Marla Medizza and the Miopsa mirror. Chapters twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-two.

Chapter twenty

A time to be Lucky.

They sail the sable sky. Night welcomes dawn. Dawn opens the door to the warm afternoon air. The heat of sunlight radiating against Marla’s skin. Babulous holds on tight, snuggling his furry head into her shoulder. His whiskers brush against her cheek, the touch comforting. She reaches around, placing her palm on his cheek, caressing him. Whatever Fuckus mountain has in store, she feels secure with Babulous by her side. To her, he is a protector, like her parents.

She realises that whatever lies beyond the orb of light is unknown. However, if she can stop Cornelius Darkus from escaping, she must pass through. The clock is ticking, and she must make haste.

The time for running away is over. Despair and exhaustion gave way to a newfound sense of strength. With Babulous by her side, she found new hope and drive. It will take more than a dragon to stop her.

After many hours, the mountain range becomes visible to her.

‘I presume this is the place spotting a black mountain in the distance. We need to find a landing area at the base and climb to the peak. I am not proficient enough to land this bloody thing on the peak,’ she proclaims, pushing down on the staff before beginning the ascent. Marla applies too much pressure as they descend rapidly, crashing into a tree and falling to the ground with a thud.

‘Ouch, my landing skills need modest revision,’ she moans, clambering toward Babulous.

‘Babulous, are you alright?’

Babulous lifts himself, his coat covered in sprigs, his chocolate brown eyes projecting a glimmer of turmoil. He lifts himself to his feet, pulling and tugging the twigs from his fur.

‘That was amazing, Marla dearest, fantabulous.’

‘You are funny Babulous, okay well here we are. We have a gruelling climb ahead of us. The earlier we begin, the quicker we get home, hopefully.’

‘Hopefully, Marla dearest?’

‘Yes Babulous, there is a dragon up there. One I am not keen on meeting if I am honest. I am more of your bacon sandwich, cup of tea kind of girl. I have seen this kind of thing in movies, somebody always ends up dead.’

‘In my tribe, the female is the strongest Marla dearest.’

‘In mine too. In a male dominated world, it can prove difficult to have your voice heard.’

‘You have strength beyond your own belief, Marla dearest. You have overcome a vile creature without magic. Seek light from the bleak, strength from despair and you shall triumph.’

‘Thank you, Babulous, although I am uncertain how I will achieve that.’

‘You will when the moment is upon you Marla dearest.’

They start the ascension of Fuckus mountain. The air freezes against Marla’s skin as they climb toward the unknown. Whatever lies in wait above, Marla knows she must fight. Each rock signals anxiety, each crag, fear. Her emotions battling the further they climb. What feels like a week’s slog on a freezing mountainside reaps reward as they reach the peak. Marla drops to the ground to rest for a moment and checks her prosthetic limb.

‘This was a waste of time, not a dragon in sight.’

‘According to Elspeth, the enchantress, Marla dearest. The peak of the mountain leads to the breather of the pyre.’

‘Yes, I realise that but I…’

Suddenly the ground underfoot shakes. Marla stands but loses her balance, crashing to the stone. A deafening roar crushes her heart and punishes her eardrums.

‘I think we found the beast, Marla dearest!’ screams Babulous, pointing toward the skies.

Marla soon realises they were not resting on the peak of the mountain. She and Babulous were sitting on a snarling creature, and they were about to pay the price.

‘Deci abranti, breather of pyre, obey my will,’ she screeches.

‘Deci abranti, black serpent, do as I command!’

Suddenly, a taloned hand grabs them and lifts them into the air. The beast snarls, its eyes blood red, and the fire from its snarl scalds Marla’s skin. The beast growls and roars, its immense razor sharp teeth dangerously near Marla’s eyes. She freezes as the demonic behemoth glares.

‘Deci abranti, do as I command,’ the beast snarls.

‘Your spells have no power here. I am the king of this mountain and impervious to your nonsense.’

‘You can communicate?’

‘Yes, are you surprised?’ it responds, planting them both onto the chalky ground.

‘I apologise, I should not have presumed. It is that you are a….’

‘A dragon?’

‘To be frank, yes.’

‘I am a dragon, a pyre breather, a night reaper, a death stalker and a soul stealer. You snivelling little humans have given me these names. I am a creature like you. I choose to live in peace on this planet. You vile, stinking humans forced me into exile, so I exist on top of a bleak, drab chunk of rock. When I’m not scavenging for food, I’m dreaming of a comfortable pile of hay on which to rest.

Marla stares at the beast, her expression disbelief

‘I think humans fear you, that is why they exiled you.’

‘How can they fear me, I have never harmed a soul?’

‘May I interject for a moment?’

‘Of course, Babulous.’

‘I presume the humans fear you because you have enormous teeth, razor sharp teeth, and the glare of lunacy. Coupled with the minor issue of the capacity to breathe fire. How should you expect humanity to react to your presence? Welcome you with open arms, warm tea, and cucumber sandwiches?’

Marla glares at Babulous, following his ill timed outburst. She scowls, preferring he had not opened his mouth. Closing her eyes and awaiting a fireball to consume her flesh.

‘You have a big mouth for a rabbit,’ scowls the dragon.

‘I think what my friend is suggesting, albeit extremely. If you conveyed your message to the people, just as you have today, it may help. I am not saying they will welcome you with open arms. Maybe they will learn to live alongside you.’

The dragon stops snarling and perches.

‘So human woman and rabbit, why have you visited my domain?’

‘We want to fly to the forest of Velucius and locate the orb of Light. My great aunt Elspeth informed us of its location. We need to pass through the orb of Light to stop Cornelius Darkus from escaping the miopsa mirror. If….’

‘Slow down, young human. You mentioned your great Aunt Elspeth. Are you referring to Elspeth Medizza, the enchantress?’

‘Yes, or at least that is what everybody keeps calling her. I found her more loopy than enchanting. Horses for courses I guess.’

‘I am struggling to comprehend how you visited her. Elspeth the enchantress perished hundreds of years before this day. She exists now, only in legend.’

‘It’s a lengthy tale. I need your help. We have limited time. If I do not return to my world, I fear that my family will be in grave danger.’

‘Carry on mortal girl.’

‘I miss my Mam and sisters; I just wish to travel home. I no longer care if the miopsa mirror is correct. Cornelius Darkus can kiss my northern arse. I do not care if he was holding my…’

‘You can say it Marla dearest, do not be nervous.’

‘I appreciate that I can say it Babulous, I just don’t want to. Cornelius Darkus plans to cut off my head. There I said it. Happy now!?’

‘I know of this evil you utter, Cornelius Darkus, the witch hunter. The man, Medusa Medizza, cast into a mirror many hundreds of years ago. What I am yet to fathom is why he seeks to harm you. No offence, you are just a lowly little human woman.

‘I know right, I haven’t got a clue to be honest with you. I could understand if he wanted to chop off my elder sister’s head.’

The dragon sighs, his eyes scouring the aquamarine void high above the peak.

‘I will carry you to the threshold of the forest of Velucius. Once there, you must enter on foot at your own peril. There are many demons that exist within its vile darkness. The thought of entering chills me to the bone.’

‘Demon you say?’

‘The forest of Velucius is not a place for a lowly human and rabbit. The darkest demonic creatures you will ever lay your eyes on inhabit that grizzly place.’

‘If that thing calls me a rabbit one more time, I….’

‘Hush Babulous. You are a dragon. I presumed dragons to be mighty and frightened of nothing?’

‘I am a dragon. The fire from my snout is powerful enough to obliterate. My talons are so sharp they can slice through steel and my strength is unequalled, and yet…’

‘Yes?’

‘Since the time I was a whelp, I have suffered from emotional bouts. I am not sure how to explain what I feel.’

‘Take your time, I am listening.’

‘I have experienced nightmares and awful anxiety attacks. There I said it,’ declares the colossal beast sitting before them.

‘May I, Marla dearest?’

‘If you must, Babulous.’

‘Mister dragon, you are the ugliest, I mean scariest looking thing I have encountered on my life travels. You say you suffer panic attacks; I have heard nothing so ridiculous!’

‘Babulous, don’t be so rude!’ scowls Marla.

‘I apologise for my friend; he did not mean to antagonise you.’

‘Far from it, mortal girl. I am not insulted. Your friend is correct, in theory, I should dread nobody, and yet I do. Sometimes I wish I were mortal, so I could experience how it feels to scamper through fields of crimson poppies. To relax on a waterfront and consume ice cream.’

Marla does not counter, extending the creature a dumbfounded expression.

‘I can visualise it now, a dragon gliding through an expanse of flowers. A half eaten ice cream hanging from its razor sharp talons.’

‘Babulous hush. My friend Tracey suffers anxiety attacks. It must be awful for you. My name is Marla, and this one is my friend Babulous.’

‘Charmed to meet with you, you may call me Lucky.’

‘That doesn’t sound like the name given to a demonic creature,’ blurts Babulous.

‘You are correct, little one. My birth name is Lucarian Demontas Majestan. Saying that name raises my anxiety levels. I chose the name Lucky, because it is easy to pronounce, and it represents how I wish to remain.’

‘It especially honoured us to meet with you Lucky, right Babulous?’

‘Yes, I guess Marla dearest.’

‘So, you mentioned your desire to travel to the forest of Velucius. Climb onto my back, we have a swift journey ahead of us.’

They climb onto the tail of the creature and ascend as it prepares to begin flight.

‘Hold on tight.’

The beast lunges toward the skies. They grip on for dear life as they slice the cerulean canvas. The beast roars, its wings cut through the air. The mountain range disappears out of sight as the flight of the dragon increases in speed. Within moments, the beast descends and settles into the drudgery.

‘Wow, that was sudden,’ declares Marla, scaling the back of the beast to the ground.

‘This is the forest of Velucius, Marla. I cannot step into the bleak. The orb of Light will show itself to you if you stay pure of heart. Remember, follow the path and keep vigilant.’

‘Praise you Lucky. I hope that one day you can eat ice cream and run through the fields of blossoms.’

Marla presses her face against the scaly, heated skin of the beast.

‘Farewell and godspeed, Marla Medizza.’

The beast lunges toward the azure atmosphere, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Marla turns and stares into the grim thicket before her. Whatever awaits them amongst the thicket must be evil beyond compare. Monsters that can scare a mighty dragon must be feared, and they are waiting for her in the darkness.

Chapter twenty-one

A harsh lesson in listening.

‘This looks charming, not!’ croaks Marla, staring into a charcoal broth of unfamiliar ingredients. Her nostrils are saturated by the revolting stench of rot. Her eardrums sucking in the silence, reverberating despair. One step forward may be one stride too much. She recognises the last chapter of their journey back to the world she knows and loves. Taking a deep sigh, she performs a single stride.

‘Is there another path, Marla dearest?’

‘What do you mean Babulous?’

‘Another approach toward the orb of light?’

‘I don’t know, but I realise why Lucky was afraid of entering this place, it gives me the shits. Whether or not we want to do this, we have no choice Babulous. We must continue moving.’

They skulk further into the black. The hair on the back of Marla’s neck stand to attention. Wailing in the distance and invisible wall she must break.

‘Hide Babulous!’ she orders, as they take shelter next to a tree.

She observes a shadowy outline floating aimlessly a few feet away from them.

‘What is it, Marla dearest?’

‘I am clueless Babulous, but whatever is out there, I don’t think it wants to be our friend.’

The macabre apparition slides along the bark of a tree. It is cloaked, its face merely a macabre, eyeless skull. Marla shudders, the thumping of her heart echoing through her head.

‘Marla, I need …’

‘Do not fart under any circumstances Babulous, just hush, it will pass us in a moment.’

The figure drifts past them. Marla climbs to her feet. As she moves, they are snatched into the night sky by the twisted branch of a tree. She screams, her bones crushing against the sharp wood. She can see Babulous high above, suffocating, his throat gripped by a branch. The entire forest awakens, trees with demonic faces snarling and spitting at them.

‘Let go of me!’ she fumes.

The tree spits in her face and snarls, branches ripping at her dress.

‘That’s revolting. Let go of me now!’ she snorts.

Her eardrums pick up the noise of Babulous wailing. She reaches into her bag, hauling out the little black bottle her Mum named the decimator and thrusts it through the air toward the tree. A blinding, brilliant white light burst into her vision. Screams bursting her eardrums as she plummets to the ground. She stares, part of the forest a charred treeless desert.

‘You were right Mam,’ she announces in amazement before running toward Babulous.

‘Babulous, are you okay?’

‘I am okay Marla dearest; you need to get out of here swiftly.’

‘This place gives me the shits, Babulous. Stay behind me but remain close.

They nip toward the bleak. The echoes of crying can be picked up in the distance. A bead of perspiration births from her brow and cascades her cheek.

‘I wish I had never visited Nans. I honestly do,’ she mumbles.

Sadistic screams surpassed by the sound of scampering feet nearby. She halts, pushing her beak into the bleak.

‘What is it, Marla dearest?’

‘I do not know Babulous, just stand tight.’

Her periphery picks up eyes glaring at them from amongst the trees, in the bushes, everywhere. Suddenly, the ground begins to tremble under a spate of scurrying footsteps. Marla steps backward, losing her foothold, collapsing. What she sees next is dread incarnate, her eyes striving to grasp the darkness enveloping her.

She regains her composure, climbing to her feet. A dozen or more repulsive looking critters. Small in stature, but frightening. Their black, demonic eyes locked on her. Their snarling snouts are awash with needle-shaped fangs.

‘Marla dearest, I fear we may be in danger,’ whispers Babulous, pointing out the downright obvious.

‘Please wait, we come in peace. We need to pass,’ announces Marla.

‘Well, that’s regrettable, because you have encountered trouble’ conveys a sound from the obscurity. A shadow reflects in the lunar lit puddle. An obese balding man shows himself.

‘Hounds sit,’ he orders. The grizzly beasts slump to the ground.

‘You are intruding in my forest, mortal. Nobody trespasses in my kingdom and lives to tell the tale.’

‘Your forest?’

‘Yes, my forest.’

‘As I clearly explained, we are not searching for trouble. We are trying to locate the orb of light. We are aware it exists in the forest of Velucius.’

The stout man chuckles sardonically.

‘The orb of light you claim, if this exists, why have I never noticed it. I have ruled over the forest of Velucius for hundreds of years. Legend has it that only one true heart and with superior power can see it. I am the most powerful Santian in the fifth dimension. If I have never seen this orb, how can a puny mortal like you see it?’

His ramblings ring rage through Marla’s core. The red mist cloaking her eyes.

‘First, I am not a puny girl, I am a woman. Second, I am a northern lass, we are forged from steel. Third, and this is the part I want you to pay close attention to. I have had a dreadful few days. My prosthesis is killing me. My period is due any moment and I am in no mood for the bullshit falling from your mouth.’

‘If you wish to pass, you must pay the toll!’ the man demands.

‘Which is?’

‘Your soul.’

‘Hang on, let me get this straight. To pass through this forest, which obviously does not belong to you. We have to part with our souls?’

The man snarls at Marla's contempt of him.

‘It is your existence or your soul, you choose.’

‘No deal.’

‘What?’

‘Our souls or our lives, you cannot have them.’

‘Just give me your souls and you will be granted safe passage.’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘That’s right, no, we are giving you nothing, diddly squat, zilch!’

‘You ignorant little mortal. By the power within me, I shall suck your souls from your rancid carcasses.’

‘How?’

‘What do you mean, how?’

‘To surrender our souls, we must agree to do so, correct?’

‘In theory, yes.’

‘Well, we don’t agree, so you cannot have them.’

The stout man expresses bewilderment, overcome with despair.

‘I will make a pact with you, little girl. You give me one of your souls, that of your rabbit? I will allow you to keep yours, do we have an agreement?’

‘Nope,’ Marla retaliates nonchalantly.

‘You are not playing fair puny useless mortal.’

‘You stand there demanding our souls, with menaces I may add. You have the bloody cheek to say we are not playing fair. Are you for real?’

‘A toll must be paid young one, a gift must be given.’

Marla reaches into her bag; her hand feels the tinfoil, and she pulls it out.

‘This’

‘What is it?’

Marla opens the tin foil revealing a crusty half eaten cheese sandwich, revealing it to the man.

‘What is this you show me?’

‘This is err, magical cheese on super bread.’

‘Magical cheese, you say, what does it do?’

‘You take a bite from the magic cheese bread thing and then, err…’

‘Yes?’

‘Err, after a while, around three hours you will gain superpowers.’

‘Superpowers, you say, please explain.’

‘Look mister, do you want the super cheese sandwich or not?’ she snaps.

‘I will accept your gift, young human,’ he mutters, fingering the foil with his stubby fingers.

‘Will you grant us safe passage?’

‘Yes, of course, you may walk through my forest unharmed.’

Marla raises her eyebrows to him and marches forward.

‘Stupid little man,’ she mumbles.

‘Impressive Marla.’

‘What was?’

‘That, what you undertook, you are a woman and…’

Marla stops and glares at Babulous.

‘And?’

Babulous gulps, ‘Please forgive me Marla dearest, the man you so firmly bargained with is a Santian.’

‘And?’

‘You shrugged off one of the most dominant forces in the fifth dimension. He allowed this to happen. Either your Mother’s cheese sandwiches are a thing of legend, or…’

‘Or?’

‘Or you are Marla dearest.’

‘I can assure you Babulous, my Mams cheese sandwiches are the stuff of nightmares.’

They tread further and deeper into the darkness. Marla spots a faint light emanating in the distance.

‘I think that is it Babulous, the orb of light, hurry, we do not have much time.’

‘I see nothing Marla dearest.’

‘Trust me Babulous, we need to hurry, we need to pass through it.’

‘Marla dearest, I…’

‘Come on Babulous, run!’ she trembles, taking him by the hand.

She sprints toward a brilliant tornado twisting blaze of light.

‘Hold on tight Babulous!’ she insists, jumping headfirst into the orb.

Her body is snatched, weightless as she is thrust into a kaleidoscope of every changing tunnel of light and colour. Twisting and turning through time and space as she is propelled further. The brilliant light ends. Darkness follows as her body is cast from the light to the ground. Marla cannot open her eyes, fearing what may be. Gently touching each part of her body, she is relieved she is in one piece. She squints at first and opens her eyelids. A wave of relief washes over her. She is home, her Grandad’s car merely a few feet away from her. She lifts herself from the grassy verge and brushes at her knees.

‘We did it Babulous, I knew we could, we are home,’ she announces excitedly.

She turns around, Babulous is nowhere to be seen.

‘Babulous?’

Chapter twenty-two

Lost in time.

‘Babulous, where are you?’ she squawks, rummaging through the surrounding growth. Silence answers her plea. She searches, frenzied and fearing the worst.

‘Babulous, this is not funny. You are in serious trouble if you are hiding from me!’ she snaps.

A sense of hopelessness and despair shrouds her. She struggles to take a breath, drowning in sorrow.

‘Babulous, please come back,’ she cries, floating through an ocean of salty tears.

The hours pass by muted. They do not answer her prayers.

`I cannot carry on without you. Come back, I am begging you. I am sorry for shouting at you Babulous. Sorry for being such a grumpy cow. Every day I spent with you has been the best. I promise I will listen to you more if.’

At that very moment, a shrill light torches her mind as she remembers his words.

‘Marla dearest, I need to speak with you about the orb.’

‘Hush for a moment, Babulous.

‘Trust me Babulous, come we need to hurry, we need to get through the orb.’

‘I need to explain.’

‘Hush, will you!’

‘You were trying to explain that you could not pass through the orb and I did not listen to you.’

Marla is bereft of strength, she weeps; the orb of light is no longer. She has lost her friend.

‘I need to ring, Mam,’ she trembles, climbing to her feet and clambering into the car.

She drives along the street, staring into the distance. Her mind recalling their adventures, her heart bleeding. Everything she has experienced was only possible with Babulous by her side. A dreaded sense of fear flourishes from her, recognising that once again she is alone.

After many heartbroken miles, she stops on the roadside by a telephone box and exits the car. She enters and dials home.

‘Hello?’

‘Mam, it's Marla, I am safe.’

‘Pardon me?’

‘Mam, please, I don’t have the time or energy for game playing!’

‘I am sorry, but I do not know what you are saying. I don’t have a daughter named Marla.’

‘Mam stop fooling around, Stella is that you?’

‘There is nobody named Stella living here. I expect you have dialled an incorrect number.’

Marla places the phone on the receiver, and then redials, vocalising each digit.

‘Hello’ speaks the same voice.

Marla places the phone back again. She is disoriented and heartbroken. Her prosthetic limb causes her great discomfort. She slumps, exhausted, confused and broken. This time she is alone.

‘I need to reach home,’ she quakes, attaching her seatbelt and twisting the key as the steel beast growls.

She travels back to the petrol station she encountered a few days earlier. The steel beast snarls, prowling the forecourt. The place looks different. She spots a man standing behind the kiosk counter. He stops and stares through the window. Marla exits the car and walks inside.

‘Good afternoon.’

‘Good afternoon, I need an A to Z please.’

The man stares at her with an odd expression.

‘That will be five pounds please.’

‘Five pounds, that’s outrageous. I purchased one a few weeks ago for a fraction of that price.

‘I don’t decide the price, I just sell the product. That will be five pounds, please!’ he snaps.

Marla reaches into her pocket, yanking out five one-pound notes.

‘What are these?’

‘They are five one pound notes!’

‘We do not accept those here, they are ancient.’

‘I don’t think so, I spent them here yesterday?’

‘Not here you didn’t.’

Marla steps back, glancing at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Suddenly the front page of a newspaper catches her eye. With one glimpse, her life force ebbs away and drips to the tiled floor as the pipes in her body crack and spill.

‘Are you feeling alright, you look pale?’

Marla staggers out of the petrol station. She feels woozy and frightened. Conversation with her great aunt Elspeth crashes through her recollections.

‘Humans are not equipped to handle time travel, not even witches, Marla. Nobody understands the repercussions of altering the past or the future. The results could be catastrophic, not just to you, but to many others dearest.’

She collapses into the driver’s seat of the car, realising by entering the orb she has thrust herself into a future time zone.

Marla yearns to see her mum again. Even though Babulous is no longer with her, she must not give in. Entering the orb was her decision, and now she must reap the harvest of her actions. Her great aunt was correct.

If she stayed with her aunt, she could have avoided this tragedy. She realises by doing that, her family will be at risk. A bigger picture hung in the gallery of her conscience. Cornelius Darkus is close to escape, to stop him she has to go back home and speak with her mum.

She gasps, twists the key in the ignition and starts the long trip home.

After many hours of driving an exhausted Marla pulls the car over outside her home and strides toward the front door. She reaches into her pocket and drags out her door key; it does not fit the lock. She struggles to push it in, twisting and turning it. The sound of footsteps behind the door pricks her ears. She stares as the door creaks ajar. An unfamiliar face greets her.

‘Hi, can I help you?’ asked a stranger, standing in the doorway of Marla’s home.

‘Who the heck are you?’

‘I am Annabelle. Are you the person who rang earlier?’

‘Yes, I did, this is my home.’

‘I do not know what you are talking about. This has been my home for many years.’

‘That’s not true, we live here, me, my mam and sisters!’

‘Shall I call somebody for you?’ queries the lady, pulling out an unusual looking plastic device from her pocket.

‘I need to find my Mam, I am lost, I don’t know what is happening to me.’

‘Do you have a mobile phone, love?’

Marla peers at her surroundings. The house looks familiar, and yet everything has changed.

‘A what?’

‘Mobile phone, can I ring someone for you?’

‘I don’t have one of them. I lived here once; I am just so sorry to have troubled you.’

‘Please don’t leave. Come, I will make you a cuppa. We can work this out together.’

‘I can’t stay. I need to find my Mam,’ Marla sobs.

She staggers back toward the garden gate. Her head is spinning, her heart in pieces. She Sprints across the street toward the park. A torrent of tears slipping from her eyes left in a trail behind her. The park has changed, the tall slide no longer, the roundabout has dissapeared. She slumps next to a tree and weeps.

‘What is happening to me?’

Suddenly something dawns on her. That happened at the petrol station only a few hours earlier.

The date in the newspaper, August twenty, 2018.

She gasps, she has crossed dimensions, thrust into another time. Her own future, far from her original timeline, with no way back. Her family, Babulous, the orb, is lost in time.

‘What have I done.’ she sobs.

She lifts her aching frame and walks out of the park. Passers-by staring at her, laughing, and pointing. Trudging toward the shopping centre, she passes what was her favourite music store.

She pauses and stares into the window, recalling the fun she had with her friends, rifling through the endless rows of sleeved vinyl. Those joyous moments transformed into a crusty old pawnshop.

She takes a seat on a bench and watches as the people pass her by, their fashion sense odd, drab to her. They snigger, point and chuckle. She is alone, scared and mortified by their horrid whispers as they pass her.

‘What has the world become?’

‘Michael, I am just nipping into the bakery,’ sounds a voice. A voice she recognises. She pulls herself to her feet and turns around, spotting a mature lady peering through the bakery window.

‘Bell, is that you?’