Baby Jacob had learned to crawl and quickly too. Whenever Vincent put him down he was off at breakneck speed, and Vincent delighted in his son’s rapid progress.
They had travelled down to a grotto, slightly similar to the crystal cavern, but not quite as beautiful, yet here columns of crystal delighted Jacob, and he squealed with delight as he tried to grasp the dancing colours in the candlelight. Everywhere he looked he saw the magnificent rainbow of colours and he wanted to hold them all. The crystal columns seemed to be holding the roof up, and the walls though mainly hard grey rock were interspersed with crystals of various shades of jade gemstone, in blue, green and white. The actual columns were made up of saxony quartz amethyst in a beautiful deep violet colour.
At the far end of the grotto was a vertical shaft which ended after a ten feet drop into a warm subterranean pool. Vincent kept a watchful eye on his son, for fear he would fall into the water and drown. Yet it was a very peaceful place, as well as being beautiful, and Vincent had known he could heal his wounds there. The crystal cavern from which he had taken Catherine’s crystal was much further away, with narrow shafts and tunnels, impossible to take Jacob safely through. This grotto had been the next best thing and the twinkling gemstones provided Jacob with an endless pastime for his growing imagination, as the flaming torches picked out and vibrated the magnificent colours.
This was one place that was kept well lit. It was so beautiful and the children that lived Below delighted to go there. The older ones had tied a rope from the grotto floor to the subterranean pool below, and while the more courageous ones would dive from the grotto floor into the warm water, others went down to swim via the rope, while everyone used the rope to get back up again.
In the past Vincent had spent several days just sitting there, never growing tired of its beauty, earth had nothing more fair to offer. And when he wasn’t sat daydreaming, he would be lost in a book he had brought with him, and when the children came he would read to them.
And Vincent was grateful that he had never brought Catherine to see the cavern with its sparkling crystals, though he had always meant to do. Now he wanted no reminders of Catherine, and was grateful that there were no painful memories of her there for him. He wanted only to forget her now and found himself wondering if she had found trying to forget him equally as hard. The more he tried not to think of her, the more often something Jacob did, reminded him. Jacob’s mannerisms, the tilt of his head, that impish mischievous smile, all had Vincent thinking of Catherine every time.
His mind kept going over everything that had taken place during that evening he had last seen her. Devin’s message and subsequent telephone call were ultimately what had hurt him the most. Though he found it hard to accept that Catherine had fallen in love with Devin and had secretly been spending time with him. Had even gone away with him. They had chosen a country far enough away so that he could not follow. These thoughts kept going around and around in his head like the carousel, until he thought his mind would burst from the crazy thoughts. And then when blessed sleep did take over, as he lay with Jacob in the crook of one arm, his dreams were filled with Catherine.

After a few days of intense torture, Vincent began to wonder if his first impressions had been right. The more he thought about it the harder it became to accept that Catherine would ever do anything like that to hurt him and he had reached and dismissed this conclusion so many times that his head throbbed with it. Following Devin’s message, it had been Father’s suspicions that had first sown seeds of doubt in his mind. And then the message from Devin on the answer machine had secured the thought. But deep down inside Vincent wondered would Catherine really do that to him? When the Bond between them had been lost, he so desperately wanted to retrieve it, and now he wished it would leave him again, for try as he might he could not stop feelings from Catherine reaching through to him, and he became confused.
For days after the night at her apartment, he had felt her distress. At the time he had assumed it was born of guilt, now he wasn’t so sure. Which was one of the reasons why he went against his earlier decision to bury himself away forever. He needed to be close to her no matter what she had done. And he had known when she had been staying Below and stayed close by for three days, she was waiting for his return, but he could not bring himself to go to her, being ashamed by his actions, unable to face her, yet. And he had fooled himself into believing that she had only followed him to tell him about herself and Devin and that she would not be seeing him again. Yet as he felt her anxiety night after night, he wondered if she had come to tell him anything of the sort, and that only she wanted to tell him that she loved him, and only him. Confused he had not wanted to know which of his thoughts were correct, and decided it was better to wonder than to know for sure.
Finally when he felt her leaving his world, he was annoyed. He knew she had promised Devin she would return, but after the turn of events, if she really loved him, then surely she would change her plans, and wait until he returned to his chamber however long it took? So his heart had been heavy when he felt her going further and further away from him, as the aeroplane on which she travelled took her back to Europe and to Devin. And despite the beauty around him, for once he found no solace in its healing powers, and decided to return to the home chambers.
Making the final decision to go home, he collected his things and Jacob’s together, and went to pick up Jacob, when he heard the excited chatter of approaching children. They fell silent when they saw him there.
Looking at their anxious faces he told them softly, “Don’t be alarmed. Come sit with me. Tell me what you have been doing.”
The children slowly grouped around, their big eyes anxious, some sat at his feet, others stood at his side, while the smallest boy Samuel climbed up onto his lap, next to Jacob, and asked,” Vincent why are you so sad?”
Vincent smiled. People of the world Above assumed that children seldom noticed the daily conflicts that adults had to undergo, yet here in his world the children had been taught to love one another and to have insight into knowing when someone was troubled at heart.
When Vincent delayed in answering, Samuel went on, “Is it because of Catherine?”
Looking into the innocent blue eyes of the child, Vincent replied simply, “Yes.”
Catherine came looking for you Vincent. Father let her stay in your chamber. I heard her crying.” A boy named Ben told him.
“So did I.” Another child added.
Vincent laid his chin upon the golden head of the child on his knee, “Is she still there Samuel?” He asked, knowing that she was not.
“No she left days ago.”
“I heard her talking to Mary.” Vincent looked up as Helena told him this.
“What were they talking about, did you hear?” He asked her.
Helena blushed and took interest in her feet, “No.” She replied softly but Vincent knew that she had, only the children had been told it was rude to eavesdrop on anyone else’s conversation.
“Its all right Helena, on this occasion you can tell me what you overheard.” He told her gently.
“Just this once?” She asked.
Vincent nodded, “Just this once.”
A little unsure Helena waited, and Vincent understood why, “It’s not a trick.” He told her, “I promise I won’t tell anyone that you told me.”
Helena looked around at the other children. Feeling excitement rising within her, she was the centre of attention and she liked it.
“Would you prefer to whisper it to me.” Vincent prompted.
“No.” She replied, “I don’t think it’s a secret.”
“So tell us then!” Shrieked Samuel impatiently.
Helena took a deep breath and began, “Catherine was talking to Mary about Jacob.”
“Is that all!” A ginger haired boy at the back of the group called out, his name was Aaron.
“No.” Helena replied crossly, “It isn’t. I haven’t finished yet.”
Vincent smiled at her, she was enjoying this, languishing in the centre of attention, making the moment of glory last.
“I didn’t understand everything they were talking about. Catherine was asking about Jacob, and Mary was telling her about the things that Jacob can do now, and Catherine was smiling and laughing, enjoying what Mary was telling her.” Vincent could picture this and it warmed his heart. “And then they started talking serious stuff, and Mary began hugging Catherine and looking ever so pleased.”
“But did you hear what they were saying?” Teresa asked this time.
“Yes I heard, but I didn’t understand it.” Looking directly at Vincent she asked, “Vincent?”
“Yes?” He replied softly his blue eyes twinkling.
“Are you and Catherine getting married?”
“Married?” Bewildered he shook his head, “No.”
Helena looked troubled.
“What is it Helena, why do you ask me that?” Vincent prompted her gently.
“Because I heard Catherine and Mary talking about marriage, and I saw Catherine smile, you know that really beautiful smile that she has?” Vincent knew it, “Then Mary hugged her and Catherine left.”
Vincent’s heart sank, “When they were talking Helena, did you hear them mention my name?”
Helena shook her head, “No, but I did hear Uncle Devin’s name mentioned.”
“Whose Uncle Devin?” Piped up Samuel.
The children started talking amongst themselves, answering Samuel’s question, unaware that Vincent had grown silent. Yet he heard none of their chatter, his mind had grown numb, and knew only that he could not stay in the grotto a moment longer.
Gathering his belongings again, he told the children, “I am going back now, will you be all right here on your own?”
“Are you taking Jacob with you, or leaving him with us, we will take good care of him?” Helena asked, tickling Jacob under the chin as he squealed with delight.
Vincent thought about the sharp drop down to the subterranean pool and shuddered, “No, I will be taking him home too, Father will be anxious for us.”
“Okay”, Helena called out after him, skipping away to meet her friends. Vincent could hear them at the far end of the grotto, giggling as they got undressed, preparing to dive into the pool. “Take care all of you.” He called out after them.
He did not worry unnecessarily about them, they were not really alone. Neither had he been. He had felt the presence of adults around him over the past few days, there had always been someone nearby, because the grotto was a favourite place for children, and the pool considered a pleasurable yet risky pastime. And food had been left for him and Jacob, along with warm blankets. Often people came down there to sit and think, the peace afforded them time and opportunity to ponder through problems and come away filled with fresh hope. And Vincent had been grateful that they were there, but had left him alone in his thoughts. However, the solace of the crystal cavern had not eased away his troubles this time and now little words kept creeping into his sub conscience. He tried to push them away, but they kept coming and forming words and sentences in his mind. Catherine. Devin. Marriage. He needed no other words to string them together, they made sense all on their own.

Vincent’s heart was broken, his throat constricted and his fists clenched and unclenched as he made his way purposefully towards his chamber.
Father was nowhere in sight when he arrived, and for this he was grateful. The journey had lulled Jacob to sleep strapped as he was to Vincent’s chest, and Vincent lay the sleeping child carefully into his cot. Taking off his boots and cloak, he flopped wearily onto his own bed. He could smell Catherine’s scent there, it incensed him, and he could not rest. Thoughts crept into his mind and abruptly he stood up, the pain contorting his leonine face, as fury mounted and a deafening roar shattered the silence.
Ornaments and books flew through the air as Vincent brought his fists down hard smashing the shelves into splintering fragments, then dragging the blankets and pillows from his bed he threw them out of his chamber in his quest to extract every last trace of Catherine. Had she wished to torment him so? Wasn’t her rejection enough? Father heard Jacob’s ear-piercing wails from afar and hurried as fast as his legs would allow him in order to see what was happening, with Mary close on his heels.
Mary gasped in horror, as she caught sight of Vincent staring down at the child with a look of malicious contempt in his fearsome eyes, and she pushed past Father to grab the child from the cot and make a hasty retreat.
“VINCENT!” Father bellowed.
Crumpling to the floor, Vincent could not believe what he had felt capable of. He had so desperately wanted to remove every last trace of Catherine from his life, that he had even contemplated killing their son!
Visibly shaken Father sat down beside him on the floor, taking one big furry hand in his, as Vincent threw back his head and let out a deep and bitter sigh, as his body convulsed in anger. Gently, as he could, Father put a reassuring arm around Vincent’s shoulders, and waited without speaking until Vincent had recovered enough to speak. Mistaking Vincent’s sorrow for the misunderstanding between himself and Catherine, Father tried desperately to comfort him with the words, “Vincent ... don’t torment yourself so. Catherine was here. She explained everything to me. Things are not as they appear to you.”
Vincent opened his eyes, and Father was stunned by the sorrow that he saw in their depths, as Vincent told him, “How can that be father, how can you sit there and tell me these things. Catherine and I are finished.”
“No, Vincent. Its not that way at all, Catherine will be coming back to you, she promised me.”
“Then you are a fool to believe this. She is only coming back to tell me what my heart already knows, that it is over between us.”
“Vincent!” Father increased the pressure of his arm on his son’s shoulders, hugging him to himself, “Catherine loves you.”
A flicker of something, was it hope, shone from Vincent’s blue eyes as he looked directly at Father’s caring face, “She told you that?” He whispered doubtfully.
“Yes Vincent, and that’s not all, she plans to come and live in our world, with you.”
Vincent shook his head in disbelief “There is something that she didn’t tell you then.”
“What’s that Vincent.”
Vincent took a deep shuddering breath, his words barely audible he told Father, “That she plans to marry Devin.”
Father threw back his head and laughed, “Oh my dear Vincent, no, don’t go, look I’m sorry I wasn’t laughing at you, its just this notion of yours is too ridiculous for words, wherever did you get the idea, surely not from Catherine?”
Vincent felt a hot blush running from his neck and covering his face, he felt such a fool, “No”, he spoke at length, “One of the children overheard Catherine telling Mary about it.”
“One of the children! I must speak with this child, they know the rules against eavesdropping, which child was it Vincent?”
“No, Father, don’t. I know she shouldn’t have listened, but I am glad that she did, and I made her tell me what she overheard.”
“Then you shouldn’t have Vincent, because I am certain she is wrong. Did she tell you that Catherine told Mary these things?”
“No, only that she overheard them speaking about Devin and marriage.”
“Then my boy, why do you conclude these things. They could have been talking about anything, anyone. You of all people know Catherine better than that. She loves you Vincent. You. And it is you that she wants to live with here, in our world.” Vincent wanted to believe, but he was not convinced.
“You were not there Father she rejected me.” His words had grown wearisome, filled with pain at the memory.
“Vincent, did I not tell you that if you went to her in that frame of mind you could frighten her away. Your actions stunned her, she wasn’t aware that you had regained your memory, when she had the time to recover, she regretted deeply how she had hurt you.”
Vincent thought through Father’s words, he had known Catherine’s sorrow, what Father was telling him might be possible.
Father’s next words broke through his thoughts, “Look let’s break the golden rule shall we Vincent, and ask Mary to come down here and tell us what it was that she and Catherine were talking about, when the child overheard them. I am convinced there is a logical explanation.”
Vincent nodded, “Yet Catherine has returned to Devin, you cannot deny this.”
“I’m not denying anything Vincent. Yes she has gone back to him, but not in the way you think. She wouldn’t tell me any of the details but I do know that they are both working on a very important assignment. And it is to help someone very close to them both.”
“How did they come to be together, do you know. Did she tell you that?”
“Yes. It was quite innocently, they literally bumped into one another in Paris, but Devin was really pleased to see her. He apparently told her she was the very person he needed to help him with the project he was working on.”
“Do you know what it is Father?”
“Partly. I thought it was another foolhardy scheme of his, but Catherine convinced me otherwise. I managed to extract some information from her, and I can honestly tell you Vincent that what they are doing is for the good of someone very special to them both. To me too, I might add.”
Vincent didn’t need long to weigh this up in his mind, “It’s for me isn’t it?” He asked softly.
Father nodded, “Yes, but I know no more than that.”

Mary was not happy to disclose information spoken to her in confidence, until she heard what Vincent was assuming, when she relented and told him, “Oh, no child, its not that way at all. Catherine doesn’t want to marry Devin. Its you, Vincent, you, that she wishes to marry.”
Vincent closed his eyes tightly, such a flood of relief washed over him, his body swayed as he felt a tantalising warmth spread through his whole body. But Father was not so pleased, as words exploded from him, “Marry Vincent! Why that’s ridiculous. It would be impossible.”
“Why?” Asked Mary, simply.
“Yes why Father?” Vincent echoed.
“Well…it just is”. Father looked at them both, deadly serious, the whole thing was absurd. Yet the look on their faces told him they could see no reason why it would be impossible, “Oh you can’t believe it, surely not, I mean just look at the two of them...they are er, so...different.”
“Father,” Vincent’s voice trembled with suppressed rage, “I hope you aren’t suggesting it’s because of what I am, that makes it impossible in your eyes.”
“Er, no Vincent, of course not. I was merely trying to point out...well look at you...you are a very large person...in er, all areas...whereas Catherine...well, she is..er so tiny.”
Mary look from one to the other of them, Father was clearly very embarrassed and she smiled to herself, as she told him, “Catherine too wasn’t sure about this. That’s why we had the conversation, but not for the same reasons Jacob, as you have brought up. Vincent, she did not mention your er...stature, no, she was more concerned with whether or not your marriage could be possible. You see Catherine feels strongly that she wants to live Below with us, with you Vincent and your son, and while she does not regret having the child, she feels saddened that she was not married before having him. You see, children need the security of a stable marriage between both their parents, and Catherine feels as though everything has happened in the wrong order. She didn’t know your memory had returned, though she knew of course that having Jacob, you obviously were aware that you had been intimate on at least one occasion. But on her flight home she had hoped to talk to you about getting things in the right order before any more intimacies passed between the two of you and consequently any more children. It was remarkably important to her being married to Vincent, and I told her she should be positive about it. She left here in a happier frame of mind than she arrived with, I can tell you, with hope in her heart for her return.”
Vincent felt his heart somersault. He had never contemplated marriage with anyone in his life. Yet he found that he loved the idea of marriage with Catherine. He could understand now how she felt committed to this idea, it was so like her to do things right. And slowly he began to piece together the things that had taken place in her apartment. Feeling ashamed at his intense feelings, he did not know whether he could ever face her again, yet something told him that Catherine would never be so cruel as to remind him of it. He thanked Mary, and then leaving her and Father in a heated conversation about the marriage, he went back to his chamber and allowed himself to dream of a life with Catherine as his wife.

Some hours later, Father found the idea growing on him. He smiled, Mary could be a very persuasive woman when she put her mind to it, and he realised what he was up against, by putting up barriers to prevent the union. He could not bear to crush Vincent’s dreams either, and for what? What possible reason was there really that would make marriage between Vincent and Catherine so impossible? Vincent had no birth certificate, no surname, true, but these things did not matter Below. They were things necessary for marriage Above, while down in their world things could be different. Vincent was no ordinary man, yet he had the same desires and the same rights as any other. And Catherine, dear sweet Catherine, had made a commitment in her heart to spend her life with Vincent, so why did he feel he had the right to put a stop to their marriage? For the reasons he had given, were no longer valid, they already had a child between them, and when he thought about it seriously he found it delighted him to know that Vincent would no longer be alone. Catherine even held a special place in his own heart, he loved her like a daughter, and knew she would take care of Vincent when he passed away, something for which he was grateful, for he had always worried about what would become of Vincent, when he, Father, had died.. Life was a gift, and Father did not want to end his, leaving Vincent all alone.
For Vincent, now wrapped in a warm cloak of love when he thought of Catherine, he began to long for her again, yet this time, he pulled his emotions in check. The next time that he saw her, he would be graciousness itself. He would not frighten her ever again. The thought of the lifelong commitment that she offered to him touched him deeply, as nothing before had, and a great sense of contentment flooded his being. Young Jacob recognised this new tranquillity about his father and responded to it. He grew quickly and was soon pulling himself up into a standing position. He was only six months old.
“You will have to stop your son growing so fast Vincent,” Mary scolded good-humouredly one day, “Or I shall have to keep remaking his outfit for your wedding.”
Vincent smiled, everyone had been so good about it, in fact they all looked forward to the day tremendously, anticipating the festivities. There had been weddings Below before, of course, but none would compare to this. This one would be special for everyone loved Vincent and were happy for him. Catherine was a very beautiful young woman.

“A letter for you Vincent.” Father’s voice called to him one day, as Vincent was bathing Jacob in a large bathtub in his chamber. Father smiled, wondering who was having the bath, for Vincent was showered in bubbles. “Here, wipe your hands, while I finish off bathing Jacob, you know how I enjoy it. The letter is postmarked Austria.”
Vincent took the towel Father held out and dried his hands in a hurry, reaching for the letter, while his hands were still a little damp in his haste. Vincent recognised Catherine’s handwriting. She had sent the letter inside another one to Peter, and Vincent found his hands trembled. The last letter she had sent him, turned his world upside down, yet this one by its thickness promised to be something quite different, but what? Almost afraid to know, Vincent closed his eyes, ‘What had she written?’
Slowly he slithered open the envelope with one long claw and extracting the paper from within, unfolded it and began to read;

A whispering current of warm air filtered through the hot and smelly stables, as Catherine made her way along the passageway separating them. She held her nose tightly against the stench of manure and hastened her step to reach her destiny, a small enclosure in which, several ponies were tethered.
A young Italian boy grinned gleefully at her, showing his unkempt teeth, desperately in need of some dentistry, and Catherine made herself return the smile.
“Can I hire a pony for the day,” she asked him.
He nodded. There wasn’t much English that he understood, but the words ‘hire pony’ was all he needed to hear. He came to stand beside her, looking at her keenly, trying in his minds eye to judge her weight, and the satisfied with his assumptions he took her arm, and led her across to a small blue roan pony, and started to saddle up.
Catherine stroked the pony’s forehead, it blew softly into her face, and nuzzled her jacket with its mouth. She sensed it was a gentle creature and she was touched that the boy had chosen so well. It had been a long time since she had ridden, and she wasn’t entirely at ease with doing so.
“Pay on return.” The boy told her, “You need leg up?”
Catherine shook her head, that much she could remember. Gathering the reins upon the pony’s withers, she pout her left foot into the stirrup and brought her right leg up and over the pony’s back, settling herself into the saddle. The pony breathed in, and Catherine lifted the side of the saddle to tighten the girth, smiling as she did so. All ponies it seemed breathed out when being saddled and held their breath, so that the girth was loose and the saddle would slip when the rider mounted. There was many a time before she had learned of this cunning, that she had ended up half way beneath the horse, clinging upside down to the saddle.
The boy grinned at her, “You be okay?”
Catherine nodded, tightening the girth as the pony finally breathed out, “Does he have a name?” she asked.
The boy shrugged his shoulders, “Just pony.” he told her.
‘I thought as much’, Catherine said to herself, the hire ponies were seldom given names.
Pressing her knees against the pony’s sides he started forward through the enclosure where the boy was holding open a gate, and walked out into the road beyond. Clicking her tongue, Catherine eased the pony into a brisk walk, and waved goodbye to the boy.
She rode like this for some time, looking around her, and learning to have faith again in her riding skills. The pony had a hard mouth, from being ridden by so many inexperienced riders, and it was hard making him go the way that she wanted at first. She found that he responded well to a kick in the sides, but she was loath to enforce this kind of treatment upon him.
He seemed to want to take her along a particular route and Catherine realised that this was from habit, this was the way most riders urged him to go.
Dismounting, Catherine walked around to stand at his head, saying softly, “Before we go any further young man, we must introduce ourselves. My name is Catherine, and as you so obviously haven’t got a name, I shall give you one.” Looking him over, Catherine marvelled at his colour, he was sleek blue grey with dapples of white on his rump, and white running through his steely mane and tail. His forehead bore a half star, and he had one white sock.
“Mmm, you look like a Jack to me.” Catherine told him tenderly, and was rewarded by a soft nicker as he blew gently through her hair. “Now Jack, I am not one of your usual sightseers, there is something important that I have to do today, and I should like you to help me do it. See that mountain over there, we have to get as high up it as we can. I don’t expect you to carry me all that way. I will lead you during the very steep parts, and if you are very good I will reward you by letting you graze every time we rest.” Jack nuzzled her jacket again, searching.
Catherine laughed, Ah Huh, I know what you are looking for, I’d forgotten I brought some,” and she put her hand into a pocket and withdrew some sugar cubes she had put their earlier. Holding them in the palm of her hand, Jack took them and munched happily, while Catherine re-mounted, and when he had finished chewing, she pressed her knees together onto his sides, urging him forward.
Not knowing if her words had truly penetrated or not, she was impressed when it seemed that since their chat an understanding had developed between them, and Jack seemed so much more willing to please her. Though she concluded it was more probably, the temptation of more sugar that did it.
The warm breeze that had carried the stench from the stables now brought upon it the fragrance of pine and wild honeysuckle and Catherine delighted in it. Jack carried her along the stony path that led up to the foot of the mountain, and she encouraged him on, as they made their ascent. Guided by Devin’s maps, she rode beneath the thickness of pine trees, glorifying in the shade they gave her from the beating sun. Riding along the pine covered track they made little sound and Catherine saw glimpses of her favourite mahogany coloured squirrel, and listened intently to the profusion of bird song. Closing her eyes for a moment, she allowed herself to open the Bond with Vincent fully, so that he could feel everything she felt, which at that moment was pure unadulterated joy. He would have received her letter by now, and he would be able to walk with her, share with her all the wonders of this magical place. Catherine’s heart poured out her love to him, and was able to feel his presence within her.
“Oh Vincent”, she whispered, “I feel that we are the only two people in the world right now, and that you really are here with me. I can feel you so strongly, its almost as if I could reach out and touch you. I would give anything to have you riding alongside me sharing this wonderful day.”
Losing herself in the depth of their love, she sighed with pleasure and wasn’t surprised when she heard his voice in her heart, “Catherine, Catherine, I love you so much.”
Her heart melted with love for him, and she had to stop Jack and dismount. Her legs felt weak and she had to sit down on a log to rest. Jack nuzzled her jacket for more sugar, and she stroked his forehead. The rough feel of his face reminded her of Vincent, and every fibre of her being burned with a hunger for him. Closing her eyes tightly she allowed her senses to fully reach out to him, to cling to him, and as the longing filled her soul her mind became filled with a fog through which she could see herself riding alongside with Vincent in this peaceful forest.
That Vincent could evade her thoughts came as no surprise to her, so attuned was she to him. She smiled, though he was not there beside her, everything she did, every thought she had, he shared it all with her.
Feeling the gentle tugging on the reins by Jack, Catherine allowed her eyes to open, to take in her surroundings and with a contented sigh, she remounted the pony and urged him forward once again.
“Oh Vincent”, she spoke aloud, “Soon my darling, soon I will return, and I will never leave you again, ever, I promise.”
Dappled sun rays filtered through the thinning of pine trees as they came through the forest out onto the mountainside covered with short nibbled grass. Catherine helped the pony to pick his way tentatively across the ground shrewn with rabbit holes. To slip a hoof down one now would send him lame, and she did not want carelessness to cause him such pain. Dismounting again, she led him until she was satisfied that the ground was too rocky for rabbit warrens, and finding a shady place to sit, she took out some refreshment from her pack, and allowed Jack to graze.
Gazing around her she drank in the scenery. It was sheer bliss to be sat there, she felt as though she were the only person in the world. The sun dazzled her eyes as it bore down upon the snow capped mountain peaks all around her as far as the eye could see. Upon the mountain slopes huge forests had sprung up, and sleepy little villages nestled along ledges and down into the valley. Catherine could remember her first impression of the place when she had come to the mountains with her father as a child. Though different mountains, the impact was the same and the beauty had stayed with her all her life. Some nights back home she would come here in her dreams, and long to step back to the mountains, to the atmosphere, where nowhere on earth touched her so deeply. Again the longing to share it with Vincent pained her. To know that as she sat beneath the sunshine, he would be in a cold and dingy tunnel, maybe sat by the waterfall or the mirror pool, but he would feel only the chill of damp tunnels upon his skin, not this glorious warmth that she could feel on her own. Though in spirit he would share her joy, it could never be the same as literally being there beside her. A tear caught in her throat, as she realised the hopelessness and the tragedy of his life. An overwhelming sadness engulfed her until she heard his voice in her head say, “Catherine don’t do this to yourself, you carry our dream. In you I can be a part of the world Above. Enjoy all there is to be enjoyed and through our Bond, I can share it all with you.”
Smiling weakly, she gathered her unfinished meal and stowed it carefully into the backpack. If nothing else she could hurry to complete her mission, so that she would soon be back in his arms, where she belonged. At least in her, he had the sunlight and the warmth that only true love brings, and she ached to bring him this.

It took several hours of riding and leading Jack to reach her destination. And when Catherine finally dismounted to take some photographs, her thighs ached from being in the saddle so long. “I could do with a long hot bath”, she told Jack, “I am out of practice.”
Noticing the strange shaped rock that Devin had drawn, Catherine looked across to find the bridle path that ran beneath the canopy of pine trees, and the one with the overhanging branch, which possible hid a camera. Shading her eyes against the sun, she looked up the track, wondering what were the odds of someone coming to speak with her if she should ride the pony along it. There were no signs identifying its existence, and as such nothing saying 'Private Property' so she decided to risk it.
However, Jack seemed unwilling to take her, and she did not know why this was. Whether he was just tired or grumpy at having his grazing disturbed again, and she urged him on a few feet at a time, until he stopped completely and flatly refused to budge.
“What is it Jack?” Catherine asked him gently, “Do you sense something?”
Just then a huge dog bounded through the shrubbery barking and growling furiously, and Jack reared up to strike the dog away with his hooves. As the dog rolled out of danger, a security guard broke from the density of the shrubs, and whistled the dog to lie flat.
Glaring angrily at Catherine, a ripple of fear ran through her, and he started shouting at her in a language she did not understand.
Shaking her head she told him firmly, “I don’t know what you are saying.” He stopped his shouting, and quietened the still barking dog, and walked round to her side. Jack trembled with agitation, his wild eyes fixed firmly upon the large dog, and Catherine stroked his neck to reassure him while speaking quietly to him.
“English?” the guard enquired, looking up at Catherine, as she leaned forwards to stroke the quivering pony’s neck.
“American.” Catherine replied.
“Follow me”, he ordered, and took hold of Jack’s reins to lead her forwards. Catherine did not know what to say, and as Jack refused to be lead, the guard gave the dog a command to get behind the pony’s hind quarters, and snap at his back legs. Jack thrashed out wildly, almost unseating Catherine, but he went forwards nonetheless.
Catherine did not know what to think, ordinarily she would have been terrified of a strange man leading her to who knows where, but for the fact that she knew that Devin was somewhere on the other side of those trees, where the institute lay.
The guard whistled his dog to come to heel, and as they walked through the thicket of bushes and down into a courtyard, Catherine could only marvel at the sun picking out the gleaming whiteness of the complex as it came into view.
The guard let go of the reins, and swung round to tell her gruffly, “Wait here.” and she watched as he climbed some steps and went through some large swing doors. Catherine looked around her. The complex now close at hand was huge, and though she could not see everything from her vantage point, she knew that its wings spread right across the valley from what she had seen from the air.
Throughout the complex between trees little villas glistened white beneath the sunlight and everywhere was deathly quiet.
Catherine drew in a deep breath, the dog still stood guard beside her examining her with its fearless eyes, but Jack had calmed somewhat and trusted Catherine as he eyes the dog warily. The sound of footsteps turned Catherine’s attention from the dog towards the doors and she was startled to see three men in white coats striding purposefully towards her. A shiver she could not control swept through her and Jack shifted uncomfortably, his hooves making crunching sounds on the stones beneath them. The dog whimpered and drooled, panting with excitement, sucking in his saliva with his fat slimy jaws, and then pricking up his ears as a sharp whistle pierced the air, he sprang to life and bounded away in an instance, towards the sound.
Temporarily Catherine relaxed, and waited as the three men approached her. They scrutinised her openly without speaking, making her wriggle in the saddle with nervousness. Finally the older one spoke, “Mrs. Conway?”
Catherine remembered the name Devin had given her, “How did you know?” she replied.
“Just an assumption. The guard said you were American, and your brother said you would come looking for him.”
“Can I see him?” she asked trying to keep her voice calm. “If its inconvenient, I can come back another day.”
“That will not be necessary. We must talk, come leave your pony and follow me.”
He turned and walked ahead, and the other two men waited speechlessly while she dismounted, then each one took one of her arms, and led her away from the pony, into the cool interior of the institute.
They ushered her to a room, and showed her where to sit, as the three men each took up a seat around her.
Catherine was reminded of Devin’s words, and was happy that he had forewarned her. For without speaking the three men continued to look at her and through her, and Catherine felt a blush grip her throat and rise up her cheeks. She felt hot and uncomfortable and wished someone would speak.
Looking beyond them she concentrated on some pictures on the walls, they were of various weather scenes, and Catherine momentarily wished she could take them back for Vincent. They would look great hung in his chamber, he would love them. The three men took note of her changing expressions, and finally one of them broke through her thoughts to ask, “Mrs. Conway, why were you taking photographs of this complex from the air?”
They knew about that! Catherine felt her mouth drop open in surprise, but said nothing.
An under current of impatience issued from the man as he asked her again, more sharply, “Mrs Conway, you will answer the question, Please.!”
Grappling with her thoughts Catherine stammered, “I...I... wanted to see...where my brother was working.”
The three men laughed silently, she saw the sarcastic humour in their faces, “Come now Mrs. Conway, you expect us to believe that you would readily pay whatever the pilot asked and then double it, just to see where your brother is working, surely you do not expect us to believe this folly?”
“Its true”, she told them fiercely, “And I have plenty of money.”
“Then that’s too bad” he told her, “ I am afraid that your interest has proved to be your demise.” In an undertone that frightened her.
“What...do...you mean?” Catherine asked quietly, almost afraid to know.
“We cannot allow you to leave here, Mrs. Conway, ever.”
“Why not?” She whispered. The atmosphere had become ominous and Catherine felt an icy hand grip her heart.
“Because until now, no-one has literally walked into this place, but now since you have found the way in, I am afraid that we cannot take the risk of allowing you the freedom to leave, incase you will tell someone else this knowledge.”
“I wouldn’t tell anyone, I promise. Besides who is there to tell?”
The man laughed wickedly, “You expect me to believe that?”
Catherine didn’t reply.
He went on, “Your brother has proved himself a very trustworthy and intelligent fellow. He expressed a desire to have you work here also. I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt that you were looking for your brother, but it does not alter things. You will spend the rest of your life working here, or you will have no life at all. Do you understand what it is I am telling you? Do I make myself clear?”
Catherine nodded, ‘Perfectly’, she said to herself, when suddenly she remembered the Bond, and closed it off firmly, wishing she had thought to do so earlier. Then finding some courage she asked, “Would you please introduce yourselves to me?”
The elder of the three looked at her sternly, “As you will be here a very long time Mrs. Conway, I think that is the least we can do. My name is Ignatz Strasser, and these are my two loyal colleagues, Johannes Kogler and Mich’ael Reidel. We all three are scientists here, and our work is very important. We do not allow intruders into this complex uninvited, because of the secrecy of the work we undertake here.”
“Pardon me for asking”, Catherine went on, “But if this institute studies climatology, what it is that you do here that warrants such secrecy?”
Professor Strasser looked at her crossly, “You ask too many questions Mrs. Conway, you are forgetting that you are walking on very thin ice here. Only if I see your loyalty first will I permit you to see something you could only imagine in your worst nightmares. The locals refer to this place as the mountain of the vampires, but you will find that it is not only vampires that have fangs Mrs. Conway.”
“Who have you got here then, Frankenstien?” she asked dryly.
Reidel and Kogler laughed, and Professor Strasser mocked her with his eyes, “ Come with me Mrs. Conway, I will show you to your villa, and an escort will bring your belongings from your hotel later. Don’t worry about the pony he will be taken care of.”
Catherine shot him a startled look, to which he laughed softly, “I will have him returned to the stables Mrs. Conway, we can’t have his owners coming up here searching for him and you can we.” he laughed some more as her face relaxed, “Whatever else did you think I would mean?” he told her, not expecting an answer.

“What do you propose doing with them Ignatz?” Mich’ael Reidel asked.
Professor Strasser shook his head, “I haven’t decided. It is obvious that are impostors, but I cannot work out why. In all the years that I have undertaken this project not one person has grown suspicious. Why now?”
“Could it be since you have altered the original plan. With being unable to produce an animal like creature capable of speech, and have decided to constitute a deal with the government instead over these creatures, perhaps these people have been hired in that category to find out all they can about what we are really undertaking here.” Mich’ael shuffled uneasily.
“That thought did cross my mind, but Mich’ael these people are both American, I cannot believe that our own government would hire people from anywhere other than our own country, especially when they so obvious do not know our language.”
“Maybe they are the best in their field.”
“Or maybe they have a different lead entirely.” Johannes Kogler spoke at last. He had been thoughtful during the conversation between Ignatz and Mich’ael.
The two other men looked at him sharply, “What do you mean?” Strasser asked him.
“I am thinking of the time you sent Peterson to the USA, to try to trace the creature that was lost, the one you had sent to your colleague over there. Didn’t you say that Peterson had offered a reward of $200,000 for any information leading to the whereabouts of the creature?”
“Yes, but that was years ago. Why, Weston and Conway would be no more than children at the time, what possible link could there be?”
“They could be working for someone, who remembered about the reward, and has since made a discovery.”
Strasser shook his head, “No, I don’t think so, too much time has lapsed, and since we allowed Geraldine to terminate Peterson....” he gave a cruel laugh, “there really is no-one who knows anything about it now, save for ourselves.”
“So we are back to the original question then Ignatz, what do you propose to do with Weston and Conway?”
“What can we do? We could corner them perhaps, let on we know they are impostors, or we could give them enough rope to hang themselves, or we can let Geraldine out and allow her to hunt them down. What do either of you suggest?”
“None of those.” Kogler replied, “I think we should introduce them to Geraldine, and get their response. After all, if they are to die anyway, it makes perfect sense, that way we can tell by their reactions what they may or may not know.”
“And you Mich’ael what do you think we should do?”
“I don’t think they should die. I do not share your bloodlust for Geraldine’s skill. I think we should confront them, I believe Mr. Weston has already worked out that there are hidden cameras everywhere, he isn’t stupid you know, lets bring them here and see what kind of story they unravel for changing their names.”
Strasser thought about that for a few moments, then finally agreed and nodded, “All right, that is what we shall do, but if we aren’t satisfied, do we all agree that we leave them to Geraldine?”
Enthusiastically, and much to Strasser’s delight, Kogler nodded, and though Riedel joined him it was with some reluctance.

Catherine waited until dark before venturing to bathe herself and get ready for bed. Devin’s claims of hidden cameras unnerved her, and she did not want anyone to see her undressing. Lying there beneath the warm water in the darkness was a new sensation, one she found that she rather liked. She could see through the skylight directly above her and the starry night was beautiful. Thoroughly relaxed she allowed her mind to dwell on Vincent, and re-opened the Bond. She was so relaxed that it startled her when she could actually see him in her minds eye. He was sitting beneath the bandstand in Central Park, listening to music, and he was totally relaxed too. Catherine thought if she concentrated hard enough she could actually speak with him, but he seemed to be unreachable, and she guessed he was absorbed in the music, whereas where she was everywhere was silent. Still it was a pleasure to invade his mind, and she thrilled when she knew he was thinking of her with such love in his heart, and blushed a little at some of the content of his thinking. Catherine laughed, and she was happy to notice that the sound echoed inside his head, so that he inclined his heart to listen, and she heard him whisper her name, “Catherine?”
“I’m here Vincent. I can hear you. I can see you.”
“Where are you?”
“In the bathtub.”
She heard Vincent chuckle, “Are you well?”
“Yes, just missing you.”
Vincent smiled, “I am missing you too my Catherine.”
Catherine thrilled at his words, they made her feel possessed by him, and she liked the feeling of security that it gave her.
The water was growing chilly, and Catherine sighed, getting up out of the bath and pulled the plug, hearing the water bubble away down the drain, the only sound in an otherwise silent night. She hoped to climb into bed and become as one in the Bond with Vincent there.
Earlier she had drawn on Vincent’s strength to overcome her fears, and now to know he was so close settled her completely. Crossing to the window with a towel wrapped firmly around her she tried to recapture the connection with him as she gazed at the snow capped mountains all around her, but was saddened when she could no longer grasp it, and wondered if it had after all, been a figment of her imagination while she was so relaxed beneath the water.
Her thoughts drifted to her son, how old would he be now? Eight, nine months, it didn’t seem possible. She expected that he would be crawling by now, perhaps even walking, and she missed him so much. Of all the people she had mistreated, he was the one she had treated worst of all, he had only been a baby and she had abandoned him. It made her feel wretched and she could only console herself with the thought that had she not have left she may never have met up with Devin, and be in the Alps, searching for Vincent’s roots. Whether that was a good or a bad thing she did not know. For a certainty Devin would still have been there, and at least with the two of them together they could help one another.
Towelling her hair dry, she knelt on the bed beneath a window, and looked out, the stars from this side of the villa were tremendous. It was a night for lovers and her feelings for Vincent intensified. When she had reached out to him earlier he had seemed so close, now he was every bit of the thousands of miles away, and her heart ached. Perhaps one day she would be able to attain a tight hold on the Bond, so that she could reach out to him for longer than just a few seconds, and they would really be as one. She wondered if he could still feel everything she was feeling, read her thoughts maybe. It brought her peace of mind, and she infused all her love through the Bond, in the hope that he would feel it.
Her hair dry at last, Catherine lay the towel over a rail, where it would dry, and put on her blue silk pyjamas, lifted the duvet and slipped into bed. She felt weary, her limbs ached from the ride up the mountain on Jack, and all she wanted to do was sleep. Closing her eyes, allowing the languor of sleep to overtake her, she barely heard the mountains coming to life, as the sky became filled with the flashing of fireflies that probed the darkness, the croaking of frogs and the singing of crickets. Chamois grazed in the darkness, revelling in the coolness of the night, yet keeping ever wary of the scents coming along on the breeze. Man hunted at night and though the chamois were protected antelope, it didn’t stop the illegal hunter. He walked the wooded sides of the mountains in search of unwary chamois, foxes and rabbits, and he would poach trout from the streams.
High up on the mountains the snow glistened in the moonlight, sparkling ice. The stars twinkled above the earth and far, far below owls hooted in the trees as bats soared through the sky homing in by sonar on swarms of mosquitoes. Catherine had left her window ajar, and though she were unaware of the night sounds, they provided a backdrop to her dreams. She stirred, an exquisite smile on her lips, with the night so full around her, so different from the night sounds of New York, she felt happy and relaxed. The mountain air was fresh and wafted across to her bringing with it the fragrances of mountain flowers and pine. Languishing in her sweet dreams, Catherine was at peace within herself as she began to dream of Vincent. She could feel his warmth, hear the velvety softness of his voice, and far away she could hear the gentle tapping on the pipes as people relayed messages to one another. Catherine felt safe and loved.
Yet slowly Vincent’s voice trailed away, and she became aware more fully of the sound of tapping on pipes over-riding his voice, growing louder and louder, and she heard her name on them. The sound penetrated her dreams, and half-awake she found herself listening intently. Reaching for Vincent, she found she was alone and she panicked. The dream had been so real, and flinging her arms out, she knocked over the bedside lamp as she tumbled from the bed, momentarily disoriented. Slowly it came back to her where she was, yet she could distinctly hear tapping, and the tapping was spelling her name. Bewildered she followed the sound, it lead her to the bathroom, and then she realised!
Devin had found a way! A way in which they could converse without anyone guessing. It was perfect. Taking her hairbrush she tapped back an answer on the joint water pipes beneath the sink and waited. She was jubilant when she heard Devin answer. Now with the way open to them to converse in secret, they could really begin to put their plans into action!