She turned round. There could be no question of the girl being there, under the sand, but for a moment her imagination was playing the wildest of tricks. She could see where it was soft and loose, where it had fallen, and where, in the bottom of the hollow, a long mound lay compressed beneath the clay. A mound that had the shape of a human grave.
She stared at it. Alison would not have come back in the dark. She was safe at her friends house when Diana had rung last night. Whoever whatever, she corrected herself swiftly lay down there, it was not a twentieth-century fifteen-year-old schoolgirl. Kate stepped towards the mound cautiously. It was her imagination again working overtime. From a different angle the mound was just a part of the sand, shadowed by the low sunlight. She could see the worm casts on it now, and the sprinkling of loose peat which had fallen from the sand cliff.
What are you doing here? Alisons voice, harsh and angry, broke into her thoughts so sharply she jumped.
Oh thank God! The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. I thought perhaps you had had an accident
You thought I was buried in there? The note of disdain quivered a little at the end. Alison stepped white-faced from behind the edge of the dune. There were dark circles under her eyes.
Kate smiled. Only for a second. It was when I saw your radio.
Alisons gaze switched to the cassette player. She did not move towards it. I forgot it, she said after a moment.
So I see. Im afraid it was buried in the sand. I think the tide probably got it.
Why did you come here? Alisons voice was markedly less aggressive as she stood looking down at Kate. She still had made no move to jump down into the hole, or to pick up her radio.
There was something I wanted to check. Kate scrambled up beside her. The different lines of strata being exposed. Do you see? The sand fall last night is revealing the line of a peat bog which is probably thousands of years old.
Alisons eyes strayed to the dark streaks in the sand for a moment. Still she had not moved. Did you see anything moving? she asked. When you came. Was there anything anyone here?
Kate looked at her sharply. What sort of thing?
Alison shrugged massively. I dont know. Yesterday, when I was here. There was something. She looked away evasively. I dont suppose it was anything. Maybe a bird-watcher or a naturalist or something Her voice trailed away.
But you didnt see them clearly, Kate prompted.
No.
Did you smell anything strange? Wet earth.
Alison stared at her. The whole place was wet.
True. Kate smiled.
For a moment they both looked down at the excavation in silence. Then, Are you going to do some more work on it today? Kate asked at last.
Alison shrugged. Might. But Ive got work to do to catch up for school. She was shifting restlessly from foot to foot. She had not wanted to come today but something had made her do it. She could not stop herself.
Thats tough. I wondered why you werent at school, Kate said. Have you been ill?
Alison nodded, but offered no further explanation. Kate did not pursue it. I think its going to rain. Better to leave any digging for another day. For some reason she would feel much better if Alison were not here alone on the beach. The thought of the child digging away in isolation in this lonely grave appalled her. And it was a grave. Alison was right.
You said you were going to take some photos. Would you like me to do it for you later, when the sun is right? she asked at last.
Alison peered at her through wildly blowing wisps of hair. Would you?
Of course. I should think by about midday the light would be better. Ill come out then. Ill bring the film with me this evening and whoever goes into town next could get it developed.
Great.
Was it her imagination again or was there a marked lessening of enthusiasm? Allie, did something frighten you yesterday? Kate asked gently.
No, of course not! The flash of red in Alisons cheeks and the defiant glare belied her words.
I just wondered.
Why, does it scare you? Pitying. Disdainful.
It does a bit. Yes.
Why? Again the aggressive, derisive note. But beneath it, Kate sensed there was a plea. And she knew suddenly that she must not reinforce the girls fears. She shrugged. I dont know. Perhaps it was, as your brother said, that Ive grown used to living in a town. One forgets the country noises. And Ive never stayed so close to the sea before.
To her relief Alisons face cleared. Youll get used to it, she replied. For the first time she smiled. Will you really take the photos for me?
Of course I will. No problem. Kate hesitated. Do you want to come back to the cottage for some coffee before you go home?
Why, does it scare you? Pitying. Disdainful.
It does a bit. Yes.
Why? Again the aggressive, derisive note. But beneath it, Kate sensed there was a plea. And she knew suddenly that she must not reinforce the girls fears. She shrugged. I dont know. Perhaps it was, as your brother said, that Ive grown used to living in a town. One forgets the country noises. And Ive never stayed so close to the sea before.
To her relief Alisons face cleared. Youll get used to it, she replied. For the first time she smiled. Will you really take the photos for me?
Of course I will. No problem. Kate hesitated. Do you want to come back to the cottage for some coffee before you go home?
Alisons nod and the speed with which she gathered up her ruined ghetto blaster and turned away from her excavation spoke volumes. Following her, Kate turned and glanced over her shoulder only once towards the dig. A cloud of gulls hovered over the place where she and Alison had been standing. Then with a wild screaming and shrieking, they wheeled as one and flew straight out towards the sea.
Why did you lock it? We never bother.
Out of sight of the dunes Alison was once more her supercilious self.
Habit, I suppose, Kate replied easily. After all, someone did break in. She pushed open the door. Black or white? She walked ahead into the kitchen.
White please. Alison had not followed her, nor had she given any acknowledgment of Kates comment. She had walked through into the living room. Youve let the woodburner go out, she called.
Kate closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. I know, but its laid all ready to light. Do you want to do it for me?
She reached for the coffee jar and stopped. There was a trail of black peaty soil on the worktop.
Oh Christ. She didnt realise she had spoken out loud.
What is it? Alison appeared behind her in the doorway.
Kate took a deep breath. Nothing. I spilt something, thats all.
Where are the matches? Alison bent and rummaged in the cupboard under the sink. She had taken off her jacket and brushed back her hair with her fingers.
There, on the dresser. Kate was still staring at the trail of wet earth amongst the mugs. Allie, dont bother to light it now, OK? When weve had our coffee, Ill walk back with you. I need to drive into Colchester this morning. Again the thought had come unprompted. Perhaps this time it was because suddenly she didnt want to be alone in the house.
What about the photos? You promised.
Damn the photos!
Thats OK, Ill do them later, dont worry. In fact the later I leave it, the better the light will be. Well get more definition. Ill still have the film for you by this evening.
She lifted two mugs out of the earth and rinsed them under the tap before reaching for the coffee jar.
Whats all this mess on the side here? Alison had seen it. Staring down at it critically she ran a finger through it, leaving a clean trail on the varnished wood of the worktop.
Kate shook her head. Im not sure. It must have come in when I brought the logs in earlier.
The answer seemed to satisfy Alison. Turning away she returned to the living room.
Do you like using a computer? Her voice came through the door as Kate waited for the kettle to boil.
Yes, quite. It makes correlating notes and chronologies and things much simpler. Kate carried the mugs of coffee through. Alison was standing at her table looking down at her books and notes.
My brother Patrick is a computer wizard, the girl said. Most of the time, hes a nerd, but he is tops on computers.
Will he be there tonight?
Yeah.
And will Greg?
Alison shrugged. No one ever knows what Greg is going to do.
I see, Kate said dryly. Well, Im looking forward to coming to dinner with your parents. They seem so nice.
They are, I suppose. Alison finished her coffee and put the mug down. Im going. Do you want to come with me?
The challenge in her eyes was hostile again and suddenly Kate was tired of the child. Ill be ready in about half an hour, she said. If you want to wait for me, thatll be nice, if not, Ill follow you over later.
For a moment Alison hesitated, obviously reluctant to walk back alone, then with an exaggerated sigh she flung herself down in one of the chairs. OK. Ill wait.
Thanks. Kate smiled. She gathered up the mugs and left the girl sitting there.
The door to the spare room was open and the boxes and cases in there had been strewn all over the floor. Kate stared at the scene for a moment in dismay, then she turned and called down the stairs. Alison, did you do this?
What? The girls voice was puzzled.
Do all this? For Gods sake! Her case, the case with the torc was still locked, she could see that from the doorway.
Alison ran up behind her and looked round. What a mess.
All these boxes and things. I left them tidy.
Oh. Alison avoided her eye. Well, it wasnt me. How could it have been? I havent been upstairs at all.
Kate found her heart was hammering rather too loudly in her chest. There had to be an explanation. This child or her brother must have done it. Perhaps while she was on the beach Greg or the unknown computer wizard had sneaked in and messed up the place. Turning, she flung open her bedroom door. Nothing in there appeared to have been touched. Everything was as she had left it.
Seeing her white face Alison frowned. She too suspected that it must have been Greg. Last time she had seen him, he had still been planning to try to scare Kate out of the cottage. He was keen on her idea of making Kate think it was haunted. Could he have done all this? Had he already taken things this far? Staring round she felt herself shiver. If it was him, then it was working. She narrowed her eyes for a moment. Was it Greg down on the beach as well? Was he behind what had happened yesterday?