Chapter 7 – where the wild roses grow.

Anabellus sat on the park bench. The early night was mild and it would be just a few more nights until his bride was ready.

The park seemed to drown in darkness and it was only where the cover of trees broke completely that the moonlight gave strange illumination to the grounds and objects therein.

Across the open lawn under the shadow of the large oak trees stood The Keeper of The Book. He watched Anabellus with eyes that are not so inhibited by darkness as we humans are given to thinking. He watched and he puzzled.

The Keeper was well used to watching unobserved, even amongst masters of this craft he would pass like a summer breeze and non would notice his presence and none would notice his leaving again. He had witnessed many significant events for the benefit of the book he kept.

The Keeper was well used to being the solver of complex mysteries but it was no mystery as to what Anabellus had a hand in achieving. It stood only now for time to tell what effect these actions would have.

The Keeper listened carefully and on the edge of his hearing came a clue he had not expected. A sound no untrained eye would have detected of a location quite unexpected. The sound of metal on leather with the sound of bone on steel coming from a road not so far from the park. This omen could only foretell the coming of Huso Tristram. Even for The Keeper this was a surprise. If Huso had chosen to come here than someone had already become extremely angry.

Anabellus did not hear the sound but it was as though he felt the urgency in the air. His intentions were undone. He left swiftly heading away from The Keeper to the gate that he had been watching.

On arrival at the gate, Anabellus felt that something needed to be said. He announced into the park to the audience of hidden eyes that watched him from so many places: “You have denuded the night to me and stolen that, which by right of war, is mine!”

The gateway stood empty, as too did the space under the oak tree.

The bride of Anabellus stirred fitfully but slept on.

“Bloody hell, Mary this thing has a whole history here!” Exclaimed Shannon in disbelief. She held in front of her a report from over twelve years ago and another from sixteen years ago.

“We’re going to have to report this to the guy’s,” said Mary, “there could be any amount of work that they could add to what they’ve already done.”

“But this thing has been bound to our town for as long as I’ve been alive and no-one knows it but us.” Said Shannon melodramatically.

“Stop being so spooky, Sha’,” said Mary, “It’s late and all I want to do is get to the pub, with you if at all possible.”

“Well,” said Shannon, “What are we waiting for lets drop this into Mr Benite’s office and go.”

“I’m with you on that one, girl” said Mary grabbing her back, “you grab that lot and I’ll get these stacks of notes and then let’s run it all up to ‘em now.”

The two girls gathered the bundles of notes, books and printouts and rapidly exited the basement.

“That’s incredible,” said Paul looking over the girl’s hasty summary, “There must be over twenty cases of this virus and every one dealt with by a company that was shortly purchased by GSG-Maxdure… This can’t be right, they’re all from this town too!” Paul looked at the girls as if searching for a hidden answer.

“We thought we should tell you.” Said Mary.

“Damn right…” said Paul, “thanks, girls. I think tomorrow we will have to try and see what this all means.”

Shannon sighed, “I was hoping to get home early tomorrow.”

“I’m sure we can spare you.” Said Paul.

“Thanks boss.” Said Shannon, “see you tomorrow.”

“Bye girls.”

“Goodbye Paul,” said Mary taking Shannon by the arm, “come on, hun, I’ll give you a lift.”

The air outside the building was crisp with a hint of frost. The lighting in the car park threw strange shadows so that it was impossible to judge shape or proportion at any distance.

“The cars just over by the gate,” said Mary, “I can’t believe so many people in this area have died of this thing,” she added.

“It’s like the dirty secret of a doomed town in some third rate movie.” Said Shannon.

“Honey, you are in dire need of a long night at mine,” said Mary, “your mind is racing way to fast.”

“I’ll think about it,” said Shannon.

“This is the one,” said Mary indicating the black all terrain monster. Calling it a car would be like calling an ocean water, while true it completely failed to describe the impression one is left with.

“Nice car!”

“Thanks,” said Mary, “Jump in.”

The car started with a throaty low roar and pulled out of the car park, and shot down the main road back to town. Only Mary noticed the three people walking towards the labs this struck her as strange for a moment but her mind was quickly refocused on to the possibilities the night had yet to offer by Shannon’s perfume and company.

The nameless man watched the large vehicle go past. He seemed frozen with indecision.

“Dude, it’s just a car.” Said Jackson.

“Are you OK mister?” said Angelina at the same time.

The nameless man said nothing but started to walk again.

Jackson was relieved this guy was starting to unnerve him somewhat and he did not want to seem uncool in front of Angelina who seemed so relaxed with this freakish simple guy. “Splash the ash, dude.” Ordered Jackson.

These guys’s must know each other quite well, thought Angelina, this guy whose name she had already forgotten seemed to be like an older brother to this poor soul.

The nameless man silently handed her one of his long black cigarettes. She lit it and tried not to look like she had never smoked before.

Jackson risked another look at his queen and seeing that she was looking down allowed himself another longing glance at her chest. She seemed such a friendly person, non-judgmental and yet able to understand (just as he did) the subtle interplay of life.

The lab was in sight now and the last house was a few steps behind them. It seemed to Jackson like things could get strange unless this guy really meant to walk the six miles to the next town. “What you planning now?” he asked.

“Waiting,” Said the nameless man, “it is still early.”

“Got a friend who works in there?” asked Angelina.

“No, I don’t think so.” He replied.

“Tell me why we are waiting.” Said Jackson.

The man seemed to stand a little taller. Then he said: “Proceeding to lab. Next action is to steal the antique box from the man with too much money and bring it back.”

“Why?” asked Jackson before he could stop himself.

The man did not answer.

“Come on dude, let me in tell me what we’re doing out here.” Said Jackson.

The man said nothing.

“Please tell us.” Said Angelina.

“Because I have been told too.” Said the nameless man.

“By who?” asked Jackson.

The nameless man did not reply.

“Please?” Asked Angelina looking at him with her best fluttering eyelids gaze.

Still he said nothing. He stared into the car park that they now stood at the entrance of and waited.

Jackson played the conversation back in his mind while staring at Angelina’s body. It was like a game where he did not know the rules and it bugged him. He had to get this guy to give him an answer. “Tell me who told you to do this.” He said.

“I can not remember.” Said the nameless man.

“Please try.” Said Angelina fluttering her eyelids again.

“No, I can not remember. I have been ordered to forget.”

Jackson looked and Angelina and their eyes locked for a moment. They both knew that they had become tied into something they did not understand.

Inside the lab Paul furiously sifted thought reports and summaries and files and archives looking and looking for things the others might have missed. Anything that would help forward the cause of controlling the virus and so directly leading to a cure for so many illnesses including his own.

There had to be an answer, a perfect answer - he needed to find it so badly he could almost touch it. His search was all that mattered to him now.

John knocked on his door. “Come on mate,” he said, “it’s time to go home.”

“There’s to much to do,” said Paul agitatedly, “Shannon and Mary have dug up over twenty other cases from the company records of the same virus. Six different doctors attempted to create a cure for it and failed. We have years of work and were have to do something with it!”

John looked hard at Paul and said: “Pub! Now! We need you relaxed to work on this tomorrow.”

Paul sighed. Part of him knew that John was right but he wished desperately the man would just go away.

“I’m worried about you, said John, “you work to hard for some-one of your position and wealth.”

“I’m fine John, honestly,” said Paul raising his hands, “you got me! I’m too eager for the glory of this discovery. Let’s go to the pub.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” said John. He watched as Paul tidied his papers. He was sure now that Paul was hiding something from him but what he had no idea.