Born to the Dark by Ramsey Campbell

Author:Ramsey Campbell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Weird Horror, Lovecraft, Suspense, thriller, dark fantasy
Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing
Published: 2021-08-24T14:02:35+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Helpers

“I saw your parents yesterday, Jim.”

“I haven’t spoken to them yet this week. How were they? How’s your dad?”

“They don’t change any more than you do. My dad’s gone. They were at his funeral.”

“I’m so sorry, Dom. I wish I’d known. Your parents weren’t any older than mine, were they? You don’t expect them to be taken so soon.”

“Taken.” The word meant more and worse to me than I knew it did to him. “He had a fall,” I said, “and then he caught pneumonia in hospital.”

“I thought they were supposed to be able to cure that.” Jim’s protest vibrated the phone at my ear before he said more gently “May he rest in peace, and your mother.”

“I hope that too.”

“They’ll be in my prayers, and I know my parents will say one. Do you still go in for that at all?”

“I haven’t since before we left school. Speaking of which—”

“Maybe you should give it another chance. It’s never really gone, and it might be a comfort to you.” When I didn’t answer he said “Will you have some family who are?”

“A wife and a son.” As a response this felt close to dishonest. “Your parents mentioned you have children,” I said.

“Robert and Dominic. They’re quite a pair.”

For the duration of a long breath I had no words. “Jim, thank you, really. I wish I’d known when he was christened.” This sounded like a rebuke, and so did “Why didn’t you say when we saw Bobby? Or did you tell her before I showed up?”

“Carole gave me the feeling she didn’t care much for youngsters, so I kept mine to myself. Why didn’t you say you had a family? Was there someone you didn’t want to know about them?”

He’d begun to sound like the police officer he was, but then it was this side of him I needed. “It might have been because I was worried for my son,” I said.

“They can keep you awake at night and no mistake. What’s the worry with yours?”

I took a prolonged breath as an aid to taking care how much I said. “Toby’s had a sleep disorder pretty well since he was born. Nocturnal absences, I’ve heard them called. Seizures in his sleep.”

Jim was silent long enough to let me wonder if my son’s name had disappointed him. “You’ll be getting him some treatment, won’t you?” he said.

“We thought we’d found the ideal one, only now I’ve discovered Christian Noble and his daughter are involved.”

“Good God, him again?” Jim might have been disgusted with him or with me for bringing Noble up. “I thought he made himself scarce after his church was wrecked,” he said. “What are you telling me he’s up to now?”

“He’s running a private facility where they claim they can treat children with Toby’s condition. Tina Noble has been sending children there. She’s, she’s a paediatrician.” I’d nearly said more than I thought Jim would believe, but I managed to add only “Her father’s putting his ideas in all their heads.

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