The Time Dweller

He no longer questioned how these strange people all seemed to know his name. It was still possible that all of them were taking part in the conspiracy against him.

At the end of the arbour was a house, several storeys high.

It was a pleasant house with a blue and white door. She led him up the path and into a hallway. It was shining with dark polished wood and brass plates on the walls. From a room at the end he smelled spicy cooking. She went first and opened the door at the end. 'Mother-Lee Seward's here. Can we come in?''Of course.' The voice was warm, husky, full of humour.

They went into the room and Seward saw a woman of about forty, very well preserved, tall, large-boned with a fine-featured face and smiling mouth. Her eyes also smiled. Her sleeves were rolled up and she put the lid back on a pan on the stove.

'How do you do, Professor Seward. Mr Farlowe's told us about you. You're in trouble, I hear.'

'How do you do, Mrs - '

'Call me Martha. Has Sally introduced herself?'

'No,' Sally laughed.' I forgot. I'm Sally, Lee.'

Her mother gave a mock frown. 'I suppose you've been calling our guest by his first name, as usual. Do you mind, professor?'

'Not at all.' He was thinking how attractive they both were, in their different ways. The young, fresh girl and her warm, intelligent mother. He had always enjoyed the company of women, but never so much, he realized, as now. They seemed to complement one another. In their presence he felt safe, at ease. Now he realized why Farlowe had chosen them to hide him. Whatever the facts, he would feel safe here.

'Martha was saying: ' Dinner won't be long.'

'It smells good.'

'Probably smells better than it tastes,' she laughed.' Go into the lounge with Sally. Sally, fix Professor Seward a drink.'

'Call me Lee,' said Seward, a little uncomfortably. He had never cared much for his first name. He preferred his middle name, William, but not many others did.

'Come on, Lee,' she took his hand and led him out of the kitchen.' We'll see what there is.' They went into a small, welllighted lounge. The furniture, like the whole house, had a look that was half-familiar, half-alien - obviously the product of a slightly different race. Perhaps they deliberately imitated Earth culture, without quite succeeding. Sally still gripped his hand.

Her hand was warm and her skin smooth. He made to drop it but, involuntarily, squeezed it gently before she took it away to deal with the drink. She gave him another shy smile. He felt that she was as attracted to him as he to her. ' What's it going to be?' she asked him.

'Oh, anything,' he said, sitting down on a comfortable sofa.

She poured him a dry martini and brought it over. Then she sat demurely down beside him and watched him drink it. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of sauciness and innocence which he found extremely appealing. He looked around the room.

'How did Farlowe get his message to you?' he said.

'He came the other day. Said he was going to try and get into the fortress and help you. Farlowe's always flitting about. I think the people at the fortress have a price on his head or something. It's exciting isn't it.'

'You can say that again,' Seward said feelingly.

'Why are they after you?" 'They want me to help them destroy the world I come from.

Do you know anything about it?'

'Earth, isn't it?'

'Yes.' Was he going to get some straightforward answers at last? ' I know it's very closely connected with ours and that some of. us want to escape, from here and go to your world.'

'Why?' he asked eagerly.

She shook her head. Her long, fine hair waved with the, motion. 'I don't really know. Something about their being trapped here - something like that. Farlowe said something about you being a " key " to their release. They can only do what they want to do with your agreement.'

'But I could agree and then break my word!'

'I don't think you could-but honestly, I don't know any more. I've probably got it wrong. Dp you like me, Lee?'

He was startled by. the directness of her question. ' Yes,' he said,' very much.'

'Farlowe said you would. Good, isn't it?'

'Why - yes. Farlowe knows a lot.'

'That's why he works against them.'

Martha came in. 'Almost ready,' she smiled. 'I think I'll have a quick one before I start serving. How are you feeling Lee, after your ride?'

'Fine,' he said, '.fine.' He had never been in a position like this one-with two women either of whom was extremely attractive for almost opposite reasons.

'We were discussing why the people at the fortress wanted my help,' he said, turning the conversation back the way he felt it ought to go if he was ever going to get off this world and back to his own and his work.

'Farlowe said something about it.'

'Yes, Sally told me. Does Farlowe belong to some sort of underground organization?'

'Underground? Why, yes, in a way he does.'

'Aren't they strong enough to fight the Man Without A Navel and his friends?'

'Farlowe says they're strong enough, but divided over what should be done and how.'

'I see. That's fairly common amongst such groups, I believe.'

'Yes.'

'What part do you play?'

'None, really. Farlowe asked me to put you up - that's all.'

She sipped her drink, her eyes smiling directly into his. He drained his glass.

'Shall we eat?' she said. ' Sally, take Lee in to the diningroom.'

The girl got up and, somewhat possessively Seward thought, linked her arm in his. Her young body against his was distracting. He felt a little warm. She took him in. The table was laid for supper. Three chairs add three places.The sun had set and! candles burned oh the table in brass candelabras. She unlinked her arm and pulled out one of the chairs.

'You sit here, Lee-at the head of the table.' She grinned.

Then she leaned forward as he sat down.' Hope mummy isn't boring you.'

He was surprised.' Why should she?'

Martha came in with three covered dishes on a tray. ' This may not have turned out quite right, Lee. Never does when you're trying hard.'

'I'm sure it'll be fine,' he smiled. The two women sat down one either side of him. Martha served him. It was some sort of goulash with vegetables. He took his napkin and put it on his lap.As they began to eat, Martha said: ' How is it?'

'Fine,' he said. It was very good. Apart from the feeling that some kind of rivalry for his attentions existed between mother and daughter the air of normality in the house was comforting. Here, he might be able to do some constructive thinking about his predicament.

When the meal was over, Martha said: 'It's time for bed, Sally. Say good night to Lee.'

She pouted.' Oh, it's not fair.'

'Yes it is,' she said firmly. ' You can see Lee in the morning.

He's had a long journey.'

'All right.' She smiled at Seward. ' Sleep well, Lee.'

'I think I will,' he said.

Martha chuckled after Sally had gone. ' Would you like a drink before you go to bed?' She spoke softly.

'Love one,' he said.

They went into the other room. He sat down on the sofa as she mixed the drinks. She brought them over and sat down next to him as her daughter had done earlier.

'Tell me everything that's been happening. It sounds so exciting.'

He knew at once he could tell her all he wanted to, that she. would listen and be sympathetic. ' It's terrifying, really,' he began, half-apologetically. He began to talk, beginning with what had happened on Earth. She listened.

'I even wondered if this was a dream-world-a figment of. my imagination,' he finished, ' but I had to reject that when I went back to my own. I had rope marks on my wrists-my hair was soaking wet. You don't get that in a dream!'