Page 78 of The Moon Sister
‘Yes, thank you. I’ve come to collect Chilly’s food. Oh, and is your office free by any chance? I need to check my emails.’
‘Yes, though our current guest normally commandeers it from nine o’clock onwards, so I’d be quick if I were you.’
‘Thanks,’ I said and made my way along the corridor to the office, shutting the door firmly behind me.
‘Right,’ I murmured as I went to Google and typed in ‘Lucía Albaycín’. The Wheel of Death turned intolerably slowly as the machine did its best to connect me with what might be my past . . .
Finally, it managed to begin downloading, the information unfurling like a modern-day scroll on the screen. I clicked on the first link and saw it was Wikipedia, which surely must mean that Lucía had been famous and therefore what Chilly had told me about her hadn’t been a complete fantasy. On the other hand, she could be a horse trainer in South America, but . . .
Just as the site began to download and I caught a tantalising glimpse of a black and white photograph showing her name and half a forehead, I heard the door open behind me. I pressed ‘print’, then minimised the screen.
‘Good morning, Tiggy, you’re up bright and early.’
Before I had a chance to turn round, I felt two hands placed gently on my shoulders. I actively shuddered.
‘You are shivering?’ he asked me.
‘Yes. I must be getting a chill,’ I lied as I immediately stood up.
‘Will you be long? I need to send an urgent email.’
‘No, I just have some printing to do, then I’m finished.’
‘Then I will go and get some breakfast while I’m waiting.’ Collecting the pages from the printer below the desk, I was gratified to see a grainy photograph of the woman Chilly had told me about, and the banner at the top, which read: ‘Lucía Albaycín – Flamenco Dancer’.
Tingling with anticipation, I managed to restrain myself from diving in and reading it immediately. Instead I left the office and scurried out of the back door.
I caught Cal just as he was about to leave and hopped into Beryl beside him.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Avoiding Zed and hitching a lift down to Chilly’s,’ I said, indicating the Tupperware box I was holding. ‘I was also wondering, if we happened to be passing by the copse where I thought I saw—’
‘Y’know full well where I pass to get to Chilly’s,’ Cal sighed. ‘You’re on a road to nowhere with that little fantasy o’ yours. If there’s a white stag at Kinnaird, I swear that I will run around in the snow naked with only a haggis covering my bits ’n’ pieces!’
‘I look forward to that,’ I said. ‘Because I’m telling you now, Cal, I know what I saw.’
‘And I’m sure the stag was dancing with the faeries in the glen when you did.’ Cal laughed heartily as the back door of Beryl opened and I turned round to see Lochie climbing in.
‘Morning, both,’ he said as he slammed the door behind him.
‘Hello, Lochie, nice to see you again.’
‘Hi, Tiggy.’ He gave me a warm smile and we set off into the glen.
Cal deigned to stop opposite the copse without being reminded, and I hopped out, understanding he had a lot to do and wasn’t impressed by what he saw as my flight of fancy.
I walked across the bridge then trained my binoculars on the copse, but the deer had already moved up to the higher slopes, and I was too late.
‘Anything?’ Cal asked me as we drove off.
‘No, but could we please come out earlier tomorrow?’ I begged him. ‘Before they set off up the hill to graze.’
‘We can, even if it’s only tae convince you that you were seein’ things,’ he agreed. ‘Now, let’s get you tae Chilly, ’cos me an’ Lochie here have deer to count and fences tae be mended.’
‘Maybe it’s best if you take in Chilly’s food again, Cal. He’s less likely to cajole you into staying,’ I said, as we drew up near his cabin. ‘Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow!’ I shouted out of the window. ‘Send him my love.’
*
