Oblivion Part Two London was, in many respects more interesting than New York, though just as busy, and Catherine and Joanna were re-living every moment of that first meeting together. Just like sixteen year olds again, they visited all the same shops and tourist attractions. Catherine was especially fond of the Planetarium in Baker Street. Lying back in her seat and gazing up at the domed screen, she let herself imagine she was travelling in a spaceship through the universe, seeing myriad’s of stars and stopping to visit planets that were millions of light years away. The Eagles Nest Nebula where towering columns of star burst flew out for thousands of miles was spectacular. And Catherine found it awesome that her own Milky Way Galaxy was so vast that if one could travel at the speed of light it would still take one hundred thousand years to cross it from side to side! And the solar system that housed the earth, moon and stars was positioned within the Milky Way, so that one could not only look out at other infinite galaxies, but could also look into our own. Out there in space there were thought to be as many as one hundred billion galaxies, like clusters of grapes on a vine, each holding vast numbers of stars and planets within its own universe. Catherine found herself repeatedly thinking about how much Vincent would have loved being at the Planetarium to see it all. Next door there was Madam Tussauds, and she and Joanna had a great time taking photographs of themselves alongside all the waxworks of famous people. They were so lifelike. From there they got into Joanna’s fabulous red jaguar and drove along the blue and gold railings surrounding Buckingham Palace. There they parked the car and got out to make fun of the Scots Guards in their red and black uniforms, while they were forced to stand with feet astride for hours outside the palace doors without so much as moving an eye-ball. Catherine and Joanna found themselves compelled to wave at them with the intention of making them wave back. They were impressed by their ability to ignore them. Giggling like schoolgirls they then walked into St. James’ Park to walk alongside the river and feed the ducks and swans, and Catherine quickly became surrounded by flocks of pigeons, much to Joanna’s delight, as she clicked merrily away with the camera. Suddenly Catherine pointed to a sign, “Hey look Joanna. Regents Park Zoo. We have simply got to go there. Do you remember that camel?” Catherine bent over double with laughter at the memory. “Oh yes, the one that tried to kiss you with his fat lips...how could I have forgotten?” “No not that one. I mean the one that you slipped off of, and ended up beneath its belly with it hissing at you.” “Trust you to remember that. I felt such a fool, and then that keeper said he betted that I had the hump, and you laughed so much you almost peed yourself.” Catherine’s sides ached with laughter, and then they laughed even harder as men in pinstriped suits gave her a wide berth as they passed by through the park. The sight of this woman covered in pigeons laughing her head off was too much for the demure London male at five o’clock on a Friday afternoon. America seemed far away, almost on another planet, and Catherine was happy that she had chosen to stay with Joanna, she had not had so much fun in ages. “Well Cathy, if you are ready, we had best be getting back, and leave Regents Park for another day. Jasper will be wanting his dinner, and if you and I are to be out all night we will need to get some rest.” “Out all night?” “But of course Cathy. This is London, you can’t stay at home, its insane. Now I know this brilliant night club, and I can’t wait to take you there you will simply love it.” And Joanna had been right. Catherine couldn’t remember a time when she had danced so much or so fast. The music exhilarated her, liberated her from the thoughts that had held her down and gave her a carefree feeling of contentment. Joanna was still on the dance floor oblivious to the open admiration of onlookers as her lithe body gyrated to the beat, when Catherine felt she had to go and sit down for a rest. The last time she had witnessed Joanna dancing like this, was when Joanna had stayed with her in America and Joe had taken them both out. Joe! Catherine was appalled, as she realised she hadn’t even asked him for time off before leaving America. He would be so worried. Checking her watch, she decided to call him, he might still be at his apartment, and if she hurried she could catch him before he left for work. Turning round to seek out a telephone, she bumped into a man standing alongside her that she hadn’t noticed earlier. “Leaving already? Not on my account I hope.” he asked her mischievously, taking hold of her arm to steady her, as she swayed slightly. Catherine looked up at him ready to apologise, yet instantly she disliked him. There was something about him that immediately made the hairs on the back of her neck, stiffen. It was his eyes they seemed to pierce right into her soul. Cool grey expressionless eyes, that made her feel as though he had just stripped her naked both physically and mentally and knew every thought in her head. Catherine didn’t like the feeling he gave her at all. “So...” he drawled, “You are one of Joanna’s friends, have you known one another long. I have never seen you here with her before?” Catherine tried to get past him, “Excuse me but I have to find a telephone, it’s urgent.” “American too, now I am intrigued. Did you meet Joanna when she went there on holiday a few years back?” Catherine tried unsuccessfully to withdraw her arm from his grasp, without being un-polite, but he held on firmly until she decided that if she answered him he might let her go. “No, I’ve known Joanna for many years, and I am staying with her for a while.” Slowly, digesting the information he nodded, but he still held her captive. “Perhaps you would allow me to show you the sights while you are here, and let me get to know you better. What’s your name?” Catherine felt herself grow hot. She wondered if she should use one of Isaac’s tackles on him to free herself. “No thank you.” she told him through gritted teeth, “Now if you would just let go of my arm, I really must make that call.” “What and have you disappear into the night. No, I’m sorry but I won’t, well not until you have at least told me your name, you aren’t very polite are you?” Catherine shook her head, “Look I just want to be left alone, can’t you take a hint?” “Generally not. And I also ignore pointed remarks. You are a very attractive lady, and I would like to get to know you better. And if you aren’t going to tell me your name, I will just have to insist that you show me your pass card.” “My what?” “Your pass card. Joanna is a member here, but her guests have to have pass-cards with their names on them. If you don’t have one, I’m afraid I shall have to escort you outside.” Catherine felt herself redden, she could not tell if it were from embarrassment or anger, all she knew was that she had to get Joanna’s attention and quickly. Signalling to her friend frantically, she was annoyed when Joanna just waved back but didn’t venture over. The man noticed her frustration and was amused by it. “Joanna may have the pass card, but even if I had it, I can see no reason why I should show it to you. Its none of your business who I am.” “Then let me introduce myself, seeing as you won’t. Perhaps then you will be encouraged to speak to me. My name is Larry Jameson and I own this and several other night-clubs around London and Paris. Usually beautiful women are queuing up for my attention. I find it a refreshing change that you are not.” “If there were a queue for you here tonight, you would find me at the far end of it. Has no-body ever told you how opinionated you are. You do not interest me at all.” Usually Catherine would not have been so callous, but her loathing for the man increased with every passing second. “Then I shall find you a real challenge, and you will come to learn that I do not give up that easily.” The temptation to hit him was great as Catherine saw to her relief that Joanna had left the dance floor and was threading her way through the crowds towards them. “Hi Larry, how are you? So you’ve met my pal Catherine, she’s from America. Its Cathy I stayed with when I went over there. Has she told you?” “Catherine... Now there’s a beautiful name, see how well it slips off the tongue, Cath..er,,ine, so easy to say.” Joanna did not miss the vibrations that passed between Larry and Catherine, yet mistaking it for something else, she whispered to Catherine, “He is gorgeous isn’t he, and he is really rich. He owns this place and numerous others. If he asks you out Cathy, say yes. You won’t regret it.” But Catherine was still recoiling from the way he had uttered her name, to pay much attention to her friend. Tears had pricked her eyes when he had said it, and the sudden longing for Vincent’s arms around her was too much to bear. She felt she was going to cry. Mistaking the look on her face for surprise, Larry who had overheard Joanna’s little speech, was triumphant, thinking he had won this beautiful woman round after all, until he heard her next words when he frowned. “Joanna do you mind if we leave now, I have to ring Joe.” Larry’s heart sank, “Joe? Your boyfriend?” Joanna laughed, “No her boss.” Larry looked relieved, “Then you don’t have a boyfriend?” “She does actually, but she won’t talk about him Larry, she is being very secretive about him, perhaps you can get her to open up. I’ve tried and its nigh impossible.” she laughed. “If she will accept my invitation for dinner tomorrow night, I’d like nothing better, but I’m afraid she hasn’t given me an answer yet. I must say she intrigues me.” Catherine had enough. “Pardon me you two, but I am still here you know.” Larry and Joanna laughed loudly, “How could we have forgotten?” Larry drawled, “But if you won’t tell me about yourself, then I must get my information elsewhere. You can hardly blame me.” The man really was too much. Even Joanna had annoyed her. To have these two people speaking over her as if she wasn’t there, and what’s more to be talking about her, she was furious. Shaking her arm free from his grasp, she leaned across the table and withdrew her jacket from the back of a chair, retorting, “I’ll make my own way back to your apartment Joanna, do you have a key that I can let myself in with?” “There’s no need to be like that Cath. We were only have fun.” “Yes at my expense. Do you have that key or not?” Catherine held her hand out, waiting. “Hey don’t be so touchy, this is very unlike you Catherine. You used to be such fun.” then turning to Larry as she fumbled for the key, she told him, “You must excuse her Larry, I expect its jet-lag talking, she only flew in today.” “There is no need to apologise for me Joanna. Yes I am tired, but not in the way you think. I’m tired of people not minding their own business and not taking no for an answer. I think I would do well to find myself alternative accommodation, I can see it may be the only way I will get some peace.” “Well if you’re going to be like that, here take the damn key, pack your things and go. See if I care.” Joanna threw the key at Catherine and flounced off. “You’ve lost a good friend there.” Larry told her. “Yes, thanks to you, and so has she.” Catherine replied sadly, as she walked away. Arriving back at the apartment, Catherine was welcomed by Jasper’s purrs and warm body sliding between her legs as she walked through the darkness towards the terrace. Standing outside moments later she looked out across the park. Everything had gone wrong, and she had never felt so wretched. She and Joanna were such good friends. Was it really her fault? Joanna had changed though, and Catherine had noticed that she did drink rather a lot, perhaps it had been the drink talking. Once they had been so close, and she didn’t really think Joanna intended her to pack her bags and go, but she wondered whether she should anyway. Being with well meaning friends was perhaps not such a good idea after all. She really had to be by herself, to think things through in her own time. Her leaving America suddenly seemed to have been the wrong thing to have done. The longing for Vincent was growing unbearable, and Catherine felt very weary all of the sudden. Going back inside she went to the bathroom and run herself a hot shower, before going to bed for what was left of the night, but could not sleep while the events of the past few hours circled her mind. It seemed hours later when she heard Joanna’s key in the lock and push the door of her room open, flooding it with a shaft of light from the lounge, to see if she were awake, “Cathy?” “Yes?” “Cathy I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me, I promised to be here for you, and then I treated you so badly. I’ve managed to put Larry off for tomorrow, but he is so insistent, and he plans to call you on the phone anyway, but really Cathy once you get to know him, he can be quite the gentleman.” Catherine let out a deep sigh, “I’m not interested in dating anyone Joanna. You don’t seem to understand, I know you mean well but I need space not complications. And I am not very good company right now, my mind is too mixed up. There is so much I have to think about, and no-one can help me to do this, whatever I decide has to come from me, and me alone. If you knew how it is you would understand.” “Then try me Cathy.” “No Joanna, this is something I simply have to work out for myself.” “I’ve never seen you look so miserable Cathy, whatever it is surely love can find a way to sort it. You said that you love one another, you should be with him discussing your problem, not thousands of miles away with me.” Catherine nodded, sitting up in bed, and let the silent tears fall, “I know that Joanna, but he is so kind hearted, so reasonable, so strong he would let me go if he thought I wanted that, and really I don’t know what it is I do want, except for things to be different.” Joanna sat down on the side of Catherine’s bed and took up her hands in her own, she could feel as well as see the turmoil within her friend, see the anguish in her eyes and her heart went out to her. “Did you mean it when you said you would be finding someplace else to stay?” “At the time yes, and then when I was on the way home, I calmed down and was against it, but now, I don’t know Joanna, I think my mood swings could be a bit too much for our friendship to take, and I don’t want to do or say anything that could harm it. So I think it would be best if I did leave.” Joanna nodded sadly, Cathy was probably right, yet she hated to think of her all alone somewhere when she obviously could do with a shoulder to cry on. “Cathy are you ill?” “Why do you say that?” “I don’t know the thought just crossed my mind. I have a colleague who came under similar stress when she found a lump in her breast. She told me it was as if life had caved in on her, and she struggled to get out of herself. She slipped from one emotion to another in a matter of seconds.” “Much like me I suppose.” “Yes, so, are you ill?” “No, well not like that.” “Then like what?” Catherine shrugged, “Well to be honest I don’t think it is anything, but Peter, you remember Peter my GP,” Joanna nodded, “he seems to think I have post...I mean some kind of depression.” Joanna drew her brows together, it was unlike Catherine to say the wrong thing, “Post what Cathy? What were you going to say?” Catherine took a deep breath, “He believes I have Post-Natal depression.” “You’ve had a baby!” “Yes.” “Where is it?” “He’s with his father. Look Joanna, leave it there will you, I’ve already said too much, please, please don’t ask me another question.” “But Cathy you need to talk to someone about this, its obvious that you do.” Yet Catherine’s look of determination told her that she would not. At least Post-Natal depression answered all her questions. Cathy would not know which way she was going right now, and anything she said, might not necessarily be for real, because what would seem right one moment would seem wrong the next. All Joanna could do was be there for her whenever she needed to talk, and not pressurise her to say more than she needed to say, Catherine had to work it out for herself. “I wish you had told me this from the beginning Cath, I wouldn’t have been so heartless. Please don’t go, stay here until you have worked things out, you know you are welcome, and I promise not to force you to speak about anything.” Catherine smiled, “Famous last words. I’ll think about it. But really finding myself some space seems a good idea right now. I feel the need to be alone, I’d be a pretty poor guest to have around the place in this frame of mind anyway.” “Well think it over then, I have to get to bed now, I’m so tired, can I get you anything?” “No, I’ll try to get some sleep too, see you tomorrow.” “Yeah, see you tomorrow.” Catherine didn’t know how good those words were to Joanna, who had come home expecting to find her friend had already gone, and as she went to her own bed she thought about Catherine’s baby. Whatever Catherine’s problem was it must go deep for her to have been able to leave her own child, though she had heard that this emotion was commonplace with post natal depression. Nonetheless, she was concerned that it had hit someone like Catherine, who had always seemed so sure of herself and what she wanted in life. And that worried her a lot. Catherine for her part, had begun to regret telling Joanna about any of it. She felt she had betrayed Vincent. Yet hadn’t she betrayed him the moment she stepped onto that aeroplane taking her far away from him? Her throat tightened with unshed tears. What was it Joanna had said? ‘Really she should have been with Vincent talking over these problems.’ Catherine knew that now, yet she was still uncertain about her return, having at least made the break then time and distance would afford her the chance to put things into perspective and reach a final conclusion about their relationship and future. Quickly making up her mind, she knew she had to leave, she would go before Joanna was up, slip quietly away and find herself somewhere else to stay until she got her thoughts under control. The sound of the telephone ringing finally woke Joanna. “Hey Cathy, get that will you, you’re nearest.” There was no reply, probably Catherine was still sleeping, Joanna thought, pulling herself out of bed to answer the telephone. “Hello”. “Joanna is that you?” “Yes, who is this?” The voice sounded familiar and very American. “Its Peter here, Peter Alcott, you know Catherine Chandler’s GP. Now I don’t want to worry you but....” “Its okay Peter I know you aren’t ringing to say Cathy has had an accident or something.” “You do, how?” “Because she is asleep in the next room at my place.” She heard Peter sigh, “Thank God.” “What’s wrong?” “Nothing now. I’m so pleased that I have found her, we have been searching for the past week, and I have tried to contact everyone I know of to help.” “I don’t understand doc, didn’t Cathy tell anyone she was coming over here?” “No, she never told a soul. Well she left a letter with someone she cares about, but didn’t say where she was going, only that she was leaving.” “That would be her mystery man right?” “Pardon?” “Oh forget it. So now you know she is here, should I wake her and put her on?” “No, please no. Look Joanna I would be very grateful if you didn’t let her know I have rang you. I’ll tie up some loose ends here and catch the next available flight over. I need to speak with her face to face.” “Is everything all right then, with her family I mean?” “Her family?” How much did Joanna know, Peter wondered, he couldn’t imagine Catherine telling anyone about Vincent. “Her baby. She let it slip she has Post-Natal depression.” “She did, what she actually acknowledges the fact?” “Well now, that I can’t confirm. She said that you believe that’s what she has, but I wouldn’t go as far as believing that she feels she’s got it.” “How have you found her Joanna?” “Terribly confused. Very touchy, we had a blue last evening, I thought I’d come home and find she had packed her bags and left.” “Joanna, whatever you do, you mustn’t let her leave. She needs all the friends she can get right now. Promise me, you will look after her, be there for her, but don’t pressure her into talking if she doesn’t want to do.” “I’m afraid I’ve already tried that, Peter. It was one of the reasons we fell out, but I think she is okay about that now, at least she has forgiven me. Look doc, when you arrive get a cab straight over to my place, and I’ll try to make sure we are in. Will you be setting off today?” “Hopefully yes, I’ll do my very best to be with you in about twelve hours.” “Okay doc, see you later.” “Goodbye Joanna.” They hung up and a loud meow from Jasper made Joanna go and get him some food. The apartment seemed awfully quiet somehow. Joanna decided not to look in on Catherine, obviously she needed to sleep and not be disturbed, and wondered what Cathy would say if she knew Peter was coming all the way over from America just to see that she was all right. “Well Jasper, here you are, and don’t forget to use the cat-flap if you need the loo, don’t leave any nasty little surprises for Aunt Cathy, huh? Right then, I’ll see you later, I’m going back to bed.” *** *** *** Peter sent a message to Vincent and Father immediately via a helper who took it Below at once. “Vincent!” Father exclaimed, as he opened the note and hobbled down the steps towards Vincent’s own chamber, “A message has just arrived from Peter, he has located Catherine.” “He’s found her?” Vincent flopped wearily back into a chair with relief, “Where?” “Well not exactly found her, but he knows where she is, and is leaving today to go to her. She is staying with a friend named Joanna, in London, England.” Vincent let out a sigh. He was grateful to know where Catherine was, and to know she was safe, but it disturbed him that she was in fact far away, and grieved him to know that she had done as she had said, to put thousands of miles between them. He wondered if Peter could persuade her to return. And his heart felt heavy with not knowing the answer to that question. *** *** *** Catherine stepped out of the taxi, and while she waited for her bags she looked up at the hotel. It looked impressive, and she knew she had made the right choice in heading here. It would be expensive, but she didn’t intend staying many days, just long enough to finalise her plans. Many years ago, her father had taken her to Austria and Italy and Catherine had fallen in love with the Dolomite Mountains, and had promised herself that some day she would return and explore them thoroughly, and she decided this is where she would head. The remembrance of the mountain air thrilled her and she felt certain there she would clear her head while walking across the awesome mountain ranges. The fresh air would exhilarate her and give her a sense of belonging, a sense of freedom, as well as bring back some happy memories. Checking in at the hotel, she asked also at the desk if they could book her a flight to Paris, where from there, she explained, she intended to drive down to Austria. While she waited for confirmation, she thought for a moment that she saw someone she recognised. Drawing her brows together, she watched him for a few moments as he walked towards the doors to go outside. She could not see his face, but the set of his body and the way he walked stirred something within her, but once he had disappeared from view she forgot all about him, and didn’t see him anymore during her stay at the airport hotel. Picking up her luggage, keys and the piece of paper with her flight details on, she made her way towards her room. It was a spacious room, furnished in mint green and white, with a marble effect bathroom. The huge floor to ceiling windows overlooked the runway, and she could see planes coming and going all the time, and sat down to watch, wondering about the destinations the passengers were off to. Then her mind began to wander towards Joanna, and Catherine grimaced. She seemed to be leaving an awful lot of notes in her wake just lately, rather than face people with her decisions. For though she had implied that she would not be leaving Joanna’s apartment, she had lain awake until the early dawn, until she had convinced herself that she would be better off leaving. Then she had crept from the bed, packed her belongings, and laughed when she’d had to rescue Jasper from her suitcase just before closing it. “Why you stowaway.” She picked up the furry tomcat, and rubbed her cheek against his fur, “Still I will miss you Jasper, but I can’t take you with me, however much I am tempted to do.” The cat purred loudly in her ear, and Catherine kissed his head, “Look after Joanna for me will you, be a good cat, catch all the mice, Joanna hates mice.” ”and then she put him down, slipped on her jacket, propped up her note against a pot plant upon the breakfast table, and crept out of the apartment, closing the door quietly behind her. Once outside, she hesitated. It seemed her life was full of uncertainties. Suddenly she remembered where she had seen that man before, she was certain he had been approaching Joanna’s, when she had left, and had hailed a separate taxi after she had got into one. Funny that, thought Cathy, how we should both be coming to the same hotel from out of the same street, then she thought no more of it. Instead she picked up the telephone to make a long overdue call to Joe Maxwell. “Cathy!” he exclaimed when he heard her voice, “Where have you been, I’ve had half of America searching for you?” “I’m sorry Joe, I had to clear my head, and getting away seemed the right thing to do at the time.” “Yes I know the feeling Cathy, I feel like that every day, but Cathy, its not many weeks since you took several months off is it? Look whatever is bothering you, perhaps you should stay and challenge it, rather than keep running. You have been through such a lot, with the attack and everything, its probably delayed shock coming out.” “Very delayed.” she laughed, “No, Joe its not that. I got over the attack years ago.” “Wow Cathy, you really are something you know that. I don’t know many women who after such an experience can bear to go out again at all, but you, well look at you, I’ve even seen you taking late night strolls through Central Park, and if that isn’t a dangerous place at night, I’d like to know what is.” Catherine didn’t quite know what to say, so she just said, “Well Joe, what I am ringing for is to say its not a holiday I am taking this time. I know I ought to have come to see you first, but I left without really thinking things through, and I’m here now, in London, and I don’t intend coming back.” “You’re in London! Are you staying with Joanna?” “I was, but tomorrow I am going to Paris, and then driving through Europe via the mountains. I intend to retrace the steps my father and I took many years ago.” “So where are you now?” “I’m staying at the Gatwick Park Hotel, Joanna and I had a misunderstanding, so I left and came here.” “What kind of misunderstanding. You two are the closest people I know. How is the old girl?” Catherine smiled, Joe always referred to Joanna this way. It was the exact opposite of Joanna. Old and slow she was not, young and vivacious she certainly was. She had left Joe standing when she had stayed in America a few years ago. And he had been dazzled by Joanna’s good looks and personality and had taken her out several times, though Joanna had found Joe’s lifestyle too boring and was always way ahead of him, he just could not keep pace with her. Catherine could hear Joanna’s words now as she said, “Come on Joe there will be time for relaxing when we are old and grey, lets live life to the full, then we will really have something to tell our grandchildren.” And Joe’s answer, “Grandchildren Joanna! Haven’t you missed a generation? At the speed you fly through life, you are never still enough to make any children, let alone grandchildren.” Joanna had left Joe a nervous wreck, a whirlwind he’d called her. Catherine smiled at the memory. “Well she hasn’t had a heart attack yet Joe.” she replied. “Give her time, Kiddo, give her time.” “Mmm” said Catherine thoughtfully, “She does drink a bit too much actually. I think that will be her only downfall if she doesn’t ease up on it.” “That always was her problem Cathy. Yet she will survive, her sort always do, it’s you that worries me now. When you say the mountains, which ones will that be?” “Well, the ones that are the most important to me are the Dolomites on the Austrian/Italian border, I simply have to see them, and from there, well who knows. I will hire a car for a few weeks and just drive about. And Joe call off that search, I will be fine, I promise, I’ll send you a postcard.” “No Cathy, no postcards, you call me you hear. Postcards are so impersonal, all that ‘weather is here, wish you were lovely’ garbage. I want to hear your voice to judge for myself that you really are okay. Better still I want you back here where I can see you.” “Okay Joe, I’ll call, but I’ll send a postcard anyway. You’re a good friend Joe, but I will be all right, I’m a big girl now.” “That I do know. And we could be more than friends Cathy, you know how I feel about you don’t you?” “Yes Joe, but lets not spoil a beautiful friendship.” “So you’ll call me?” “Yes just as soon as I can.” “And you’ll come home soon?” “I’m not making any promises Joe.” “Then be well Cathy, I hope everything turns out for you the way you intend it.” “Thanks Joe, Bye.” “Bye Cathy. And Cathy?” “Yes” “There’s always a job for you here if you need one.” “Thanks Joe. I’ll remember that.” “See you Kiddo.” Catherine replaced the receiver, feeling so much happier. It had been good to hear Joe’s voice, and in a funny kind of way, good to know her own voice was back in America. If only she could telephone Vincent like that. Joe was a good friend. Somewhere she had heard that friends make the best marriage mates. Lovers usually drift apart. Friends were forever. She remembered an old film she had once seen. A young boy wanted to marry his girlfriend and went to ask her father for permission. The girl’s father asked the boy if he liked his daughter. The boy replied, “Sir I love your daughter.” “That is not what I asked, do you like her.” “Sure I like her.” the boy replied mystified. It seemed a daft question. “That’s good then” replied her father, “Because if you didn’t like her, as soon as the bloom of love had passed, you would drift apart. You have to like one another to make it last. You have to be friends before you become lovers.” Catherine thought long and hard about that. Joe was her friend, he cared deeply for her. He would make a good husband. they shared the same sense of humour, the same career, shared many interest except for music, and they cared for one another deeply. But Joe was not the type to marry for mere friendship, he would expect a deep and meaningful relationship, one full of love and passion, and Catherine knew she could not give him that, her heart was bound to someone else. Catherine wondered why she was having such thoughts. Analysing her feelings she allowed herself the delight of thinking about Vincent. Vincent was her friend too. Much more than Joe. And if it wasn’t for who he was, their match would be perfect. He had everything she needed in a man and the qualities to make the relationship last a lifetime. And it wasn’t that she was ashamed of the way he looked, far from it, she adored him, found his looks thrilled her, but she could not introduce him to any of her friends Above, or share with him the very things that were important to her. She craved a relationship that they could share together in every aspect of life. To be able to share even the little things that meant so much. Sharing a sandwich in the park during lunch break from the office. A walk along the embankment arm in arm in the setting of the sun. Just to be able to share the everyday things that was important to her, but she could not share them with Vincent and that grieved her, for that was the kind of husband she wanted. It disturbed her that she felt so strongly about it. Realising that she had used the word husband she began to clarify things in her mind. The very thing she craved was missing from her life. She had done things in the wrong order. She had a child but no husband, and she doubted that she would ever be able to marry Vincent. Even if she could encourage him to think about it, he would likely find some reason why it could never be. And as the thoughts became clear in her mind, Catherine realised that was the root to the whole problem. In trying to forget her mistakes, she had walked out on her old life, in an attempt to find a new one for herself and make everything right, in the correct order of things. To forget Jacob and Vincent and start her life over with someone new. Looking at it logically, she found her own selfishness abhorrent. How could she have allowed something so trivial to have taken her away from the man that she loved, after all that they had shared, all that they had been to one another. If she could step back in time, there would be many things she would alter, yet she had never tried to run away from those things, so why had she been so compelled to run away from this latest problem? She suddenly felt very silly, yet it did not alter the fact that she believed that marriage to Vincent would be out of the question. And if she could marry him, it would mean a radical change of lifestyle that she wasn’t prepared for, it would mean leaving her life Above to go and live in his world, and she didn’t know if she was ready for that, or if ever she would be. Though she loved him, was it enough. It seemed strange to hear herself ask these questions, for once, she would have given anything to live in his world. Perhaps the knowledge that he would not allow it, had made the craving deeper. Now that she could live there, she found she didn’t want to do. Whichever way she looked at it, she still had a lot of thinking to do. She had no doubt hurt him badly, but now she had made the break, it would be no use her going back until she had all the answers. For if she should return and then leave again, it would, she was certain, send him crazy, and she could not do anything so callous, not to Vincent. If she was certain of nothing else, the one thing she was certain of, was how deeply she loved him, yet their life together was not to be, hadn’t he told her so himself? Spending the rest of the day at the hotel, Catherine wandered around. Her room was massive, and the marble bathroom housed a Jacuzzi that she made good use of, revelling in the exquisite feel of the bubbling water around her. The bed was king-size, so big that Catherine felt lost in it. Yet she was so tired, she slept soundly, until her early morning call signalled it was time for her to get up and make her way down to breakfast, if she was to catch the flight that had been booked for her. It took only minutes to reach Paris from London, and soon Catherine had disembarked and was making her way along little tree lined avenues, spilling over with people sat drinking coffee at little tables and chairs positioned along the pavements. Her face lit up as she remembered how her father had stopped at almost every cafe to breathe deeply of the scent of freshly ground coffee. She wished she could step back in time, they had enjoyed such a lovely holiday. Using the map, she finally made her way to the car hire firm the hotel had fixed her up with back in London, and as she walked into the parking area, she heard a voice that sounded familiar to her. Turning her head, she was stunned, and as she recognised this man, his name broke from her lips, “Devin!” “Cathy!” They cried in unison, looking with disbelief at one another. Devin seemed to recover first, “Cathy what on earth are you doing here?” “I might ask you the same question. I’m just passing through. Devin you look so well a bit frayed around the edges though. What have you been up to, and where is Charles?” “Woah, Cathy one question at a time. Its great to see you”, he embraced her, “I’m feeling all alone in a strange land, I can’t speak the lingo and I want to hire a car to Austria, but I just can’t make out what they are trying to tell me.” “That is amazing Devin, I too am going to Austria. I can’t believe it, of all the people to meet here, you would not believe how good it is to see you.” The last time she had seen him he had been heading for the Appalachian Mountains with Charles the dragon man, whom he had rescued from a circus where his brother made money out of him in a freak show. Charles’ body was covered in disfiguring growths, and Devin had rescued him to be free, to live in the mountains and feel the sunshine upon his skin. “Charles is well, I have left him with some friends, who have taken Charles under their wing, he’s happy with them, and will be fine until I can return.” “Then how about you and I sharing a car to Austria Devin, we can take it in turns to drive.” “That would be great Cathy, and it is great to have you here. Believe me this must be fate, for you’re the very person I need right now.” “I am?” “Yes I am working on an assignment, and we have a mutual friend’s interest in it.” “We do?” Catherine was curious. “Yes, look you go and hire a car, and I’ll tell you all about it on the journey.” As they drove along through the city they did not speak much. The roads were unfamiliar to Devin who had opted to drive first. At least he mused they were back on the correct side of the road again, not like London, he could never get the hang of that. Catherine laughed when he mentioned this to her, and she told him about Joanna. “Driving with her was a real experience Devin, I wish you could have seen how she tackles London traffic.” “She sounds like my kind of girl, Cathy.” “Oh believe me Devin, it would be a rare fellow who could keep pace with her, she leaves most men panting.” “Better and better.” he told her with a gleam in his eye. Catherine burst out laughing. “I can see I am going to have to watch you”, she told him affectionately. They drove along happily in one another’s company, there was a bond between them. Not like the Bond that Catherine had shared with Vincent, but it was there because of him nonetheless. They both loved Vincent very much and it felt good to be in the company with someone that knew him so well. “So why are you heading for Austria Devin?” Catherine enquired as they left the busy city behind. “It began with something Charles said. You remember how he spent his life in that circus before I found him?” “Yes.” “Well from time to time he has told me little things about his past, and one day he came out with the most amazing thing I ever heard. His brother toured America with various other people and their own shows, and one day they were confronted by a chap that was interested in freak shows. And I mean interested. Apparently he asked Eddie lots of questions, and Charles listened to this conversation he had with his brother. The chap told Eddie, that he was searching for a special kind of freak. One that had been lost many years previous. He told Eddie that he worked for a scientist who had pursued a certain experiment for decades and one such result of these experiments had been stolen from him. Apparently a similar experiment had been undertaken in Switzerland and the two scientist were swapping results. I didn’t think much of it, until Charles happened to mention that the collection point was to be beneath a bush in the grounds of St. Vincent’s hospital in new York, then I really pricked up my ears, do you get my drift Cathy?” Catherine’s mouth dropped open, and she heard herself whisper, “It was Vincent, wasn’t it? He came from Switzerland?” “that’s what I aim to find out Cathy. It could just be a coincidence, the grounds of St. Vincent’s could be a frequent drop off point, for all kinds of experiments, but I simply have to check it out Cathy, just think there might be more of Vincent’s kind somewhere.” “But why? What was the scientist trying to achieve, do you know Devin?” “Yes apparently his original plan was to produce an animal with the intelligence and vocal cords of a human. The idea was to give humans a greater insight into the welfare of animals, by developing an animal that could talk. However, all they got was a man with the facial features of an animal, apparently he refused to say which animal.” “He had done in the past, but he couldn’t find any clues. He realised he would have to be more specific, offer a reward and see if that turned up any clues or even the whereabouts of the creature itself. Now remember Cath, this all took place many years ago, I worked it out that Vincent would have been about seven at the time.” “You said his original plan was to produce an animal that could speak, did he alter his ideas then?” “Yes apparently Charles overheard him tell Eddie that the experiment had turned out a male, and he only wanted females. Hence the reason for swapping it with Lord knows what, but as time wore on he came no nearer reaching his goal and he found another reason for producing these creatures. Unfortunately, they moved out of Charles earshot at this time, and he didn’t hear anymore, could only hear the two men laughing.” “Typical.” “He offered Eddie $200,000 for any information leading to the whereabouts of the creature. That’s an awful lot of dough Cathy, and he felt convinced that the creature would show up in a freak circus someplace. Either that or living somewhere out of the ordinary.” “It does sound like Vincent doesn’t it, it would be too incredible not to be.” “Exactly, now do you see the importance of my making this trip?” “Yes, but which country, Switzerland or Austria?” “Originally It was Switzerland, and I needed a cover to get there, so I checked with some medical journals, and found a vacancy at the Institute of climatology on Sonn Alp in Austria. You know me, I sent them a phoney CV, and they sent me an interview.” “I still don’t understand Devin, where’s the connection.?” “Well at first I thought it would be good just to be near enough to ask some questions about the place in Switzerland, of which I had not been able to locate in the journals. So I couldn’t believe my luck when the letter from the Institute of Climatology came back on an old letterhead, which had been crossed out with the new address. Believe it or not, the old place was in Switzerland, on the very mountain that Charles heard the chap speak of. Its too big a coincidence Cathy, it just has to be the same place, and I for one, cannot let a chance like that go by, I’d never forgive myself if I tried to do. Its all very intriguing don’t you think?” Catherine nodded. “Yes,” then asked Devin sombrely, “Can I do anything to help?” “I thought you would never ask.” he told her grinning happily. To be continued in Part Three