Buried Memories by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green [Green, Simon R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780727890320
Google: JfpqzgEACAAJ
Amazon: 0727890328
Goodreads: 57926239
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2021-07-14T14:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

Hidden in Plain Sight

We hurried along the street, putting the Pale Horse behind us as quickly as we could. I was at least half convinced that Ellie might come running out of the hotel and chase after us, so she could talk at us some more. Penny got out her phone to check the town website again.

‘If you’re looking for Vincent Smith’s address, I already know it,’ I said. ‘It was in the Organization report.’

Penny looked at me. ‘You remember his address? Just from reading it once?’

‘Of course,’ I said.

‘Alien,’ said Penny.

She accessed the website map anyway, to work out the quickest way to Smith’s cottage. We were both a little disturbed to discover it was out on the edge of town, right next to the wood.

‘How was he able to stand living that close to something so creepy?’ said Penny.

‘Perhaps it didn’t affect him,’ I said. ‘Like the people living in that row of terraced houses facing the trees.’

Penny shrugged. ‘Live in a weird town long enough, I suppose it’s inevitable that you’re going to end up weird, too.’

‘Good thing I was only passing through the first time,’ I said.

‘I don’t know,’ said Penny. ‘It would explain a lot about you.’

I looked down my nose at her. ‘I am not weird.’

‘Of course not, darling. You’re just differently normal. And that’s a whole separate kettle of alien.’

‘You are so supportive.’

‘I try.’

We pressed on through the town, stepping out at a decent pace because we were both getting a little tired of Norton Hedley’s streets. I was reminded of those old cartoon shows, where the characters keep moving but the background stays the same. We bumped into a few people along the way, and to my surprise they all nodded politely as we passed. No sign of a smile or so much as a word of greeting, but it was a start. Perhaps the townspeople were finally getting used to seeing us around. And yet, even after we’d left them behind and the streets were empty again, I couldn’t shake off a feeling of being watched by unseen eyes. I looked around quickly, half hoping to catch someone or something by surprise.

‘Are you getting that “We are not alone” feeling again?’ Penny said patiently.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Maybe.’

‘Is it the same feeling you had on the train, coming in?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe.’

‘What do you think was going on in the wood?’ said Penny, kindly changing the subject.

‘Some form of genius loci,’ I said. ‘Something that affects the minds of everyone who passes through. If you go in expecting just trees, then that’s what you’ll see. Which is why tourists’ photos and films never show anything out of the ordinary. Their cameras only record what’s actually there. But other people … see other things.’

‘Why did we get the full horror show?’ said Penny. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything in particular.’

‘That might have been down to me,’ I said. ‘Whatever was in that wood, or possibly underneath it, reacting to the non-human side of my nature.

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