“Brilliant. What sort of ornament?” Dracup was almost jigging in frustration now. Sara was usually razor sharp. Why couldn’t she see it?
“A bird table?”
“Bird table my backside. Come on. Think.”
“I give up, Simon. Tell us.” Sara flopped onto the sofa and folded her arms.
“It’s a sundial. Dial a close shave in the nick of time.”
Farrell’s expression brightened. “Good job, Mr Dracup.” The American gave the briefest of grins before a frown reappeared on his forehead. “But what the heck shaving’s got to do with it beats me.”
Sara’s mobile beeped. She reached into her handbag and fished it out.
Dracup frowned in dismay. Surely she wouldn’t take the call now? Not now they were getting close…
“Excuse me a sec.” Sara left the room.
Shaking his head in dismay, Dracup turned back to the photograph. He was within reach of something at last, something tangible. “Give me a chance, Farrell,” Dracup said. “What have we got so far? Two sevens and a sundial.”
“Yeah, seven… but seven what?” Farrell took the photo from Dracup and frowned.
Dracup clicked his fingers and paced the room. “We’ll just have to go and take a look. Of course the house is no longer in the family; we’ll have to pay a clandestine visit.” Or could they just knock on the door? Something lay hidden in the garden of Theodore’s old house. Near the sundial. Seven something from the sundial. He looked out onto the street. The rain was sheeting down; fleeting figures scurried by packaged in mackintoshes and thick scarves, their umbrellas wayward in the northeasterly blast sweeping in from the sea. Hard to think about sundials with a backdrop like this… Dracup ran his finger down the glass, traced the number seven in the condensation, and watched the water gather then ripple down the pane, distorting the outline he had made.
“Cracked it yet?” Sara came in and gave Farrell a smile that said come on smarty-pants, let’s see you get this one. Dracup knew the expression. It was when Sara had the answer and knew that no one else did.
Farrell read her meaning. “I’m working on it.”
Dracup watched Sara slide her mobile into her handbag, but there was something covert about her expression. “Who was that?” he asked her. “Problems?”
Sara’s eyes met his then lowered. “Tell you later. It’s probably nothing.”
“Sure?” Dracup sensed a change in Sara. It clearly wasn’t nothing.
“It’s fine — don’t worry.”
“I’m not, I just—”
“Occam.” Farrell said.
They both turned to the American and Sara grinned. “Ah ha. Not just a pretty face then.”
Dracup racked his brains. Occam. It rang a bell, but a very distant one.
“Occam’s razor,” Farrell said. “You never heard of that, Mr Dracup?”
Chapter 10
Ruth felt the cool grains beneath her toes and knew at last that she was home. It had been a long journey, the last leg being the most stressful as always. Ruth was nervous in the presence of outsiders, especially when the outsiders in question wore uniform and carried machine pistols. But they were meek under Kadesh’s authority, servants to do their bidding in innocence and ignorance, just as he had told her. Her heart had begun to beat faster as the jeep rolled onwards towards the beloved place, a place that had been sullied and empty for so long. But now, all was restored. She felt a profound peace, despite her misgivings about the girl and Kadesh’s motives for taking her. She wanted to see, to feel, to worship and rejoice with the others. She felt the girl squeeze her hand and the dark eyes looked up at her in a silent plea for reassurance.
“It’s all right, my little one. I’m here. I won’t leave you. We must hurry — I have to show you something wonderful.”
“I want my mummy,” the girl spoke for the first time since the plane had touched down. “When is she coming?”
Ahead of them in the dim glow of the tunnel Ruth could see Kadesh’s tall figure walking purposefully onwards. Ruth heard the gentle thrumming of song and knew that they were close to their destination. “Your mummy will be fine,” Ruth told her. “She’ll be pleased that I’m looking after you.”
“But she doesn’t know you,” the girl said. She stumbled and fell onto one knee. Ruth bent and helped her up.
“It’s only a graze. You’re all right.”
The girl bit her lip and began to cry. “I want to phone her. I don’t like it here.”
“Look, here’s your dolly,” Ruth said. She bent down and stroked Natasha’s cheek. “Give her a cuddle and you’ll feel better.”
The girl took the doll and held it close. They walked on, towards the light.
Ruth was sitting quietly in her chamber where she had made a bed for Natasha. The room was furnished with colourful embroideries and wall hangings, many of which dated back to when Ruth was a girl herself. “Do you like them?” she asked Natasha, who was running her hand up and down the silk curtains enclosing Ruth’s bed. “I can make some for you as well.”
“Am I staying for a long time?” Natasha asked quietly. She flicked the curtains back and forth.
“I don’t know, Natasha. It’s not my decision. Kadesh will tell you when he is ready.”
“I’m scared of him. I don’t like him.” Natasha sat on the bed, hands clasped together. “This is a funny place. Why do you live here? What were you singing about in that cave?” She toyed with her hair, looking around the chamber with curious eyes.
“Here, let me plait it for you. It’ll keep you cool.” Ruth sat next to the girl and began to work on the thick, dark tresses, wondering how much to tell her. “You have beautiful hair. I imagine your father is proud of you.”
“I don’t see my daddy much.”
“Oh? Does that make you sad?”
“Sometimes. My mummy has a new boyfriend, though. He’s my daddy now.”
“Well, that’s nice. But your daddy will always be your daddy. I expect he misses you a lot.” Ruth’s hands worked dexterously, twisting and looping. “Is your daddy a nice man?”
“Yes. But he gets a bit impatient sometimes. Mummy says that’s because he’s very clever.” Natasha brightened. “He said he was going to take me swimming.” She turned to Ruth and the confusion showed in her face. “But I don’t know when — maybe he came to see me and I wasn’t there.” Now her face crumpled altogether. “And my mummy doesn’t know where I am. I want to see her. Please.”
“Oh, Natasha.” Ruth held the girl and rubbed her heaving shoulders gently. “I’m so sorry. You weren’t meant to be here. I don’t know why he—”
“You know.” Kadesh was standing at the chamber entrance. “You know very well why.”
Ruth felt Natasha jump in fear, and hugged her protectively to her breast. She raised her chin defiantly. “Why prolong this any further? Let the girl go. At least let her speak to her mother.”
Kadesh stroked Natasha’s hair. “Not until I have what I want.”
Ruth felt the girl stiffen in her arms. But I want you. Can’t you see that? Despite everything, I still want you. She held her head up proudly. “Is that what this is all about? About you, and what you want? Since when has that ever been the right way? We are not made for self, Kadesh; we are made to watch and to protect. Nothing else.”
Kadesh’s eyes blazed in the filtered twilight. “His family perpetrated the evil. His family shall pay.”
“But it’s not just that, is it, Kadesh? It’s her. I know it’s her.” Ruth felt her self-control slipping away. She had already said too much, but she couldn’t stop. Natasha was trembling, curled up on the bed. Ruth stood between Natasha and the man she loved. “What about me? We were promised to each other.” Ruth held up her hand. “What am I to do? Will you cast me off like an old cloak?”