by Alexie Aaron
“Maurice is too old and sickly. They wouldn't let him in the service. The only Sherborn that fought for England was Michael.”
“Okay, girls, we’ll file this information and ask Bobby his thoughts about it. Anything else?”
“I looked up your priest. He’s real. His aunt is a big shot in Savannah. She’s always invited to all the best parties. Very rich, lots of ex-husbands. Nothing on Donald though.”
“Thanks for looking.” I sat back in my chair.
“Ahem, the necklace.”
“What about it?”
“Why are you wearing it?” she asked. “You didn’t buy it did you?”
“I bought it for Dorothy. And I’m wearing it because Mary said I had to. Said the blessing would be lost if I took it off before giving it to Dorothy.”
Noelle got up and walked over to examine it. She picked up the stone and looked it over. “Looks old.”
“I hope it’s worth all the trouble,” I murmured.
“What was the witch like?” Paz asked popping off the loveseat to join us. She sat on the floor at my feet. Noelle still held on to the stone. Twirling it, she painted the walls with a prism of light.
“She looked just like a housewife. Wouldn’t you say so, Angie?”
“Pretty ordinary. She was making bread. Her house was neat and tidy. Did you give Noelle the note?”
“What note?” Noelle asked.
“Wait I think it’s in my purse. Paz, could you, I think I left it on the porch.”
Paz was on her feet. “You did, we brought it in,” she called over her shoulder. “Wait, where did I put it? Yes, here it is." Paz walked back in the room handing my purse to me, and I rummaged around until I felt the small bundle.
“First let me tell you what happened. After I paid for the necklace she said, ‘Blessed be. You will be fine. The Kernow Daa will keep you from harm. Then she gave me a piece of paper to give to you.”
“You asked her how she knew about your daughter. She didn’t really say.”
“Probably Dorothy.”
“She said Dorothy didn’t tell her.” Angie corrected.
“I don’t know but here it is.” I handed the note to Noelle.
Noelle rolled her eyes and opened it. She read the note, dropped it and Paz picked it up. Paz read the note out loud. “It says, Noelle, the stars shine on your mother.”
“Is this a joke?”
“No. Ask Angie.”
“I saw her write it myself,” Angie said seriously.
“Yeah, right.” Noelle took the note from Paz and headed upstairs.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m going to listen to some music,” she said simply.
Paz followed her upstairs to get her CD player, and I put my feet up. “Angie, I think I’m going to nap right here. Do you mind?”
“No dear, I am halfway asleep myself.”
I heard Paz come down the stairs and opened my eyes to see her grab an afghan and cover Angie up. I smiled as she put her finger to her lips in a “shhh.” She tiptoed back up the stairs. I fell asleep to the light tap, tap of her feet on the floor above me.
Chapter Twelve
Billy arrived in time for tea. Paz was delighted. She wanted to impress him with her cooking skills, and after a hundred questions to Angie and Noelle, Paz was ready to claim she made the meal all by herself. No one ratted her out, and we sat down to a feast for a king, or a good-looking farmer. Noelle was more interested in her book right then, so Paz had Billy all to herself. Angie and I went over to the school and left the washing up to the young. Noelle caught up with us.
“Paz kicked me out. She wanted to play in the suds with Billy,” she giggled, "I don’t mind. I hate dishes. What are you two up to?"
“We’re going to work on the music until the light leaves us,” Angie explained.
“Count me in. I used to help Mom sort music back when she was the band librarian. Each time we came to a piece of music for the bassoons, we would yell, ‘Damn the bassoons!’ We did this because in some scores they’re in a different place in the order. After the oboes or after the bass clarinets. Besides, Mom doesn’t like bassoons.”
“Really? I’m surprised.”
“Well, I haven’t had good luck with bassoon players recently. They are either wonderful or horrible. I’ve had more of the latter I fear.”
“Well then. Damn the bassoons!” Angie called out. We were at the top of the hill and her voice echoed out into the vast valley.
“Angie, what’s down there?” I pointed out the overgrown path leading away from the school on the west side.
“That would be the Rosewood lowlands, a bit of tricky bog. If you go out there bring a tall walking stick and test the ground. I remember some areas that could swallow a person up if you left the path. I don’t go down there anymore. Billy and his father sometimes hunt birds, but they never had much luck down there. Very tricky. I would stay away from it unless one of us locals is with you.”
“I think I’ll let it pass. But I do want to see the Two-way River.”
“Well, that’s simple enough. Let’s put the dusty work off another day. Come on, it is very easy from here.”
We followed Angie down the side of the hill away from the bog. The trees overhead were dressed in their spring leaves, and they made a beautiful rustling sound as a breeze moved through them. I was extra careful of my footing since I had on my only remaining shoes. I’m sure the shiny patent leather slip-ons were a bit much for this outing, but I had to make do with what I had.
We heard the stream before we saw it. The bubbling and gurgling sounds made me feel happy inside, and when we came to the clearing before the stream I felt a surge of energy. I took off my shoes and socks and walked over to the water’s edge and dipped a toe in.
“It’s cold but not lethal.” I reached down and pulled my jean legs up over my knees. My legs were hairy, but I’m sure Mother Nature would forgive me my neglect. I walked into the water and felt the gentle pull of the course of the water.
Angie and Noelle looked at each other and laughed. They took off their footwear and socks. Pulling up their pant legs they followed me in.
“You’re right. Ooh this is cold,” Angie exclaimed.
“Refreshing. Oh look fish.” Noelle pointed out a small school of slender silver fish. “So why do you call this the Two-way River?”
“Sometime during the day the stream will change its course. Right now it’s flowing south, but it has been known to flow north in the evenings also.”
“It must have something to do with the tides,” Noelle said thoughtfully.
“This far inland?” I asked.
“Mom, we are on an island. Anything is possible.”
“Well, I prefer to think of it as magical,” I said wistfully.
“Michael and I used to come here. It was refreshing after a hot summer’s day. He loved to sit here with his feet in the water. We picked flowers along the way and set them in the water and off they would float like boats. One time the stream changed its flow and the flowers came back. Funny thing is that Michael recalled that day to me in a note. He said, ‘Remember whatever the direction I leave you, I will always come back.’ Damn wars, they take the romance out of life.”
“Does it hurt you to talk about Michael?” I asked quietly.
“No, it doesn’t. I may become misty-eyed, but I do love talking about him. He was a peach.”
“Did he write you any love songs?” Noelle asked.
“No, even though Michael was a genius at composing, I don’t think he liked it that much. He was more enamored with growing things. He always wanted to raise flowers and have a greenhouse for exotic plants. He didn’t want to be a composer really, not like Maurice did. Michael was a shy lad and didn’t like the pressure of public performance.”
“The priest I met on the plane was named after your Michael.”
“Really?” Angie turned and stared.
“Father Michael Dona
ld Williams.”
“Donald’s son?”
“No, his nephew. Donald was very impressed with Michael and while he was here he wrote many letters home. Father Michael’s parents named their son after Michael and Donald hoping he would be a great composer like his namesakes.”
“Is he?”
“Can’t carry a tune, which is very difficult with the normal duties of a Jesuit priest I gather.”
“A priest that can’t sing,” she said and rolled her eyes.
“He’s a researcher for the church. He’s in England now.”
“Not many Jesuits here. More in Ireland I would think. Church of England has most of the territory here. What is he researching?”
“Actually he said he’s doing some personal research. He’s looking for his uncle Donald.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Father Michael told me Donald came to England after the war to see some old friends. He disappeared somewhere over here.”
“Poor family. How they must have worried. Donald was a gentle boy. Beyond that I couldn’t tell you much more about him. I guess I was all wrapped up in Michael at the time.”
“That was understandable. Love, there is nothing like it.”
“Hey, Mom!” Noelle called. She had worked her way downstream a ways. “You should see how the sun is shining off that necklace.”
I looked down but couldn’t see what she was talking about.
Angie took a couple of steps back. “Saints preserve us. Cin, this is very interesting. Just like a fairy story I heard once. Sorry, you can't see it. The crystal is reflecting the sun to the water and the water is reflecting back to the crystal. If you squint your eyes you can see a blue rod trimmed in gold from your chest to the water.”
“I will have to take your word for it because all I can see are my feet turning blue from the cold.” I looked down and wiggled my toes. The water stopped flowing past me and swirled and bubbled and before my very eyes started flowing the other way. “Noelle, the water!”
“Woo hoo!” Noelle was dancing in the water getting her jeans soaked.
Angie laughed, reached down and splashed water on me. The chilly drops hit my face, and I felt wonderful. Even as I rolled my socks over my wet feet I still felt fantastic. “Blessed be,” I said quietly to the crystal.
“Did you say something dear?” Angie asked as she helped me to my feet.
“Just talking to myself.” I looked around as if to memorize each blade of grass. I wanted to remember this forever.
Noelle walked over with an armful of rocks. Angie offered to help her carry them. “What are these for?” she asked my daughter.
“Souvenirs.” Noelle smiled.
Angie didn’t feel the need to ask further. We took our time getting back to Bathgate. We arrived just in time to see the arrival of the team of constables Robert had told us about. Angie handed over her share of Noelle’s rocks to her and guided the young men to the scene of her near abduction in the barn. I hung around in the drive just in case I would be needed.
“Mom, I’m going to go in and have a hot bath.” She reached up and kissed me on the cheek.
“What was that for?”
“Thank you for bringing me here, thank you for being so foolish, and thank you for just being you.”
I reached around and hugged her. “Thanks honey, I needed that. Now go in and have a soak.” I watched her make her way to the house. I swear she was skipping. My sophisticated daughter was actually skipping.
~
The team of constables left, leaving Cayne to take the first watch. Billy and the girls had decided to go to a pub in St. Ives which I thought was a great idea. Noelle didn’t seem to mind being the third wheel. She held up her book to show me she would be entertained regardless of whether the pub turned out to be fun or not.
I had decided this would be a great time for me to go through the instruments. I could work off some of the scones I had been eating by carrying the cases to the performance building. I would wait and open them up in the morning. The light would be much better to photograph them at that time. I decided to use the large recital room for this purpose. Angie and Cayne were thick in a game of cards, so I knew I could work into the night without worrying about Angie’s safety.
Starting with the top shelves I carried flutes and clarinets past the practice rooms out and over to the recital building. I placed the woodwinds in one group and the small strings in another. It was when I was working on the trombones that I came upon a coach pass. It was old and printed on thick paper. I walked out of the storage room and held it up to the light.
The ticket date was too blurred to make out. I pocketed it and went back and pulled out the rest of the trombones. There jammed in a back corner I found a wallet. I picked it up and once again walked out of the room to the better light. There were some bills, pounds I think, in the wallet and an ID card. The ink was very light and faded. I held it right up into the light and read. "Donald G. Williams. So, Donald did come here." I looked down from the light so my eyes could adjust. I was seeing dark spots everywhere.
“Donald was here, here in the school,” I said aloud. It was then I heard a sound in the building. I thought one of the instrument cases must have fallen over. I went to check on it. Sure enough the trombones had toppled. I grabbed one in each hand and walked to the recital room. I had just put one case down so I could open the door when I felt someone behind me. My head exploded in pain. I turned to see the tan man holding a long needle. He jabbed it into my arm, and as the darkness enclosed around me I heard music.
Chapter Thirteen
I dreamt once again I was floating on a black sea. My hair spread out in the water and surrounded my body like an aura. My clothing was pulling me down. A soft southern-accented male voice calmly instructed me as long as I looked to the heavens I would be safe, but as soon as I closed my eyes I would sink. The light left and the stars came out, and I tracked a light across the bushes. “Lux in tenebris,” I heard myself say.
“Mom, wake up! Mom, open your eyes but don’t move. Come on Mom...” Noelle’s voice broke through the fog.
“What time is it?” I was so cold and wet. Wet? Why was I wet? I tried to brush my hair out of my eyes. My arms wouldn’t move.
“Mom! Don’t move!” Noelle shouted at me from somewhere over my shoulder. “You’re up to your neck in a bog...”
“A bog? How the hell did I get in here?” I tried to turn my head but it was impossible. The more I moved the more something choked me. “I can’t move my head...”
“Good,” snapped my daughter, “I told you not to move. Now, please listen to me. You’re in a bog. All that is keeping you from drowning in that muck is the necklace around your neck. It’s caught around a fallen tree limb. Paisley has run to get Billy. Try not to move.”
“How did I get here?” I croaked. The cold metal biting into the tender skin under my chin restricted my voice. I found if I clenched my teeth my jaw hurt less. “I was just in the walkway carrying trombones. Wait, someone hit me on the head.” I thought a moment, “the tan man stuck me with a needle. That’s it.”
“You’ve been missing for the whole night. Paz and I just got back from St. Ives and went looking for you. Angie said you were in the music school. The lights were all on but you weren’t there. We searched the house; we even went into that creepy attic. Don’t go there...ever.” Noelle shuddered. “Anyway, I couldn’t breathe, so I went to the window. That’s when I remembered what the witch’s note said. It said that the stars shine on your mom, and I looked up to the sky and said, come on stars, do your business and then I saw a flash.”
“Flash?”
“A flash of light coming from the sky and into the Rosewood bog. There was another pulse of light. It was brief, but somehow I knew it was you. That big ugly crystal at the end of that pagan charm must have caught some starlight,” Noelle explained in wonderment. “Paz thought I was nuts, but I got her to come with me and we went looking in the
lowland for you. Angie gave us torches, and when we lost direction we stood still and slowly moved the torches in a circle like a lighthouse until we received a flash back. We followed the flashes to you. Well, we didn’t see you exactly, but we came upon the charm caught up in the limb, and when I reached for it...Paz yelled at me to stop. I nearly fell in the bog. She caught me by the bra strap. Those bras we bought back at home were worth the price. Anyway, she pulled me back onto dry ground, and using her torch she started with the charm and followed the chain slowly and showed me you! Mary said that charm guarded against harm, but it may have just saved your life.”
“Great, now I have the pagans to be indebted to...” I shivered. My body was waking up from whatever drug was pumped into my arm.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be. Hang in there Mom...I guess you have no choice...” Noelle started laughing. “I know it isn’t funny but...”
“Go ahead and laugh, it will keep you warm,” I said through clenched, chattering teeth. I wondered how they were going to get me out of this bog. The muck maintained a gentle but firm downward pull on my body. The necklace must have twisted as I fell or was tossed in because it circled my neck before it caught on the limb. I was literally hung by the neck. “Noelle, talk to me. If I can keep my mind off of what I am in, I might not freak out.”
“You, freak out? You must be kidding. You never lose it. Wait, I remember now. Remember when Grandma and Grandpa were over and it was suppertime and we couldn’t find Alex? We looked all over, and just before you called the police we found him sleeping in the reading chair. Man, Grandpa still teases you about losing Alex in the house. I hear something...hold on. Don’t move.”
I heard my daughter get up and walk away. Noelle was always so calm in emergencies. I remember the snowy night in Illinois when her brother was a baby and was having febrile seizures. Luke had to wake her up in the middle of the night because the ambulance was coming. She calmly got up, dressed herself, put boots on, and got into the car with Luke. They followed us to the hospital. Once we were there, you could hear her boots flop, flop as she walked down the hallway to check up on us, and her boots flop, flop as she walked back to the waiting room. Noelle was much calmer than Luke and I.