‘If you try anything silly, I’ll know about it. And I’ll make you regret it.’ He waved the dagger at me, as though I needed convincing.
‘Where are you going?’
‘I’m going back outside to make Mr Derringher eat his words – as well as a few other things.’ A droplet of sweat or rainwater fell from his forehead. ‘Have you ever wondered, as I have, Mr Reeves, if a human being is capable of swallowing his own intestines?’ With that chilling remark, he left the room, locked the door, then marched back down the corridor to the front of the house. Looking up, I could see that the right-hand panel of the wall had been moved across, revealing the tank. At that moment the insect seemed to be hiding.
I felt ill again, understandably. Mather was indeed a monster, a fiend driven by a perverted sadism. As I pulled at the rope around my wrists I realized how drained I was. Even if it were loose, I doubt I could have done anything about it. Sitting there against the wall, feeling the mud slowly dry on my clothes and body, it was hard not to feel completely hopeless.
I looked up at the tank, and saw that the mosquito had now appeared. My head swam and began to feel very heavy. I thought about the voice I’d heard, the voice claiming to be Nhan Diep. It all seemed so absurd, and I felt foolish for believing it, despite the trauma I’d endured.
‘I’m going to pass out,’ I said to no one in particular. My head fell forward.
Numbness, then an assortment of random images. I could feel her presence again. She was trying to force her way into my head but something was holding her back. I felt as if I were being pushed into a large open space, in absolute darkness. Then she relinquished her hold on me, leaving me confused and cold.
My teeth were chattering now and my neck was aching because my head had been resting forward on my chest. I looked up and was horrified to see Mather, soaked, standing in the doorway. Then, seeing that he was still holding the dagger in one hand, my breath caught in my throat. It was dripping water and blood onto the floor. I looked him in the eye, trying to gauge his intent. He looked from me to the glass tank, then back again. I had the impression that he was desperate to do something, but wasn’t quite ready to take the next step.
‘I couldn’t help it, could I?’ He held up the dagger, wiped the blade with a handkerchief, then laid it on the bed. ‘It’s amazing how quickly lies can become a way of life,’ he said, staring at the window. I wished he would get on with it instead of toying with me. It was as if something was restraining him, and the fact that he couldn’t deal with me was causing him serious stress. He seemed to be breaking down, losing coherent thought and control over the situation.
‘I suppose Soames told you everything,’ Mather said, walking over to the bed and sitting down. ‘I should never have bullied him so much. It was unfair of me. But the experiments, they – they consumed my mind. It’s the excitement, the adventure. After the first time I just couldn’t stop.’
He was beyond help. I too felt lost; physically and mentally wrecked, and in no condition to fight, or resist. I was at the mercy of the merciless.
‘I regret none of it though,’ he went on, staring at his feet. ‘I consider the whole experience a privilege. I’ve seen things few people could dream of.’ He then let out the most peculiar and unsettling of laughs and walked over to the tank. ‘And it’s all thanks to her.’
‘Her?’
‘Yes. It was her idea to come here. Here we could continue our work undisturbed by society. I was quite unprepared for the successes that followed. The plan was so simple. We just used her as the bait. We used her to beguile unwitting fools.’
‘People will miss me. Not just my editor, but my colleagues as well. They’ll come for me. I know they will.’
‘Colleagues are different to friends and relatives. Their concern is generally minimal. They’ll have more important things to worry about than you. However, if anyone really did try to track you down, my good friend the harbour master would be able to—’
‘He’s dead.’
‘Oh yes.’ Mather had genuinely forgotten. ‘He is, isn’t he? Why did I do that?’ He looked at the dagger lying on the bed, then back at the tank. ‘Why did I do that?’ His voice was louder now. The mosquito started making the whining noise again. His eyebrows were raised. ‘They’ll come now. What then? First Soames, now Derringher. Why did you let me do it? Do you want things to fall apart – is that it?’ He started walking up and down the room, scratching his head. It was as though, for the first time, he was facing the ramifications of his actions.
‘I’m surprised the Lady isn’t upset with you for what you’ve done, I said.’
‘What?’
I couldn’t help but find comedy in Mather’s expression. He looked confused and irritated. He also seemed to be developing a nervous twitch.
‘Luring all those people to the island and murdering them was a pretty risky business. But now that you’ve killed Derringher you’ve really dropped yourself in it. People will notice his disappearance. It’s only a matter of time before they come looking for him. And how will she get her blood once you’ve been locked away? You’re her only supplier.’
Mather looked at the cage. The Ganges Red was quiet now, but I felt she could hear and understand everything being said.
‘She wanted me to do it. I’m sure she did! This doesn’t make sense. Why? Why didn’t you stop me?’ If the mosquito gave him an answer, I didn’t hear it. ‘It won’t matter. She’ll get her blood. She knows that. I’ll solve the Derringher problem. Everything will be as it was.’
‘No it won’t. People will come here soon. Lots of people. And when they do it’ll all be over.’
Mather picked up the shining dagger and gazed at the blade. ‘Not before I’ve performed one last experiment.’ He moved his gaze slowly towards me. ‘Any suggestions, Mr Reeves?’
I tried to remain calm and assertive, but it was a terrific effort. I must have been shaking all over. ‘No. None that spring to mind.’
‘You should hope no one ever finds you, Mr Reeves – because I’ll kill them if they come. Every last one of them.’ He leaped at me, blind insanity in his eyes, a focused expression of the terrible. ‘I’ll kill everyone and everything on this island if I have to, but I won’t let them take her!’
I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable.
After some seconds had passed I opened my eyes and looked up to see Mather standing over me, the dagger raised above his head in both hands, wavering. His teeth were gritted; sweat had formed on his brow from the effort he was expending. He was trying very hard to kill me, but once again some force was intervening, thwarting him. He groaned, glared at the insect in her tank, then turned and stormed out. I heard the key in the lock.
My stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but asking Mather for food was likely to be a waste of breath. The horror of it all was immense, yet I felt lucky to be alive. I forced myself to stay alert, to listen, to prepare for whatever might transpire. There was little that could be done in my bound state. My legs weren’t tied together, but it didn’t really matter. I lacked the strength to even stand up. If my wits were all I had, I’d have to keep them sharp.
A few minutes passed, the struggle to stay conscious becoming harder every second, until I heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Mather was taking a shower. I could hear him muttering to himself. Once or twice he called out some unfamiliar name. He’d murdered Soames and Derringher within an hour of each other, then he’d tried to kill me. He was cracking up. His world was falling apart around him. Something had driven him to despair. Perhaps it had been the dragonfly. He hadn’t mentioned the insect since attacking me in the forest, but it had to be on his mind.
My concentration wavered. The mosquito had started flying around the tank, clearly upset by something. Then I heard it: Nhan Diep was invading my thoughts once more. But this time the confidence and serenity were missing from the words.
Why?
It sounded almost afraid.
‘Why what?’
Why are you thinking about dragonflies?
‘None of your business.’
Tell me!
‘No. You’re a figment of my imagination. And I’m tired of having conversations with myself.’
See me
.
‘No!’
See me. Now
.
‘I don’t want to.’
Look up
.
I looked up.
Now to the left
.
My eyes moved once more to the tank, and the Ganges Red. It flicked its wings once, then twice, then:
Now do you see me?
There was no point in denying it any longer. ‘OK,’ I said, almost laughing. ‘I see you.’
Now see me. Truly see me
.
I continued to stare at the insect, transfixed now by its appearance. Although it was over in the tank, it seemed to fill my vision. Around it was what looked like television static. Tiny particles of colour fizzing around the tank, obscuring anything that might distract my attention.
The Ganges Red, despite my desperate hope that the voice had been imagined, was definitely looking at me. I could feel its gaze. It was unmistakable. And then, as if to remove the doubt in my mind once and for all, the voice came again, this time louder, more insistent, its tone commanding.
I am no figment of your imagination, Ashley Reeves. You know that. I am Nhan Diep!
I could say nothing and could think little more. My body and mind were subdued, controlled somehow. The creature’s words were completely implausible, and yet, even in the madness of that moment, I sensed the truth in them.
She continued,
Now, tell me why a dragonfly is on your mind
.
‘I don’t know,’ I replied, grinning like a mischievous child. I could feel her attitude change from concern to anger, and in that instant the sound of running water from the bathroom ceased.
XIII: MANIPULATION
Despite the depth of the mess he was in, Mather started whistling. The sound began in the bathroom, then came closer and closer, until I heard the key turn in the lock. The Ganges Red was quiet now and had once more disappeared from view.
The door opened slowly. Mather crept into the room with visible caution. As he closed the door behind him, I noticed that the dagger was now tucked into the belt of his towelling robe. He turned and stood there looking down at me, unsure what to do or say. There was a mixture of emotions in his eyes, which I failed to completely fathom. I could see the fear, however. It was unmistakable. He now viewed me as a threat, an unplanned element of danger. He’d intended to destroy me, and had been denied the kill for reasons he wasn’t totally aware of. He still wanted to destroy me – that was obvious – but I think he was afraid of what would happen if he tried again. He was stuck with me now. And he had no idea of how to proceed.
‘You really want me dead, don’t you?’ The words sprang from my mouth almost of their own accord. I’d only meant to think them.
Mather didn’t answer; instead he walked over to the recess and drew the panel across. He did it slowly, never once taking his eyes off me, worried, as unlikely as it was, that I would somehow be able to attack him.
‘You’d prefer it if I just died right now and made things easier for you. I tell you what,’ I said, feeling for perhaps the first time that I had some control. ‘Why don’t you untie me, give me the dagger, and I’ll do the job myself.’
His expression remained unchanged. I started laughing softly. Mather was unimpressed. His hand wavered over the hilt of the dagger.
‘You would do well to watch yourself right now, my friend.’ He began moving away from the panel. ‘I shall be back presently.’ He left, returning a few minutes later dressed in clean clothes. The dagger was now hidden somewhere, no doubt still within reach.
‘Up,’ he said. I was unsure I’d heard correctly, as I hadn’t seen his lips move. Then, unmistakably this time: ‘Up! On your feet!’ He moved a couple of steps towards me.
‘I can’t.’ This was true. My body was nothing but an unresponsive sack of flesh and bone. My energy was spent. ‘I can hardly talk, let alone move.’
Once again the dagger was produced and pointed at me. ‘No time for games.’
‘No time for games? There was plenty of time before! Isn’t that what you like to do? Play games with people?’
Mather walked forward another step. ‘Get up now!’
‘You’ll have to help me.’ I watched him fidget nervously, still uncomfortable with the situation. He didn’t want to help me up. I don’t think he even wanted to touch me. ‘Believe me, I don’t have the strength to put up a fight.’
‘Yes, well, you’ll forgive me if I don’t give you the benefit of the doubt.’
‘I’ll just have to stay here then, won’t I?’
‘You will go to the spare room! I need to be alone to decide what to do.’
I thought about it and realized I’d probably be better off in the other room. I’d be away from him, away from that creature, and I’d be somewhere I could get my head clear. With some effort, using the wall and window ledge behind me for support, I was able to struggle to my feet.