He scowled at the blotter on his desk, tracing the ornate gold tooling of the leather with a neatly manicured finger. This lady is both vague and a hysteric, he said almost to himself. It would not entirely surprise me if she did not turn up. He picked up the file on his desk and turned back the cover.
Jo felt a sharp stab of disappointment. Are people usually apprehensive about your treatment? she asked after a moments pause.
He looked at her thoughtfully. It would be strange if they were not.
Sarah appeared in the doorway. Sorry, Carl, shes not coming. She says her daughter is ill and she has to go to see her. I told her shed have to pay for the appointment anyway-
Bennet gave a sharp gesture of dismissal. He stood up abruptly. I am sorry, Miss Clifford. I was looking forward to proving my case to you. I am afraid this visit has wasted your time.
Not necessarily surely. Sarah had picked up the folder on the desk. Have you ever considered undergoing hypnotic regression yourself, Joanna? After all, Carl now has an afternoon free-at your disposal.
Jo swallowed. I suppose I should try it myself, she said hesitantly. Do you think I could be regressed, Dr. Bennet?
He spread his fingers in the air and shrugged. We could try. People of strong personality tend to make good subjects, but of course they must allow themselves to be hypnotized. No one can be against their will, you know. If you are prepared to set aside your reservations completely I would be prepared to try.
I have no phobias to speak of. She managed a little smile. Hobby horses, yes. Of such are my columns made, but phobias, I dont think so.
Then we could regard it merely as an interesting experiment. He bowed with old-fashioned courtesy.
Jo found she was breathing rather fast. The palms of her hands were sweating. Im afraid I would be a difficult subject even if I cooperate as hard as I can. I did take part in a survey at the university under Professor Cohen. He didnt manage to get anywhere with me.
Bennet sat down on the edge of the desk and looked at her thoughtfully. Michael Cohen was one of the great authorities on the subject. I wish I had met him before he died, he said a little wistfully. Im surprised to find you so hostile to the theories behind hypnotic regression if you were involved in any of his clinical trials. When you say nothing happened, do you mean he was not able to regress you at all?
Jo shook her head. He couldnt hypnotize me. I didnt know why. I didnt fight it. I wanted it to happen.
Bells were ringing in her mind once more, full of warning. Almost in panic she turned away from him, not wanting him to see the struggle going on inside her; she crossed the carpet to look out of the window into the busy street below, shivering in spite of the humid warmth of the afternoon. The sun was reflecting on a window opposite, dazzling as she stared at it. She turned back to Bennet.
I have a small tape recorder in my bag. Would you object if I used it while you try?
He shook his head and gestured toward a table by the far wall. As you see, I use one too, for various reasons. I also always insist that Miss Simmons is present to act as a chaperone. He did not smile. I should explain, however, that often one needs a preliminary session to establish a rapport between hypnotist and patient. It is a far more delicate relationship than that implied by music-hall acts or sensational fiction. So you should not expect too much on this occasion. He grinned suddenly. Or too little either, Miss Clifford. You may indeed be a hard subject-Im sure with your cooperation, though, I can achieve something. And I have a feeling you would be an interesting case. He smiled boyishly. Quite a challenge, in fact. But I dont wish to talk you into this if you still have any reservations. I think you should take a little time to consider-
No! Jo surprised herself with the vehemence of her reply. No, lets do it. Id like to.
You are quite sure?
Quite. She reached for her bag and pulled the recorder out of it. What shall I do?
He walked toward the window and half pulled one of the curtains across, shading the room. Above the roof of the opposite building a huge purple cloud had appeared, threatening the sun. He glanced at it as he went back to Jo.
Just relax. You are very tense, my dear. Why dont we have a cup of tea or some more coffee perhaps while we talk about what is to happen.
Jo shook her head. Ill be okay. I suppose its natural to want to resist giving your mind to someone else. She bit her lip. Can I just ask you to promise one thing? If anything happens, youll do nothing to stop me remembering it later. Thats important.
Of course. It will all in any case be on tape. He watched as she set the tape recorder on the floor next to his couch.
Shall I lie down? she asked, eyeing it nervously.
If you wish. Wherever you feel most comfortable and relaxed. He glanced at Sarah, who had quietly seated herself at the table in the corner before the tape deck. Then he turned back to Jo. Now, Joanna-may I call you Joanna?
Jo, Jo whispered.
Very well, Jo. I want you to relax completely and close your eyes.
Jo felt the panic overtaking her. Her eyes flew open and she sat upright. Oh, God, Im sorry. I dont think I can do it.
Just as you like. Try leaning back against those cushions. Why dont we try a light trance first, just to make you feel more relaxed, shall we? Theres nothing to worry about. Just something to make you feel good. You may have seen Bill Walton do it. Its a very usual way of testing peoples reactions.
Behind him Sarah smiled grimly, recognizing the tone of his voice as she saw Jo make herself comfortable against the cushions, her ankles crossed on the soft hide of the sofa. Jo closed her eyes once more and visibly tried to make herself relax.
Thats fine. Bennet moved toward her on silent feet. Now, the sun is filling the room once more, so Im going to ask Sarah to pull down the blinds, but meanwhile I want you to keep your eyes tightly closed. He glanced at the window. The sun had gone. The narrow strip of sky visible from the room was a livid bruise of cloud. There was a low rumble of thunder as he began speaking again. Thats right. You can feel the light burning your eyes. Keep them tightly closed. Thats fine. He touched her face lightly. Now you want to open them but you cant. The light is too bright.
Jo did not move. She could hear him clearly and she knew she could open her eyes if she wanted to, but she could sense the glare behind her lids. There seemed no point in moving until Sarah had shut out the sun, the dazzling white shape that had appeared over the rim of the house on the other side of Devonshire Place, shining directly into the room.
Bennet took her hand gently. Jo, can you hear me? Good. Now Im going to tickle your hand slightly, just enough to make you smile. Can you feel me do it?
Sarah gasped. He had taken a small pin from his lapel and driven it deeply into her palm. Jo smiled, her eyes still closed, still wondering why he didnt shut out the sun.
Bennet glanced at Sarah. Then he turned back to Jo. Now, my dear, I want you to go back to when you were a little girl
Some ten minutes later Sarahs whisper broke into his concentration. Carl, shes the best subject Ive ever seen.
He frowned at her, his whole attention fixed on the figure lying back against the cushions in front of him. I had a feeling she might be, he replied in an undertone. I cant understand why Cohen couldnt reach her, unless- He broke off and looked at her thoughtfully.
Unless what?
Unless he gave her a posthypnotic suggestion that she should not remember for some reason. He turned back to Jo. Now, Jo, my dear, I want you to go back, back to the time before you were born, to the dark time, when you were floating free
Jo stirred uneasily, moving her head from side to side. Then she lay still again, completely relaxed as she listened to him.
Now, Jo. Before the darkness. When you lived before. Do you remember? You are another person, in another time. Do you remember? Can you tell me? What do you see?
Jo opened her eyes and stared hard in front of her at the arm of the sofa. Its getting dark, she said uncertainly. Dark and cold.
Are you indoors or out, can you see? Bennet frowned at the window, which showed that it was indeed getting dark and that a torrential summer rain had begun to fall, streaming down the windows, gurgling from a broken gutter. There was another deep roll of thunder.
Jo spoke hesitantly. Its the trees. Theyre so thick here. I dont like the forest.
Do you know which forest it is? Bennet was watching her intently.
No.
Can you tell me your name?
She frowned, puzzled. I dont know. Some call me-they call me Matilda-No, MollI dont know.
Can you tell me something about yourself, Matilda? Where do you live?
Slowly Jo pushed herself up from the cushions till she was sitting bolt upright, staring into space. I live, she said firmly. I live far away from here. In the mountains. Then she shook her head, perplexed. The mountains fill my eyes. Black and misty, not like at home. She began to rub her eyes with her knuckles, like a child. She looked bewildered. I dont know. I dont remember. I want to sleep. She lay back and closed her eyes.
Tell me something else then, Matilda, Bennet prompted gently. What are you doing?
There was no answer.
Are you walking in the forest, or riding perhaps?
Jo hunched her shoulders rebelliously and said nothing. Bennet sighed. Come now, my dear. Tell me what are you wearing? Are you dressed in your prettiest clothes? He was coaxing now. He glanced at his watch and then looked at Sarah. Pity. I thought we were going to get something interesting. We might try again another time- He broke off as Jo let out an exclamation.
They told me to forget. How can I forget? It is happening now
Bennet had not taken his eyes off her face. He leaned forward, every nerve ending suddenly tense.
Slowly Jo was standing up. She took a couple of paces from the sofa and stood looking at the wall, her eyes wide open. When is it going to stop snowing? she asked distinctly. She wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to enfold herself more warmly in her thin linen dress and he saw her shiver violently.