The Long Lost by Ramsey Campbell

Author:Ramsey Campbell [Ramsey Campbell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

In fact Bill had dreamed nothing of the kind, nor could he have explained the impulse which made him say he had. Mary stared unseeingly at him and rubbed the left side of her face, where a nerve must have sprung to life, then she spun round and walked stiffly past the wreaths. When she reached the limousine she made a gesture of pushing the vehicle away from herself for the driver to see and walked faster towards the gates, and Bill felt as if all this was the continuation of a story he was telling. The rest of the mourners appeared to be playing a game where the loser was whoever first moved or spoke. 'I'll see if she wants a lift anywhere,' Richard eventually said, and strode after her.

'Rich, I should just leave—' Judith said, and having failed to detain him, ran to catch him up.

The limousine cruised away, and there was a general expulsion of breaths and embarrassed coughs and a rearrangement of expressions. 'We'd better go and pay our respects, Gwen,' David said. 'If you'd rather not come I can drop you on the way.'

'Won't I be welcome?'

'I can't imagine why not. Come by all means,' David said, visibly bemused by how much it seemed to mean to her.

'You wouldn't have room in the car for an old fibber, would you?' Bill said.

'I expect we can squeeze you in. We could do with a bit of entertainment if you've any up your sleeve.'

Bill hoped the request wasn't serious, because at the moment he had the impression that he wouldn't be in control of any story he might tell or performance he might give. As David and Joelle led the way to the car park, Gwendolen took his arm. Her touch was so light it suggested that she'd been relieved of some burden. 'You're the one who sounded as though he was enjoying the cake I made,' she said.

'Then I must have, and I'm sure everyone else did. They just weren't as noisy.'

Her thin chill fingers slid down to his wrist as if she was taking his pulse. 'I was right about you. You've a way with words.'

'They aren't all mine, you know,' Bill said, flattered none the less. 'I've a team that writes them for me.'

'That's when they put you in your little box.'

'And when I'm on stage, which I am again this Christmas. Would you like a free ticket when I am? It's an old-fashioned production, demon king and all. Might bring back your past.'

David had unlocked the car, and Bill opened the rear door for her. Beyond the gates he saw a taxi carrying Mary away while the Vales wandered back. Gwendolen lowered herself into the car. 'I've had my fill of the past,' she murmured, 'and I wouldn't plan too far ahead.'

Bill must have ducked too quickly as he followed her. His vision blackened, the roof pressed down on him, and he was crawling into a cramped dark enclosure where all he could see was Gwendolen's glimmering face.

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