The Power of Forgetting (6 page)

‘Still smarting
from being sacked as a chief scientist.’ said Marcia, ‘he’s still
got the job in lecturing for the physics department. But the rest
is just a pain to him.’

‘I think that
Jules might be one of the people that Lorraine knew back when I was
at college.’ I said.

‘Really?’
Marcia looks suddenly serious.

‘What is she?’
asks Davey.

‘Well….’ I
began, ‘there is just no explaining some people.’

‘There’s no
excuse for them either.’ said Marcia, ‘she is the original bitch.
Total Man-eater. Manipulator is the other name she should have. And
there isn’t a man with a pulse who is totally resistant to her
charms…. that is until after she’s had a go with you.’

‘Well, I don’t
see what’s so good about her.’ said Davey.

‘Unusual.’ I
said, ‘perhaps her pitchfork got mangled in the dishwasher.’

‘Oh!’ said
Davey, getting what I meant all at once, ‘she was your
girlfriend?’

‘Yeah.
Certainly was…. As well as Hanson’s and some other poor sod…all at
the same time.’

‘You surprize
me Jared,’ Davey looked serious, ‘I thought you were more the type
to hang back and wait.

‘I am! I just
let the women persuade me.’

‘So I need only
my noble qualities of terror of the opposite sex to protect me?’ he
was laughing now.

‘Yeah…. well,
there is that. But she really is scary, and not only for that
reason.’

‘Very good
point…’ Janey mumbled next to me.

‘Janey?’ Davey
got her a plate, ‘do you want some supper now?’

‘Yes… in a few
Nano-seconds…. just recalling what I would like to say to Lorraine
if the occasion called for it.’

‘The fact is,’
I said, ‘that when we said she was a witch; it was not
metaphorical.’

I stood in the
early sun. She was leaning against the wall. We waited for Sam
Wright. It was odd, until I realised that the self-assured Sam was
the same Sam who had been on the edge of Hanson’s crowd. His hair
was longer then too, and he wasn’t as clean looking. Back then he
smoked joints and played the guitar. He had done the most
incredible reinvention ever. The thing was that he didn’t really
see who I was either. Acting Expedition Leader…. After being the
silent and gloomy art student. He had rung me earlier with a kind
of shock in his voice. How could we not realise? Connections were
springing up all over the place.

Sam was wearing
sunglasses. He had the car keys dangling by one finger.

‘You really
ought to look a little less suspicious.’ He said to me while
looking at Marcia.

‘I’m on a
spring break,’ I said, ‘and what’s wrong with me?’

‘You still look
like and art student.’ said Sam, tapping me on the chest and then
getting out a cigarette. He offered me one, but I shook my head.
‘Not my brand Sam.’

‘Indeed,’ he
said out of the corner of his mouth, ‘you are very particular about
many things. You could perhaps be a little less rigid?’

‘About
smoking?’ I joked as Marcia joined us.

‘No. about your
personal habits… don’t take that the wrong way. I think you could
do to be a little less conspicuous.’

‘What’s wrong
with purple?’ I asked him.

‘Nothing,’ Sam
started off round the corner, ‘It goes with your eyes. But we are
trying to be discrete here.’

I looked at
Marcia’s pink dress. Sam nodded to Marcia; ‘but you are just fine.’
He said.

‘What?’ I was
wishing I hadn’t had that tequila last night now.

‘Now you sound
like Davey!’ said Sam as we got near the car. Marcia just smiled
sweetly and got into the passenger seat as Sam opened the door for
her.

We were bowling
along with the windows open. I sat in the back. I absently scraped
at the nail on my right thumb. Drawing ink. At least everything
matched. Marcia was looking at the map and Sam drove with one hand
on the wheel. I think she was initiating him into the strangeness
of the roads “Up North”. He was not from our part of the world. In
fact, I wasn’t sure where he was from. There was something to be
said for being inconspicuous. I sank back and let the miles take
me. By the time we stopped for a break it had clouded over, and
started to quietly drizzle. Sam got out frowning.

‘Are we to
expect more of the same?’ he shouted as we ran into the service
station.

We arrived at
my house at four. Sam was dropping us off and staying in a local
inn. Janey and Davey were arriving on the train the following day.
As for the rest of the “team” some couldn’t make it this time. And
it was decided that Sam would be our link person if help was
needed. I guess I was excited by the news. There were strange
readings popping up around the place. And it might have something
to do with… well everything. I guessed that Mr Rimmington wasn’t
done with us lot yet, but this might be enough to tempt him out
into the open. We had to work out who was doing it, before they
did. Research, Janey says, is the noblest cause after saving lives.
I think that research is useful… but inspiration can also be
equally valuable. I find myself in the lounge of our house…well, my
parent’s house. I came for two days at Christmas but I had not
thought to come up so soon…. not until the summer. Sam and Marcia
have gone to find the others. I felt suddenly very confused, and
sat down in the nearest chair thinking… Why am I here?

I heard her
voice before I saw her. That light step in the hall; light but
firm. She is looking so lovely…. Dark hair framing her face and
snaking down her back. She is in pale primrose yellow, one of her
favourite colours.

I stood up,
Marcia was just behind her. She came towards me and hugged me
tightly; she is my mother…and I had forgotten how much I missed
her.

‘Jared…. I’m so
glad you’re here.’ She drew back and looked at me. She has a very
expressive face, and can speak with her eyes. She’s saying
something now…. it’s that enquiring look What has happened Jared? I
know something is different about you.

‘Mum…. I really
missed you. I hugged her again and lifted her off the floor
spinning her round.

‘Oh! Let me
down. Your sister is here.’ Mother raised an eyebrow. A warning
perhaps Behave yourself Jared!

‘Karis?’ I said
with a squeak of surprize.

‘Come now… you
be good to your sister Jared, please.’

‘Mum…I’m fine.
I want to see her. I really do!’

She spun round
and looked into my eyes. She was very still, looking at me. It
reminded me of Heelio in Summerland. There was a patient
watchfulness in her face. I realised I had seen it before; many
times.

‘Well Jared…. I
believe you do.’ She said at last. We’ll talk more later; her eyes
were saying.

‘Is Dad here?’
I asked.

‘He’s with
Karis.’ She said. She looked at Marcia, ‘Come into the kitchen.
Both of you… I have been doing some uncharacteristic baking…. Karis
has been muckying pots and pans all afternoon. It’s a good job her
friend is here.

‘Friend?’ I
said suspiciously, ‘What do you mean?’

‘You’ll
see.’

‘Yes Mum.’

‘Call me
Laura,’ she said to Marcia, ‘I really hate to be turned into a
person with no name.’

‘What do Jared
and Janey normally say?’ Marcia was being awfully subdued. I think
that we were getting on so well that she was preparing for some
kind of initiation. After what I told her… it was perhaps
inevitable in a way.

Laura laughed
at being so questioned.

‘I’m still the
same person inside, as I always was. You will find that there are
some things in this family that go right out the window at the
nearest opportunity. I prefer my name… but Jared has a little
difficulty with that. You will understand when Leo gets back with
Karis.’

‘I err… can I
help you?’ said Marcia, and then directly to me, ‘you go find them,
I’ll stay here.’

I wandered out
into our huge untidy garden. I felt better now, and the sky was
clearing. This was like the Summerland place. I thought about the
fields of silver flowers, and was stung with a longing to see them
again, in a way that took my breath away. I caught sight of Karis
then. She is petite like Janey, perhaps slightly taller. She has
darker blondish hair that curled in an untidy torrent; sort of a
natural messiness that I would love to try to paint. But she is
always doing something, and probably wouldn’t sit still long
enough. She has a distant amused manner; and is one of the few
people I know who, as an adult actually loves ice cream. She lives
on the east coast and makes her way as an illustrator and craft
artist. She makes jewellery and does hand weaving. And as far as I
know has made it her business to avoid men in general, and certain
people in particular. So the news that she has a “friend” with her
has got me intrigued.

I can see Leo
then. He’s a big man, rather like Oliver, but very tall, so he is
in proportion, and seems a giant next to most people. Leo has a
crown of natural blonde curls like a halo and the most hypnotic
eyes; sort of blue-green. I am quite in awe of him. He is
everything that I think I should be, but woefully I am not. He
looks like a mythological Greek god, as if he had done a sitting
for a carving in marble. His manner is oddly arcane. But there are
reasons for that. It is not anything I can say to anyone without
both my parents’ permission. We are on the edge of a war zone you
see. Not one that most people would recognise. Our house is a
strongly guarded place. This afternoon it is peaceful and hums with
the bees and the other sounds of summer. I want to run towards him.
But instead I stand feeling a little sulky and shy. Karis and my
father together. It is quite too much. I always forget this bit of
coming home. There is a mental adjustment to be made very time. It
is not to do with normal stuff… but what Janey has called for a
while now “Supernormal”. I think it’s a good word. Laura is a
person with her own dark secrets. She has a history that is as rich
and as extraordinary as this tale I’m telling you. We are all story
tellers. My father has more stories inside his head that he would
care to count. He is someone who you cannot simply introduce to
people without preparing them first. Leo has trouble with some
aspects of our modern life. And the reason will become clearer. But
switching from one state of being to another is why it is like
that. I’m sorry for being cryptic. There is no other way to say it
except by going into explanations of a forbidden kind. I wish I
could just say. But the lock in my mind silences me on that front
too. It is like wearing metal bracelet cuffs all the time. You know
they are there, but after a while you no longer register their
presence. I want to be normal…. And yet as I watch them walking in
the garden, I feel so thankful that I know these people and I am
part of who they are. I am Leo’s only son. And it still feels
strange to think it because of whom and what he is.

They are near
to me now.

‘Jared.’ They
both say, at almost exactly the same time.

Karis comes
forward first and embraces me. Unlike Janey she is ladylike and
concerned.

‘I’ll see you
at dinner.’ She whispers; and kisses me on the cheek before
disappearing into the house.

I go toward my
father. He seems to be hanging back.

‘Walk with me.’
He says.

So we fall into
step and go down a little brick path and past some fruit bushes so
we are out of sight of the house. Leo has his hands clasped
together. I know that gesture. It is a sign that he has only
recently arrived back from his trip. He is… well different when he
is working. My mother can be around him whatever his state of mind.
But I think that Janey and I are finding it rather taxing. I want
to be like him but now I really want him to forgive me for not
making the effort of get up so often. I mean… it isn’t as if I
don’t have a car.

‘Forgive me
Jared….’ He is wringing his hands as if he is trying to get a grip
on something that isn’t just physical. They are all there; the
freaks and the geeks. There’s room for everyone. The delicate
balance of things, of their nature.

‘…. forgive me
for stepping in.’ he said.

‘What on earth
do you mean?’ I was unnerved by Leo being so flimsy apparently.

‘Take my hands
Jared Jay Arden.’ He said, and this time I see something almost
straight away. Leo is surprized.

‘Will you clear
your mind?’ he said to me, ‘And then let me unlock everything.’

‘Yes.’ I
whisper. There must be a reason why he wants to check how it is
with me so soon. I submit with total trust. Leo can do this because
he has the power over people who are very strong and very scary.
And thankfully they are mostly working for him. I’ve hardly ever
met them. But that is just the way of it.

‘We will stand
here.’ He said, ‘and I want you to let go completely. Let it fall
like a snow shower to the ground.’

And then I feel
the ten patterns just crumble apart one after the other. I am
completely free floating. I can feel it inside my mind. He has his
hands on my shoulders. We stand there in the quiet part of the
garden. No one will disturb us. I try to reach out to him in my
mind. But I feel a curtain of resistance. I just let him search me
then. It is not deep. But the bond of kinship allows this to be as
caring as possible. I was certainly surprized then to find us both
sat on a bench.

‘What
happened?’ I asked.

‘You just made
your first controlled jump.’ He said.

‘What?’

‘Don’t be
alarmed… you are safe with me… you know it.’

He folds each
pattern back into itself again. Very smoothly my mind is calmed
again. And we sit a few inches apart until those two or three
minutes have passed.