Perceptions (6) She heaved a sigh. ‘That’s what dreams are like. Most of them never really make any sense.’ ‘This one sure as hell didn’t. I’ve never had one like it before.’ ‘Are you sure about that?’ My eyes narrowed. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘All of us hardly remember most of our dreams the next morning. Maybe you simply haven’t recalled one like that before.’ ‘Thank you, Doctor Freud. Tell me something new.’ ‘Pfff, I don’t know! Maybe you should see a psychiatrist, then, if you want to argue over it.’ I gave her my most sardonic laugh. ‘Who should I visit, do you think? Doctor invisible? Doctor Who? Doctor -’ ‘Yes, yes, all right.’ She stood up and went to the sink. ‘I know we’re alone. Christ, what’s wrong with you? What do you want me to tell you? I’m trying to be sympathetic, okay? God, you can be a misery sometimes.’ Placing her coffee mug in the sink, she walked out of the kitchen in a huff. Fuck, I thought, taking a deep breath. I finished drinking and stood up, instinctively placing my mug next to hers in the sink and then washing the pair. Beyond, through the kitchen window, I spotted Teri sitting on a wall in the front garden with her back to me. The sun was shining on her and she appeared to glow, almost angelic. I gazed at her, wondering what she must be thinking. Was she missing Len? Her family? She hadn’t spoken about them, at least not to me, and Lizzie hadn’t mentioned it. Come to think of it, Lizzie hadn’t spoken about her own losses, either. How could they be taking this incredible situation so lightly? It niggled me. Drying the mugs, I put them away and went outside to join her. Teri smiled at me as I sat beside her. ‘Hi,’ I said. ‘Are you okay?’ ‘Yes, I’m fine.’ Her voice was musical. ‘How about you?’ she asked me, more soberly, turning to face me. ‘Something happened last night - what did you see?’ She took my hand and squeezed it. Once more I felt like the old fart in the geri home. ‘Lights, vague shadows, old memories popping up - me in an ambulance. A mixture of weird things. I haven’t figured it all out yet.’ ‘Don’t try. If it means anything it will clarify itself, perhaps. Otherwise, enjoy it while you can. You may not have much time.’ ‘Did you mean "you" or "we"?’ ‘Either way, this…situation - I don’t know how else to describe it - can’t possibly last. I think we are the ones who are missing, and not the rest of the world.’ ‘That makes sense. But how do you know that?’ ‘Know what?’ I winced. ‘Come on, you were doing well. Don’t act witless now. I’ve been trying to understand exactly what this all means. Am I the only one of us who’s seen the lights in the dark, heard the strange noises, and now these crazy nightmares? Neither of you have said anything, so it must be just me. I want to know why?’ ‘Have you asked Lizzie?’ ‘Uh, no. No, I haven’t.’ ‘Why not?’ I shrugged. ‘Because she would have told me, I’m sure. She’s not the type to stay quiet about things when she’s frightened or confused.’ ‘What makes you think she’s frightened and confused now?’ I opened my mouth to reply, but I didn’t have an answer. ‘She’s always kind of relied on me,’ I said, abruptly. ‘Maybe it’s you that’s frightened and confused this time. Thought about that?’ ‘Yes, actually. I’m a logical person in an illogical world. When things don’t make sense I can’t function properly.’ ‘Life isn’t always logical, Mr Spock. There are some things you just have to accept. Life and death are two of those things. Which gives you the most pleasure? Which gives you the most pain?’ I hesitated. ‘Have we changed subjects?’ ‘No. I’m just trying to make you think; about your life, about the way you live it. You always seem so sad, I sometimes believe you don’t want to live any more.’ Cringing, I stared down at my feet. I sensed that she had peered into my mind somehow. Thoughts that I carried, and often buried, only for them to re-emerge at times of stress or depression - I’d never spoken openly before, not even to Lizzie. I was afraid of how she might react. It wasn’t that I was always unhappy, but I was easily deflated. My mood swings were unbearably chronic to the verge of my own detriment, at times. ‘You should decide,’ Teri said, firmly. ‘It’s important.’ It was such a nice day, and I knew that Lizzie always liked to go to the beach, so I suggested we hit the road and take in the coastline; perhaps do a spot of nudist sunbathing. Both girls loved the idea, and Teri spurred us to travel in style. Unanimously we decided to drive down in a new car. The Jaguar XK8 sports coupe standing in the showroom was pure gold, fully fuelled and imploring us to take seats. Little time was wasted in bringing her out onto the main road. I’d never driven a Jag, but I let the girls toss the coin for the privilege. Teri won. Excitedly, she left behind the scorch-marks of her fast getaway. Top down, we headed for the motorway, the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair. It was exhilarating. The journey was remarkably swift, and it didn’t entirely have to do with Teri’s foot to the pedal. The choice of town was equally made between us, and once there, Lizzie took over the wheel. Teri and I sat in the back and luxuriated in the classy motor with its leather interior as we drove placidly through the town centre towards the beach. Somehow it reminded me of the cult-classic movie The Omega Man, in which Charlton Heston was practically all that was left of the human race following a planet-wide killer virus that only he was totally immune from, except that he wasn’t going to the beach with two gorgeous women as the only other human survivors of a mysteriously vanished race. ‘This is the life!’ Teri declared, untangling her hair for the umpteenth time. ‘Sun, sea and sand - maybe we should move down here?’ ‘Plenty of vacant houses, so no problems there,’ Lizzie said, adding to the bubbling whimsy. ‘There has to be one we all like.’ ‘Just the one?’ I quipped. Golden sands all ours. A fantasy or the prerogative of the rich? For us it was neither. It was both. We had it any way we chose. Without preamble, we left the car with the key in the ignition and, stripping to our birthday suits, we rushed onto the beach, chasing each other into the tranquil sea. We jumped and splashed and swam like children off the leash. The salty air was divine. The cool water was invigorating. I’d been swimming naked before, in Ibiza with Lizzie. That time we’d considered ourselves brazen. Now it was simply wonderful. We played merrily without conscience for hours, drying ourselves later splayed out on beach towels in the open sun. My eyes closed to the bright sunshine, I felt myself dozing off with the sound of the gentle waves lapping the beach. I felt incredibly relaxed and even, to a degree, quite happy. The world, to me, perhaps for the only time in millennia, was peaceful. Safe. Secure. Sane. Could I live out the rest of my life like this, with only two women for company? Maybe. Or maybe now the time was ripe for children? What names would they have? Our children. What would they look like? Whose characteristics would they have? How many should we have? My God, who’d deliver the little buggers? I’d never seen childbirth let alone played doctor. What about accidents or viruses? Sickness? The thought disturbed my tranquillity a little, forcing me to retreat from my private paradise, raising my conscious level. I was therefore completely alert when my sunlight, just for the tiniest moment, was perceptibly interrupted. A shadow. A passing figure. Probably Lizzie or Teri, but I was compelled to look. Uttering a minor groan as I tilted my head a fraction, I turned away from the direct sunrays before opening my eyes, yet still dazzled. Through scrunched eyes I could see Lizzie lying close to me. On her other side laid Teri. Then - Who was that? Suddenly alarmed, I whirled round, remaining grounded, trying to shield my eyes as I groped for my sunglasses. Finding them on the towel, I hurriedly jammed them on my face. What I saw should have made me scream, but I could hardly believe it was truly there. So I simply gawped. Bent over Teri and scanning her face while fondling her left breast was an ugly humanoid imp or demon. Roughly half my size in height, hairless, and with a grotesque mask of a face, it took on an even more sinister appearance due to its skin colouration. It was bright red! I thought the sun had got to me; my reason for remaining static and speechless while it regarded Teri curiously. It was difficult to convince myself that this thing was actually there, and I remained frozen and seated while watching it casually remove its fingers from Teri’s supine body. Had Teri even realised it was there? How could she not, when it had blatantly manhandled her? Its head turned as it became aware of my attendance, and now I saw its blazing yellow eyes. It also had pointy ears and foul teeth. The bloody thing was smiling at me, apparently un-phased by my interest. Enraged by its show of outright arrogance, I made to stand. I hadn’t even got off my rump before the revolting creature, in four large strides, had distanced itself with amazing speed. By the time I was on my feet, it was some 50 metres from me, where it stopped, looked at me, and then in a bugs bunny style leap it dived into the sand, disappearing. My jaw hung open. ‘You’re in my sun,’ complained Lizzie, lazily unmoved. I couldn’t believe it. ‘Teri?’ No response. ‘Teri?’ ‘Yes?’ came an inquiring murmur. With some relief, I was about to blurt out what I’d seen. I hesitated just as swiftly. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t feel that?’ ‘Feel what?’ ‘Were you asleep?’ My persistence had an effect on her. Teri angled her head in my direction, frowning in the sunlight. ‘No. Maybe.’ ‘So you didn’t…see -.’ What could I say? ‘Forget it.’ I took a deep breath and tried to rationalise. I made a mistake; that was it. Dazed by the sunlight and brain-frazzled by the heat, I had obviously imagined it. ‘Anyone fancy an ice-cream?’ We could have walked into the seaside town stark naked. An erotic thought. It wouldn’t have mattered. There was no one else around. But the ground was hot and we didn’t fancy the possibility of sunstroke. So we dressed at the car, and jovially made our way along the cobbled lanes towards what on other days would probably have been a busy high street. Naturally, at the first sight of a clothes store, the girls decided to shop, switching to lighter, brighter outfits with a gala of excitement that normally consumes women trying out new wear. ‘Do you take Visa?’ I mockingly asked at the shop counter to an invisible assistant. ‘No? Oh, who cares anyway! I don’t have one.’ The girls laughed. ‘Ask if they’ll be having any new stock arriving soon,’ Lizzie said, joining in the fun. New stock? That was ain interesting point. Of course there would never be any new stock, nor any new fashions. Ever. Unless the girls decided to create their own. And why not? It wasn’t as if they wouldn’t have the time later. ‘Haven’t you two had enough yet? I’m hungry, at least for an ice cream.’ ‘Nearly,’ Lizzie replied, checking a blue and white top at a mirror. ‘I have what I want,’ Teri said, pointing to three shopping bags on the floor. I grinned. ‘There are other shops nearer home, you know?’ ‘I know, but I like these and I may not find them somewhere else.’ ‘Ignore him,’ said Lizzie. ‘He’s a man. What does he know about women shopping for clothes? I’ve got two bags sitting over there. And I’ve even selected something for him.’ ‘Women! You’re unbelievable!’ I retorted. ‘We know,’ answered Teri. I happened to be standing at the shop front and I turned to look out the window, when I caught sight of a distant figure, or an apparition, in the middle of the road. It drew my full attention. Tall and thin, dressed in some sort of black garb, it stood rock still, watching this shop. At least I thought it was. I couldn’t be sure at this distance. The sun was partially in my eyes. For certain, it pricked my curiosity, and I stepped quickly toward the shop door, spellbound. Out on the street I could still see it, but not sharply enough to satisfy me. I moved gradually towards it, my gaze fixed. My heart began to pound as the form began to take on the visage of a person, and now I was sure it wasn’t an illusion. I was afraid to look away in case it should suddenly vanish. Dressed in some bizarre close-fitting black robe from the neck downwards, it wore a pillbox black hat. Nearer, I discerned the outline of a face, a very lined face; but the figure remained motionless. Silent. ‘Hello?’ I called. ‘Who are you?’ He or she simply watched me approach, then, just as I caught a glimpse of the face, she moved, turned away abruptly. I was almost sure it was a woman. A very old woman. ‘Hey, wait a minute! Don’t go!’ She moved at a surprising pace for an old girl, but what startled me most was that I couldn’t see her legs move beneath the robe. It was as if she was gliding. Across the street and onto the pavement without even the sight of an ankle, she didn’t stop to check my pursuit, keeping mostly in the shade. She made it to a newsagent and went inside. I’d be damned if she was going to lose me that easily. I took off at a run, and halted at the shop door. It wasn’t a big shop. I went inside, my body tingling with anxiety. Why didn’t she acknowledge me? Who was she? And where had she come from? Now, where had she gone? Shit! I scanned the shop and saw a back door. That was the only way out. I headed to it, caution delaying my intent. I had to be careful. If she was afraid she might harm herself. Or me. A sound behind me turned my head, just in time to see the woman in black leave by the front door. ‘Fuck! How’d she do that?’ I went charging after her, pausing my momentum on the street outside. She was gone! No. There! Gliding around a corner some fifty metres away. Wondering at her amazing speed, I set off again. But it occurred to me that she wanted me to see her, to follow her, or else I would surely have lost her by now. The distance between us seemed to be just so. Without breaking into a run, she seemed to be keeping ahead of me, despite my best attempts. Angry, I slid to a stop. ‘Okay, lady, have it your own way,’ I shouted, getting my breath back. ‘I’m not doing this any more.’ The woman came to a standstill, turned to me briefly, and casually moved toward a clothes shop, positive that I would follow. I did, holding my ground at the doorway this time to prevent her dodging me for a second time. I saw her go into a fitting room, and although conscious that I could be placing myself in danger, I went in anyway. The fitting room was actually a narrow corridor with three changing booths. Now there was no escape. The old woman darted into the last booth and didn’t try to close the drape. I hesitated. ‘Listen, madam - I won’t hurt you.’ I moved around to where I could see her beyond the opening. She stood there with her back to me, inert. ‘I want to talk to you, that’s all. I won’t hurt you. Won’t you come out? Please.’ I waited. ‘Please.’ Still nothing. Determined, I moved carefully toward her. My hand reached out to her arm. She didn’t waver, didn’t whimper. I took her arm and gently turned her around to face me. What greeted me was a complete and utter shock. The hairs on my body stood on end. I backed with horror into the wall, my eyes frozen wide and my heart pummelling wildly. She was a mannequin. A fucking doll! How was that possible? I’d seen her enter the booth. How did she switch places with this dummy - and give it her clothes! I backed out of the fitting room without averting my gaze. The dummy remained inside. All I could think of was How? ‘Mark?’ I spun around. ‘There you are!’ said Lizzie. ‘Let’s go. I’m done.’ ‘What the fuck?’ I murmured, my eyes shooting about the confines of the shop. The same shop. The shop in which Lizzie and Teri had been browsing for clothes. The shop from where I’d first seen the old woman from a distance. I was back, and I hadn’t noticed. She’d taken me full circle about these deserted streets; and then vanished. Teri appeared, holding some bags. ‘What about this ice cream then?’ I didn’t say anything. Trying to assume a calm, non-deranged appearance, I smiled brokenly at both women. ‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I think I’ve had enough. Let’s get out of here.’ Placing the bags by the shop door with the intention of collecting them en route to the car, we hit the nearest food bar where I fried us all a portion of chips, which we enjoyed with a bottle of cold beer to drive away the torrid thirst as we basked seated beneath a coloured canopy over-shadowing the shop-front. ‘Nice here, isn’t it?’ said Lizzie. ‘Yeah,’ I said, having regained my previous composure and finishing my beer. ‘So why haven’t we been here before now?’ I stared at Lizzie. ‘Are you crazy? This place would’ve been packed solid. Normally.’ Lizzie shrugged. ‘That’s true. Still, it’s nice though.’ ‘Scintillating conversation,’ I said, laughing at the three of us. ‘Look at us. We could be any normal threesome having a normal holiday.’ If this was normal and there were any people! Having seen the best part of the town and breathed in the salty air, we decided to find a decent lodge or hotel to stay the night in. We’d been out in the hot sun for absolutely ages, and we needed to shower and change, especially me, after my ordeal. The lodge we agreed upon unanimously was a five-minute drive out of town, secluded by trees and over-looking a sea-view at the front. Called Paradise Quest, it was well named. Stone-built in the 18th Century, it was beautifully restored, inside and out. ‘Double bedroom - £200 per night,’ Lizzie read from the tariff located at the reception hall. ‘Really plush.’ ‘It’s wonderful,’ Teri agreed, glancing up a grand wooden staircase.’ ‘Well, let’s hope they have a room free.’ ‘Or a free room,’ I quipped, sniffing the aromatised hall. ‘Odd, you know; I would have thought the place might have smelt a little stale by now.’ Both girls looked at me. ‘You know, maybe he’s been around us too long already,’ Lizzie said. ‘That’s the sort of thing a women would have said.’ ‘Ha,ha,’ I replied, with a smirk. ‘You don’t think there’s somebody here by any chance, is there?’ ‘What?’ ‘Don’t say that,’ interceded Teri. ‘That’s spooky.’ ‘Hello?’ I called. ‘Anybody home?’ We all looked about, and listened. ‘Did you hear that?’ ‘Hear what?’ Lizzie responded, reducing her voice to a whisper. ‘A creaking sound, coming from upstairs.’ ‘You’ve got be kidding.’ ‘I didn’t hear anything,’ added Teri, narrowing her eyes worriedly. ‘There! Look!’ I pointed to the top of the staircase, and both of them whirled round with a jump. ‘Nah, must have been my imagination,’ I said, blowing up with laughter having lost my grip on extending the joke. ‘Oh, you git!’ Lizzie cried, thumping me on the arm, and Teri let out a sigh of relief. ‘I thought he was serious, for a moment.’ ‘Well, now that we’ve got that out of our system -’ ‘Your system, you mean!’ interjected Lizzie. ‘Shall we select a room?’ There was a fantastic room upstairs facing the sea, and it even had a decent balcony. ‘This is lovely,’ purred Teri, revelling in it. ‘It’s worth every penny,’ joked Lizzie, checking out the wardrobe space as if we had a pile of suitcases to move in with. ‘The duvet is nice and soft. Clean.’
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