Bill’s heart sank has he rememberedBeryl’s words the day she’d dropped him off at college – an insistence that hejoin the Choral Society.
Frank nodded at Father Figgs thenpushed Bill away, shoving with a firm hand in his back. He moved so fast Billcouldn’t even say goodbye to Arthur. They jostled through the crowd, out of thegymnasium and onto the street.
“Where you taking to me?” said Bill.
“Don’t tell Dean and George about whatyou’re going to see,” said Frank. “In fact, don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.”
Frank marched him along the road insilence for a couple of minutes. Bill wanted to escape and find Arthur but hecould see that Frank wouldn’t let him.
“Where are we going?”
“Up here.”
They turned up a quiet street filledwith crumbling three storey Victorian terraces. Bill looked at the street signand saw it said, ‘Laburnum Grove’. He was forced roughly through a gate to afront door with chipped red paint and a gilded metal number nine screwed intothe wood. Frank knocked four times, paused then knocked twice.
The door opened and Bill saw a thinman dressed in black, with high cheek bones, a goatee beard and greasy sweptback hair. He recognised him as Doctor van Devlin, one of mother’s friends fromBrimstone Manor.
“Nice to see you again,” said theDoctor. “Come inside.”
The house looked run down and smeltmusty. Bill didn’t want to go in but Frank was looming right behind him,blocking his escape.
The Doctor was staring at Bill with alook of weird intensity. He stuck out a bony finger and prodded his stomach.“How’s the wound? I take it there have been no complications?”
Bill stepped back to stop the Doctorfrom touching him, bumping into Frank. “Fine thanks.”
“Professor Nox is so verydesperate to see you.”
“Ah yes, that thing. I suppose I didpromise mother.”
“He’s very keen to see our specialboy.”
Bill was a little perturbed at beingcall a ‘special boy’. “Why does he want to see me?”
“Come in and all will become clear.”
Frank gave him a hard shove in the back,forcing Bill to step forward. He went through a shabby hallway and into one ofthe strangest rooms he’d ever seen. The furniture was old and threadbare andthe dark wooden floor was spread with a large Indian rug. Many brass lamps hadleaded shades that were full of spider webs. An entire wall was lined withwooden display cabinets filled with dozens of small figures. Each had a smoothwhite face that stared out through the dusty glass with very creepy eyes. Billtook a closer look and saw that each of the figures was dressed in petticoatsand had tiny ribbons or bows in their straw-like hair.
“Please forgive me,” said the Doctor,“but I am very proud of my Victorian doll collection. They provide company atnight.”
Bill sat down on a cracked old chesterfieldand Frank sat beside him, big and sweaty and a bit too close for comfort.
The Doctor’s face broke into aningratiating smile that made Bill’s flesh creep. “We must wait a moment for himto join us. Would you care for coffee?”
“No thanks,” replied Bill wondering ifthere were spiders in his cups.
“You are very special, my boy, do youknow that? You have knowledge of a great many things.”
Bill shifted awkwardly. “I think youmay have me mixed up with someone else.”
“Certainly not.”
“I can’t remember anything. I’m notjoking. I’m no use to anyone.”
“We are sure that with the right, howshall I put it without worrying you? ... electrical stimulus and medicaltreatments your recollection will return.”
Bill’s felt anxious what he heard thisand wanted to escape more than ever. “Mother said you could maybe cure me. Butcan I go now and think about it?”
The Doctor chuckled. “We’re notletting you out of our sight – Frank is your new best friend.”
Bill gave Frank a dubious sidewaysglance and saw his chubby face stared back, full of serious concentration.
They heard the sound of a car pullingup outside. Bill looked out of the window saw a big silver Mercedes glide to ahalt.
“Saints be praised he’s here,” saidthe Doctor. “Prepare yourself for what you’re about to told. It will shock yougreatly.”
Bill nodded dumbly. He didn’t like thesound of this at all.
The doorbell rang and Doctor vanDevlin scurried out with an excited look. Bill sat nervously on the sofa andtried to ignore Frank. He gazed at a large silver crucifix hanging over thefireplace. There were muffled greetings out by the front door.
A huge bearded black man ambledthrough the door, so large he seemed to take over the entire room. He waswearing a long crimson kaftan embroidered with a black paisley pattern. He waspowerfully built and had a very domineering presence.
“And this must be the famous William,”he said in deep voice with a slight Jamaican accent. “Good day to you.”
He held out a huge hand and Bill shookit. The man had an incredibly firm grip and Bill had to resist the urge not towhimper.
“Coffee?” said Doctor van Devlin in avery obsequious manner.
“No,” said the man sharply, thenadded, “thank you.”
“Sorry,” said Bill, “but I don’t thinkwe’ve met.”
“You should have gone to see him!”hissed Doctor van Devlin. “You have the honour to meet the great and learnedProfessor Julius Nox.”
“Please Doctor,” said Professor Nox,flashing the Doctor a look that silenced him instantly. He turned to Bill andadded, “Good to meet you at last, my good man. I was expecting you a couple ofdays ago.”
“Well, yes, mother did tell me to goand see you,” said Bill, “but I had a bit of bother.”
“You must come straight to my officewith any problem, William. I guarantee that it will be sorted out immediately.I want your time at Middenmere to be a productive one. We must prepare you forthe day you start your great and noble employment. I know you will find thisvery difficult.”
“My ‘employment’?” said Bill.
The Professor fixed him with a steelyglare and said with relish, “The Apostles have serious plans for you.”
Bill trembled under the big man’spowerful gaze and felt an overwhelming
