'd hear…That's made you look serious! Now kiss me; because it helps."

S I X

"I am real" said Alice, and began to cry —Lewis Carroll

The next morning Ella was far away before Lee woke up for the third time, with a frightened start. Each false awakening was like breaking through a thin shell which would fragment and fall away only to reveal another one. This time it occurred to him to get out of bed and pick up a book. He let it fall open, read a paragraph twice and was relieved to find that it didn't change.

Honora found him in the kitchen. He was muttering over broken eggs. "You're awake," he said. "Any repeaters?" By now it was almost like saying good morning. You heard the sentiment but not the words.

"Lots. Where's Ella?" Honora looked better. She had colour in her cheeks and her hair tumbled free over her shoulders.

"Gone to collect something." He would have to tell her later. Ella had told him to win her confidence, to get her to take that dreamside walk. How he was supposed to do that was anybody's guess.

He was still thinking about the episode in the church, and of his Perspex shrine lying in a box in the attic. He could no longer pretend that Honora's problems didn't concern him, or that he was in any way outside of events. His rational objections had already dissolved, and he had been forced to recognize the seriousness of Ella's mission.

"Where did you say Ella had gone?" Honora said over breakfast.

"She had to go out to get something."

"What, exactly?"

This time he looked her deep in the eye before lying through his teeth. "She didn't say."

Being alone in the house with Honora made Lee feel on edge. He wasn't entirely certain what was creating the tension, but she clouded the air. It disturbed him. He cleared the dishes and busied himself at the sink. Honora hovered uncomfortably behind him for a moment before going through to the lounge. Then some movement outside the kitchen window caught Lee's eye.

"Wonder what she wants here?" he said aloud. He went outside, leaving the kitchen door open. Cold air fanned the house. Honora, who had also seen the girl, waited breathlessly in the lounge.

Lee wandered back. "Gone," he said, shutting the door behind him. "A kid. Sad little mouse, blue with cold. She looked at me as though she wanted something."

Honora said nothing.

Lee returned to the sink. Persuading Honora was not going to be easy. She would rather be lowered into a pit of snakes than meet up with Brad Cousins again, on dreamside or anywhere else. As for winning her confidence, Lee was out of practice at getting close to people. Nevertheless, at some point he would have to steer the discussion around to Brad.

Lee plunged his arm into the hot water and took a plate. He heard the ping! and felt it split as he lifted it out. The hot water had broken it.

A hairline crack appeared in the centre, spreading jaggedly both up towards the rim and down to his wrist. But then the crack extended itself at both