Oblivion 1 parts index

Chapter Seven

"Whatever is it?" Father's concern cut through Vincent's thoughts. "I do not know Father, it is a new feeling to me."

"Is it your own feelings Vincent, something to do with our world, with Jacob, or is it Catherine's feelings?"

"It is Catherine. Something is terribly wrong. She is apprehensive, anxious, it is as if even she is unsure as to what she is afraid of. Father I wish I could go to her, contact her even, doesn't anyone know where they have gone?"

"No. I had hoped that by now we would have heard something. Catherine left here full of Devin's plans, and though I begged her not to take risks, I was not unduly worried. I had no idea they would be gone so long."

"It has been months Father, almost three months. Even that last letter she wrote to me was sent over eight weeks ago. Some of the things she told me now worry me."

"I know your concern Vincent, I too am concerned, and the terrible thing is we don't really know where to look for them or what it is they are actually working on."

"You mentioned that it had something to do with me. I have wondered about that so much, you told me that you knew nothing else, but do you. Is there something that you have deliberately kept hidden from me Father?"

"No, Vincent, but I can't help wondering."

"What is it Father. Tell me?"

"Its just an assumption Vincent, nothing more. Don't go reading more into this than may actually exist. But I was thinking, what is it that Devin would find so important that he would need Catherine's expertise as a D.A., to help him? And be able to convince her of its import, so much so that she is prepared to leave you again, before she has had the chance to patch things up with you?" Father eased himself into his chair and poured himself a glass of water.

"Go on Father." Vincent stood with his arms folded, his piercing blue eyes trying to see inside the older man's head, to read his thoughts.

"I am beginning to wonder Vincent, whether Devin stumbled upon something from your past, and that's what he is pursuing. Catherine told me that it was Charles that gave Devin the inclination, something Charles spoke of from his own past. And I think we are only going to know if someone can find Charles and ask him what that was."

"Yes Father. Catherine made mention to something like you are suggesting in her letter, and with your words the letter is beginning to make sense now."

Father looked at Vincent steadily, "I believe Devin may have discovered where it was that you came from Vincent, and that would explain Catherine's determination to help him."

"If that is so Father, then they could both be in grave danger. We have to find someone who can go and look for them, or we have to find Charles and see if our fears are grounded."

"Yes we must Vincent, and in the meantime we can only sit and hope that Catherine and Devin will soon return."

"And pray Father, do not forget the power of prayer."

"Yes Vincent and we must pray, and also rely upon your empathic connection with Catherine to show us the way. You must open it fully, so that it encompasses her completely, so that she can feel your strength and be guided by it."

"Catherine has her own courage Father, you know that?"

"Yes but this time Vincent, I fear that she may be out of her depth."

Several days later Father felt despondent, though asking all the helpers he could think of, no word of Catherine or Devin's whereabouts had come to light.

"Try not to fret so Jacob, it is early days yet." Mary told him as gently as she could, when she brought him some tea and biscuits, "It may even take weeks to find Charles, as no-one really knows where he is, and by then Catherine and Devin could be back." She put an reassuring arm along his shoulders, trying to bring him a merit of comfort.

"It really worries me Mary, though I wouldn't say as much to Vincent, but the two of them could be in so much danger. Whoever produced Vincent, would not want that to become public knowledge."

"I always thought it was a freak of nature that had produced Vincent. Do you seriously believe they will find more people like him, Jacob?"

"Perhaps, though what they hope to achieve thereon baffles me. How could they possibly hope to bring them back here, though I fear that is their intention."

"How would you feel Jacob, to have other people like Vincent living here?"

"I wouldn't mind Mary, but it could put our whole community here at greater risk. Keeping tabs on Vincent is one thing, but more like him! Could you imagine that?" Father shook his head, "It depends of course how many they find and their ages."

"It makes me feel so angry Jacob, oh don't look at me like that, I only mean to think that someone is actually producing these people. My heart bleeds for Vincent, and what he can and cannot do, and to think that there could be others like him, with the same yearnings, it is unbearable."

Father patted her hand, "Come sit with me Mary, and share this tea you have brought, and all these biscuits, you do spoil me you know that." he sighed, "Yes I too feel that pain. You know my greatest wish is that Vincent could walk beneath the sunshine. It is such a simple thing, yet for Vincent it is impossible. To be shut away here of your own violation is one thing, but to be shut down here out of necessity is quite another."

"When Catherine first came into his life, I thought it was such a blessed thing. Oh I know you had your reservations, Jacob, but for Vincent to have someone that accepted him so totally, especially someone from such a diverse background, well I truly loved her for that. I began to wonder if we were making more of Vincent than was necessary, if someone like Catherine could accept him, perhaps others could too."

"I am afraid Mary, that you see the situation through rose tinted glasses. So much like any woman, my dear, as did Catherine when she first came to know Vincent. But when you look upon him from a medical point of view, the wonder of scientific research creeps in. If only all the world could look upon Vincent the way you and Catherine do, then Vincent could be free. Yet there are people who would want to take him away and bind him and experiment on him, least of all those who originally produced him, if they knew where he was, well we know the answer to that don't we?"

Mary saw Father shudder and reached across the table to take his hand in the pair of hers. "I'm happy to know Jacob that of all the people in the world, that Vincent came into your care. You have made him the man that he is, and the rest of us down here benefit from that. Our whole community thrives on Vincent's existence, makes our world a special place, a haven knowing we have his protection and love. Without you Jacob, Vincent could have ended up in evil hands, and that doesn't bear thinking about. And perhaps in like manner your very son, flesh of your flesh, Devin, will act the same way towards others like Vincent, and give them a chance they would never have otherwise had. I am proud of him."

Father nodded, "Yes I too. But Mary, when you think about the dark side of Vincent's nature, it brings back the original question doesn't it? What will these ones be like that Devin and Catherine are searching for. I think Vincent fears this too. He knows what he himself is capable of, and to think that these others may have been encouraged to use that side of their nature and not known love to any degree, he is worried what Catherine and Devin are getting themselves into."

"I wouldn't think they would be careless Jacob, Devin at the least knows what Vincent is capable of, he carries the scars, and Catherine has seen enough of Vincent in action, so lets not think about such things. We are only assuming anyway, we do not even know for a certainty that they have gone on a quest to find Vincent's relatives. It could be that Devin just stumbled upon his history and they are both seeking that out."

Father squeezed her hand, looking at her gravely, "Then Mary, lets hope that is all it is," but he had a terrible feeling it wasn't.

"Come see Vincent", Mouse scurried excitedly into Vincent's chamber a few days later.

Vincent looked up from reading and smiled at the boy, "What is it Mouse?"

"A messenger has arrived. Come see, he says he has something to tell you."

"He asked for me by name?" Mouse nodded enthusiastically, "Where is this messenger?"

"At the tunnel entrance in the park. Mouse know not to let him in."

"Well done Mouse. Does Father know?"

"Message for Vincent, Mouse come quickly tell Vincent. Should I tell Father?"

"No, it is all right, we do not need to trouble him. You come back with me, we will see this messenger together."

Mouse felt proud to be included and they set off at once together.

The messenger was nervous. Waiting there in the eerie tunnel, he wanted to flee. Where did it lead to? It was impossible to know, since a huge steel door prevented entry, yet he had been asked not to trust his message with anyone and not to put it down on paper. Who was this Vincent anyhow?

Vincent hung back in the shadows as Mouse opened the large door, and peered through the bars, "Okay good, okay fine, " he called to the messenger, "I've brought Vincent, you can speak now?"

"Where is he." the messenger demanded agitated.

"I am here," Vincent replied softly, "I cannot let you see my face. Tell me what your message is. Who sends it to me?"

The messenger relaxed, as Vincent's velvety voice eased away his nervousness.

"The message is from a man named Charles. I know Charles, tell me what was Charles name before, so that I may know you are who you say you are?"

Vincent drew in a long controlled breath, his heart hammered, could this be the news they had been waiting for?

"Charles used to be known as the Dragon man." he replied.

"Good. Now listen for this is what Charles told me to tell you, do you want him to go?" he motioned towards Mouse.

"No," replied Vincent, "Mouse is a friend."

"Right, well, the message then. Apparently Charles had been speaking with Devin about the time when Charles was held at the circus, One day many years ago a man came asking questions about a creature he was searching for. This creature had been stolen from his employer, and no word had been heard from him since that day. This man worked for a scientist in Europe, but had also been hired by a scientist in America and it had been he that was to collect the creature from the grounds of St. Vincent's hospital in New York, one January night, when the creature was just a few days old. Charles overheard that the creature had been produced from an original cross between a human and an animal, and that the chap that sought him was convinced he was alive and being kept either in a circus or some secret location out of sight. He offered a reward of $200,000 for any information leading to the whereabouts of the creature, which had been created in Europe, and sent to America."

Vincent took the information calmly, he was surprised at his calmness, "Do you know where this man came from?"

"There were two possible locations, one was in London, England, and the other was in Europe, somewhere up in the mountains."

There was a few minutes silence, the messenger hopped nervously from foot to foot, finally deciding on something, "Tell me... are you he?"

"That information is not mine to give. Is Charles well?"

"Yes he is staying with my family, I have never known a braver man, though he is worried about Devin, he hasn't heard from him in almost a year."

"A year! He has been away that long?" Vincent was stunned.

"Yes. Charles knew that the research would take time, but even he is growing worried now. Is there anything you can tell him, that would help?"

"We know no more than Charles, and this information you have brought confirms our suspicions. Please thank him for this. Tell him only that Devin is no longer alone in his quest. Tell him that Catherine is with him."

"Catherine?"

"Yes Charles will know who I mean."

"What will you do with this information, is it of use to you?

"I shall discuss it with my friends, we will decide what to do with it. Tell me what is your name?"

"People call me Pepper."

"Then thank you Pepper, for coming all this way to bring the message to me, and I hope that you will take my love back to Charles."

"Yes I will goodbye, Vincent, I hope everything works out as you wish it."

"Goodbye Pepper, thank you."

"What do you propose doing with them Ignatz?" Mich'ael Reidel asked.

Professor Strasser shook his head, "I haven't decided. It is obvious that are impostors, but I cannot work out why. In all the years that I have undertaken this project not one person has grown suspicious. Why now?"

"Could it be since you have altered the original plan. With being unable to produce an animal like creature capable of speech, and have decided to constitute a deal with the government instead over these creatures, perhaps these people have been hired in that category to find out all they can about what we are really undertaking here." Mich'ael shuffled uneasily.

"That thought did cross my mind, but Mich'ael these people are both American, I cannot believe that our own government would hire people from anywhere other than our own country, especially when they so obvious do not know our language."

"Maybe they are the best in their field."

"Or maybe they have a different lead entirely." Johannes Kogler spoke at last. He had been thoughtful during the conversation between Ignatz and Mich'ael.

The two other men looked at him sharply, "What do you mean?" Strasser asked him.

"I am thinking of the time you sent Peterson to the USA, to try to trace the creature that was lost, the one you had sent to your colleague over there. Didn't you say that Peterson had offered a reward of $200,000 for any information leading to the whereabouts of the creature?"

"Yes, but that was years ago. Why, Weston and Conway would be no more than children at the time, what possible link could there be?"

"They could be working for someone, who remembered about the reward, and has since made a discovery."

Strasser shook his head, "No, I don't think so, too much time has lapsed, and since we allowed Geraldine to terminate Peterson...." he gave a cruel laugh, "there really is no-one who knows anything about it now, save for ourselves."

"So we are back to the original question then Ignatz, what do you propose to do with Weston and Conway?"

"What can we do? We could corner them perhaps, let on we know they are impostors, or we could give them enough rope to hang themselves, or we can let Geraldine out and allow her to hunt them down. What do either of you suggest?"

"None of those." Kogler replied, "I think we should introduce them to Geraldine, and get their response. After all, if they are to die anyway, it makes perfect sense, that way we can tell by their reactions what they may or may not know."

"And you Mich'ael what do you think we should do?"

"I don't think they should die. I do not share your bloodlust for Geraldine's skill. I think we should confront them, I believe Mr. Weston has already worked out that there are hidden cameras everywhere, he isn't stupid you know, lets bring them here and see what kind of story they unravel for changing their names."

Strasser thought about that for a few moments, then finally agreed and nodded, "All right, that is what we shall do, but if we aren't satisfied, do we all agree that we leave them to Geraldine?"

Enthusiastically, and much to Strasser's delight, Kogler nodded, and though Riedel joined him it was with some reluctance.

Catherine waited until dark before venturing to bathe herself and get ready for bed. Devin's claims of hidden cameras unnerved her, and she did not want anyone to see her undressing. Lying there beneath the warm water in the darkness was a new sensation, one she found that she rather liked. She could see through the skylight directly above her and the starry night was beautiful. Thoroughly relaxed she allowed her mind to dwell on Vincent, and re-opened the Bond. She was so relaxed that it startled her when she could actually see him in her minds eye. He was sitting beneath the bandstand in Central Park, listening to music, and he was totally relaxed too. Catherine thought if she concentrated hard enough she could actually speak with him, but he seemed to be unreachable, and she guessed he was absorbed in the music, whereas where she was everywhere was silent. Still it was a pleasure to invade his mind, and she thrilled when she knew he was thinking of her with such love in his heart, and blushed a little at some of the content of his thinking. Catherine laughed, and she was happy to notice that the sound echoed inside his head, so that he inclined his heart to listen, and she heard him whisper her name, "Catherine?"

"I'm here Vincent. I can hear you. I can see you."

"Where are you?"

"In the bathtub."

She heard Vincent chuckle, "Are you well?"

"Yes, just missing you."

Vincent smiled, "I am missing you too my Catherine."

Catherine thrilled at his words, they made her feel possessed by him, and she liked the feeling of security that it gave her.

The water was growing chilly, and Catherine sighed, getting up out of the bath and pulled the plug, hearing the water bubble away down the drain, the only sound in an otherwise silent night. She hoped to climb into bed and become as one in the Bond with Vincent there.

Earlier she had drawn on Vincent's strength to overcome her fears, and now to know he was so close settled her completely. Crossing to the window with a towel wrapped firmly around her she tried to recapture the connection with him as she gazed at the snow capped mountains all around her, but was saddened when she could no longer grasp it, and wondered if it had after all, been a figment of her imagination while she was so relaxed beneath the water.

Her thoughts drifted to her son, how old would he be now? Eight, nine months, it didn't seem possible. She expected that he would be crawling by now, perhaps even walking, and she missed him so much. Of all the people she had mistreated, he was the one she had treated worst of all, he had only been a baby and she had abandoned him. It made her feel wretched and she could only console herself with the thought that had she not have left she may never have met up with Devin, and be in the Alps, searching for Vincent's roots. Whether that was a good or a bad thing she did not know. For a certainty Devin would still have been there, and at least with the two of them together they could help one another.

Towelling her hair dry, she knelt on the bed beneath a window, and looked out, the stars from this side of the villa were tremendous. It was a night for lovers and her feelings for Vincent intensified. When she had reached out to him earlier he had seemed so close, now he was every bit of the thousands of miles away, and her heart ached. Perhaps one day she would be able to attain a tight hold on the Bond, so that she could reach out to him for longer than just a few seconds, and they would really be as one. She wondered if he could still feel everything she was feeling, read her thoughts maybe. It brought her peace of mind, and she infused all her love through the Bond, in the hope that he would feel it.

Her hair dry at last, Catherine lay the towel over a rail, where it would dry, and put on her blue silk pyjamas, lifted the duvet and slipped into bed. She felt weary, her limbs ached from the ride up the mountain on Jack, and all she wanted to do was sleep. Closing her eyes, allowing the languor of sleep to overtake her, she barely heard the mountains coming to life, as the sky became filled with the flashing of fireflies that probed the darkness, the croaking of frogs and the singing of crickets. Chamois grazed in the darkness, revelling in the coolness of the night, yet keeping ever wary of the scents coming along on the breeze. Man hunted at night and though the chamois were protected antelope, it didn't stop the illegal hunter. He walked the wooded sides of the mountains in search of unwary chamois, foxes and rabbits, and he would poach trout from the streams.

High up on the mountains the snow glistened in the moonlight, sparkling ice. The stars twinkled above the earth and far, far below owls hooted in the trees as bats soared through the sky homing in by sonar on swarms of mosquitoes. Catherine had left her window ajar, and though she were unaware of the night sounds, they provided a backdrop to her dreams. She stirred, an exquisite smile on her lips, with the night so full around her, so different from the night sounds of New York, she felt happy and relaxed. The mountain air was fresh and wafted across to her bringing with it the fragrances of mountain flowers and pine. Languishing in her sweet dreams, Catherine was at peace within herself as she began to dream of Vincent. She could feel his warmth, hear the velvety softness of his voice, and far away she could hear the gentle tapping on the pipes as people relayed messages to one another. Catherine felt safe and loved.

Yet slowly Vincent's voice trailed away, and she became aware more fully of the sound of tapping on pipes over-riding his voice, growing louder and louder, and she heard her name on them. The sound penetrated her dreams, and half-awake she found herself listening intently. Reaching for Vincent, she found she was alone and she panicked. The dream had been so real, and flinging her arms out, she knocked over the bedside lamp as she tumbled from the bed, momentarily disoriented. Slowly it came back to her where she was, yet she could distinctly hear tapping, and the tapping was spelling her name. Bewildered she followed the sound, it lead her to the bathroom, and then she realised!

Devin had found a way! A way in which they could converse without anyone guessing. It was perfect. Taking her hairbrush she tapped back an answer on the joint water pipes beneath the sink and waited. She was jubilant when she heard Devin answer. Now with the way open to them to converse in secret, they could really begin to put their plans into action!

You seem somewhat better this morning Vincent, did you sleep well?" Father asked over the top of his morning newspaper.

"Yes thank you Father, but it wasn't the sleep that gave me this new joy, this new hope. I actually spoke to Catherine last night."

"You did, is she back home?" Father frowned, why wasn't he told earlier?

"No, somehow Father, I don't know how she did it, but she actually opened the Bond, and spoke with me directly. In our mind's eye we could literally see one another. We have never done that before. It was remarkable, though very brief."

"That's marvellous Vincent. Is she well?"

"She gave no impression of being otherwise, and I believe it was because she was so relaxed and peaceable that she was able to make the contact. Whatever troubled her earlier yesterday, had obviously dissipated by evening."

"Do you think you will be able to contact her again?"

"I am able to contact her anytime I wish Father, as long as she has the Bond open her end, I just hope that she tries again to make contact with me. Alas, she might conclude that she dreamt it."

Father nodded gravely, "Well whether she does or not, it is wonderful to see you look so happy Vincent, and I shall pray that she tries to reach through to you again."

"Vincent nodded, "So shall I Father, so shall I."

Catherine felt that this was no ordinary summons. Walking through the grounds from her villa to the institute, with a member of staff that had not spoken to her since he had arrived at her villa, Catherine had an overwhelming desire to flee. Something was definitely amiss. She ought to have expected it of course, when she had blurted out Devin's name in greeting the afternoon before, she could have kicked herself. She should have realised that it would not go unnoticed yet she hardly expected them to admit to having cameras installed everywhere and least of all the villas. It was an invasion of privacy and decency, and if they were prepared to do so, it could mean that she and Devin were in grave danger. For that would mean that the scientists were dead certain that they were impostors, with dead being the operative word in their case.

Catherine found herself ushered into another clinically white room, save for some pictures on one wall of different weather scenes, and that Devin and the three professors were sitting inside waiting for her to join them.

Taking a seat alongside Devin, she shot him a questioning glance, but he did not respond, keeping his glance fixed firmly on one of the pictures. All was quiet. No-one spoke, and save for their steady breathing all that could be heard was the gentle ticking of a clock somewhere behind her. Professor Strasser finally rose to his feet, and came to stand in front of her, "Mrs. Conway, who do you see beside you?" he asked her.

Catherine glanced at Devin, why would he not help her, give her a look, a grimace, anything to help her know how to answer.

"It is my brother Sir," she replied nervously.

"And what is his name, may I ask."

'Ouch', thought Catherine, 'what do I say now?' Deciding that honesty was the best policy she replied, " His name is Devin Wells."

"And your name Mrs. Conway?"

"My name is Catherine Chandler."

"So, answer me why did you come here under false identities?"

Catherine really did not know the answer to that. Devin made a habit of going under a false identity, it was as second nature to him as breathing. She told Strasser, "I do not know, it was Devin's idea. I just went along with it."

"Very good so you have already collaborated a story in case you were found out, that is very convenient for you. It does not alter the fact that you have both lied for some reason, and I want to know WHY!?" Strasser brought his fist down hard onto the table, making Catherine flinch, Tell me?" he spat through clenched teeth, "Tell me NOW!"

"May I be permitted to speak Sir," Devin ventured boldly.

Strasser barely nodded.

"Cathy really has told you the truth Sir. It was, as I explained earlier entirely my own idea, and Cathy never questioned why, for which I was grateful, honestly she does not know my reason for doing this. Had she of been she would never have had a happy holiday."

"So Mr. Wells, how about you tell her of those reasons now, and let us all hear this amazing revelation?"

Devin shuffled in his seat until he was facing Catherine. She tried to question him with her eyes, and noticed that his own pleaded with her to understand. What? Taking a deep breath he spoke softly, "I did it for you Cathy. You remember when you divorced Robert, how he threatened that if he couldn't have you, then no-one else could?" Catherine nodded, trying to keep her face expressionless, "Well, not long after we made our plans to come and tour Europe I heard that he had found out about our trip. He paid someone at customs control to let him know when you came through to catch your flight, and then he was going to hurry over and follow you."

Catherine's heart jumped in her breast, 'this is excellent Devin', she thought, 'You have missed your vocation'

. Devin continued, "Naturally we could never change our passports, so I thought the next best thing would be to change our identity on our arrival here. And to let you believe it was because I didn't want people to know who we were for reasons known only to myself, then you would be able to enjoy yourself and Robert would not be able to locate you."

Catherine allowed her hands to visibly shake, and she was relieved when she saw Strasser take note of this, as with her eyes wide with terror she whispered, "Is Robert still looking for me, do you know?"

"No, I don't know the answer to that, but you know Robert, he will never give up and I couldn't allow him to get to you again."

Devin directed his attention now to Strasser, "Sir if you would look at the scar near to my sister's ear, you will see how deep it is, and it may surprise you to learn that but for cosmetic surgery, Cathy's whole face would still be covered in slashes. Her ex-husband did this to her. Would you not, in similar circumstances try to protect your only sister from someone so dangerous?"

Strasser looked across at Riedel and Kogler as each in turn shrugged his shoulders. there was no reason not to believe their story, but still it bore no weight. Strasser could not believe it entirely, they were hiding something he was sure of it.

"Then you have my sympathy and my apology Mrs. Chandler, at least you can be assured that you will be safe from your ex-husband while you are here. And so that your stay with us is not tiresome, I will endeavour to find you something to occupy your time. There is something I would like to ask however, Mr. Wells, that scar you have on your own face, was that caused by your brother-in-law also?"

Devin fingered the scar, wondering how to answer, "No Sir, it was caused by a lion at a safari park, but I prefer not to talk about the attack."

Refraining from asking more questions Strasser said instead, "You may both go now. Mr. Wells you have another assignment waiting on your desk, you can see your sister this evening."

With a curt nod, he held the door open for them. They had been dismissed.

Continued in Chapter Eight.