Page 11 of The Runner
Willow Manor,York - Present day
George switchedthe torch off and on again, and it bounced back to life. He shone the flashlight around the small space and saw Cara slumped on the floor by the wall.
‘Cara, darling.’ He touched her face gently, and she moaned and opened her eyes.
‘Where am I?’ she said, scrambling to her feet.
George steadied her as she swayed near the wall.
‘I feel woozy. What happened?’
‘I’m not surprised. Take my hand and let’s get out of here.’
They edged slowly along the passageway, following the beam of the torch. George pushed the bookshelf which stood ajar and had almost clicked shut. Bright daylight flooded into their eyes, making them squint.
He jumped out and helped Cara down. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I think so. It happened when I touched the wall, didn’t it? I’m definitely time travelling again,’ she said.
‘The weirdest thing was how the vortex took you, but not me. I was in it with you, but nothing happened to me,’ he said.
‘Are you certain you didn’t go too?’
He nodded. ‘I know when I travel even if I don’t remember the details.’
‘I need to get outside,’ said Cara.
They headed out and walked around the estate, admiring the gardens. Cara tried to forget about the ominous signs of another phase of time travelling.
‘Swifty’s doing an amazing job,’ she said. And as she mentioned his name, Swifty, who was now their head gardener, but in other lives was an integral part of their time travel team, came dashing around the corner, Cornelius the greyhoundat his heels. Cornelius bounded over, and Cara knelt on the grass and stroked his silky coat as he licked her face with great enthusiasm. ‘There, there, good boy,’ she said.
They chatted to Swifty for a few minutes. He was working hard in the new courtyard garden, planting rows of flowers and fledgling trees ready for the grand opening.
‘Isn’t it weird how he seems to have no memory at all of our past lives?’ said Cara, as they continued their walk. ‘He must be a genuine sleeper traveller.’
‘It’s weird for us, but it’s a blessing for him. He’s living a lovely uncomplicated life, and he seems content.’
‘It’s fascinating how we are drawn together again, even though he remembers nothing,’ said Cara.
George nodded. ‘Yes, we’re like a cast in a play that just keeps on running.’
‘What did you make of the passageway?’ asked Cara.
‘Well, it definitely has the markings of a priest hole, but it seems to also serve as some kind of time travelling gateway, for you.’
‘It’s not the same as when the vortex took me in the past. Even though this version of me remained here as usual, I was knocked out. How long was I out for, would you say?’
‘I’m not sure you were out, as such, but you were on the floor and visibly shaken.’
‘I think I must have been out for a minute as I blanked,’ she said. ‘I’m really confused about what’s going on. The mode of time travel is different this time. It’s not just the gateway, but I can’t put my finger on it.’
They looked at each other and said simultaneously, ‘Let’s call Eddie.’
Eddie was a quantum physics professor and dear friend to them both. In Tudorville, he was their children’s tutor and their time travelling partner. He had helped save them both from the hangman and certain death, and they trusted him with their lives. Literally.
They walked to the rose garden and sat on a bench in one of their favourite spots near the lovers’ fountain. George took his phone out of his pocket and clicked Eddie’s number.
‘Perfect timing, as always. I was just wondering how you two were doing,’ said Eddie, his distinctive voice ringing out through the speaker. ‘Hold on, let’s do video. It’s been too long since I saw your faces.’
