It doesn’t take long for the news to travel. We’ve barely gone fifty feet when people start to appear from nowhere. Almost to a man, the expressions on their faces are horrified.
I glance nervously at the line of mares. I know I can trust Pegasus but I’m not so sure about the others. They may be so traumatised that they don’t care about their surroundings or maybe they just trust Pegasus. Whatever, they clop along, heads hanging to avoid making eye contact. Bron, still as nervous as a kitten, brings up the rear.
I lead my little troupe around the perimeter of the town. It means that our journey is longer but I want to avoid the town square and, as a result, an encounter with the Mayor and the Department. However, just as the black darkness of the forest looms into view, he appears.
‘What are you doing, Ms Lydon?’ he calls out from the safety of a side street.
‘Going for a walk,’ I answer, as calmly as I dare.
‘You will stop,’ he hisses, dictatorial authority seeping from every pore of his body.
I look around. Dante, who is keeping the ever-growing crowd at bay, is far enough away to not draw suspicion to himself. I turn and walk back to the end of the line where I’m closer to both Bron and the Mayor. The Mayor looks satisfied that I’m apparently following his instruction.
‘Move away, Bron,’ I mutter. ‘Don’t let him think you’re involved with this.’
Bron looks at me in panic but does as he’s told. Fortunately, the Mayor’s attention is all on me. I’ll just have to hope that Bron’s got away with it.
I doff an imaginary hat in the Mayor’s direction. Then I shout, ‘Run, Pegasus!’
I slap the rear of the last mare and all six animals take off, galloping towards the forest. There are some shrieks from the crowds around us but no one gets in the mares’ way. I watch as they reach the line demarcating the night forest from the day town. Pegasus comes to a clattering stop, waiting for the others to pass by her. She swings her head in my direction, whinnies once and follows them in.
Finally satisfied, I turn back to the Mayor. ‘Sorry,’ I say politely. ‘What were you saying?’
His cheeks are purple with anger. He can barely suppress his rage as he walks over to me and whispers in my ear. ‘And to think we could have worked together. Now I’m going to finish you.’
I pull back and smile then lift my head to the sky. I’ve only seen this happen once and I have no idea if I’ll be able to pull it off, but there’s no time like the present to give it a shot. I will myself to leave – to wake up back in the real world where there are neither mares nor Mayor.
‘Come on,’ I whisper.
‘I think, Ms Lydon,’ the Mayor hisses, ‘that you’re attempting a trick you’re not capable of yet.’
I feel my entire body tug and I smile at him once more. ‘Think again.’
A heartbeat later I really am back in my own little house.
***
I want to grab my duvet, run into my wardrobe and hide. What I actually do is pick up the phone and call Sergeant Rawlins.
‘Ms Lydon,’ her voice says drily. ‘What a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I don’t yet have answers for you regarding the old man.’
‘Salib,’ I say distractedly, ‘his name was Salib.’
There’s a moment of silence before she speaks. ‘I don’t suppose you want to tell me how you know that?’
‘Later,’ I mutter. ‘I don’t think knowing his name will help you find out much about him anyway.’
‘Why do I get the feeling you have some other reason for calling?’
‘There’s a doctor, in Aberdeen, Dr Miller. He’s my doctor actually. I think he’s in trouble. I don’t know his home address, otherwise I’d call an ambulance to go there. You need to find him and see if he’s alright.’
‘I’m starting to worry about you. Are you part of some organised crime syndicate?’
She’s only half-joking. ‘Please,’ I tell her. ‘Just check him out.’
I hang up the phone and stare out of the window. Rawlins must be on night shift again. In fact, I’ve been stuck in the Dreamlands for so long that night is almost over; the sky is beginning to lighten as an insipid dawn arrives. So much for heading to the ramshackle cemetery under the cover of darkness. Now I have no choice but to go. I can’t wander back to the Dreamlands after what I’ve just done – not without getting some real answers first.
I’m not scared; I’m bloody terrified. I pick up my bag where I dropped it earlier and throw it over my shoulder. My breath is coming in short, sharp gasps. I have to conquer this. I have to.