In a Dark, Dark Wood(45)

‘We are sorry for the levity of some of our circle,’ Flo said meaningfully. ‘Is there a spirit here who would like to speak to us?’

This time the planchette moved more slowly, more as if it were drifting of its own accord. But, unmistakeably, it was forming another Y, and then it stopped.

‘Are you a friend of someone here?’ Flo breathed.

? said the planchette.

This time I didn’t think anyone else was pushing – and I could see the others felt the same way. They had stopped laughing. Clare even looked slightly uneasy.

‘Do you know, Flops, I’m not sure …’ she said.

Tom patted her hand. ‘It’s fine, darling. It’s not really spirits – just the subconscious of the group making words. Sometimes the results are quite illuminating.’

‘Who is here?’ Flo had shut her eyes. Her fingers rested very lightly on the planchette. If anyone were controlling it, I was sure it wasn’t her. The planchette moved again, forming letters in a looping, free-form hand. Tom read them aloud as they appeared.

‘M … A, maybe? Or was that N? … X … W … E … L … L … OK, well that’s a word. Maxwell. Anyone know a Maxwell?’

We all shook our heads.

‘Maybe it’s the spirit of one of the former crofters,’ Nina said seriously. ‘Come to warn us against trampling on their sacred sheep bones.’

‘Maybe,’ Flo said. She opened her eyes. They were wide and green in the darkness. She looked very pale, her pink crossness of before quite gone. She closed them again and said in a hushed, reverent tone. ‘Is there anyone here you wish to speak to, Maxwell?’

Y.

‘Do you have a message for one of the group?’

Y.

‘Who of the group?’

F … fl … f …

‘Me?’ Flo’s eyes flew open. She looked startled to the point of alarm. In fact, she looked like she was regretting this idea already. ‘Do you have a message for me?’

Y.

Flo gulped. I saw that her free hand was gripping the edge of the coffee table so hard her knuckles were white.

‘OK,’ she said bravely. But the planchette was already moving.

B … U … it traced slowly, and then in a sudden, skittering rush: Y coffee.

There was a moment’s silence, and then Nina broke it with a short, barking laugh.

‘Fuck OFF!’ Flo shouted. We all jumped, and I realised it was the first time I could remember her swearing. She jumped up and sent the planchette skittering across the table. Wine glasses and candles crashed to the floor, spattering wax on the carpet. ‘Who was that? This isn’t a joke, guys! I am fed up. Nina? Tom?’

‘It wasn’t me!’ Nina said, but she was laughing so hard there were tears coming from her eyes. Tom was trying harder to hide his mirth, but he was snickering too, behind his hand.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, trying hopelessly to straighten his expression. ‘I’m sorry. It’s n-not f-f —’ But he couldn’t complete the sentence.

Flo swung accusingly round at me. I was dabbing up wine from the rug.

‘You’re very quiet, Lee, sitting there pretending butter wouldn’t melt!’

‘What?’ I looked up, genuinely surprised. ‘I beg your p-pardon?’

‘You heard me! I’m fed up of you sitting there like a malignant little mouse, laughing behind my back.’

‘I’m not,’ I said uncomfortably, remembering the way I had succumbed to laughing at Nina’s teasing when we first arrived. ‘I mean … I didn’t mean —’

‘You all think you’re so perfect.’ Flo was breathing heavily, in great sobbing gasps. I thought she was about to burst into tears. ‘You all think you’re so great, with your degrees and your jobs and your flats in London.’

‘Flo —’ Clare said. She put her hand on Flo’s arm again, but Flo shook it off.

‘Come on,’ Tom said soothingly. ‘Look, I don’t know who did that but I promise it’s the last time anyone will mess around, right?’ He looked around the group. ‘Right, everyone? We promise, OK? This time it’s for real.’

He was trying to help, but I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably. We should have packed up when Flo blew up the first time – pushing on like this was asking for trouble, with Flo in her furious, heightened state.

‘Don’t you th-think—’ I said nervously.

‘I th-think you should just shut up,’ Flo said furiously, imitating my stutter with an uncanny precision. I was so shocked I didn’t say anything, just sat with my mouth open, staring at her. It was as if a Tellytubby had spat in my face.

‘Hey, come on, now,’ Clare said. ‘One more chance, OK, Flops? And I promise everyone will take it seriously this time. They’ll have me to answer to if not.’

Flo downed her glass of wine with a hand that shook. Then she sat heavily down at the table and put her hand on the planchette. ‘Last chance,’ she said savagely.

Everyone nodded and, reluctantly, I put my fingers back on the board.

‘Let’s ask it a question this time,’ Tom said soothingly. ‘Help keep it on track. How about … will Clare and James have a long and happy life?’