Sand Glass by A M Russell Page A

lawn.
     
    The strange
thing was, when I saw her, it was as if I had expected exactly
that. She was sitting on the bench just under the overhanging bows
of lilac bushes and other climbing plants that festooned the end
wall. In this cool little arbour she was perfectly still. So still
in fact, that I again looked and thought I might be mistaken.
    'Listen to your
heart Davey.' the voice was like the pressure of that electrical
charge that is felt before a lightning strike. The roots of my hair
tingled.
    'Hello?' I
guess I was being deliberately stupid, 'Who's there?'
    She stood up,
and stepped out of the shade and into the moonlight.
    She was tall,
and wore what I took to be at that moment, a long silver-grey coat.
Her hair was curled and pale, and swept away from her face. Her
eyes burned into me with a degree of intensity that I could not
bear for long; yet I was unable to break her gaze.
    I guess I stood
there with my mouth open. Not being entirely stupid was what saved
me from totally embarrassing myself.
    'What are you
doing in my garden?'
    'It is not your
garden.'
    'Ah.'
    'It belongs to
Mrs Annie Longden, does it not?'
    'My Landlady?
Yes....' my mind was thrown completely off track. I couldn't at
that moment recall the exact state of ownership as defined by my
tenancy agreement, and it seemed rather trite compared to the
alarming presence of this Goddess.
    'What is your
name?' I was able to choke out. I could feel my throat
constricting. I suppose objectively it was simply a matter of the
unexpected event, and the double layer of fear about the day
ahead.
    She stepped
towards me and spoke again. For a second she broke my gaze and I
saw snow and ice and felt a chill that drove into my bones. 'David
Jonathan Milnes will you take the path to the darkest place?' Her
lips were quite pinky-red and curved in cupids bow. I was
afraid.
    'I don't....
know... what that is.'
    'The place you
fear. There you will find a way to end the power of the deception.
You will find him there also.'
    'Jared?' I
gasped quickly; the air was frigid in my mouth,
    'Yes....' and
the eyes seemed to warm; she looked more like Janey then.
    'Are you a
friend?' I said a little more bravely.
    'We are on the
same side... So you would say. But we are not company that can be
kept for long without your discomfort.'
    'But why?'
    'An Angel does
not hide her fire unless a mortal cannot deliver the message.'
    I realised
that, despite the stillness of the face and voice; her hands were
clasped together to constrain some terrible pain she suffered.
    'I am sorry to
cause you this, ' I said, 'Please tell me how it must be done.'
    'You must leave
soon. Awake your friends. They will know what to do. Take only one
thing with you.... Make it count. And leave Janey Amber Arden here.
She must follow at the time of the appointment.'
    'But.... What
thing? Something. Something small? Is that it?'
    'You hold it
with one hand. Certainly small. And hidden from view.'
    'Am I
crazy?'
    'No.' she
smiled, and it dazzled me, I began to wheeze and choke again,
'David; will you do these things?'
    'Yes..... Yes.
I will.' I could not stand and dropped to my knees. It was harder
to breathe. I felt faint. I could see her cloak-like garment before
me. She held out a hand towards me. The intention was clear. I
reached out. She took my hand and pulled me to my feet. She was
warm like Janey, and there was a strong scent of roses.
    I felt a little
stronger then. My chest eased. But I dare not look at her face.
    ‘Regard me.’
She said, still holding my left hand, ‘I am not a stranger.’
    I looked up to
this dazzling creature. And saw instead my childhood friend. She
had the same curls, but a little less, well… glowing. She had blue
eyes. Those blue laughing eyes.
    ‘Angela? How
can this be?’
    ‘Davey…. You
have be surrounded by many… you have been guarded on every side; we
have watched over you. We have shared your joys and your
tears.’
    ‘Is it like
that for everyone?’
    Yes…