The Forgotten Son by Andy Frankham-Allen

Author:Andy Frankham-Allen [Frankham-Allen, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Doctor Who, Science Fiction
Publisher: Candy Jar Books
Published: 2015-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

— CHAPTER NINE —

The Art of Denial

THIS WAS ALL SO ABSURD. Lethbridge-Stewart may have experienced some bizarre things in the past month, and he was the first to admit that he could not explain the gaps in his memory. But the idea that James was his brother… Last night, in the dream, was the first time he could even recall seeing James.

It was absurd. Impossible!

How could he possibly have forgotten something so important? A brother who was, apparently, dead. He shook his head, looking at the men gathered in the room. They were all watching him, even Private Bishop and young Mister Vine. No, he would not accept that. He had no brother – he knew this, and nothing anybody could say would convince him otherwise. He didn’t know what was going on in Bledoe, but he knew that much at least.

‘Okay, gentlemen, this joke is running tired now, but clearly something is not right about this village. And I feel certain it’s connected to Ray’s books.’

Ray shook his head. ‘Books?’ he said, frustrated. ‘They are more than books, dammit! It all happened.’

Henry tutted wearily. ‘Ray, enough. We all know the story of the Manor, we all know about the Whisperer, but this nonsense about the Hollow Man is just that – nonsense.’

‘It is not nonsense, Henry! And you know it.’

Lethbridge-Stewart watched the two men. It was clear that this was an old argument, and he had no time for such things. For now his mother was comfortable, resting, but he knew when she woke up she’d still be expecting to find her dead husband waiting for her. He glanced through the window which overlooked the small driveway of the cottage. Arnold was out there somewhere, maybe even in the village, and whatever had drawn him there was almost certainly the same thing that had drawn his mother.

It had to be connected to Ray’s story – he checked himself, Ray’s account – of the Hollow Man that had appeared before them in 1937. It was another memory Lethbridge-Stewart did not recall, but that didn’t make it untrue. Just another thing forgotten.

He stepped further into the room, and directed his question at Ray. ‘Why does he know it’s not nonsense?’ He looked at Henry. ‘You were friends with Ray and James, so you were around when all these strange things happened. What did you see?’

‘I didn’t see a damn thing,’ Henry said, lowering his eyes.

Lethbridge-Stewart didn’t believe him. ‘You used to visit Draynes Wood with us, Henry, I know this. It’s one of the few things that have returned to me since I came back here. Did you see the Hollow Man, too?’

‘No, I did not.’

‘You’re lying,’ George piped up. ‘I recognise that look, Henry.’

Lethbridge-Stewart smiled. He liked these men, liked the way they all knew each other, had history together. And he liked how George had clearly caught Henry out. Henry was less pleased.

‘Okay, so I saw it!’ Henry snapped. ‘I was there in Draynes Wood, up there with my dad.

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