21st May
Helen sat on a boulder and looked by torchlight at the carving of a lizard-like creature on the column in front of her.
What, she wondered, was the connection between this symbol, ARK, the Ark of the Covenant and whatever event Sam had predicted for tomorrow?
As she looked at the carving, Helen suddenly, to her own surprise, burst into tears.
In the past few months, she had discovered things about herself that had never been previously tested – such as her own immense courage and resourcefulness. She had also discovered a surreal world of secret societies, spies, action and danger into which she had fitted as if it were a play that had been specifically written to highlight her strengths as an actress.
Helen had been carried forward on a high that had made her, subconsciously, feel invincible.
She had also, however, fallen deeply in love in a way that she had never known in her entire life.
During the past twenty-four hours, she had given Swan’s disappearance remarkably little thought – as if it had been just another curious plot-twist in her play.
Part of her had briefly wondered about that minimalist reaction. She now suddenly understood it: she had been in denial about his disappearance. The whole wonderful play would have been spoiled if she had to face the fact that she was sick with worry about Swan.
Also, if he had somehow got himself killed, the whole show would be over. Perhaps even the Earth’s survival would no longer seem important.
She wondered if she had been selfish: had he felt as she did now while she had been risking her life by piloting an American, black project spacecraft – accompanied by a mentally disturbed vicar – to kidnap an Anglican bishop?
She was pleased that Etienne was several hundred yards away, on the other side of the site, and that it was still dark. She wanted to be alone as she sobbed her heart out.
A deep rumbling sound suddenly came to her ears, and the earth beneath her feet began to vibrate.
Dust at the base of the pillar in front of her puffed into the air, and Helen glanced up to observe that pillar descending into the ground. Its top disappeared blow the surface stones – then it began to rise upwards once again.
As it continued to rise, two people appeared with it, standing on the platform that surrounded and supported the pillar – one was a woman who, at Helen’s first glance in the torchlight, looked vaguely familiar. The other was Swan.
‘Hello, Helen,’ said Swan, gesturing towards the woman. ‘Can I introduce Arkangel?’
Helen’s switch from desolation to joy happened so quickly that she simply continued to cry without hesitation.
She looked through her tears at the woman. They both stared at each other.
‘Hello, Helen,’ said Arkangel.
Helen’s mouth dropped open as she finally identified the face. ‘Shit,’ she said. ‘Hello, Angie.’