Part 27 (1/2)

And Mrs Wilding plunged an intangible hand into each of their brains and solidified her fingers.

And they began screaming too.

' whatsgoingonwhereami? whatsgoingonwhereami? ' '

Who are you, little bright light? Why are you here?

' whereisherewh.o.a.reyouhowdidigethere? whereisherewh.o.a.reyouhowdidigethere? ' '

An interesting question. Now, if you relax, we'll try and sort out your questions. You are frowning. and sort out your questions. You are frowning.

' myheadhurtsG.o.dithurtssomuchwhydoesithurtpleasemakei myheadhurtsG.o.dithurtssomuchwhydoesithurtpleasemakei tstop! tstop! ' '

All right, but it won't stop until you relax. Now Open your eyes and tell me what you see. your eyes and tell me what you see.

' lighticanseelighticansee - lighticanseelighticansee -'

209.

Stop! Too fast. Calm down. I can't help if I can't understand. understand.

' sorryit'sjustthat.i.t'sso . . . so . . . so fright sorryit'sjustthat.i.t'sso . . . so . . . so fright ening. I'm frightened. Please help me.' ening. I'm frightened. Please help me.'

What can you see?

'A room. I'm in a room. White. The ceiling has lights and there's someone at the end of a corridor. I'm in a hospital, aren't I? Have I had an accident?'

Of sorts, yes.

'Where am I?'

We're going to help you. This place is what you want it to be. If you're seeing a hospital, that's good. Hospitals it to be. If you're seeing a hospital, that's good. Hospitals are good. They'll help you be mended. are good. They'll help you be mended.

'The person at the end of the corridor, he's coming towards me.'

Good. Is he nice?

'I think so. He's smiling. I know him, though.'

Is he going to help you? Is he a doctor? Hospitals are full of doctors and nurses. full of doctors and nurses.

'Yes. Doctor - he's a doctor. . . no, he's the the Doctor.' Doctor.'

So. Do you know him?

'He saved my life. He's a bit strange but he's weird.'

If he saved your life before and you're seeing him again, then he's probably here to help you. That's good. again, then he's probably here to help you. That's good.

'Hey. He can't get to me. I don't understand. He's running, trying to reach me but he's getting further away. Why can't I go to him?'

If he's having trouble getting to you, it's because you won't let him. How would you describe him? As a person won't let him. How would you describe him? As a person I mean? I mean?

'Oh. All right. No, nice. I mean, he's very confident.'

More than you?

'Oh yes, far more. He sorted Kerbe out and took his gun from him. Very clever.'

How did he 'sort out' this Kerbe?

'He just bulldozed his way in, took charge I suppose.'

Weren't you in charge, though?

210.

'No. No, Kerbe was. Or Thorsuun. I've never been in charge really. Not very good at it.'

I'm sure you're being harsh on yourself. You're a university professor it says here. You must be in charge university professor it says here. You must be in charge of your students. of your students.

'Nominally, yes. But frankly, not very often. They rather take the . . . er . . . mickey out of me.'

Why?

'I don't know . . . yes, I do. It's my stutter. Somehow I let them get me down. They're not a bad bunch of kids but it's so easy to lose control if you can't talk properly.'

You sound fine now You're not stuttering at all.

'No. No, I'm not. Why not?'

Who knows. Maybe your need to stutter has gone.

Why did you stutter?

'I don't know. It just happened one day. I didn't really notice it at all. People say it's a confidence thing but I'm not so sure.'

Most people stutter because of their past. Let's examine your past shall we? examine your past shall we?

'Why?'

Because we might find an answer and make you better. better.

'No! I mean, the stutter's gone. I am better.'

Are you still in the hospital with the lights and the white walls? white walls?

'Yes.'

Then you're not better. Sorry but that's the way it goes. Hey, who's this? goes. Hey, who's this?