Lavender Hill (10 page)

“Well, if atoms can feel then the whole of nature can feel. We are just one part of it, part of a web of interactions and this revelation I had was so strong it was experienced by other people, including you.”

“So what is the rest of your theory? How can physical contact between atoms create the huge range of emotions we experience?”

Gabriel laughed loudly. “I’m afraid it’s not something I can explain just like that.”

“But you are going to explain your theory to other people?”

“Yes, absolutely, and it will completely change how human beings see themselves and nature. If people understand where their emotions come from, what motivates them, what makes them love, laugh, cry and hate then they will become genuinely free. It will start a revolution that will make the rest of human history look like a dark age.”

“When are you going to publish your theory?”

“I’m leaving the country today so the government can’t find me. I’ll publish the theory online in the next few months.”

“I’ll come with you,” Jack blurted out.

Gabriel went quiet for a few moments. “I only came here out of curiosity. I just wanted to meet you in person before leaving the UK.”

“I need to know more about the Rapture and your theory. I have to know.”

Gabriel paused again while thinking about Jack’s request.

“My flight is fully booked.”

“I’ll book another one in the same area you’re flying to, and then we can meet up later.”

Again, Gabriel paused to think. “You need to be ready in ten minutes. I’m sure people are searching for us.”

“OK, I’ll get ready now,” replied Jack, and rushed upstairs to pack for the journey.

Gabriel stood up and walked over to the window where Jack had seen the iridescent light on the day of the Rapture. He surveyed the scene with his mischievous eyes and allowed the memory of the Rapture to fill his mind. After a short while, Jack returned.

“I’m ready,” he said. “I’ll follow you in my car.”

Gabriel turned around. “OK, let’s go.”

*****

10:45am

Katie reached the top of Lavender Hill and stood to admire the lavender plants and the view of the town of Morbay in the distance and the sea beyond. She walked over to the bench and sat down. She had an intense feeling the scene around her was familiar, but she couldn’t capture this thought for long enough to fully understand it. Katie sat in peace for some time just thinking about the events of the previous week until she was disturbed by her phone ringing. She looked at the screen but didn’t recognise the number.

She answered the call. “Hello, Katie Sturridge speaking.”

“Hello, Ms Sturridge, my name is Brett Daniels. I work for BBC news. I’m an old friend of Mary Harton at 24/7 News and she recommended you for a position that has become available here. We would be particularly interested in your experience of reporting the Rapture.”

Katie was a bit shocked and hesitated briefly. “I would be very interested in this position, thank you.”

“Excellent, after this new development in the Rapture we really need some extra hands.”

“What new development?”

“Aren’t you still in contact with your former colleagues at 24/7 News?”

“Yes, but I’ve been investigating a lead all morning.”

“We’ve been instructed by the government not to report the news until three o’clock, but scientists are claiming tha—”

Katie looked at the screen of her phone, which was now blank.

“Damn it,” she said loudly as she realised her phone was out of battery. She was about to rush off back down the hill but hesitated. She stopped for a few moments to look out towards the sea. As she looked at the fields, hills, the town of Morbay, and the bright, blue sea she felt something similar to the day of the Rapture. She smiled and then walked through the lavender plants and into the trees to make her way down the hill.

*****

2:45pm

“Are you in a train station, Daddy?” asked Dylan.

“No, Dylan – it’s just a bit noisy where I am. Let me speak to Ella. Make sure you’re a good boy and look after your mum and sister, won’t you?”

“They’re quite big, Daddy, but I’ll try.” Dylan passed the phone to Ella.

“Ella?” asked Jack.

“Where are you, Daddy?”

“I’m just going on a quick holiday, Ella. I’ll be OK, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be thinking about you lots and I’ll contact you as much as possible.”

“Is it to do with the funny light, Daddy?”

“It is something to do with that, yes.”

“Mummy doesn’t like us talking about the funny light.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t, Ella. But you make sure you’re a good girl for your mum – you promise me?”

“I will. I’ve got to go now ‘cos mummy wants to speak to you.”

“OK, love you and say hello to Granddad and Nan for me.”

“I will. Love you too, Daddy.”

Jack waited for Sarah to pick up the phone.

“Jack, where are you?”

“I can’t tell you, Sarah. I’m going away for a while, but I’ll keep in contact.”

Sarah hesitated. “Jack, please be careful and if you need any help contact us. We all care about you, and the kids especially love you dearly.”

“Don’t worry, Sarah. I’m OK. I need to go now.”

“OK, keep in touch.”

“I will, goodbye.”

“Bye,” replied Sarah, and put the phone down.

Jack put the receiver of the phone back and turned to look around the airport terminal he was standing in. He could see Gabriel standing by the entrance to the departure lounge, so he walked over to him.

“Where have you been, Jack? What flight did you get?”

“Sorry, I was saying goodbye to my kids. I got a flight to Brazil.”

“Brazil! You do know that’s on the other side of the world to Singapore?”

“I know, sorry. But that’s all that was available to leave the country immediately. I’ll just get another flight when I arrive there.”

“OK, let’s go into the departure lounge.”

They both made their way into the departure lounge of the airport and then started to casually walk around the shops and restaurants. After a while, they came to a bar that had a large crowd gathered outside. The people in the crowd appeared to be trying to watch a large screen TV.

“Turn the sound up!” someone shouted in the crowd.

The TV was turned up and the crowd went silent. A news reporter could be heard speaking.

“...just to recap this breaking news. Various governments and institutions around the world are reporting that a signal has been received from outside our solar system from an intelligent life source...”

Gabriel laughed quietly to himself. “I wondered if something like this would happen.”

“...the message states that a delegation of representatives from other worlds will visit earth and we should prepare to meet them...”

“You still think what you’ve found is as amazing as this?” asked Jack with a look of shock on his face.

“Yes, of course I do. If you stop to think for a second you would realise they have only contacted us after we... I, have discovered the most important insight an intelligent being can have about itself, and nature.”

“...they request that the person who is responsible for the Rapture lead the delegation from earth...”

Jack and Gabriel looked at each other.

“I need to sit down,” said Gabriel, looking a little shaken.

*

Jack and Gabriel sat in the corner of a coffee shop.

“Are you OK?” asked Jack.

“Yes, it’s just so much has happened, and now this.”

“These aliens, or whatever they are, must have some Pointers amongst them.”

Gabriel laughed. “I suspect they’re all Pointers.”

“Why? What are Pointers anyway?”

Gabriel thought for a moment. “The modern world causes people to become disconnected from nature. People’s body clocks don’t follow the daily cycle. They don’t eat natural food, see natural colours and shapes. But people like you try to preserve this connection, so you are more receptive to any events that occur in the natural world. I suspect you are also more open to new experiences and sensations, which also removes a barrier. If these aliens are an advanced race then they will understand these things and could connect to nature in the same way.”

“But why did I feel the urge to point?”

“Did you feel like you wanted to share your experience of the Rapture?”

“Yes, I suppose so. Why?”

“Because then it’s natural you would want to point in the direction of something important. I also felt this need to share my experience, and I was drawn towards your direction because of the connection we had.”

“Did you feel connected to anyone as strongly as me?”

“I had a vague sense of other people, and I also had a strange sensation someone was aware of my experience but not surprised by it, as if they already understood.”

“Do you think it was these aliens?”

“No, it was someone nearby, in the direction of Morbay, but it was very faint.”

Gabriel looked up at a screen detailing flight departures. “My boarding gate’s been announced. I should go.”

Jack thought for a few moments. “One last thing, I saw a shimmering light during the Rapture. Do you know what it was?”

Gabriel laughed. “I saw that light. It began before I felt the Rapture. I think it was the Rapture passing through my eyes. You must have seen what I saw.”

“There were birds and animals reacting to it.”

“Like I said, everything in nature is connected, so they must have been reacting to the Rapture.”

Jack looked at the screen to see if his flight was also due. “Looks like mine’s been called too. Let’s go.”

They both collected their things and walked off to the entrance to the boarding gates. As they approached the point where they would have to go in separate directions, Gabriel turned to Jack and held out his hand.

“Have a safe journey. I’ll look forward to meeting up with you in Asia. And don’t lose the details of that code I gave you, so we can safely contact each other.”

“I won’t. You have a safe journey too.” Jack then paused briefly. “Who knows where this is gonna end up?”

Gabriel’s blue eyes crinkled at the edges and he smiled mischievously. “It’s exciting, no?”

Jack smiled. “Well, we’re going to find out.”

They moved apart to go their separate ways.

“See you soon,” said Jack.

“Have a good journey,” replied Gabriel.

*****

8:43pm (somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean)

The hum of the plane’s engines filled the cabin with a dull noise as Jack read his text messages:

Me: I’m not sure how long i’ll be, but i’ll contact as much as possible

Amy: Be careful Jack. I’ll miss you

Me: I’ll miss you too xx

Amy: Take care xx

Jack put his phone down and looked out of the window; the fading sunset caused the clouds the plane was flying over to become a landscape of dark valleys and glowing white ridges. The cabin lights had been lowered ready for the overnight flight, and Jack’s eyes felt incredibly heavy. He closed the shade on the window, positioned a pillow on the wall next to him and placed his head onto it. The hum of the plane enveloped him, and the sounds of people occasionally talking felt strange and distant as he became drowsy. Images and sensations from the Rapture passed fleetingly through his mind until his thoughts settled on the sensation that he was aware of, and connected to, Gabriel again. As this connection grew stronger, he realised Gabriel himself was conscious of something new. Something neither of them had experienced yet. This strange sensation was suddenly directed towards Jack, and he slowly became aware that other minds – hundreds, thousands, millions of others minds – were conscious of him. As he connected to these strange, alien, minds he felt something similar to the day of the Rapture. But hidden within this mass of alien intelligence, he slowly became aware of something else – something dark and threatening. He tried to focus on this faint sensation, but exhaustion caused him to pass into a deep sleep...

To be continued...

scroll forward to read about ‘A Brave Pause’

Dear Reader,

If you reached this far then hopefully that’s because you’ve enjoyed reading Lavender Hill! I’ve got some definite plans where I would like to take the story, and I intend the sequel to be full length. However... it takes a huge amount of time and effort to put together a book, so let me know via a review if you would like to see a sequel because then I’ll know it’s worth writing it!

I would also like to quickly introduce you to my book ‘A Brave Pause’. It’s not a sequel to Lavender Hill, more of a distant cousin. Because I intend to write a sequel to Lavender Hill, I don’t want to lose your trust by directing you to a book that’s written in a different style. So, I’ll give an outline of Brave Pause below, and you can make an informed choice.

A Brave Pause is set in a fictional coastal town called ‘Morbay’. It follows Tom, who is an old man, loner, and amateur philosopher. Tom believes he’s discovered something amazing about the brain. And in the central chapter of the book, he uses some real and imaginary neuroscience (I’m a neuroscientist) to explain what makes people open-minded. As part of his philosophy, he describes certain personalities and situations to illustrate his ideas. What he doesn’t know is that these people actually exist in the town he lives in. These separate storylines converge as the book progresses.

A Brave Pause is interactive, kind off... One of the storylines (which begins with the chapter ‘You and Me’) is intended to include the reader when Tom explains his ideas. This storyline may seem strange, and its purpose is partly explained when Tom describes his philosophy.

Also, Tom’s ideas are meant to explain how real people behave, and so the situations in A Brave Pause are intended to be realistic, although maybe, hopefully, dramatic. This is why I want to intro A Brave Pause, because you might prefer the style of Lavender Hill - mystery, sci fi, etc...

Anyway, thanks for trying Lavender Hill.

Patrick