A Raucous Time

  *

   

  Bodmin Police Station buzzed with officers and civilians milling around, collating information, shouting to make theirselves heard over two way radios. In addition to loss of power; phone lines, mobile masts and the internet was down.

  Somehow it was all Rhyllann’s fault. He caught the tail end of spiteful whispers and filthy looks. He hunched lower into his chair, closing his eyes to make himself invisible. He’d been allowed a quick wash in the men’s toilets, but Rose’s camouflage gear still clung damply to his body. He was painfully aware of pungent steam rising from him. PC Rodgers shook him out of his doze, jerking his head for Rhyllann to follow. Rodgers opened the door to a box room, propelling him forward and onto the makeshift camp bed.  To emphasise how much trouble Rhyllann was in, he handcuffed him to the metal bed frame. Only a week ago Rhyllann would have shouted the place down in protest. Ignoring Rodgers he merely covered himself with a scratchy blanket, stretched out and fell asleep.

  Interlude

   

  The ground felt springy under Rhyllann's feet again, he climbed the hill effortlessly towards Taffy’s Folly. The giant monolith no longer stood alone; the boulders previously tumbled around had somehow formed themselves into a surrounding circle. Inside the stone circle moonlit shadows danced. Rhyllann told himself the stones only appeared to be moving because he was moving, altering his line of vision. In his dream he slowed his footsteps, then inexplicitly removed his trainers and socks, before approaching cautiously in bare feet.

  A tall slim figure almost merging into the Folly supported a smaller figure whose face strained upwards towards the stars. With a jolt which should have woken him, Rhyllann started forward again shouting foolishly.

  ‘Hey you – get away from him.’ He reached the perimeter of the circle, close enough to see the man’s face, except it was shrouded. The stranger vanished suddenly in the way of dreams and the blond youth toppled forwards onto his knees. Rhyllann reached out, touching the rough cold stone and willed himself to wake up. But he couldn’t. He stumbled into the circle; immediately a high pitched static hit his ears and he felt the crackle of some latent energy field knocking him to the ground. He scuffled forward on all fours to face his cousin.

   

  Wren’s eyes stared upward, gazing unfocused at the night sky and with a chilling mind altering clunk, Rhyllann realised this was more than a dream. He confirmed this by reaching out to shake Wren.

  ‘Brawd, where’d he go? Did he touch you? What did he want?’

  Wren lowered his head to look at Rhyllann, his pupils had expanded into the iris, and his eyes appeared to be bottomless pools. Rhyllann shivered; this was beyond weird. Had Wren been drugged? Had they both been drugged and somehow carried here? His mind sought a rational explanation.

  ‘Brawd – please – you’re scaring me.’

  ‘Annie – he’s gone – and there was so much more I needed to know!’ Wren sounded desolate.

  ‘Did he touch you?’

  Wren’s eyes focused for the first time. ‘Yes, he touched me. I felt his hands inside my head.’

  ‘What!’ Rhyllann sprung to his feet. He had to get Wren back to hospital. Whatever that guy had done, Wren had changed. Before he could take a step, a flash of deepest blue exploded, in his head, and yet gloriously outside as well, stars, galaxies and universes spun and danced.

  Rhyllann’s mind expanded before infinity, this was unbearable. Wren gave a strange secretive smile, his eyes knowing. Rhyllann opened his mouth to scream – enough! Then the universe shrank, dwindling to a bleak moor land: He watched as huge monoliths were raised against a desolate landscape and realised he was experiencing the birth of Stonehenge. The wild dance slowed and patterns began to emerge. Rhyllann dropped to his knees, the vision ceased suddenly, and bile rose in his gullet.

  Wren continued to gaze at him, his eyes reflecting the inky black sky.

  ‘Did you … did you just do that?’

  'Merlin showed me. Anyone can do it. It’s only a transmission – like streaming a video.’

  ‘Merlin?’ Oh dear lord. He really had gone.

  ‘Mmm. He spells it like me; Indigo.’

  Indigo?!! Rhyllann took deep breaths, feeling energy crackling towards him, invading his body with every lungful of air he took.

  ‘We’ve gotta get outta here. I don’t know how you got here – I don’t know how we got here. We’ve gotta find a way back.’ He dragged at Wren as he spoke. Wren pulled back.

  ‘No, listen to me. Please. It’s important.. He wanted to make sure we were ready. Be ready Annie. When the time comes, you’ll know what to do.’ Wren's voice sounded fervent, a zealous convert.

  Rhyllann tried to extract his hands. ‘Brawd, please, you’re scaring me.’

  ‘Don’t be scared. This is meant.’ Another strange smile crossed Wren's face. ‘We’re the chosen ones.’

  Rhyllann laughed. For a moment, he thought Wren was going to strike him. Then his features rose in the familiar dorky smile, his eyes returned to normal, the vice like grip softened. As though reading his mind he said.

  ‘Sorry, you’re right. A Dr. Evil moment.’

  ‘Damn straight!’ And because it was only a dream Wren vanished as smoothly as the stranger.

   

  Pacing into the middle of the circle, Rhyllann sat down crossed legged with his back against the stone known as Taffy’s Folly; marvelling at how every blade of grass seemed so sharp and clear. Then Rhyllann raised his head to study the star filled skies feeling a deep contentment flood through his skin to his very bones. He soaked up energy, with it the knowledge that he could leave here anytime, but he would carry this moment, this magic with him forever.