The Chrysalid Conspiracy (55 page)

Lucy, Bridie, Molly and Sheila vanished into Lucy’s bedroom and Amelia had another twinge of anxiety when they closed the door. She desperately wanted to use her scan but again, it didn’t feel right.

Instead, she went back to Rayn to try and make conversation. “Any news from Caz and Claire?” she asked.

“Nope,” came the unresponsive reply.

“Look Rayn, I don’t know what your problem is, but don’t take it out on me.” Amelia threw back at her.

“I’m sorry, Amelia. You’re right. But do you mind if we don’t talk about it just now?”

“Sure, that’s okay. Are you hungry? It must be about lunchtime.”

“Actually, no. I couldn’t eat a thing right now.”

“Wow,” said Amelia. “That must be a first.”

“Yeah, well. It’s the second ‘first’ today, and I’m keeping a sharp eye out for the next one.”

They sat in silence for a few uncomfortable moments. “I promised I’d go over and meet Sambo’s new roommate,” said Rayn eventually. “I think I’ll go over there.”

“Good idea, I’ll come with you.”

“I’d rather you didn’t, Amelia. No offence,” said Rayn, doubtful of the reaction.

“Oh? Can I ask why?” She was intrigued more than offended.

“Well, according to Sambo, he’s very shy,” she explained. “He’s absolutely terrified of women. He said I might be okay on my own, but you – well, it’s a different matter. Did you know you’re as tall as my mum now? You’re also… well, to be frank, devastatingly attractive and quite domineering. Your appearance I mean. Anyway, there’s a danger you could drive him so far into his shell we’d need a shovel to get him out.”

“I don’t believe a word you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to be locked in an Opera house. To paraphrase your own remark,” said Amelia.

“Oh no. Anything but that. I’d rather be eaten alive by snails.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged, It would give you something to do between acts.” and they laughed, breaking the tension between them. “Okay,” Amelia added. “I’ve got things to do anyway. I want to be around when that secret conference breaks up. See what I can pick up. See you later.”

Amelia retrieved her laptop from her bedroom and set it up on the living room table. As she removed the blanket, she noticed Sheila’s open work case with its considerable collection of oils and lotions. She logged on and sat there staring at the blank screen and she knew with every fibre of her being, and with her mind fused into one single thought as her willpower dissolved faster than an Alker Seltzer, she had to follow her instincts. One by one she opened, smelled, felt the texture of, and tasted, every item in Sheila’s case.

Suitably gratified, but appalled by her weakness, she thought
At least it’s an anchor for a trip into cyber space,
and started work on what she called ‘plan A’.

Half an hour later, just as Amelia was tidying up some loose ends on plan ‘B’, Lucy’s door was ripped open and Molly came running out. She was waving her mobile phone and danced around in the shop like a fox in a chicken coop.

“Jaz is ready! Her waters broke. Oh God, she’s on her own. Jehal’s got the car, Nigel’s at work. I need a taxi. Oh God, what if I can’t get one?” She was completely off the wall.

“Steady on Molly,” said Lucy, “you’re behaving like a man. Jaz is a midwife, she knows what to do.”

“And they probably make the worst patients,” added Bridie, under her breath.

“Hey Molly, no problem,” said Sheila. “My car’s outside, we’ll use that,” she volunteered.

“What? Yes, that’s good. Yes. We have to take her to the Hall and we have to take you with us anyway, you’re the nearest thing we’ve got to a nurse,” pleaded Molly.

“You what?” yelled Sheila. “Now just you wait a…”

She was cut down by a distraught Molly. “Quick! Grab your keys, let’s go,” she said trying to push open the door which advertised ‘pull’.

Sheila was searching frantically for her keys in the living room. “I know Maddy told me to spend a few days getting socially acclimatised,” she said to Amelia, “but this is ridiculous.” Amelia laughed out loud at Sheila’s panic.

When they’d left, the silence descended like gently falling snow. From the living room, Amelia heard Bridie talking to Lucy. “You ready then, Lucy? We’ll use your other chair. Amelia?” she called out. “Would you open the back gates? Your mum and I are going out to lunch.”

“Er… yes, okay,” Amelia replied. This was freaky. There was no hint of the emergency or panic that had swamped the house a few moments before. Bridie spoke as if she were continuing a previous conversation and her mother seemed totally unaffected.

“Do you think Jaz will be all right?” she had to ask.

“What?” answered her mother. “She’s having her fourth child. She’s a professional, and Bridie and I have both been there. It’s Jahal I feel sorry for. He’s got Molly and Sheila to cope with.” Both women laughed and assured Amelia everything would be fine.

“Okay then,” said Amelia, still trying to fathom out the adult mind-set. “I’ll come with you for lunch.”

“Sorry, my love,” Lucy said, apologetically. “We want to do this on our own.”

“We’ve got some things we want to do,” Bridie said gently. “Would you mind sitting this one out?”

“Oh, not a problem. I don’t mind at all. You go ahead.” Amelia smiled to hide her disappointment, as well as her curiosity. When they’d gone, she sat there with only the silence for company, alone and wondering what the Devil was going on.

Analyzing the last few days she decided that Saturday had been a complete nightmare, and Sunday she relegated to the realms of science fantasy. But she secretly took some comfort from Monday and Tuesday in which, despite her enforced inactivity and pains, she had felt at the centre of things. So how come she was sitting here alone all of a sudden? Had everybody been patronising her? If Rayn was right, she was supposed to be a leader. If that was true, why wasn’t she leading?

I wonder if paranoia is a compulsory emotion,
she thought, smiling to herself. She gave a sigh of relief when she heard Rayn call out. “Does anyone know the coach house gates are wide open?”

She bounced into the living room, looking very pleased with herself, and dumped a bag containing a baguette on the table.

“They only had one left, beef and mustard. We’ll have to share it. I’ll grab a couple of cold cans from the fridge.”

They devoured the baguette between them, too preoccupied to talk.

“Hey, I thought you weren’t hungry?” said Amelia, when they’d finished eating.

“That was before I met Davy, Sambo’s friend. He was shaking so much he had to hold his drink in both hands, poor guy. I managed to get him laughing though, and Sambo said that was a breakthrough. Honestly Amelia, imagine being brought up with five elder sisters? He said that by the time he was five they’d convinced him that his penis was a deformity. No wonder he’s scared of girls. Oh, by the way, I’ve found out why everybody is closing up shop.”

“And?” Amelia enquired, patiently.

“Compulsory purchase orders. From the local council.”

“Can they do that?” Amelia was amazed.

“Apparently, and if you don’t take their first offer they practically steal it from you through the courts. He who makes the rules, wins,” explained Rayn.

“I wonder if we’ve got one?” said Amelia. “Perhaps this is what all this is about.”

“You’ll have to ask your mum. Where is everybody?” asked Rayn.

Amelia told her about Jaz’s emergency.

“And then our mothers calmly walk out to go for lunch, and I wasn’t even invited,” she finished.

“Strange behaviour,” said Rayn. “Mysterious meetings, odd lunch break. You should have seen what it took to get your mum to that first barbecue. She hated the idea of going anywhere. I wonder if this compulsory purchase thing is the motivation. Perhaps they’re trying to keep it secret from you so you don’t get upset?” reasoned Rayn.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” answered Amelia. “Why are they buying up everything, anyway? Do you know?”

“Gary down the bakery says it’s all the properties on this side of the road. He thinks they’re going to widen the road and put a new bridge in. Apparently Tetherington is on a direct link from Grabsum Moore and the nearest motorway.”

“Then why would they want to keep it a secret? Do they think I wouldn’t notice a bulldozer in my bedroom one morning?”

“That would be rough. You’d get brick dust in your knickers,” and they giggled at the thought. “Perhaps they’re trying to make other arrangements before they tell you,” she continued, more seriously.

“That makes more sense,” agreed Amelia. “But it doesn’t feel right to me. How about you?”

“No, nor me. I reckon it must be something else. But, knowing you and me, we’ll probably figure it out soon enough.”

“Perhaps Caz’s friend’s brother can come up with something of interest,” said Amelia.

“At twenty-five quid a throw he’d better. Or I might pay him a visit. It’s Caz and Claire I worry about. I wonder if that little plan worked. The more I think about it the more risky it sounds.”

“Don’t under-estimate them, Rayn. They’re pretty resourceful. They’ll be along as soon as they have something,” consoled Amelia.

“Unless they’re already locked up in some convent half way up a mountain in Patagonia. Amelia,” Rayn pleaded, “If they did disappear and we found out where to, promise we’d go and get them.”

“Where ever they ended up and whatever it takes, Rayn. That’s a promise. Now, smoke that damn cigarette you’re dying for and let’s talk about something else.”

***

Bridie and Lucy didn’t get back till gone seven that evening. Sheila had been waiting to do Lucy’s physio, but she didn’t mind, and accepted the offer to stick around for a drink afterwards. Bridie made a light salad and at the first opportunity, Amelia asked her mother about the compulsory purchase orders.

“I didn’t know about it till Joe told us earlier,” replied Lucy.

Much of Amelia’s anxiety vanished instantly. With the mention of Joe’s name she knew exactly where they had gone for lunch, and why. She couldn’t resist the temptation to push her luck. “And what words of wisdom would a couple of old agony aunts give to a man who’s been round the world a few of times, both literally and metaphorically? Who’s fought for his country, earned a medal and given everything up for his kids when their mother died?” she challenged.

Rayn winced. Shelia wished she were back in Australia, Lucy’s eyebrows went up and Bridie burst into uncontrollable laughter. Fortunately, the laughter proved to be contagious and when things settled down, Lucy replied.

“Couple of old agony aunts indeed. We’ve both had our moments, young lady. Let’s wait and see.”

“So what did you say to him then? How did he react to the news that his daughter is a lesbian?” Amelia ploughed in, her curiosity going in to overdrive.”

Lucy smiled, “He was shocked, but more because his kids had kept it a secret from him.”

“Oh but he soon forgot about that,” Bridie joined in. “By the time we’d told him all about Chimera and the conclusions of our research and our plans he was engrossed.”

“You what?” exclaimed Amelia. “How come you told him and not me and Rayn?

“Because there’s a good reason my love.” said Lucy, raising her voice. “We’ve asked him to join us and that’s all you need to know for now. And don’t ask.”

“Did he say what he’s going to do? asked Rayn.

“Almost”, laughed Lucy, “He said he would never join any organisation that would have someone like him as a member, but he’d let us know tomorrow,”

***

The evening settled into a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Molly popped in to tell them that Jaz had had a girl and both were doing fine. The baby weighed five and a half pounds and she also, surprisingly, apologised to Sheila.

“Sorry about all that, Sheila,” she said. “I hope it didn’t upset you?”

Both older women and their daughters looked up and turned eagerly to Sheila, like a family of Meercats on full alert.

“I’d never met Jaz before,” Sheila explained. “She fired a series of questions at me, which I couldn’t answer, and she threw me out. Nicely, I have to say. It turned out that Lorraine knew a lot more than me. No worries, Molly. It was a relief to get off the hook.”

“Actually, I think it was because she couldn’t handle that accent of yours,” Molly said with a laugh. “Remember, English is her second language. I gotta go, my house is crazy at the moment. We’ve got the kids – or at least the two boys Zendi and Partha. It’s chaos. Remi, their ten-year-old, is staying with her mother, bless her. I’ll be in tomorrow,” she told Lucy. “Bye.”

Later, Sheila kept them amused with her ‘Tales of the Outback’, then she confirmed that Dr Barrenborn and Dr Smith were one and the same, and that her physio skills hadn’t advanced to their present level until long after the good doctor had left. The flying doctor had brought her ‘medication’ in every month, which she had believed was to help her with her addictions. She now knew it was Maddy’s ‘cocktail’. The bringer of life.

In response to Amelia’s question about the general pattern of her life after that point Sheila became curious but forthcoming. “Mum had the old barn done up to let out to the Pommy tourists,” she continued. Then stopped abruptly realising what she’d said. “Sorry, no offence intended. It just slipped out.”

They all laughed. “It’s okay, Sheila,” said Bridie. “You should hear some of the things we call you guys. It’s enough to start a war in this day and age of political correctness.”

Relieved, Sheila continued. “We had all sorts of strange people stay. I don’t remember any Brits, though. One time we had a group of free-climbers stay for the season. They took me in and before I knew it I was shining up and down rock faces like a mountain goat. Then I went to live with the Aborigines’ for a few months and learned to hunt and live off the land. They taught me to throw a spear, use a bow and arrow and how to throw a knife, but as far as I know I’m the only person officially banned by them from using a boomerang. I was too dangerous and I lost too many.”

“Do those things actually work?” asked Rayn.

“Oh sure,” said Sheila. “If you’re good enough you can take out a wallaby. And if you miss you don’t have to go look for it. Just don’t forget to duck!” she laughed. “From the weird and wonderful groups who came to stay I learned footy, rugger, and tennis. And swimming. We’ve got some great swimming holes on dad’s land. That’s how I got into sports injuries. Then some Japanese tourists turned up for the season and I became pretty good at the old ‘Kendo’ and a bit of martial arts. What never occurred to me, not in a million years, was that all that extreme fitness, stamina and heat tolerance, the climbing and hunting and my special relationship with the Abbos were exactly what mum and dad needed for our jaunts into the outback on our collecting trips. Many of those damned plants picked some pretty inconsiderate places to grow. I did get a bit miffed when I spent all morning hunting, all afternoon climbing and all evening preparing and cooking. I must admit I loved it though.”