The cracking of the coded talisman was growing ever more imperative.
Ruby closed her eyes and concentrated. What was the significance? What was the link? The only connection that they had was the scrap of paper, but what did it mean? The paper, the paper, the paper. What was on the paper? The logo? The letter? The message? Yes! The message!
Ruby's eyes opened wide, alert, intense. She slapped the table top and everybody jumped as she remembered the contents of the note.
“Tobias, it was around half past five this evening that you observed Doctor Hariman disappear into David's house, yes? And he arrived on foot?”
Tobias nodded.
“Excellent, then finish that drumstick, quick as you can, and kindly make with all haste back to his cottage. Wait outside, and follow them wherever they go. I believe that they will not venture far, as David has no motor vehicle and the Doctor arrived by pedestrian means. I have a feeling that they will depart shortly, however, for, if my memory serves me correctly, the wording hastily scribbled on the note (of which we possess but a fraction) mentioned an assignation at eight thirty, between party, or parties unknown... Dave and an 'H' were mentioned... H, I now have the arrogance to presume, is in all probability Hariman. No doubt Tobias will soon be in a position to confirm or deny this supposition. Tobias, please do your best.”
Ruby opened the door, and Tobias leapt softly from the top step, onto the rough pebble path and jauntily padded off to see how far off the mark she was in her assumptions. Magpie Jack, who had been sitting on Pearl's shoulder, whispered something into her ear and flew out of the open door, following Tobias at a discreet distance.
Ruby closed the door and drifted back to the table, her mind clearly still mulling something over.
“Sadly, I fear that poor Tobias's best, even with Jack's able assistance, may not be sufficient to provide us with all of the information we require about the good Doctor's intentions...”
She eased herself back into her seat, and suddenly gave a most amateur-dramatic wince.
“Oh, my! You know, it really is most strange, but I think – yes – I think I suddenly feel an old and recurring back twinge coming on...”
She smiled and winked at Pearl.
Pearl frowned; she disliked it when Ruby was being oblique.
“Yes... I believe I shall have to consult a doctor about it. Maybe I should ask for a home visit? After all... I am elderly and do need to be careful these days, don't I? Yes. I shall ask for a consultation here at the caravan. I shall make a good pot of tea, purchase some really nice biscuits and ask the good Doctor Hariman for the benefits of his wisdom and experience. That is the only right and sensible thing to do. Don't you think so, Pearl?”
Ruby smiled again. She had the beginning of a plan.
“For now we, though, we shall focus our attentions on the contents of this mysterious missive and its sinister symbolism. This calls for more tea, I think, and maybe a slice or two of that Lemon Drizzle cake... Pearl. The teapot, if you please...”
Chapter 6
Doctor On The Go
It was still light and relatively warm when Tobias arrived outside Dave's cottage. Dave (or possibly his house guest) was noisily putting away some pans. Tobias could hear the din from where he was and could see various back-lit shapes moving about behind Dave's thin, cheap, gaudy curtains. Tobias made himself as comfortable as he could, on the same patch of wall that he had vacated not all that long since. He lay down, stretched out, rested his head on his front paws and waited and watched in a half-snoozing, half-alert mode.
Time passed.
Nothing happened.
Tobias struggled increasingly to remain awake.
Until...
The bulb in the street light had just begun to warm up, and was humming softly, the moths already fluttering around its orange sodium glow, when, suddenly, and in sharp contrast, the bulb in Dave's home blinked out. The door swiftly opened, and two figures emerged. Tobias could not make out their garbled conversation from where he was, but he could tell that it was a little heated, to say the least.
Magpie Jack sat on the branch of a tree opposite, watching and waiting, his mind recording everything; ready to report back to Ruby, Pearl and the others as soon as the opportunity arose.
Once the Doctor and Dave were on their way, Tobias silently vacated his spot and crept after them at a safe distance. He did not want them to know that he was following. Hopefully they wouldn't get a bus, or any other form of transportation. If they did, he was really snookered.
Unseen and unheard by them all, Magpie Jack gave ariel pursuit.
At the bottom of the unkempt dusty track where Dave's cottage was situated, the Doctor and Dave turned right and started down the pavement of the main road that led into Widdowshins proper. They passed some old stone cottages, a couple of small, local shops, and the local veterinary surgery (a building Tobias did not care for in the least).
It was one of those warm, still evenings, when the air hangs a little heavy and the whole atmosphere is more than just a little sleepy and lazy. The colours of the stone and brickwork on the houses and cottages seemed more intense than usual in the late summer light. The sun hung low in the sky, making the warm colours even warmer and sleepier. The mood seemed to have transferred itself to Tobias's quarry, for the unlikely pair carried on their way in sedate and leisurely fashion, as if in no hurry whatsoever. Tobias, for his part, had by now slipped completely into his secret agent role and was sneaking in
