Witch Dust

by Marilyn Messik

  “And if I say yes?” She asked. He shrugged and grunted.

  “No skin off my nose. Been around the block enough times to know, there’s a bloody sight more things in this life that don’t have any kind of sensible explanation, than those that do. What I’m more interested in right now, is how dangerous all this is. And most importantly, how the hell do we put a stop to it?”

  “I’ve already told you.” Etty didn’t raise her voice but thumped her stick once on the floor in exasperation. “You need to get her away from here.”

  “And you know, bloody well.” He snapped back. “We don’t have a hope of doing that until this weather clears up a bit. So, what’s to do in the meantime, eh?” They glared at each other.

  “Oh, for goodness sake,” I said. “Don’t you two come to blows, we’ve got enough on our plates as it is.” I looked at Etty. “Isn’t there something you can do, I don’t know, some sort of protective something or other? Aren’t you supposed to be able to do that sort of thing. Or isn’t there some clever way of getting me out of here with a bit of… you know?” She looked at me witheringly,

  “Well of course.” She said, “Why didn’t I think of that? Tell you what,why don’t I just pop you on a broomstick and send you up the M40? Don’t be any more stupid than you have to, girl. This is real life, not a fairy tale.” Murray and I exchanged looks, this was the kind of conversation you don’t quite believe you’re having.

  “Aren’t we still missing the main point here?” Said Murray. “What is it precisely they’re afraid of? What is it they think she can do.” Etty didn’t have a chance to respond, because the screaming started again.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  It was Devorah doing it this time. As Etty, Murray and I tripped over each other, hurrying out of Etty’s room, Devorah was standing at the other end of the corridor clutching Bella’s arms and Ophelia was hurrying out of Devorah’s room, shaking her head.

  “She was there, she was there, I put her down, she was there.” Devorah shook Bella’s arms frantically. “Someone’s taken her, Oh God, where is she?”

  “The baby,” Ophelia said to us as we came towards them. “Devorah thinks she’s gone.”

  “I don’t think.” Shrieked Devorah, “This isn’t something I’m not sure of, you stupid woman!”

  “How long?” Said Etty. Devorah turned a wild-eyed look on her.

  “What?”

  “How long is it since you put her down?” Etty said, Devorah dragged both hands through her hair,

  “Don’t know, don’t know, not that long, like maybe half an hour. I was tired too, so I popped on the bed for a bit, must have dropped off, not for long though. When I woke up she wasn’t there. God, don’t just stand there everyone, we’ve got to find her, please, please.”

  “Look, I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding,” I said, although I was sure of no such thing. “Maybe she was crying and someone heard and popped their head round the door, saw you were asleep and… “ I met Devorah’s anguished glare, “Of course we’ll start looking, she can’t have been taken far can she?” I looked at my Mother, Great Grandmother and Aunt, “Can’t you lot ‘do’ something?” I said.

  “Such as?” Said Ophelia. I hissed in exasperation,

  “Well what use is all the crazy-maisie stuff, you all do without a moment’s thought.” I said. “If when push comes to shove and we really need the stops pulled out, you’re all stood here like a collection of chocolate tea-pots?”

  “You really shouldn’t… “ began Ophelia, but we didn’t have time for discussion or debate.

  “Bella,” I said urgently, “You and Devorah check all the rooms upstairs, Etty and Ophelia, you do all the rooms on this floor, they’re probably not locked but if any of them are, get hold of Elizabeth’s keys. Check the cupboards too.” Devorah moaned quietly and slumped against the wall. “Just a precaution.” I said, patting her arm. Look I’m sure she’s fine. Murray,” I continued, “You and I – downstairs.” I turned to go, then swung back as something occurred to me.

  “The baby,” I said, “Could she have um gone anywhere… I mean, on her own? No? OK, just checking. Come on Murray.” Then I stopped for a second time, looking at Devorah. “Hang on, what you told me before, can you ‘feel’ her?”

  “No.” Devorah said quietly, and that was more unnerving than any scream. “I can’t feel anything.”

  We checked the kitchen first because Elizabeth was the most likely to have heard Simona and brought her down, but she shook her head,

  “No, course not.” And I was up there not that long ago, making-up the two new rooms for your Dad and him.” She nodded her head at Murray, “And one for that girl.” She added, a sniff indicating Sasha hadn’t made the best of impressions. “When I went past, baby was in her room, heard her burbling to herself, happy little soul she is. Didn’t know whether Devorah was in there or not, but the baby was fine enough, didn’t need seeing to, so no, didn’t go in.”

  Alfred, cleaning some silver cutlery, looked up and shook his head too. Gladys, wiping her hands on a dishcloth, seemed to be herself, although I didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing, she looked blank as well, said she hadn’t been out of the kitchen and hadn’t seen Devorah and the baby since there was all that fuss earlier with Mimi. I recalled guiltily that I hadn’t given Mimi much thought over the last hour or so. Once we’d sorted out where Simona was, I’d check on her.

  Roland came in through the back door, grumbling and stamping snow off his boots. He was accompanied by an icy draught and Rostropovich. At Elizabeth’s protest, he shrugged as he peeled off gloves and coat.

  “Lizzie, my love, I’ve been trying for flipping ages. Took him down to the kennel, but he wouldn’t stay, howled like a banshee with depression. Honestly, what was I supposed to do? Look he can settle down in a corner, he’ll be no trouble.” Then catching sight of my face, “Sandra? Christ Almighty, what’s wrong now?”

  Adam and Sasha were seated, like ill-matching bookends at either end of one of the sofas in the living room. He was reading what must have been yesterday’s newspaper, while she was talking at him, presumably not appreciating he was a past master at tuning out anything he didn’t care to listen to. I recognised the technique and briefly wondered what that said about where their relationship was right now.

  I was relieved though to see, that whilst Mimi was still tucked up on another sofa, facing the fire, she was sitting up and looking perky, though a little twitchy. On closer inspection, it turned out she was listening to an iPod with earphones – I detected Henry’s touch – and wasn’t twitching, just moving with the music.

  None of them had anything helpful to say, and I had to persuade Mimi to stay where she was for the time being, the last thing we needed was her getting mislaid again. I met up with Roland in the hall.

  “The tv lot are in there,” he indicated the library with his head. “Except for that girl, you know,” he sketched the knitted tea-cosy, pom-pom, hat in the air. “She took herself off to her room to make some calls apparently. They’ve had to re-arrange their schedule or something, with the weather, anyway they haven’t seen or heard anything.” A particularly vicious gust of wind hit the front doors making us all jump, and we looked at each other. Murray shook his head,

  “Don’t be daft, the kiddie can’t possibly be out there.”

  “Mimi was,” I said.

  “Yes but,” said Murray. “She’s a bit away with the fairies anyway, isn’t she?” He looked at Roland, “No offence.”

  “None taken.”

  “She must have wandered off for some reason and got herself lost.”

  “And Ink?” I asked. Murray frowned,

  “Well known fact.” He said. “Cats often take themselves off somewhere when it’s their time, and face it, the poor old girl was getting on a bit.” I thought about the ot
her cat, the one hanging outside the window, but didn’t say anything. There was a feeling of panic in the pit of my stomach, and it was increasing with every passing minute.

  “Sandra, anything?” I looked up, Bella was at the top of the stairs. I shook my head and she put her hand to her mouth.

  “I’ll call the police.” I said.

  “Goodness, no need to do that.” A cheerful voice sang out behind us. It was Charley and – oh thank God – she had Simona comfortably against her shoulder. The baby was cooing happily, turning and holding out her arms to Devorah as she rushed down the stairs towards us, Bella on her heels.

  “Why don’t we all go into the library?” Said Charley, “They’ve got the fire going there, and it’s almost cosy. She made a wry face to show she knew, as well as we did, that one of the things the library wasn’t ever going to really aspire to was cosy. She turned, the baby still in her arms and moved ahead of us. Devorah, her tear-stained face regaining a little colour, stepped in front of her,

  “I’ll take her now.”

  “No.” Said Charley, “Not yet. Come into the library.” She turned. “All of you.”

  “Hang on just a minute.” Said Roland, moving forward next to Devorah, so they were blocking her path. Charley tilted her head to one side and smiled. She had her right arm firmly under Simona’s plump nappied bottom and now she moved her left hand flat against one side of the baby’s face.

  “If you don’t do as I ask,” said Charley reasonably, “l’ll break her neck.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  Odd, isn’t it, how your reaction to a given situation, isn’t ever what you think it might be? Maybe because the primitive part of your brain kicks into gear, way ahead of any kind of reasoning process, making sure you do what seems safest, without stopping to ponder overmuch.

  Devorah made a small sound, deep in her throat and then turned and led the way. Roland and Bella followed her. I looked at Murray, his face was as expressionless as mine. Charley glanced up. Etty was coming down the stairs slowly, Ophelia behind her.

  “That’s the ticket.” Said Charley approvingly, shifting the baby more comfortably against her. “Ah, wait,” she turned to me. “We’re missing someone, where’s your Grandmother?” I inclined my head towards the closed door on the opposite side of the hall. “Be an angel would you,” said Charley, “Nip in and get her. Just her.”

  Adam and Sasha both looked up when I came in, I could see he wasn’t in the best of moods and she was doing some extreme pouting.

  “Thank goodness.” She said, getting up as I came in. “Where is everybody, I’m bored, there’s no-one to talk to. And I want to watch some television, where is it?” I looked at her blankly. I had no idea, I didn’t think I’d seen a television anywhere, but I had more pressing matters on my mind.

  “Don’t think they’ve got one.” I said shortly and was about to suggest a book, when it occurred to me the place to find one of those might be in the library, so I buttoned my lip. “Mimi,” I turned to her. “We’ve found the baby, but I need your help with something. Would you mind?” She nodded, throwing off the blanket and swinging her legs obligingly off the sofa.

  “I think I might just have a wander around the place, stretch my legs, maybe see if the weather’s let up at all.” Said Adam, also rising. “And where’s that damn Murray? Haven’t seen hide nor hair of the lazy little sod for ages. Probably sloped off for one of his naps, I’ve got some calls I want him to make for me.”

  “No.” I said.

  “No?” Boomed my Father. Mimi jumped, unaccustomed to the volume.

  “Pa, there’s a bit of a thing going on.”

  “A thing?”

  “Yes, sort of a family thing.” I said. Mimi looked at me anxiously,

  “Dear me,” she said, heading for the door, “Always bickering, what are they like? I need to go and sort it out. I knew there’d be clashes now Ophelia’s back.

  “That’s all very well,” said my Father, “But you can’t expect me to stay penned up here till everything’s died down. Anyway, Ophelia and I still have things to discuss.”

  “Not now.” I said. Pa humphed in frustration,

  “Will you ruddy well stop saying that.” He snapped. I clenched my teeth. Mimi was already halfway out the door, I couldn’t let her head into whatever was going on, without a word of warning. I also didn’t know how long Charley would consider it took, to transfer a grandma from one room to another, she might be getting impatient and something told me, in this odd new incarnation, impatient wasn’t the way to go.

  “Adam,” I said tersely. “For once in your life, just shut up and do what you’re told, will you. I’ve asked you to stay in here, and in here is where you’re staying.” Hurrying out after Mimi, and as I pulled the door closed behind me, I saw there was a key in the lock. I used it with no compunction.

  ***

  For someone who liked to play the batty article, Mimi cottoned on pretty smartly as I hissed a quick situation summary, she closed her eyes briefly, before nodding and saying calmly,

  “Turn up for the book eh? Best get in there then, see what she wants.”

  The library was looking the best I’d ever seen it. There was a healthy fire flaming in the grate and reflecting in the shining black veneer of the piano, the maroon curtains had been drawn against the snow, and the standard lamps were on, soft against the muted colours of leathered book bindings on the shelves. Even the cherubs surrounding the mirror above the fireplace, seemed in a plumply better mood. But if the room was looking comfortable, the assembled company wasn’t.

  As Mimi and I walked in together, Charley turned towards us with a welcoming smile. Etty was sitting, upright and expressionless on the sofa at right angles to the fireplace, hands immobile on the bird’s head cane. Ophelia and Roland were unrelaxed on either side of her. Murray had taken an upright chair and pulled it up on the other side of the sofa, so he was within protective, touching distance of Ophelia. Devorah, red-eyed, white-faced was sitting close to Bella on the piano bench that had been drawn up next to Murray’s chair. Max, Karl and Ffion, looking as blank as the rest of us, were seated in the shadows in the far corner of the room and didn’t seem to be taking an active part in proceedings. I couldn’t blame them.

  Charley was leaning back on the sofa opposite Etty, a cushion comfortably in the small of her back and Simona on her lap, starting now to get a little fretful. There were a couple of empty chairs, between Murray and Bella, towards which Charley graciously waved us. Mimi sat, I didn’t. I was calculating what chance I had of moving forward and snatching the baby. Charley looked up at me, eyes bright with excitement.

  “No.” She said, “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” I moved to stand behind the seat she’d indicated, and rested my hands on the top of its carved high back. Charley looked exactly the same as usual, pale freckled face, unruly red curls and she still had her chunky jumper tucked into her trousers – a decision that never, in the history of womankind, did a waist any favours. My mind was doing that drifting-away thing that often happens when you don’t want to deal with a current situation and I yanked it back sternly. I had no idea what had got into her but in reality, how dangerous could she be? She certainly did a nice line in threats, but then she’d always seemed a bit hysterical, maybe the stress of the job had got to her and she simply needed to be talked down firmly. I thought I’d start as I meant to go on.

  “If you don’t mind Charley,” I said. “I won’t sit down. This shouldn’t take long. Obviously, there’s something on your mind, so what’s it all about? Before we start though, why don’t you let Devorah take the baby to feed and change, then we won’t be interrupted. Charley jiggled the baby merrily on her knee and shook her head firmly.

  “Don’t waste my time by pretending you don’t know what’s going on.” She said, then looking across at Etty. “Is she really
that stupid?” Etty glanced over at me briefly.

  “Not stupid,” she said, “Just not in the least bit interested. Although I don’t expect you to believe that.”

  “Too right.” Charley said, looking back at me again. It was becoming clear that this might possibly not be a work-induced nervous breakdown after all.

  “So, Sandra, what do you think it is that people fear most?” Asked Charley, seemingly at a tangent.

  “Finding dead cats all over the place?” I suggested, “Or no, wait,” I added. “Perhaps it’s having someone kidnap and threaten their baby?” Charley tutted,

  “It’s change.” She said, “Change that’s feared the most and therefore must be prevented from happening. You must have guessed we’d know you’d turned up here, and that we’d know exactly why.” I’d been leaning against the back of the chair, now I straightened up, so I was looking down on her even more.

  “Hate to disappoint you, but you obviously don’t know very much at all.” I snapped. “Coming down here certainly wasn’t my choice.” I glared at Ophelia who looked the other way. “And I’ve only stayed this long out of a stupid sense of obligation to this lot,” I waved a hand at the assorted assembled.

  “And yet,” she said, “Nothing we’ve done up till now has scared you off.”

  “Trust me, as soon as I can, I’m out of here.”

  “Well, we’ve been sent to make sure you do go and to inform you of what will happen if you don’t. We will not allow you to stay.” I stared at her, distracted.

  “We?” I said. She nodded at Max and Karl, who looked back impassively. Ffion seemed not to be listening and was looking down at her feet expressionlessly, although that might just have been the botox. I turned back to Charley,