Some while later they arrived back at the cave-like pod.
“You can tell me something more of yourself on the morrow, Ed. You must be tired now and t’would be good for you to rest.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow,” replied Ed as he handed the football helmet to Thomas and brushed past the curtain into the enclosure. He removed his jacket and jeans, perched down onto the edge of spongy bed, flicked off his shoes and laid down, exhausted. If every day was going to be like the last few then he was in for a very eventful time.
Chapter 7
Hotline back to the living
“Are you decent?”
“Are you decent?”
“Are you decent?”
The voice started to penetrate Ed’s consciousness.
That was one fantastic night’s sleep, he thought as he pulled the thin black silky sheet from over him and reached down to get his jeans, just as Thomas entered the space.
“Oops! I beg pardon, I mean to cause no offence, but you have not yet donned your trousers.”
“Don’t worry, I will have soon,” replied Ed as he pulled them on awkwardly, still sitting on the bed. He leant a little further forward, grabbed his shoes and put them on hurriedly.
“It does cause me much mirth – we are the only creatures bar mankind that do garb ourselves, even after we are dead,” exclaimed Thomas as he pulled his oversized hat from his head to reveal his scraggly reddish hair.
“Whatever. That hair’s timeless as well. If you have any scissors, I can trim it for you.”
“Leave thy jesting. T’is little point. Cut it off and it returns exactly as it was on your last day. T’is same with fingernails and all else that once grew from our noble bodies. T’is convenient indeed and might have been a good idea when we were alive, would you not agree, Ed?” bemoaned Thomas, as he came and sat on the adjacent stool.
“Well it would certainly have saved on hairdressing bills,” replied Ed with a smirk.
“Another thing, when I mentioned bodily functions yesterday, that includes intimate relations. Nought doing down below. No rumblings in the pantaloons or frolicking with Anne Boleyn. Shame, for she is comely forsooth, beauteous beyond compare.”
“You are always the bringer of brightness, light and sensitivity into my world. Saves me thirty minutes trying to get a Roger on to sort myself out anyway.”
“Is that how long it took you to become aroused?”
“Of course not, I’m being ironic, understated, and disingenuous. I was like a god in bed.”
“Did you listen to prayers all night then?” replied Thomas with a smirk.
“Shall we talk about something useful?” said Ed, as he glanced at his watch.
“Is it working?”
“What?”
“The timepiece, is it working?”
“Strangely, yes, but how would I know if it’s the right time?”
“The right time; who cares? There’s little concern for time in here, no mealtimes or workplace, no jousting, bear baiting or mead making. T’is no ‘right time’ as such that your clock can display. If it functions though, you can accurately tell when your four-day limit is due from the moment you arrive. Of course, you have not the benefit of such a timepiece when you are transient in an animal, but you could refer to wall clocks, church bells or the turns of day and night to guide you.”
“That’s true. Anyway, I’ve decided I’ll leave shortly, try and get back into the flow and move on. I’ll take the risk.”
“I understand. T’is no surprise to me. People rarely stay on their maiden visit. It’s only on the second or third times that the tranquillity becomes seductive. Not many people are given those second and third chances though.”
“I hear what you say but I’ll try my luck. I like you, Thomas but I’ll get bored here with nothing to do.”
“Tis not a problem. We will take you to where you need to be, and you will be ready to jump not long from now. There’s one other thing we need to discuss though.”
“What’s that then?”
“Do you recall I mentioned before that you had several choices?”
“Yes, go on,” Ed replied, enquiringly.
“T’is but rumour in truth. A long, long way down the tunnels, far away from here, t’is said an ancient Viking resides, that has been there for centuries. He is, so they say, a man of great veritable wisdom, and knows of some much more dangerous, but potentially rewarding transient streams.”
“Rewarding? How?” replied Ed inquisitively.
“From what I have been led to understand, he can influence where you arrive on each transience.”
“What, the location?”