Sands of Time

You will take that bottle from the women and you will give it to me!

Under the eiderdown Toby was growing more and more restless. Twisting his head from side to side he threw off the covers and turning he thumped the pillow with his fist.

Get up, Toby!

The figure moved closer, coming to stand immediately beside the bed. With another groan Toby obeyed, his eyes still closed.

That’s right. Now move to the door and open it. Come downstairs. Now.

As the door into the sitting room opened Anna and Phyllis looked up startled. Toby was standing there, dressed in the ancient striped pyjamas which Phyllis had produced from the airing cupboard, his hair on end, his feet bare. His eyes were tightly closed. He stepped into the room and held out his hand.

I need that bottle.

Phyllis put it behind her back.

‘Toby?’ Anna was staring at him. ‘Toby, wake up! Do you hear me, wake up!’

Toby had stopped just inside the doorway. For a moment he remained unmoving then slowly he opened his eyes.

‘Anna?’ He stared at her in astonishment. ‘When did you get here? I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?’

‘It’s late.’

‘It must be.’ He moved towards the fire, rubbing his face slowly with his hands. ‘I’m sorry. I’m still half asleep. I can’t think clearly. Thank God you’re here. I was so worried about you.’ He put out a hand towards her. ‘I had such a terrible dream.’ He hesitated. He couldn’t bear to be standing so close to her and not touch her. Gently he put his finger on her shoulder, then cautiously, carefully, he drew her into his arms.

For a moment she resisted, stiff against his embrace, then she relaxed. ‘Toby. Are you all right? I’ve been so frightened.’ She was nestling against him.

‘There’s no need, my love. No need at all. You’re safe now. Quite safe.’

All you need to do is give me the bottle. His grip tightened slightly. Where is it?

‘Toby?’ Anna pulled away from him sharply. ‘Toby? What did you say?’

Toby frowned. Had he spoken out loud? Please God it wasn’t happening again. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t care where the bottle is -’ He ran his hand across his forehead, pushing back his hair. He stared round frantically. ‘I love you, Anna. I would never try and take it unless you let me.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s just that I can’t seem to see straight.’ He shut his eyes again as a twinge of pain hit him.

You will give me the bottle.

‘Phyllis?’ Anna was terrified. ‘It’s happening again. That is not his voice. His lips didn’t move.’

‘I can see.’ Phyllis backed towards the fire.

‘Oh God, it’s not Toby. Something has happened to him. He’s not there. Carstairs has taken him over.’ Anna’s voice cracked into a sob. ‘Toby, can you hear me? Toby, please. Fight him!’

‘Anna, my dear. Move away.’ Phyllis kept her own voice calm with an effort. ‘Have you got your car keys?’

Anna nodded. ‘They are there, in my coat pocket.’

‘Get them. Get ready to run.’

Toby had moved a couple of steps closer to Phyllis. He seemed to be working on automatic pilot. His face was blank.

Ah, Miss Shelley. So it is you who has it. Give it to me. I don’t want to hurt you. This is nothing to do with you. The bottle is mine by right.

Behind him Anna had pulled on her coat. She drew the keys out of her pocket with a shaking hand.

‘You’re going to have to take it off me, Toby. Or should I address you as my lord?’ Phyllis moved a step closer to the fire. She was almost standing in the hearth. ‘It is my lord, isn’t it? Toby is not there. You have pushed Toby aside. You have walked in and taken his body because you are too weak to achieve anything on your own!’

You don’t think it an achievement to take his body?

The voice was mildly amused.

Behind her back Phyllis transferred the small parcel to her right hand. Moving so fast Anna almost failed to see what was happening, the old woman tossed it swiftly towards her, at the same time diving towards the poker which had been lying on the hearth.

Anna did not wait to see what happened. She was into the hall in a moment, bottle in hand, pulling open the front door and diving towards her car. With a frantically revving engine and a shriek of tyres the car sped away from the hedge and disappeared up the road.

Behind her Phyllis was staring at the body of the man lying at her feet, blood pouring down his face into the carpet.

12

Where do I go?

Changing gear Anna pulled onto the main road.

What shall I do?

She gritted her teeth, desperately trying to steady her breathing.

Drive carefully. The roads are icy. Don’t be a fool. Calm down. He can’t reach you here.

The bottle was lying in the foot well on the passenger side where she had thrown it. She couldn’t see it in the dark, but she could hear the bubble wrap rustling as the car swung round the corners.

What had happened to Phyl? Was she all right? What would he have done when he realised he had been thwarted? Oh please God, take care of her. Don’t let him hurt her.

She drove on. She didn’t know where she was going, all she knew was that she had to get rid of the bottle. Once and for all. Water. She had to find some water and throw the bottle into it. That would be the best thing to do. See it sink without trace. Deep water. Bottomless water which would suck it down for ever. Weight it down with something. Make sure it could never float to the surface again.

Her brain was working frantically as she threw the car down the narrow winding roads. She needed to go east, towards the sea. Which way? Her mind had gone blank suddenly. All she could think was:

Bring it back. Bring it back. Bring it back now!

The voice in her head was not hers.

‘No!’

She clamped her hands on the wheel until her knuckles went white. She was speaking out loud now. ‘Never! You can’t have it! Toby, fight him. Please fight him. Oh Toby!’ She shook her head angrily as her eyes filled with tears. How could this be happening? She had loved Toby, she realised it now. Really loved him. She had thought he was the one who would make her happy at last. And Carstairs, bloody, vicious, awful, DEAD, Lord Carstairs was taking him away from her.

But Toby wasn’t here. That voice had been in her own head. Not Toby’s. Oh dear God, what was she going to do?

She was heading towards the A14 now and almost without realising she had done it she swung the car onto the eastbound carriageway, heading towards the coast. She put her foot flat to the floor and felt the car gather speed alarmingly as she tried to put distance between herself and the source of the mocking voice in her head. Before her the road stretched away empty, leading towards the sea.

In the back seat a shadowy form had begun to materialise, invisible against the black upholstery. She didn’t hear the quiet chuckle above the sound of the screaming engine.