“Why are you following me?” When the girl spoke, it was like her voice was distorting. An overlapping of sounds that reminded Linwood of a radio caught between stations.

  “We’re worried about you. You can’t survive out here. It’s freezing. You must feel it.”

  “I don’t feel anything anymore. I feel nothing.”

  “Right, OK. But, what’s stopping you from coming back somewhere warm with me? Why are you keeping away from everyone?”

  The girl looked into Linwood’s eyes and the fading sun caught a sparkle of something. Linwood blinked, disbelieving, but it lingered and she saw the silver liquid move across the girl’s eyes before retreating. What the hell was that? Some kind of damage after seeing the lights?

  “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I want to get back.”

  “Get back where? Get back home? I can take you.”

  The girl held her gaze. “Yes, home.”

  “Come on then, my car is just outside the park.” Linwood took a step forward but the girl retreated to the far side of the bandstand. It looked like she might run again so Linwood hesitated. “OK. We’ll go whenever you’re ready.”

  “I don’t mean Laura’s home.”

  “But, you are Laura.”

  The girl slowly shook her head. “My name is Irulal.”

  The word sounded strange, and the girl spoke it like she was saying it for the first time.

  “Why do you think your name is Irulal?” Linwood asked, struggling to pronounce the word the same as Laura had.

  “Because it is.”

  “All I want to do is get you checked over by a doctor. You’re not doing so good out here in this weather.”

  “I don’t need a doctor. I need to get back home. The schism is closing.”

  “What schism? What do you mean?”

  Laura looked bored. “The schism is the way I travelled. It wasn’t ready for travel but there was no other option. If I hadn’t used it, I would have been destroyed. The battle was almost over and we were losing. And I had a mission to complete. There was no time to redirect the energies to my shields or adapt when I hit the aperture. My instruments were hopeless, and I was flying blind.”

  Linwood knew then that this person before her wasn’t just Laura Brodie anymore. Her suspicions were correct. Something had gotten inside her. Something that had travelled in one of the ships that blew up over the bay.

  “Your ships were destroyed.”

  “There was only one ship.”

  “Three were seen over the bay.”

  “Interfacing back into this dimension damaged my instruments. Made it impossible to navigate. The engines destabilised, and I wasn’t able to vent plasma quickly enough. A cascade failure was inevitable.”

  “Is that what happened? A cascade failure?”

  The girl nodded. “Emergency preservation protocols kicked in and then Laura Brodie saved me.”

  “How?”

  “She found me. Integration was completed. She is lonely. You are a fascinating species but I’m not sure you are the one we are looking for.”

  This could be a strange psychosis. Where would she even have picked up the words she was using? Dimensional schism? Cascade failure? If Laura Brodie was still alive, she was sharing her body with whatever else had travelled here in one of those ships.

  But there had been three ships—that was in Dowling’s report. Does that mean there were three pilots? If this Irulal was one, what about the other two? Where were they?

  “Laura—Irulal. I think I can help. I want to help. I work for a special team who have met people like you before. We have facilities that can be helpful. I’d like you to come back with me and we’ll work on making this right.”

  The offer seemed to interest Laura for she came a step closer and looked again at Linwood. Linwood gasped as she saw the skin on the girl’s face undulate with pond-like ripples. Flexible.

  “I need my ship. Do you have it?”

  “No. But I can help you find it.”

  At this, the girl seemed to take an interest, considering Linwood’s words. “How can you help me?”

  “I know the people out looking for it. If you can give us more information, something to help us find it, we could retrieve your ship quickly.”

  “Tell me who is looking for it. Where can I find them?”

  Linwood didn’t like the tone of the girl’s voice. The threatening posture. It spoke of intelligence beyond that of an eight-year-old girl and seemed unnatural. “I don’t think you should go alone. Come with me and I can look after you.”

  “You only want to keep me away from people, keep me locked up like before.”

  “That wasn’t my doing. That was a friend of your mother’s. He wanted to protect you and keep you away from others that might try to hurt you.”

  “Why would anyone want to hurt me?”

  “Because you’re different. Someone would notice sooner or later. They would like to learn more about you.”

  “Why are you so interested in helping me? You said you work for a group. what does this group do? You said it helped people like me. Is it your plan to lock me up as well? Is that the kind of people you are?”

  “I don’t want to lock you up. But there are people here that wouldn’t know how to handle somebody like you. They would be scared of you. That won’t help you get your ship back.”

  The girl appeared to consider this. She lifted her head up to look at Linwood and Linwood saw the silver wash over the girl’s eyes. Was that a sign of her contagion? “You want to take me away. If you won’t tell me who has my ship, then you’re as good as keeping me a prisoner.”

  “That’s not true!” Linwood protested, taking a step nearer, preparing herself in case the girl made a run for it.

  “You are not what we thought. Our search has again failed us. But this is not a wasted journey. We will advance to the next protocol.”

  “The next protocol? What does that mean?”

  “It means that the creator isn’t here but we can increase our numbers and continue our search on other worlds.”

  Before Linwood could question what she meant by any of that, the girl ran towards her and leapt over the bandstand railing, landing before her like a wild cat.

  “No one wants to hurt you,” Linwood said. But, her words fell on deaf ears as the girl that was once Laura Brodie pounced and knocked Linwood to the ground.

  14

  22nd October 1983

  Linwood pushed open the police station door and trudged into the lobby. Thadeus was eating a sandwich at the counter and Callister was smoking in the lounge.

  Thadeus stopped as soon as he saw Linwood and put down his food, stepping around the counter. “Where have you been? We’ve been worried.”

  Linwood made her way to the back kitchen, dismissing Thadeus’s attempts to help her. Laura had knocked her out in the park and when she’d woken up, there was no sign of the girl and she was freezing. Her vision hadn’t quite got back to normal until she’d made her way back to the car and sat inside with the heater on for ten minutes. Even now, she felt unsteady on her feet and that was what she’d been trying to hide from Thadeus.

  “What happened to you?” Callister asked, stubbing out his cigarette in a disposable metal ashtray. He got to his feet and followed her into the kitchenette. “I’ve got Adkinson out looking for you.”

  “I’m fine. Just tell them to carry on looking for Laura. I found her at the park.”

  “The park?”

  “Just do it?” Linwood said, raising her voice. Callister looked taken aback at her tone but retreated and she heard him get on the radio to speak to his constable.

  “What were you doing in the park?” Thadeus asked. He’d slipped into the kitchenette and closed the door behind him. “You found her. What did she do to you?”

  “It’s nothing,” Linwood said. But she couldn’t help but touch the back of her head. It stung, and she checked her fingers for any sign of a cut. There wasn’t any and that at least was a small mercy.

  “Let me look,” Thadeus said, moving behind Linwood and inspecting the back of her head. Momentarily, he replied. “There’s no permanent damage. But you might want to take it easy for a few hours. Maybe go back to the hotel and get some sleep.”

  She gently brushed him aside and took a glass from a cupboard and poured herself some water. She coughed on the first mouthful, not realising how dry her mouth had become. The second was better and then she began to appreciate the dull throbbing from the back of her head. She hoped Callister had some aspirin.

  “I went to her school. I was planning on asking her friends if they’d seen her, but I got to speak to her teacher instead. She told me of a place the kids liked to play in the park so I went straight there.”

  “You should have come to find some backup first.”

  “The park was on the other side of the school. I thought I’d be done looking in minutes and if I found nothing, I’d come and get some help to look later.”

  “But she was there?”

  “Yes, she was. And I think we’ve got a bigger problem on our hands than we first thought. We could do with getting the rest of the team up here.”

  “What’s the problem? I don’t think Laura Brodie is Laura Brodie anymore. I think she’s been occupied by something else. Something that came down in one of those ships.”

  “You’re serious,” he said frowning.

  “Absolutely. When I spoke to her that first time in the police cell, it was like there was two personalities—sometimes the little girl, sometimes something else. But just now, back in the park, there was nothing of the little girl. And it spoke about integration being complete.”

  “An alien?”

  “I can’t see it being anything else.”

  “But something that can only live inside another person. A parasite?”

  “I don’t know what it is, but when I talked to her, I saw something pass over her eyes.”

  “You think that’s the entity?”

  She shrugged. “Possibly. But it’s imperative we bring it in. If this thing can occupy one person, who’s to say it can’t move onto another?”

  “You’re talking about moving consciousness from one host to another. That’s... implausible.”

  “I don’t care whether it’s implausible or not. All I know is that we need to contain her. It’s two degrees below outside and only getting colder. Laura Brodie can’t spend a night outside in these conditions.”

  She poured the rest of her water into the sink and placed the empty glass on the sideboard, a little too forcibly. “Damnit. I—”

  There was a scuffle from the front office and Linwood and Thadeus ran through to see what it was. A man was being restrained by Callister. He was a large bald man, with grey sideburns, and a red bulbous nose that surely had to be the result of a lifetime’s drinking. Callister was trying to prevent him from coming into the back office, and he was just about succeeding, but it took Thadeus to help him before the man realised he was overpowered.

  “What’s going on?” Linwood asked.

  “Where the hell is she?” the man said. He was Scottish, possibly Glaswegian, and his voice was full of anger and frustration.

  “Where is who?” Linwood said.

  Thadeus took the lead from Callister and slammed the man back against the wall so the noticeboard shook and almost fell from its hook. The man looked shocked, and his attention was pulled away from Linwood and towards the man who’d practically assaulted him. He shoved hard against Thadeus’s shoulders and Thadeus was repelled halfway across the room. Linwood stepped in between them and raised her arms before the two picked up the struggle.

  “Tell me who you’re talking about.”

  He gave her his full attention. “My daughter... you’ve got my daughter here. Callister told me as much.”

  “You’re Mr Brodie?” Linwood asked.

  “Yeah, that’s right. Let me see her.”

  Linwood shook her head. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  “And who the hell are you to tell me whether I can see my daughter or not?”

  “I’m Alice Linwood. Social services.”

  “Why are social services here?” This question he put to Callister. “You said Rachel had been in an accident.”

  Callister was nodding furiously. “I’m sorry Euan. She’s in a bad way. And there’s something else.” Callister glanced at Linwood who nodded. “There was an intruder in your house. Rachel was hurt, and her boyfriend was killed.”

  “And Laura?”

  “Laura is fine,” Linwood said, telling a white lie at this stage was probably the best thing to do. There was no point in further antagonising Laura’s father.

  Euan Brodie stepped away from the wall, and glanced at the three people in the police station. He was shaking his head. “You could have told me this when you called. “I’ve been worried sick.”

  “I’m sorry, Euan. But it was delicate. And we’re still trying to work out what happened.”

  “Have you caught him yet?”

  “Caught who?” Callister replied.

  “Are you mad? The attacker.”

  “No, I’m sorry. We’re still looking.”

  Euan sighed and turned away. For a moment, Linwood thought he might be about to cry. God only knows what stress the man’s been through if he’s been told to hurry to the island, and he’s arrived thinking that his daughter has been hurt. She wasn’t privy to what Callister had told the dad, but if he had asked her, she might not have known the best thing to tell him either. She was happy to be child free, and seeing all the terrible things that can happen to the world, and knowing what she knew after working inside MI18, Linwood was unsure whether she would ever want to have children.

  “Can I see Laura now?” Euan asked.

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Laura isn’t here,” Linwood said, readying herself for the inevitable onslaught.

  Euan’s face creased as he struggled to understand what she was telling him. “Callister told me she was here—that he was looking after her. You’re telling me she’s not here now. Well where the hell is she?”

  “I’m afraid this isn’t going to be easy, Mr Brodie. I want you to sit down.”

  He wasn’t about to sit down. He squared up to Linwood, and Linwood noticed Thadeus tensing beside her, preparing to put himself between the pair of them if need be.

  “She was being looked after here. But, she left. We’ve been trying to find her, without much luck I’m afraid.”

  “She left? You’re meant to be looking after her. How can she just leave? It’s freezing out there.”

  Linwood nodded. “We’ve got people out looking for her now.”

  Euan glared at Linwood and she wondered whether he was about to hit her, but instead, the temper slipped back and he raised his finger and jabbed it in her direction. “You haven’t heard the last of this. As soon as I find my daughter, I’m taking her back to the mainland and I’ll be reporting all of you.”

  And he turned and stormed back out of the police station leaving the three of them to look at each other and wonder what the hell had just happened.

  15

  22nd October 1983

  After Euan Brodie’s outburst at the police station, Linwood and Thadeus went to the hotel to get some dinner and freshen up. Linwood took some time in her hotel room, changing her clothes and taking advantage of the time alone to sort through her thoughts.

  The girl had been out in the cold for almost ten hours. The way she was last dressed didn’t offer her much protection from the elements at all, and if this was an ordinary girl, Linwood would be anxious for her well-being. But Laura Brodie was not an ordinary girl. If something from one of those alien ships had infected her, it wasn’t clear what kind of impact that would have on her body. When she’d seen her in the park, she’d looked different. Her skin had been pale, almost grey, and she’d seen something across her eyes, something silver. But whilst Linwood had been shivering against the cold, the girl hadn’t seemed concerned at all. Even her breath hadn’t come out in white clouds like Linwood’s.

  Could Laura Brodie survive a few more hours in the cold? Almost certainly. Would she survive an entire night when the temperature would plummet? Linwood didn’t know, and she didn’t want to be associated with any headlines about a dead girl being found after their involvement.

  She was startled out of her own head by the ringing of the hotel phone.

  It was her boss, Steven Lyles—the Director General of the security service.

  “You’d better explain why you’ve failed to mop up your business and why I’ve fielded two phone calls from Fleet Street regarding the health service alleged abuse of a girl in your care.” He sounded as angry as she’d ever known him. Steven was not a man to mess with. Thadeus had tried that and failed.

  “It’s not as simple as that, sir.” And she told him what had happened during her time on the island. All the while she was talking, something was niggling her. When she’d finished bringing him up to speed, she paused, holding back the question that was on her mind.

  “Why are you so interested in this girl?” he asked.

  “She’s one of only a handful of people on the island that we know of that saw any lights in the sky. And I believe she’s had direct contact with something that came down inside one of those ships.”

  “Contact? You’ll need to be more specific.”

  “I don’t know. She talks like she’s more than one person.”

  “She’s schizophrenic?”

  “No sir,” Linwood replied, biting her tongue. “I think she is being affected by the occupants of one of the craft.”

  “OK. Now, that’s a new one.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And how are you planning to fix this?”

  “Fix it? We’ve only just arrived.”

  “You’ve been there for over twenty-four hours and you’ve already antagonised just about everyone you’ve met. I shouldn’t be fielding questions from the press about your conduct. You’re supposed to be a secret organisation for God’s sake.”

 

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