Rachel’s head snapped upwards like she had just wakened from a trance. She re-aimed her gun at Tom. Her voice when she spoke was rich with a desperate kind of self-belief. ‘Like I said, it’s a chance I’ll take. That we’ll all take. If it goes wrong what have we lost? Nothing. Just some outsider who we didn’t know is dead, that’s all. Happens all the time round here. Cliff edges are dangerous places. We can’t get sentimental about every tourist who has an accident.’
Tom got to his feet, nursing his injured arm. ‘But this isn’t an accident. This is murder.’
Rachel gave a cruel smile. ‘You telling me you haven’t done anything similar? In Afghanistan? Or when you were undercover? I’ve seen your file, remember.’
‘That was different.’
‘Was it? There were ends, there were means. You justified one to reach the other.’
‘No,’ he said, but memories were montaging inside his mind. One in particular. He sighed. ‘Yes. I was speaking from experience. I know what happens to you when you commit monstrous acts. You spend the rest of your life trying to atone for it. And you know what? I don’t think you ever can.’
Rachel thought for a moment. It seemed as though Tom’s words had this time reached her. Then the farmers moved closer once more, reminding her with upraised shotguns which side she was on, and the spell was broken.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said. ‘It’s been agreed on and that’s it.’
Pearl, Tom noticed, was having an even harder time trying to cope with what was happening. She looked like she didn’t know whether to cry or scream. Instead she spoke, trying to make sense of it.
‘And none of you’ll speak up about it, because you’ll all implicate each other.’
Rachel turned her attention to her. ‘Absolutely right, Pearl. Like you say, all of us.’ She stepped in closer. ‘Know what I mean by that?’
Pearl frowned. ‘No.’
‘Where do the Round Table meet?’
Eyes wide, Pearl understood. ‘My mum and dad.’
‘Yes. Your mum and dad. Dan and Elaine. Hosting the Round Table’s meetings all this time. You didn’t think they just left when the meetings were on, did you?’
Pearl sank down on the sofa, head in hands. Finally defeated. ‘No . . . no . . .’
‘Ignore her,’ said Tom. ‘She’s just messing with you. Don’t listen to her.’
‘Messing? You think? I’m telling the truth to the girl, Tom. Dan and Elaine didn’t want her involved. I disagreed. I think it’s about time she heard it. She’s one of us, after all.’
‘So what are you going to do now?’ asked Tom.
‘Up to you both.’ Rachel looked down at Pearl. ‘You’ve got the choice. You know what’s happening. You know what we’ve done. This is your home. We’re your people. You should be with us, not with this, this –’ she gestured towards Tom – ‘outsider.’ She leaned in closer. ‘So what’ll it be, girl? You with us or against us?’
Pearl rubbed her fists into her eyes, pushing away the tears. She looked between Tom and Rachel, stood up. Went to Tom. Held his hand. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t . . . I’m sorry . . .’
She let it go. Walked over to join Rachel and the two farmers.
‘Pearl? What—’
He said no more. Bill Watson swung the butt of his shotgun, connecting it with the side of Tom’s head. He was unconscious before he hit the floor.
56
Light and pain. That was what woke Tom up.
He tried to sit upright, failed at the first attempt. The room swam in and out of focus, like a fairground ride he was trying to either jump on or off. He couldn’t decide which, but it led him to the point of nausea. He lay back, eyes closed, tried again. Took it slowly, one muscle at a time. This time it worked. He opened his eyes. Still in Pirate John’s living room.
Tom sighed, let his head drop forward, cradled it in his hands.
‘Ah,’ said a voice. ‘You’re back with us.’
Tom looked up sharply, immediately regretted it. Tried again, slowly this time. Pirate John sat on the edge of the armchair opposite him. Anxious, wired, as though he hadn’t slept. Probably hadn’t.
‘What are you doing here?’ he said. ‘Thought you’d legged it.’
‘I did,’ said Pirate John, shame in his voice, ‘but I had nowhere to go. So I just . . . hung around in my car, kept my head down till I knew they’d gone. Then, when nothing else happened and no one else turned up, I just crept back inside. And there you were. I tried to wake you but you were spark out. So I arranged you on the sofa, let you sleep. And here we are.’
‘Where’s . . . what happened to everyone else?’
‘They left. Obviously didn’t think we were important enough to deal with.’
Tom nodded. Wished he hadn’t. ‘You got any paracetamol? Ibuprofen? Anything like that?’
‘Just a minute.’ Pirate John stood up, disappeared into the kitchen. Came back with an ancient packet of pills and a glass of water. ‘They’ll be fine. Bit out of date, but that just makes them stronger, right?’
Tom didn’t bother to argue, just took two. Swallowed them down.
‘So what happens next?’ he asked.
Pirate John sat down again. ‘Well, tomorrow’s M Day.’
‘M Day?’
‘Marina decision day. The day all this has been leading up to.’
‘So, what? They’re all going to be at the council offices doing some last-minute lobbying?’
Pirate John gave a bitter laugh. ‘You really haven’t been following this, have you?’
‘Tell me.’
‘Tonight’s the night. The big ritual. Blood sacrifice, all of that. Then tomorrow the marina’s ours. And then the world . . .’ Another bitter laugh.
‘You’re remarkably cheerful.’
‘I’m still alive, aren’t I? A few hours ago I didn’t think that would be a possibility.’
‘Why did they leave you then?’
‘Like I said. We’re obviously not important enough to them. They think we’re no threat.’
‘And what if we are?’
‘I’m sure they’ve plans in place to deal with that today.’
‘Aren’t they worried we’ll go to the police or something? Tell everything?’
‘They’ve got this sown up, Tom. Or think they have.’
‘They might not.’
Pirate John shook his head. ‘They’re not all as direct as that lot last night. You know the Scientologists?’
‘Yeah . . .’
‘Bunch of evil brainwashing arseholes. I watched this documentary on them once. A reporter sat in his car watching their church, or whatever they call it. Then this young girl, really smiley and pretty, came out and took his photo. Ten minutes later they were all out sticking leaflets under everyone’s windscreen wipers and through everyone’s front doors with his photo on and words saying he was a paedophile and was in the area.’ He sniffed, nodded. ‘Like I said, subtle.’
‘So you’re saying there’s nothing we can do.’
‘Dunno.’
Tom leaned forward. ‘But John, you’ve been trying to talk to me for ages, get me to join you in doing something. Now that I’m here, are you bottling it?’
Pirate John became uncomfortable. ‘No . . . no, I’m not . . . it’s just . . .’
‘What?’
‘Well, it’s all out in the open now. And there’s nothing you or me or anyone can do about it.’
‘So you’re not going to try.’
He shrugged, sighed. ‘What’s the point?’
‘The point is, John, someone I had a duty of care for is going to die a very horrible and unnecessary death. And I don’t want that to happen. And I’m going to do something about it. Even if you’re not.’
Pirate John stared at the floor.
Tom stood up. ‘Where’s this ceremony, ritual thing being held?’
‘The stone circle. Midnight. They won’t do anythin
g before then.’
‘Then that gives us the rest of today and most of the evening to put something together. You with me?’
‘I don’t know . . .’
‘John, a few hours ago you were in fear for your life.’
‘Yeah, well . . . now that I’m still here I might want to hang around for a bit.’ He dropped his head, couldn’t meet Tom’s eyes. ‘Sorry.’
‘Right.’
‘I’m sorry . . .’
‘Whatever.’
Tom walked towards the door.
‘Where you going?’
‘Lila must be being kept somewhere. So I’m going to find someone who knows where. Make them talk.’
‘Who’s that, then?’
Tom smiled. ‘I’ve got someone in mind.’
57
Lila still hadn’t moved from where she was sitting. All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing, the wind through the caves. She could see nothing. But she could sense Kyle’s lifeless body right next to her.
She had run herself through every stage of despair several times, like a rollercoaster on a loop, round and round, each time as nauseous as the first. She had screamed herself hoarse after Kai had left until all she heard was her own voice echoing off stone. Then a ringing, deafening silence once she stopped. Then sobbing, self-pity overwhelming her. Then pleading, with herself, her captors, her mother even. She made wagers with everyone, sent prayers up into the darkness. To a God she had never believed in, a mother she still hated but promised she wouldn’t if she got out alive. Now she just sat there, numb.
She felt there was no longer anything – if there ever had been – to live for. She had nothing left. And it was, as her mother had told her repeatedly, no more nor less than she deserved.
She didn’t know how long she sat there. Then above her she saw the weak light of a torch as it bobbed slowly along the tunnel towards her, getting stronger, brighter, the nearer it came to the edge of the pit.
At first, her heart leapt at the improbability of it. She was being rescued. Saved. They hadn’t forgotten about her, Tom had found her. But, as the light approached and she stood up to see the cloaked figure behind the beam, her heart dipped again. Whoever this was, they weren’t bringing good news.
A figure stopped at the rim of the pit, shone the torch down. Lila squinted, pulled away from the light as it hurt her eyes.
‘I’ve come to see how you are, dear. How you’re shaping up.’
Lila knew immediately who it was. Morrigan. The one behind all this.
She said nothing.
‘So how are you holding up?’ A smile in the voice. An unpleasant, curdling smile.
Lila still didn’t reply.
‘Not talking? What a pity.’
‘Why should I?’ answered Lila. ‘You’re going to kill me, so why should you be bothered about how I am? And why should I tell you?’
A laugh. As unpleasant as the accompanying smile. ‘Because, my petal, you should be pleased. Your death will bring new life to this village. To the whole area. To all these people who live here and for generations to come. Isn’t that something to be excited about?’
Lila looked straight up. At the person behind the light. She saw through the clothes, the carefully constructed persona. She was fed up with having to take everything life threw at her. Now, she had nothing to lose.
‘Listen,’ said Lila. ‘Drop the act. It doesn’t impress me.’
A tightening in the voice. A warning. ‘This is not an act. This is real. You of all people should appreciate that fact.’
‘Yeah, whatevs. I’ve met frauds before. Pretending they were something they weren’t, that they had some grand old calling, twisted old shits who hid their hatred and their perversions behind whatever it was they tried to get others to believe in. Usually religion. Just like you’re doing.’
‘I’m not like that.’ Ice in the voice now. ‘You have never met anyone like me.’
‘Yeah, I have. Different religion, same shit. I’ve dealt with the best, mate, been fucked over by the lot of them. And you don’t impress me at all.’
Morrigan laughed.
Lila was warming to her theme. ‘I can see through you a mile off. Could from the start.’
‘Then why did you do my bidding?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve thought about that over and over since it happened. And hated myself for what I did. For how weak and stupid I was to be led along. I didn’t do it because I was scared of you. I did it because I didn’t know what would happen to me if I didn’t. I wouldn’t have anywhere to live, nothing to eat. I didn’t know how I’d survive.’ Anger rose inside her. ‘You think I wanted to be where I was? Living with that shit Kai? I’d have done anything to get away. And I did.’
‘But you didn’t get far, did you?’
‘I tried . . .’ Lila began to run out of words, feel tired. She kept going. Determined not to give in before Morrigan. ‘So yeah. That’s why I did it. Not for you. You’re pathetic.’
Morrigan laughed. ‘And yet, here I am up here, and you’re down there.’
‘Yeah?’ Lila stood up. ‘Well, come down here, you shit-headed pervert and we’ll see who’s the strongest, shall we?’
Morrigan didn’t reply. Just kept the light shining down.
Lila continued. ‘Did you come here to see me cry? Hear me beg? You get off on that shit? Bet you do. Well, tough. You’re out of luck.’
The light moved. Morrigan had stood up. ‘You’re a foul-mouthed little girl. You’ll never be a lady.’
Lila laughed. ‘Considering you’re going to kill me I’d say you were right.’
Morrigan turned, began to leave.
‘Listen. I know what you’re planning to do to me. But I’m going to fight you. Every step of the fucking way, for every fucking second. I’ll fight you. I’m not going to make it easy for you. And you know what? If I’m going, then I’ll make damn sure you’re coming with me. You hear that? Where I’m going, you’re going too.’
But Morrigan, and the light, had gone.
Lila, no longer content to lie down and die, had discovered a new-found strength she hadn’t been aware she possessed.
She screamed defiance at Morrigan, at the world, until she had no more words left.
58
Late afternoon, and Tom could feel the chill in the air.
He approached Noah’s travellers’ camp the same way he had last time, hiding in the gorse bushes on the edge of the cliff, looking down to get the lay of the land. Standard commando procedure. He expected to be able to get into the site again, get close to Noah, make him talk.
He was wrong.
They were waiting for him on both sides. All of them big enough, and in plentiful supply, to make a fight redundant. He stood up, allowed himself to be walked into the camp.
He was led into the yurt he had been taken to on his previous incursion. This time, in the light, he noticed how much better it was than all the other dwellings he had seen on the way in. Almost like a house. Clearly Noah wasn’t some communist egalitarian.
Noah was waiting for him.
‘How predictable is this?’ he said, laughing. ‘You think the same thing’ll work twice in a row? Well, obviously you do or you wouldn’t have tried it.’
Tom shrugged. ‘Got me what I wanted, didn’t it? Only wanted to talk to you. That’s all.’
Noah looked slightly put out at Tom’s words.
‘Were you expecting a fight?’ said Tom, smiling.
Noah ignored him. ‘What did you want to say? Get it over with.’
Tom gestured to a rug-covered bench. ‘Can I sit down, please? Easier to have a chat.’
Noah looked uncertain how to answer him. This wasn’t going the way he had expected. Tom had wrong-footed him and he clearly didn’t like that. ‘Do what you like.’
Tom sat down. ‘Thank you.’ He gestured to another seat nearby. ‘Help yourself. Much more civilised.’
Again, Noah didn
’t know what to do. He had been about to sit down when Tom spoke. Now it looked as if Tom had the upper hand. Instead of sitting straight away, he turned, dismissed his followers. Then, when it was just the two of them, sat down.
‘What d’you want?’
Tom leaned forward. ‘What you doing, Noah? Eh? What you doing?’
Noah tried to sigh. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Morrigan.’ He watched Noah carefully as he spoke the name. Saw Noah flinch. He filed that away. He was scared of Morrigan. Useful.
‘What about Morrigan?’
‘Why are you doing this? Whatever Morrigan wants. Surely you set this place up because you wanted an easy life, not to run around after some psycho, doing whatever they tell you to.’
‘You know nothing about what I’m doing. Now get out.’ He stood up, made for the door.
‘I do know what you’re doing,’ said Tom. ‘You’re scared, aren’t you? Of Morrigan.’
Noah stopped. Froze. Tom could see that his intuitive guess had hit a nerve. He continued.
‘Come on, Noah, why? You had a good thing here until you got involved with Morrigan. Or did Morrigan get involved with you?’
Noah turned. ‘You know nothing about me, nothing about what I’m doing here. You wouldn’t understand what’s going on.’
‘Oh, I would, Noah. I can see you’re scared of Morrigan. That you’re doing what you’re told because of that. Why? Has Morrigan got something on you, is that it? Blackmail?’
Noah crossed right to him, stood over him. ‘I said, you know nothing, nothing . . .’
‘OK, Noah, no need to lose your temper. I’m just saying, it doesn’t have to be like that. It’s not too late to stop this.’
‘And you would know, would you?’
‘Yeah, I would. You can stop all this. And I can help.’
Noah just stared at him. ‘You can help.’ A statement of disbelief more than a question. ‘And how could you help?’
‘By standing with you. By refusing to do what this Morrigan wants.’
Noah sighed. Tom felt he was getting through, but still not convincing him. Whatever power Morrigan had over Noah, it was strong. But, Tom was sure, there was nothing magical about it.
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