The Cult of Unicorns (Penny White Book 2)

by Chrys Cymri

  The gryphon dipped his head. ‘We should pray before we go in.’

  ‘I’m off God at the moment.’

  ‘Then I’ll do the praying for both of us.’

  And as he asked God to bless our efforts, I let my eyes wander up to the still bright sky. My winter coat, new only a few months ago, was already showing the kind of wear which Lloegyr seemed to throw at me. I decided to risk leaving it in the car. Just in case there were cameras in the car park, I pretended to fuss with something on my seat, giving Morey time to slip out.

  There was definitely a cooler welcome than at my last visit. The receptionist frowned at my name. When I greeted Sam, he merely gave me a nod and offered no conversation. I arranged a near collision with him as we entered the lift, giving Morey extra precious seconds to fly into the compartment before the door shut.

  I was shown to a seat in the lobby. Morey stood by my feet, wings still extended as he prepared himself for his next flight. I wondered if, like me, he was once again mentally rehearsing our agreed approach. My stomach growled. I’d not trusted myself enough to have any lunch, and now I was hungry.

  A door opened to my right. Sam emerged. ‘The board are ready for you now, Reverend White.’

  This was it. I rose, tugged at my jacket, and followed him inside. Morey slipped between our legs in an impressive burst of precision flying. Then he landed on a large potted plant, and tucked himself into the leaves.

  ‘Reverend Penny White,’ Fred told the gathering. ‘It was good of you to come.’

  ‘Thank you for inviting me,’ I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

  There were thirteen board members. Fred pointed them out in turn, although he stumbled over one name. ‘Sorry, Jenny. This is Jenny Thompson, who only joined us a few weeks ago. Used to do something in government, didn’t you?’

  ‘Civil service,’ the smartly dressed woman replied, smiling. ‘In contradiction to that old saying, it’s sometimes what you know, as well as who you know, isn’t it, Reverend White?’

  I wondered if she knew my bishop. But Fred was moving on to the last few people around the dark table, which filled the centre of the room. I knew I’d never remember all of the names, but I nodded dutifully. When the roll call had ended, I took a free chair, and slipped my hands under the table to ensure that I couldn’t start chewing my nails.

  A moment later Susie was shown into the room. As she bustled around, setting up her laptop and checking her notes, the board members made small talk and sipped at their coffees. The man nearest to me poured dark liquid into a white mug and handed it to me. ‘I don’t really know why Fred insisted that we all needed to hear this,’ he whispered to me. ‘I’ve told him before, the company has enough on its plate. But you know Fred, he likes to dream big. Maybe you can help us to recognise when he’s dreaming, Penny?’

  ‘“Where there is no vision, the people perish,’” I found myself quoting. Then I realised this wasn’t very helpful. ‘I’m not quite certain why I’m here, really. The company has already thanked me for helping to find Susie. I don’t know why Fred wants me here to see Susie’s photos of Northamptonshire.’

  ‘We already have enough agricultural holdings in Northamptonshire,’ the man agreed. ‘In all of England, actually.’

  Then Fred was calling us to order. Phones and cups were put down, and laptops and pens opened and readied. ‘Susie Merchant is one of my best operatives,’ Fred told us all. ‘She has been searching for new areas into which we can expand our operations. We know how the Chinese have bought up some of the best land in Africa. But now there’s a new opportunity.’

  The lights dimmed and a screen lowered at the end of the room. Susie’s Powerpoint began with statistics regarding land use and human population projections. The potted plant quivered several times as Susie emphasised the need to increase agricultural production ‘by any means necessary’ in order to ensure that families had enough access to food. I could only imagine what dark thoughts Morey was keeping to himself.

  ‘And this is why I’m so excited about the place I recently visited.’ That was our cue. Morey quickly dropped to the floor. I watched him make his way across the thick carpet over to where Fred was seated. ‘We might think that there are few opportunities left here on Earth. But there are possibilities beyond our small planet.’

  ‘“To infinity and beyond’?” the man seated beside me asked.

  ‘I know it sounds incredible,’ Fred said, ‘but please hear her out.’

  Morey jumped onto the table, landing next to Fred’s arm. He stroked his head against the man’s hand, then said, ‘Yes, let’s hear her out, why not? It’s only my home you’re talking about.’

  ‘And we have exhibit B,’ Fred said drily.

  Several board members gave him curious glances. Then their eyes returned to the screen, as Susie brought up the first of her photos from Lloegyr. Like her, and Fred, I could see the unicorns. But Morey and I were counting on only three humans having the Sight.

  ‘It’s a very nice field,’ said Jenny. ‘Is that Northamptonshire?’

  ‘No, it’s Lloegyr.’ Susie pointed at the rearing unicorn who filled the left side of the image. ‘That’s not a horse, in case you haven’t noticed. That’s a unicorn.’

  Several board members shifted in their chairs. The British code of conduct demanded that they remain polite, even in the face of someone who had quite obviously lost her grip on reality. The man next to me coughed. ‘Have you brought up the wrong slide, Ms Merchant? Sorry, but all l see is a field.’

  ‘Now, then, Terry,’ Fred said calmly. ‘Don’t mess about. You can see those unicorns. Just think of being on that field.’

  Morey leaned back, and sang, in his clear tenor voice, “‘Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.” You’re the only pilgrim in this land, Susie.’

  ‘Even the plants look different,’ Susie insisted.

  “‘When I tread the verge of Jordan,’” Morey continued, pointing his beak at Susie, “‘bid my anxious fears subside.” The Jordan symbolises crossing through death, by the way.’

  ‘And this is another creature from that world.’ Fred reached out to pat Morey, and the gryphon retreated to the centre of the table. ‘However, he usually offers economic arguments rather than songs.’

  Chairs and faces were creaking under the effort of maintaining British civility. ‘Lovely post-Christmas joke,’ one woman finally offered. ‘I must admit, I’m partial to unicorns. But perhaps we can move on to the real presentation?’

  Susie clicked onto the next slide. The Archdruid was posed near the forest, and even though I knew it was a photograph I still felt as if the dark eyes were accusing me. Yes, I wanted to tell her, I did say we could trust Susie. I’m sorry, but I’m doing my best to put it right.

  ‘Interesting trees,’ Jenny offered. ‘Is that somewhere in South Africa?’

  ‘“You are weak, but they are mighty,’” Morey sang.

  ‘No, it’s in a world which exists parallel to our own,’ Susie said stubbornly. ‘This is where the unicorns live. I understand that dragons live elsewhere.’ She pointed at Morey. ‘Where do gryphons live?’

  The gryphon glared at her. ‘Spell otiose. That’s my Shibboleth.’

  ‘Isn’t that a contradiction in terms?’ Fred asked.

  ‘Can’t write it out for people to pronounce,’ Morey told him. ‘That regrettable lack of opposable thumbs.’

  ‘With all due respect, chair,’ and the male speaker nodded in Fred’s direction, ‘I suggest it’s time we moved on. Is there really a new opportunity for the board to discuss or, as Maria suggested earlier, is this just some elaborate joke?’

  ‘But that gryphon is right there!’ Susie pointed a second hand at Morey. ‘Haven’t you heard him speaking?’

  ‘I thought gryphons were animals,’ I said brightly. ‘Surely they couldn’t be intelligent enough to hold a conversation? I’d think the best you could hope for is hearing them mimic Dalek catchphrases
.’

  Feathers rose on Morey’s neck, and I knew I’d pay for my insult later. But he kept to our ruse, albeit in his own style. Singing had not been part of my plan. ‘“Open now the crystal fountain,’” he advised Susie, ‘“whence the healing stream doth flow.” You still have a chance to save yourself from this.’

  Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times. Then, even in the dim light of the board room, I could see a gleam of understanding come into her eyes. ‘Thank you for your time,’ she said weakly. ‘Any questions?’

  But Fred was not easily swayed. ‘Are all of you blind?’ he growled. ‘Susie has seen this other world, and its potential. And you have proof sitting right in front of you!’

  ‘I think that’s enough,’ Jenny said firmly. ‘All I see in front of me is a very tolerant woman of the cloth, who has given up her valuable time to be with us. Reverend White, may the board add our thanks for bringing Ms Merchant safely home?’

  ‘And we apologise for the fun and games,’ Terry added. ‘Our meetings are usually much better conducted.’

  ‘But this gryphon--’

  ‘Thank you, everyone, for your time,’ Susie said. ‘And, once again, to Penny for finding me in Badby Wood.’

  ‘Thank you for the Christmas presents,’ I responded. ‘And if any of you are ever looking for inspiration on a weekend, we have a service at Saint Wulfram’s, Beckeridge every Sunday at 10am.’

  The main lights had come back on, and Susie was packing away her laptop. Fred stared at her, me, down to Morey, then back at his board members. ‘Let it go,’ Morey told him, ‘or I’ll haunt you in your sleep.’

  ‘I don’t know what trick you’ve pulled here,’ he responded grimly, ‘but I know you’re real. I’ll find some way of making you prove that.’

  And then Morey began to sing ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds.’ Part way through he halted, and added, ‘And if you try to invade my world again, just be warned, it is ours, and we will defend it.’

  It took all of my self-control not to glare at my Associate. Threats had also not featured in my plan. I rose to my feet and allowed Terry to open the door for me. The man seemed to fumble on the handle, which gave Morey time to slip through.

  A mistake on my part meant that the lift doors closed before he could fly in. I went over to read the company brochures in the lobby until, to my relief, the lift returned and Morey sped out. I let him exit the building first before I slipped the glossy magazine under my arm to join him in the car park.

  ‘“Dalek catchphrases”,’ he said as I drove us away.

  ‘“Lucy in the sky with diamonds”?’

  ‘A bit of Beatles is always worth having.’

  I glanced at him. ‘And I bet you don’t even know what Daleks say.’

  ‘Praevello,’ he said promptly. ‘Dalek always sounds better in the original Latin.’

  ‘How do you know they speak Latin?’

  ‘That’s what they always speak. It’s the TARDIS translation circuit which makes it sound like English to you.’

  ‘Don’t try to out geek me,’ I complained. ‘That’s just so wrong.’

  He smoothed out feathers and fur and curled up on the passenger seat. ‘I think Susie got the message. She won’t continue to insist that she can see something others can’t. Her career will not be advanced by suspicions that she hallucinates. Or is a drug taker.’

  ‘And Fred?’

  ‘Is now isolated. Susie is smart enough to realise that the board has more power than a chief executive. She won’t stick up for Fred.’

  I let out a long sigh. ‘Good. Then it’s over.’

  ‘I have the nasty feeling,’ he said glumly, ‘that we couldn't possibly be that lucky.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  A Land Rover and a horse trailer were waiting on the drive as I pulled up at the vicarage. Peter was standing at the front door. I felt my spirits lift as I parked on the road nearby. Maybe I was finally going to be liberated from watching a morose unicorn.

  Peter gave me a peck on the cheek. ‘So you got my message.’

  ‘Of course,’ I said quickly, although my iPhone had been switched off for the board meeting. ‘You’ve found a place for the unicorn?’

  ‘The Midlands Safari Park will take her on.’ He jerked his head towards the Land Rover. ‘I said I’d bring her right over. They’ll do some tests, and if she’s healthy then they’ll put her in a corral near the zebras.’

  ‘Healthy,’ I repeated bitterly. ‘Her foal is dead. It’ll take a long time before she’s well again.’

  Peter’s hand was a comforting weight on my shoulder. ‘Remember, the staff there will know what she is. I think they plan to bring in a therapist. By the way, nice jacket. Important meeting?’

  I suddenly regretted leaving my coat in the car. It would have hidden my attempt to dress smartly. ‘Aren’t they all? I’ll bring her out.’

  Taryn swooped into the nearby tree, and Morey flew off to join her. I made my way alone through the gate to the back garden.

  Rain was holding off, but I was still feeling the cold as I made my way over the weeds. The unicorn was hunched near the fence, head low and body slumped. Just seeing her made me shiver. For some reason I suddenly remembered my last words to Alan, just before he and James went on the boat trip from which only one of them returned. I wish I’d told Alan how much I loved him, how wonderful a father he’d been to my brother, and that I’d always be grateful that he’d paid all the bills whilst I’d trained to be a priest. But all I’d actually told him was, ‘And don’t forget to rinse out the Thermos flask before you bring it home.’ Did the unicorn have a similar regret over her own last words to her daughter?

  ‘It’s time to go,’ I told the mare quietly. ‘To a much better place than my back garden. The people there will help you.’

  She shuffled her way over to me. Breath misted in the air as she spoke. ‘Nid oes i mi gymorth.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘No help for me.’

  I leaned in close. The dark eyes were nearly shut, and I felt a pang of pre-emptive guilt. But I had to know. ‘Did you kill those two humans? Is that why your hide is dark? Is that why the land turned against you?’

  ‘Nid oes i mi gymorth.’

  I sighed. ‘If you were a Christian, I’d tell you that confession is good for the soul.’

  ‘But I am.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  She raised her head. ‘I am a Christian.’

  ‘You are?’

  ‘Na fyddet it dduwiau eraill ger fy mron i. Na wna it ddelw gerfiedig, na llun dim a’r y sydd yn y nefoedd uchod--’

  ‘What is that?’

  ‘Y Deg Gorchymyn. The Ten Commandments. All Christians know them.’

  ‘Otiose is my Shibboleth,’ I muttered. I wasn’t certain I could recite all Ten, and definitely not in order. ‘Then you know that God told us, “Thou shalt not kill.”’

  ‘Murder,’ she corrected me. ‘“You shall not murder.” That is the original Hebrew.’

  ‘And the difference is?’

  ‘It is not murder if the one who dies asked to be killed. But not all ask to be killed.’

  I was about to ask another question when Peter’s voice cut across the back garden. ‘Penny? We need to get going.’

  The unicorn shuffled through the gate. I followed, my stomach churning with frustration. Hooves clanked on the ramp as the mare stepped into the trailer, and Peter closed the door behind her.

  ‘I think she killed at least one human,’ I hissed to Peter as he fished in his pockets for keys. ‘And now she feels guilty.’

  He ran a hand through his rain dampened hair. ‘Maybe she did. But you just try to convince anyone from Lloegyr.’

  ‘But if she’s the killer--’

  ‘Taryn!’ Peter called out. ‘Morey! Can you come here for a moment?’ The two gryphons dropped out of the tree and landed on the top of the trailer. ‘Penny has something to run past you.’

  I to
ok a deep breath. ‘Could a unicorn have killed the two humans we’ve found?’

  ‘Never,’ Taryn declared, even as Morey arched his back in shock and growled, ‘Unicorns bring only healing.’ They both flapped away, disgust radiating from their stiff bodies.

  Peter looked at me and shrugged. ‘See? They’re still blinded by awe.’

  ‘I thought you were too, for awhile,’ I admitted.

  ‘Maybe I was.’ Then he grinned. ‘I got better. I think I only have eyes for you.’

  ‘Soppy,’ I told him, but something cheered inside of me.

  ‘Isn’t it the same for you?’ he asked. ‘You’ve never been infatuated with unicorns. Maybe you only have eyes for me.’

  Now was definitely not the moment to tell him about Raven. ‘Um, I guess.’

  Peter glanced at his wristwatch. ‘Look, I need to get her to the safari park. See you Thursday?’

  ‘Thursday,’ I agreed.

  Taryn flew into the passenger seat of the Land Rover, and Peter drove away.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell him?’ Morey asked, once again in his place on my left shoulder. ‘About the meeting at Wiseman Agricultural.’

  ‘The fewer people who know, the better,’ I said. ‘I think we’ve managed to keep it under wraps.’ And I took us inside for a warming coffee. With a good shot of whisky. Not the best use for Talisker, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

  <><><><><><>

  ‘And it’s so unfair,’ I told Gregory. ‘James is totally wrong. I’m not a liar. I have to be tactful. It’s part of being a vicar. Isn’t it?’

  My spiritual director had said nothing while I ranted about my brother’s accusations, his face still except for a wince when I had spilled some of my coffee on his carpet. ‘James is younger than you,’ he noted, sounding, for a moment, very much like Morey. ‘Why did the accusation upset you so much?’

  ‘I’m not upset,’ I said, my hands tightening on my mug. ‘Just really annoyed. He’s family. He should be more supportive.’

  ‘What would your reaction have been if a member of your congregation had spoken to you like that?’