Episode 2 - Chapter 95

As the voice in her head finishes, the room begins to ripple and shimmer with shards of colour. Above the television, a beam of blue light swims in the air, an insubstantial eel. By the back wall, a red beam, probing and searching. Emerging from beneath the sofa, a snake of green hovers above the carpet.

The beams are not moving at random, they have a purpose, looking for something, and more are appearing: orange in the doorway, yellow in the fireplace, violet by the bookcase.

Red and orange beams meet, entwine, continue searching side by side.

“What's happening?” cries Mary.

Episode 2 - Chapter 94

[What?]

{...this house...your family...you...this is the imbalance it seeks to correct...}

“How long do you think it will take?” Edward asks. “To put things right, I mean?”

“A few more hours and it should be over.”

[How do I know you're telling the truth?]

{...look in your heart...do you trust these creatures...}

“And will you be able to rescue Mr Raven?” Mary asks.

“I fear he is now lost to the Forest.”

[What do I do?]

{...come to us...find Raven...he'll know what...}

[Oak will never let me leave]

{...be ready...we'll let a friend in...}

Episode 2 - Chapter 93

“We are creatures of the moment,” Oak continues to Edward, keeping his eye firmly on Fiona.

“Oh yes? How's that?” Edward asks.

{...careful...it cannot know i am here...it will not hesitate...}

[Hesitate to do what?]

{...end you...}

“We preserve the balance. If there is balance, we need not be.”

[What do you want with me?]

{...to make things right...}

“So you only see the world when it's broken?” Robert asks.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“Funny kind of a life.”

[How will you do that?]

{...by stopping the Forest destroying all we have touched...}

Episode 2 - Chapter 92

“Don't get up?” asks Edward.

“We do not live in days or weeks or moons, nor even in the cycle of the seasons.” Oak replies.

Fiona forms the words in her mind.

[An apology for what?]

{...what has been done to you...}

“You're apologising for ruining my life?” She gasps a little, realising she has spoken aloud.

Oak pauses to look at her. “I'm sorry, did you say something?”

“No, sorry,” she replies. “Well yes, actually, talking to myself. I can't get used to the silence.”

{...only speak here...we are sorry you were used...}

Episode 2 - Chapter 91

“Different? How so?” Edward is chattering away but she's not really paying attention, she's trying to listen to the other voice.

“We don't actually get up in the morning, for a start.” She hears Oaks' reply when

{...you cannot trust them...}

It's just there, in her mind, another voice. The voice she's always heard. But it isn't singing now, just talking. Picturing the word in her mind, she replies:

[Hello?]

{...hello...}

[Who are you?]

{...you know the answer to that...}

[What does that mean? No, forget that. What do you want?]

{...can I start by offering you an apology...}

Episode 2 - Chapter 90

...a place that is no place, standing tall...

...the girl from two worlds with her broken mind

knows not where to look, nor what she'll find

suspicions aroused, tensions on edge

tired and weary of perilous ledge...

...looks here and there for cracks in the wall...

...strangers give orders like thieves in the night

bereft of a thought as to who has the right

locked in the war endlessly fought

for the damage they wreak they don't have a thought...

...for someday quite soon that wall may fall...

...your narrator must leave now, to whisper and glisten

for a girl from two worlds has started to listen...

Episode 2 - Chapter 89

You could slice the atmosphere in the living room when we returned with the tea. Oak leaned toward my husband, imploring look upon his face.

“Apology accepted!” Edward announced, springing to his feet. He winked at me, taking the tray. “You people fascinate me.”

“We do?”

“Oh yes! All of this Weave stuff, this is everyday stuff to you, but to us, phew! It scrambles the mind. I don't know how you do it, get out of bed everyday to face this bedlam.”

“Well,” Oak replied, “Our perception of time is different to yours.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 88

An uneasy silence settled over the room, broken only by stray whispers and the rattle of tea cups emerging from the kitchen.

After a few long minutes, Oak leaned forward. “Edward,” he said with a softer tone, “You must forgive my abruptness. In situations like these, I prefer to avoid thinking about the maybe's. Speculation is generally pointless. When the time for action presents itself, I am sure there will be many options before us. I think there is still much we do not know, and much more for us to learn before that time is upon us.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 87

“So,” I said to Oak, “Rose tells us you're an Authority?”

“A grandiose title, little more,” he replied.

“But she said that you're empowered to make structural decisions.”

Oak shot Rose a stern glance when I asked that, so I pressed on. “What might they be, I wonder? Structural decisions?”

Oak looked at me directly, a look far older than anything I'd ever seen.

“I am optimistic,” he said, “that there will be no need for us to find out.” His tone was final, that would be the end of that conversation.

Episode 2 - Chapter 86

In the kitchen, Fiona caught my eye. “I can hear the voice again,” she whispered.

“That's nice dear. What do you think they're going to do?”

“No, you don't understand,” grabbing my hand. “I can hear the voice.”

“Oh dear.”

“I thought that too. It started when we opened the wardrobe, but it's not like before, it's not telling me what to do.”

“Well what is it doing?”

“I don't know, it's weird. It's almost like its trying to start a conversation.”

“Well then, you better find out what it wants to talk about.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 85

“On the contrary,” Oak replied, “If the denizens of the Weave are staying away, it will not be by choice. Which suggests there is a bigger picture yet to be seen. We should hold fast, and await what transpires. Perhaps in the meantime,” he smiled at mum, “We might partake of some refreshment?”

“Oh, yes,” Mary replied. “Tea?”

“That would be delightful.”

Mum stood, heading for the kitchen.

“I'll give you a hand,” said Fiona, tagging along.

The cats, meanwhile, had curled up by Oak, keeping an eye and an ear open to proceedings.

Episode 2 - Chapter 84

“Pardon?” Oak looked dumbfounded.

“Not a single one.”

“Curious. Not even a passing surfer or remote viewer?”

“Nothing.”

“How can that be, I wonder? A house this rich with the Weave, it should be like a beacon to all manner of waifs and strays. It should be jumping with unwanted visitors, yet nothing.”

“What does that mean?” my wife asked.

“It means, dear lady, that there is yet more to be revealed about this occurrence.”

“That's why I called you,” Rose told him. “We should take action now, before the situation complicates further.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 83

“Anyway,” he continued, “They've been a part of the proceedings, have they not?”

I told him that they had.

“Then it is only right that they be present.”

“But...” started Rose, but he silenced her with a glance.

“You forget, my dear Rose, they are a part of the Forest, just as much as you or I. They simply choose, as is their right, to walk in the Weave as well as the Warp. Now, tell me, how many intrusions have occurred since your arrival?”

“That's the odd thing,” she replied, “There haven't been any.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 82

Oak paused, sniffing the air before continuing. “You may come out now.”

The cats emerged from behind the sofa. “There we are,” Oak said, “and aren't we both pretty?”

The cats walked taller when they heard this. He produced something from his pocket, I couldn't see what, and offered it to them. They came straight to his hand, in turn accepting some kind of treat.

“You can't just let them in here,” Rose protested, “they'll queer the readings.”

“I think,” he replied with a laugh, “the readings are queer enough all by themselves.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 81

 He may have been old and wizened, but Oak's presence filled the room. When I stood to shake his hand I felt dwarfed by him, even though I stood a good foot taller. He shook my hand, then Robert's, and finally bowed to the ladies.

“On behalf of the Forest and its associates,” he said, “I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to you all for the inconveniences you've had to endure these past few hours. May I assure you all that we will do our utmost to bring events to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 80

...so let us put thought of none places aside...

...in a house of fractured dreams

where prancing fools have schemed their schemes

another player will surely come

another foe, another drum...

...for a place that is no place has nowhere to hide...

...come forward bright player, walk the stage

review the transcript page by page

this broken down house has plenty more

secrets to tell than it has told before...

...why should it hide when there's nothing to fear...

...pieces are moved into place on the board

an endgame approaches, points to be scored...

Episode 2 - Chapter 79

Once more he emerges from his tent into the forest glade. He sighs and smiles to himself, the camp is gone.

Finally, he is alone with the trees.

He is still lost in the Weave, but this woodland glade reminds him of another time, and another glade. One he'd often visit in the Warp, a home of sorts. Or at least a place that reminded him of a time before the conflict.

He sits on the trunk of a felled tree, enjoying the feel of sunlight on skin.

A voice behind him speaks “Finally, Corvus, you're finding your way.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 78

The men are busy preparing weapons, cutting nocks into arrows, sharpening swords. Their leader will hang at dawn unless they can rescue him from the king's men.

[Better.]

The women of the camp prepare food for that evening's meal, or make repairs to damaged clothing. The whole camp is alive with activity and anticipation....

[Still not me.]

...of the struggle to come. Their reputation is growing, their numbers swell daily, but all may be lost if their leader is executed.

He steps back into his shelter, reaching for his sword, before turning and preparing to enter the camp.

[Think woodland.]

Episode 2 - Chapter 77

He walks through the camp, exchanging jokes with his men. He is proud of them. Proud to be their commanding officer.

[No.]

The spirit they have shown in the face of overwhelming forces fills his chest. This is what makes Britain Great!

[This is not me.]

As he passes the sergeant's tent, he thinks he might check the plans once more and ducks inside. He casts critical eye over the papers before preparing to leave, satisfied they have planned well. He reaches to push back the flap...

[Think tent.]

...emerging into the dappled afternoon sunlight of the bustling forest camp.

Episode 2 - Chapter 76

“Is that even possible?”

“Possible, yes.” The nomad chuckles. “But I think that is also the route to madness. We have other means. Now go.”

He takes a deep breath, steels himself and pushes through the tent flap...

...onto the banks of the Buffalo river. The camp is a hive of activity, the men fully focused on the task at hand. They work quickly, building barricades, erecting defences.

[No.]

They know there is little time before the enemy arrives with vastly superior numbers. The decision has been taken to defend the trading post and mission. They follow their orders precisely.

Episode 2 - Chapter 75

“Now,” says the nomad. “If you are rested we should return you to whatever dance it has in mind for you, before your absence is noted. Know this, tinkerer. We are tracking you. If opportunity manifests, we will be there.”

“It calls itself the Peacock Prince, if that means anything to you?”

The nomad pauses for a moment before shaking his head. “Nothing,” he says, “But we will look deep.”

“Well it seems to know me, if that helps.”

“You think we might trace it's history through the Weave by tracking your victories?”

Episode 2 - Chapter 74

“So you and your tribe,” he asks, “You move freely in the Weave?”

“We do.”

“You are not lost?”

The nomad roars with laughter. “Lost? How can I be lost? I am right here?”

“But here in the Weave, not in the Warp where you belong.”

“Foolish bird! The arrogance of the Forest is that it has always presumed to know what's right for men. To know their hearts. I could return to my Vatican cell by morning, but why should I want to when there are such wonders to behold right here?”

Episode 2 - Chapter 73

“And has it not been wondrous?” The nomad asks, smile beaming.

“Not exactly, no. None of it makes any sense, it's all so random.”

The nomad laughs again. “That, tinkerer, is the beauty of it. If a thing has been imagined or dreamt, it is here. It's all here, sloshing about. All its marvellous glory.”

“Glory it maybe, but it's hard to find your way.”

“To move freely in the Weave, you must abandon linear thought and instead travel by association and juxtaposition. But above all else,” he warns darkly, “Beware the Lord of Doors.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 72

“Bring refreshments,” the nomad calls, “We have a guest. Make yourself at home, tinkerer.”

“How long have I been gone?” he asks.

“From the Warp? A few hours, little more.” The nomad begins to peel layers of cloth from head and body.

“Feels more like years.”

“Time moves differently here in the Weave.”

Protective layers removed the nomad is revealed, a middle aged european, with shaved head and goatee. He fills two chalices with water, offering one to Raven.

“And how have you occupied those years?”

“By living thousands of imaginary lives.”

Episode 2 - Chapter 71

The nomad leader reaches out, helping him to his feet. “You have proved a difficult bird to track.”

“Well,” he replies, “I've not exactly been the master of my own destiny of late.”

The nomad laughs. “Let us seek more comfortable surroundings.” He pulls back a curtain, revealing the wooden panel behind. “After you.”

“But it's a wall.”

“Only if you allow it to be. Push through, it will offer no resistance.”

Raven steps forward, expecting another bump to the head. Instead he slides through the panel, emerging into a luxurious bedouin tent.