Elodie said it reluctantly, unsure if he would believe her.
‘Magical powers.’
Hogarth nodded to show his acceptance of this part of the tale.
‘Of what kind?’
‘Many kinds. But the ... procedures designed to endow these abilities misfired or had no effect.’
‘Can you give me an example, please, Elodie? I’m not sure that I understand.’
‘All right. Invisibility: the spells produced eczema. X-ray vision: eye problems. Suddenly the student that had been experimented on, who could see perfectly well, needed glasses and eyedrops. Divinations, prophecy. Those spells brought on headaches and migraines. Then there was strength. Super strength. That was more serious. The enchantments caused heart issues, blood pressure and what were just put down to "growing pains". You want more?’
‘Were there more?’
‘Yes, Chief Inspector.’
‘Go on then, please.’
Elodie looked at him doubtfully.
‘They might sound far-fetched.’
‘Even so.’
‘All right. Flying. The charms caused brittle bones and fear of heights. The power to breathe underwater resulted in asthma and bronchitis. Then the one the Dowrkampyers seemed to crave, above all, to conjure: levitation. But it just caused dizziness, nausea and disorientation.’
‘But the students got better when the spells were paused?’
Elodie shook her head.
‘Two or three parents took their children out after the accident. Of course, they said it was an accident.’
Hogarth diplomatically refrained from pursuing it, leaving that line of enquiry for another time. Instead, he asked, ‘Do you remember who, which parents of which children withdrew their offspring from the school?’
‘Erm ....’
‘The parents of Steve James,’ supplied Peter, ‘Lauren Brown, and I think, a boy with the surname Harvey.’
‘Ah yes, I interviewed the Browns and the Jameses. They just said they found schools that they felt were more suitable.’
‘Just local schools, I think?’ suggested Peter.
‘Yes,’ Hogarth confirmed. ‘They claimed they were more convenient. I couldn’t get anything more from them.’
‘It was well-known in that place: you don’t cross the clans. Not if you know what’s good for you. You don’t get caught in their crossfire.’
‘Or their cross-hairs,’ added Marielle.
‘Yes, I see,’ responded Hogarth. ‘So, I gather there was a lab in the cellar the élite students were taken to. Did the children tell you about the lab itself?’
‘Yes,’ Elodie answered. ‘But later, I saw it for myself.’
‘You were selected and taken down there?’ asked Hogarth with concern.
‘No.’
Hogarth waited.
Finally, Elodie said,
‘I think I should tell you about ....’
‘Yes?’
‘The escape lines.’
Chapter 19
Over the Wall
The Koffiji Café was crammed. Amanda was lucky to find two seats free, while Kyt nipped into the shop next door. A man of post-retirement age, looking around, momentarily caught Amanda’s eye. He wore a green Barbour coat over a tweed jacket with a matching cap. She didn’t usually notice people, but something about him that she was quite unable to define drew her attention.
His tea had arrived a while ago, and now he had picked up his spoon and was scanning the café. Amanda leaned across.
‘Excuse me, please, sir, do you need some sugar? I have a whole bowlful here.’
The gentleman turned to her with a gentle smile.
‘Now then, how thoughtful of you.’ There was something about the way he said, ‘now then.’ If only she could pinpoint it. Perhaps if they talked a little.
‘I thought your tea might be getting cold,’ said Amanda.
‘Very good of you. I must drink up; my daughter will be here soon. Oh, speak of angels, here she is.’
A smiling woman approached, wearing a rainbow scarf and practical brown jacket, matching her hair.
‘Hello, Dad,’ and seeing he was in conversation with someone, added, ‘Hello, there.’
‘Amanda. Hello.’
‘Glad you’re keeping him company. I had to pop into Seasalt by myself, or Dad would have bought every shoe they had in the shop. Except for the women’s and children’s!’
‘They sell all sorts in there,’ her father explained, ‘but I must admit that that’s my weakness,’ he added ruefully.
‘I do like shoes myself,’ Amanda admitted. ‘My favourite trainers are the ones with the lights in the soles.’
‘Oh yes,’ agreed the lady. ‘Well, we must get home. Nice to meet you.’
‘Lovely chatting to you,’ said the old man, with every appearance of pleasure.
‘Me too. I’m Amanda by the way. Amanda Ca—’
‘Oo, I know who you are.’ He smiled. There was a deep kindness in his eyes that lit his entire face. With that, he collected his shopping and then they were gone.
Amanda wondered if he came here often, and whether the staff might know his name. But the queue was growing, and they had their hands full. Oh well.
By the evening, Amanda had forgotten all about it, and her mind was fixed on hearing the next episode of the Lucy saga. Hogarth brought in a pot of tea, rather than mugs, so they could have refills. Amanda saw this as a hopeful sign of a nice long chapter of the story.
‘So, tell us about the escape lines, Uncle Mike. It sounds like The Secret Army! The Belgians who got RAF pilots away to England during the Second World War.’
‘Indeed. I was just as eager to hear. And so Elodie told me ….’
***
‘To this day, I have no idea who they were,’ said Elodie. ‘Of course, I used to speculate. Until I wanted a life free from any of it.’
‘I understand,’ replied Hogarth.
‘Actually, I think we could do with some more refreshments for this bit.’
It was clear to Hogarth that Elodie needed a breather, and he waited patiently until she had carried in tea and the curry puffs and cheese puffs he had brought from Harry.
‘There,’ said Elodie having set them out. ‘So,’ she commenced, ‘I think the people who ran the lines may have been friends, maybe farmers or other contacts or something of George, a
