4: Flight to the Auld Country

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Surprise Encounter"><U><B>1:  Surprise Encounter</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Proscribed Venerable Love"><U><B>2:  A Proscribed Venerable Love</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Stalked by the Vampire"><U><B>3:  Stalked by the Vampire</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>4:  Flight to the Auld Country</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Ally From Nowhere"><U><B>5:  Ally From Nowhere</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe Peopl"><U><B>6:  Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe People</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: The Middle Kingdom"><U><B>7:  The Middle Kingdom</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: My Lady Healer"><U><B>8:  My Lady Healer</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Triple Betrayal"><U><B>9:  Triple Betrayal</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: A World Apart"><U><B>10:  A World Apart</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Flight From Tara"><U><B>11:  Flight From Tara</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: Imbas Forosna"><U><B>12:  Imbas Forosna</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Wheel of Fortune"><U><B>13:  Wheel of Fortune</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: Wednesday, the Best Day of All"><U><B>14:  Wednesday, the Best Day of All</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>4:  Flight to the Auld Country</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Quentin was still awake when he felt Julia stir again, stretching contentedly like a cat.  The sun had been coming up for the last hour, and the room was softly lit with the morning's rays.  He watched her as she began to awaken, a smile curving her lips as if she was remembering a pleasant dream.  “Good morning, beautiful lady,” he whispered into her ear.  Her smile became wider and she reached back with her hand to caress his cheek.  “Dreaming about me?” he asked, noticing that she looked a little pale.</div> <div> “Thinking how nice it is to wake up here with you,” she murmured, finally opening her eyes and looking up at him.  She blinked once or twice, rubbing her eyes.  A slight frown crinkled her eyebrows as she finally looked back into his eyes and noticed his expression.  “What is it?”</div> <div> He looked away, surprised that she could tell anything was wrong.  “Nothing.  Why do you ask?”</div> <div> “Quentin, please tell me.  Something happened last night, didn't it?”</div> <div> He looked back at her, still surprised and smiled a little.  “Are ye a witch then, lass?” he asked, imitating an Irish accent.  Then his face grew serious.  “Barnabas was here.”</div> <div> She sat upright in the bed.  “<I>Here?</I> “</div> <div> “Yes, but I persuaded him to go.”  He fingered his cross.  “Listen, it's morning, and I don't want to think about him or worry about him.  Let's get us a fine breakfast, go to Collinwood, pack our stuff, and head down to New York.  I have a surprise for you.”</div> <div> Julia looked concerned, but then she allowed her features to soften.  The hand that had been stroking his cheek moved to the back of his neck.  “You don't have to surprise me with anything, dearheart,” she said softly.  “You are already the best surprise I could've had.”  She put a little pressure on the back of his neck to bring his lips to hers.</div> <div> He kissed her back, and then said, “How about breakfast in bed?”</div> <div> Julia stretched again.  “Oh, that sounds marvelous.  For some reason I feel tired this morning.”</div> <div> “Good-I'm starving,” Quentin said mischievously and crawled under the covers.  </div> <div> Puzzled, Julia was about to ask what he thought he was doing.  Suddenly, she realized what it was and “Quentin!”</div> <div> “Don't stop a starving man!” His voice sounded a little muffled.</div> <div> <I>Oh, don't worry, I won't!</I>  Julia thought, shivering with pleasure.</div> <bR> <div> By the time they got back to Collinwood, everyone was out except for Mrs. Johnson, Maggie, and the two children.  When Mrs. Johnson found out they were going to New York, she offered to make them a snack basket to take along.  Surprised, Julia and Quentin looked at each other as Mrs. Johnson, smiling broadly, bustled off to the kitchen.  “I think she approves of us,” Quentin said.</div> <div> “Interesting.  If she does, she seems to be the only one,” Julia laughed.  They went upstairs and went to their rooms to pack.  Quentin passed David's room and noticed the door was open.  He and Hallie were studying together.  As he passed by, he saw David look up.  Their eyes met.  David smiled and gave him a thumbs up.  Quentin laughed with good humor.  <I>I'll bet it won't be long before those kids start studying with that door shut,</I> he thought to himself, smirking.</div> <div> He traveled lightly and was finished packing before Julia was.  He knocked lightly at her door.  “Ready?” he asked.  He noticed her face was pale-even more ashen than it had been this morning.  “What's wrong?”</div> <div> Wordlessly, Julia handed him the note.  “It was on my pillow,” she said softly.</div> <div> <I>I will have you, Julia!</I> That was all it said.  Quentin knew the fine handwriting well enough to know who it was from.  He looked at her; she looked upset.  “Don't worry,” he said softly.  “He doesn't know where we're going.”</div> <div> She nodded speechlessly.  “I'll be ready in just a few minutes.  Why don't you wait for me downstairs?  I know the children are up here, so I can't invite you in.” Julia crumpled the note and threw it in the trashcan, smiling at him.</div> <div> He snapped his fingers, feigning disappointment, and grinned at her.  “It's all right, Dr. Hoffman.  I can wait.  I'll have you all to myself in just a few hours.” Whistling, he headed downstairs to wait for her.  In spite of his bravado, though, he felt a chill.  Barnabas had known where to find them in Bangor.  Was it possible he could track them to New York, too?</div> <bR> <div> New York was an exciting city to be in and always would be.  From their suite at the Waldorf, Julia looked out the window and said, “They're in such a hurry-like scurrying ants.”</div> <div> “We'd better hurry a little too,” Quentin said, joining her at the window.  “I don't want to be late for our surprise.”</div> <div> “You're still not going to give me any clue what it is, are you?”</div> <div> “Nope, just dress up nice,” he answered, giving her a passionate kiss.  He turned away to get dressed.  It was going to be a very short interview; still, he thought she would be surprised and pleased.</div> <div> Julia was thrilled with meeting Ruby Keeler, who was a very sweet person to talk to.  They had a very pleasant conversation, during which Quentin asked the questions he needed to write his article.  It didn't seem like an interview at all.   Julia had known that the lady was a big star during the Depression, charming the audiences with her portrayal of sweet young girls trying to break into show business.  She'd also known that Keeler had been married to Al Jolson.  She was very surprised to hear her admit to being a speakeasy dancer.  Julia's mouth popped open a little but she shut it immediately when she saw Quentin wink at her.</div> <div> In answer to Quentin's question about dancing in the speakeasies, she said, “I couldn't act.  I had a terrible singing voice, but they didn't really notice. It was dark, noisy, and they were mostly drunk.”  Julia burst out laughing.  The actress gave her a friendly smile and went on, “Well, now I can see from my movies that I wasn't the greatest tap dancer in the world.”<I> </I></div> <div> “Well, I wouldn't say that,” Quentin objected.  “I've seen your movies, too.   Weren't you the centerpiece in Busby Burkley's numbers?”</div> <div> “Several of them.”  The lady's eyes lit up with the memory.</div> <div> “One of them was called `Dames', right? `I only have eyes for you'?”</div> <div> “You're an awfully young man to have seen something like that!”</div> <div> “I always did think you were beautiful,” Quentin answered, turning on all his charm.  Julia found that, in this case, she didn't mind.  Neither did Ms. Keeler.</div> <div>  After the left and got into the elevator, Julia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.  "I do like your surprises, Quentin!"     "Wait--there's more," Quentin promised her.  "We're going to have dinner at Tavern on the Green, and then we're going to rent a hansom cab and take a ride through Central Park.”</div> <div> “I haven't done that in years!” Julia exclaimed.  “How romantic!”</div> <div> It was twilight as they got into the hansom cab.  Julia snuggled against Quentin as the cab started off, the horse's hooves making clip-clop sounds on the pavement.  They'd entered Central Park, and Quentin took Julia into his arms to kiss her.  “I won't get a chance to see anything here,” Julia said, a little breathlessly.</div> <div> “Do you want to?”</div> <div> “I'm finding that I'm not as interested in the scenery as I was before,” she answered with a laugh.  As they went further into the park, the twilight deepened.  Lamplights along the path came on.  The shadows, instead of seeming to be romantic, appeared sinister to Julia.  She drew back a little from Quentin, an odd thought forming in her mind.</div> <div> “What's wrong?”</div> <div> “I'm not sure,” Julia answered, shivering a little.  She moved even closer to Quentin, and he put his arm around her.  “I feel as though someone's watching me.”</div> <div> Quentin felt her tremble.  He looked around a little.  Was it possible?  How would Barnabas know where they were?  They hadn't told anyone…”Hey,” he said softly, “do you want to go back to the hotel?”</div> <div> “I don't like being frightened off like this,” Julia whispered, somewhat resentfully.  “Maybe we'd better, though.  I feel so…out in the open here.  Why don't we come back here tomorrow-in the daylight?”</div> <div> “All right,” Quentin said, nuzzling her neck.  “It's all right.  I can think of things we can do in that room.”  He had the disturbing sense of being watched now, too, and it irritated him.  <I>Room service is going to think I'm nuts when they hear what it is I want them to send up.</I></div> <bR> <div> The crosses and garlic were hung in place at all the windows.  Quentin had ignored the odd look from the young man room service had sent up with the sprigs of garlic and the crosses.  Quentin tipped well to keep him quiet.  Julia watched nervously, explaining what to do.  She'd been through this before with Barnabas and the other women he'd been interested in.  Now that she herself was being targeted as a victim, she couldn't seem to bring herself to go near the windows. She twisted a curl of her hair nervously around one finger.  “Do you see anything, Quentin?” she asked.</div> <div> “No,” he answered, turning back to her.  She looked pale and shaky.  “Julia?  What is it?”</div> <div> “I think I hear his voice,” she said softly, shuddering again.  Quentin went to her and put his arms around her.  Her eyes filled with tears.  “Once I would've given anything to hear those words-but now I'm just frightened, frightened!  Why won't he leave us alone?”</div> <div> “He's realizing how much he needs you.  What is he saying to you, Julia?”</div> <div> “Just what you said, dearheart. `Julia, come to me.  I need you.  Don't reject me now, my love. We can be happy together.'  Quentin, hold me!”</div> <div> “Ssssh,” he soothed her, thinking.  “Julia, how much leave do you need to give Windcliffe?”</div> <div> “Wh-what do you mean?”</div> <div> “I mean-why don't we go to Ireland now?  Tomorrow?”</div> <div> “Quentin!  Run away?” Her voice had a hint of disapproval to it.</div> <div> He moved away from her, throwing his arms out in frustration.  “I don't know what else to do!  We've tried talking to him-it's obvious he's not going to listen!  I don't want to stake him-do you?”</div> <div> “No!  No!”</div> <div> Quentin turned back to her.  “I don't want him to victimize you, either, Julia-even if I didn't l-feel the way I do about you, I wouldn't want that!”  He looked and sounded distraught.  He'd never imagined he'd be at odds with his cousin to this extent.</div> <div> Julia had begun to cry.  “Hold me, please hold me!  He's calling to me!”</div> <div> Quentin held her close.  “How can you hear him?  I thought only his victims could hear him.”</div> <div> Julia shook her head helplessly.  “I-I don't know!  But I must go to him, I must!”  She started to pull out of his arms.</div> <div> “No!  Have you lost your mind?”  Quentin grabbed her and pulled her back.  He had a strong feeling of foreboding now.  As he held onto her, she struggled with him.  He managed to get a look at her neck-there were no marks.  As the struggled, though, he noticed some blood on the elbow of her blouse.  “What is that?”</div> <div> She covered her arm with her hand.  “Nothing!”</div> <div> “Julia!” Alarmed, he unbuttoned her sleeve at the wrist and pushed her blouse up even as she tried to pull away from him.  Horrified, he saw the twin puncture wounds on the inside of her elbow.  They apparently had reopened while the two had been struggling.  He stared at her arm, genuinely frightened now.<I> When did that happen?</I> It had to have been while he was with Julia-perhaps before he'd wakened to find Barnabas standing in the corner of their room. </div> <div> “Oh, my God!” Julia exclaimed with despair, looking at the marks as if she was seeing them for the first time.  “There's no hope, no hope!”</div> <div> “Don't say that!  I won't let anything happen to you, Julia, I swear it!”  Quentin led her back to the bed and sat down, pulling her down with him.  “We'll get through tonight-I'll protect you.  And tomorrow we'll get the shots or whatever we need and make sure our passports are in order-we'll get away for awhile.  As long as it takes for him to leave us alone, all right?”</div> <div> She looked at him, her eyes filled with terror.  He noticed there were black smudges under her eyes that hadn't been there before.  Was that a trick of his imagination or did Barnabas have something to do with it?  He felt a sudden burning fury, and for the first time, he hated his cousin.  The phone rang, and Julia jumped.  “I'll get it,” Quentin said, picking up the phone.  “Hello?”</div> <div> “Let her come to me, Quentin,” Barnabas said in a sonorous, hypnotic voice.</div> <div> “Barnabas, leave us alone!” Quentin yelled into the phone and hung up.  He checked Julia's neck again to make sure she was wearing her cross.<I> But that hadn't kept Barnabas from biting her, obviously!</I>  This time, though, they had the garlic and the crosses in the windows-he couldn't get in unless Julia invited him.  <I>I have to stay awake all night!</I>  The other thing he was sure he had to do was to knock Julia out.  He had to give her one or several of her famous sedatives.  He took Julia's hand.  “We'll be all right, my love,” he assured her.   He picked up the phone called room service again, this time asking for more brandy. There was still a half a bottle of the complimentary champagne left over, but he preferred brandy.  “Where's your bag?”</div> <div> “Over there.”  Julia indicated the dresser.  </div> <div> Quentin got up and opened her bag.  He found some dressing, antiseptic and tape-and he found pill bottles.  He rummaged through them quickly and found something he recognized: Valium.  He stuck it in his pocket and turned back to Julia, wondering if she'd seen him.  Probably not-she was hugging herself and looking at the floor.  He sat down on the bed next to her and took her injured arm.  He put some of the antiseptic on it, covered it with a gauze pad and then taped it down.  “There,” he said, satisfied.</div> <div> He looked up and met her eyes.  She still looked frightened but her expression was softened by something else.  “Thank you,” she whispered.  He realized that she was beginning to feel safe again with him.</div> <div> “I love you, Julia,” he said with as much feeling as he could.  Whatever hesitation he'd had about expressing his love for her was gone now, especially in the face of the very real danger she was in.  “I'll take care of you, don't worry.”  He kissed her.  He felt her arms go around him.  He started to lay her down on the bed.  Maybe he could keep her distracted this way for a little while, slipping his hands down in front of her to start unbuttoning her blouse.  There was a knock at the door, and Julia got up abruptly, pulling her blouse together.</div> <div> Quentin sat up, realizing that it must be room service with the brandy.  He watched her moving swiftly toward the door, a disturbing thought intruding into his head.  She wasn't so keen on brandy, but she was awfully anxious to answer that door…Suddenly, he was up on his feet and running.  “Julia, no!” he called, even as she put her hand on the door and started to open it.  He shoved her roughly aside and slammed it, bolting the door.  He thought he heard an angry hiss from the hall.  “Leave it!” he called through the door.  “Just leave it there!” They heard the bottle crash against the door and both of them jumped. “Holy Christ!” He gasped.</div> <div> Quentin reached down for Julia's hand, pulling her to her feet and backing her away from the door.  He could feel her resisting-she wanted to open that door.  “Julia, no,” he said urgently, pulling her back.  He sat her back on the bed.  “Julia, look at me,” he said insistently.  She was staring at the door.  He turned her head so that he was looking into her eyes.  “Julia, come on, fight with me.”</div> <div> “He needs me,” she said softly.</div> <div> “I need you more!” he exclaimed.  “I'm not going to let you go, Julia-you don't want to be like that, do you?”</div> <div> “I-I-” When Julia couldn't complete her sentence, Quentin put his lips on hers and kissed her deeply.  She didn't respond at first, so he gently pushed her back on the bed.  She still felt stiff and unyielding, and he wondered how he would ever get through this night.  “Julia,” he said softly, stroking her hair.  “Let me get you a champagne.  Have a drink with me, will you?”</div> <div> She was clearly struggling with her emotions; he had to move quickly.  The champagne would be warm, but he didn't care.  He shook out several Valiums into his hand, wondering how much was too much-but he didn't have time.  She was already sitting up on the bed, looking toward the door.  He crushed the pills as best as he could and wiped his hand over her glass.  He filled her glass with champagne and poured some for himself as well.  He'd turned back toward her as she was getting up.  “Julia!”</div> <div> He was back beside her in an instant, gently pushing her back on the bed.  “Drink this,” he urged.  He turned her chin so that she was looking into his eyes again.  “God help me, I don't have the power he has, Julia, but I do love you.  Just drink this for me, please?”</div> <div> As if she sensed what he'd done, she tilted the glass up and drank the entire thing in one long swallow.  He sighed with relief.  He poured what he had in his glass into hers.  “More,” he insisted.</div> <div> “I don't know if getting me drunk will help, dearheart,” she said sadly.</div> <div> “We'll see.  Drink it.”  He'd thought to bring the bottle along, even though there wasn't much left.  Well, he had another idea to keep her busy-whether she wanted to or not.  He really hoped she'd want to.  There was enough champagne for him to pour a little more for her and also for himself.  He clinked his glass against hers.  “To us,” he said.  She smiled at him wanly.  “Is he still calling you?”</div> <div> “Not at the moment-I don't think he's given up, though, dearheart.  I can feel that he's angry.”</div> <div> “Okay,” he said.  He couldn't deny feeling scared, but at long as they kept the door locked and the garlic and crosses on the window, he wouldn't be able to get in.  Suddenly, he reached over and took the phone off the hook-just in case.  He didn't want to hear Barnabas' voice again tonight.  They finished up the champagne and he pushed her back onto the bed again, covering her throat with slow kisses.  “Just think of me, Julia,” he whispered between kisses.  When he got to her mouth, he found her more responsive.  He was relieved-it would be much easier this way.  She was still with him as he slid into her and began to move, responding with as much passion as ever-maybe Barnabas had retreated for a while, maybe the drugs were working, maybe she was able to block him with her will?  He held her tightly against his body as if he could protect her from the evil outside the room.  </div> <div> “What did you do to me?” she asked just moments before she fell into a deep sleep.  He sat up partway, taking her pulse.  He hoped he hadn't given her too much.  At any rate, he would stay up all night this time to make sure nothing happened to her.</div> <div> At the first sight of the sun's rays coming up over the horizon, Quentin finally fell back, exhausted.  During the night, Julia had moved restlessly several times; once she'd murmured, “No, leave me alone!”  Quentin himself had felt a sinister air around the room, trying to penetrate and get in-and sensed the deep frustration of one who hasn't been invited.  There was another thump at the door, which caused him to jump.  He wondered how Julia had been able to put up with Barnabas if he'd manifested similar behavior toward Maggie, Vicki, and the others.  It was really very frightening.</div> <div> The sound of Julia's voice on the phone slowly brought him back to consciousness.  She hung up and smiled at him.  “I was wondering if you were going to sleep the day away.  I've just ordered breakfast to be sent up.”</div> <div> He struggled to sit up, feeling fuzzy with fatigue.  “What time is it?” he asked, groaning.  </div> <div> “You have terrible bed hair,” Julia laughed, reaching over to smooth his hair down.  “It's almost ten thirty.  What did you put in my drink, dearheart?  I slept like the dead.”</div> <div> “I'm glad you weren't,” he said.  “I kept taking your pulse all night.”</div> <div> Julia's eyes widened.  “What did you do?”</div> <div> “Just some sleeping pills-I don't know how many.  I just poured some out and got them into your drink before you could see.”</div> <div> Julia laughed.  “And I thought it was the love-making!”</div> <div> “Ah, well, sorry to spoil your delusions, but I guess I'm not that good.”  He yawned. </div> <div> “Oh, yes, you were.”</div> <div> Now he smiled.  “While we're waiting for breakfast in bed, why don't you call Windcliffe and take a couple of weeks off?  Then we can go down and make sure our passports are in order-do you have one, Julia?”</div> <div> “No.”</div> <div> He grimaced.  “Oh.  Well, we'll have to get one for you.   I'll bet I can get one for you in a couple of hours, but we'll have to get your picture taken.  I want to fly out of here before dusk.”</div> <div> Julia looked at him sadly, tracing his jaw.  “You really believe we can get away? What about the family?  What do we tell them?”</div> <div> “That we're eloping.”</div> <div> Julia's eyes widened.  “Quentin, really!  Be serious!”</div> <div> Quentin laughed.  “Can you see the looks on their faces, Julia?  It would be worth it for that alone!”</div> <div> Julia looked serious.  “It's not funny.”</div> <div> He took her hand and kissed it.  “I didn't mean it like that, honestly.  Really, what's to stop us, Julia?”</div> <div> “Barnabas!”</div> <div> He sighed.  “Other than that, what's to stop us?  Do I have a rival?”</div> <div> “No, but-“</div> <div> “But?”</div> <div> Julia sighed.  “Oh, Quentin, I haven't felt this fulfilled in years.  You are making me very happy, but-“ She bit her lip. “What if we did get married?  How would you feel about me in ten or fifteen years?  When I look like your grandmother instead of your mother?”</div> <div> “I've learned that older women are better, Julia.”</div> <div> “You say that now, but how will you feel when someone younger and prettier crosses your path?”</div> <div> He wanted to tell her that she had nothing to worry about, but he had a feeling if he did that she would become angry.  She was different from the other women he'd known-she wasn't gullible, definitely not.  And she had good reason to wonder-he wasn't renown for his faithfulness or loyalty.  “I guess you'll just have to wait and see for yourself,” he finally answered.  She arched her brows at him and smiled, but she wasn't angry.  He'd maneuvered himself on the bed so that he could reach up and stroke her breast through her nightgown.  “I guess we'll tell them we're searching out our roots.”</div> <div> She caught his hand.  “That's very nice, dear, but I cannot make any kind of intelligent calls if you keep this up.”</div> <div> He laughed.  “Okay, okay.”  He closed his eyes.  There would be plenty of time for that later anyway.  “Call me when breakfast is here.”</div> <div> Julia was impressed with the number of contacts Quentin had in what could best be termed covert operations.  By the middle of the afternoon, she had a completed passport with falsified documents about her immunizations.  She was reasonably sure she wouldn't pick up any pests in Ireland but, to be on the safe side, she had a few contacts of her own who provided her with the necessary vials of vaccines.  By four in the afternoon, they'd checked out of the Waldorf and were already at the airport.  Their flight to Ireland was due out within the hour.  Quentin fretted because it would be getting dark by then.</div> <div> “Please stop pacing, Quentin, you're making me nervous,” Julia said, reaching her hand out to stop him.  Her face was pale and wan again.  She didn't look tired, just frightened.  He stopped his restless pacing and sat down beside her, putting his arm around her.  “It's a good thing I can't be fired,” she went on.  “The Board of Directors must surely think I've lost my mind.  First I tell them that I want to come back and resume my practice, then I tell them I need a leave of absence within a few weeks, and now I've told them I've got to go-now.”</div> <div> Quentin smiled mirthlessly.  “What did you tell them?  Another family emergency?”</div> <div> “Yes-but that's true, isn't it?”</div> <div> “Would you be able to practice medicine in Ireland, Julia?”</div> <div> She sat upright, surprised.  “I-I have no idea!  What made you ask that?”</div> <div> He shrugged.  “I don't know.  Just making conversation, I guess.”  He turned to her, his face worried.  “You don't hear him, do you?”  She shook her head, no.  He leaned over and kissed her gently, wondering if he could believe her.  Would she be able to tell him-or would Barnabas simply call to her, telling her to obey him?</div> <div> They heard an announcement for their flight.  They could board now.  Relieved, Quentin stood up.  It wasn't dusk yet.  He reached for Julia's hand.  They had very little baggage with them.  Quentin decided they would buy any extra clothes they needed in Ireland.  He didn't have to worry about money, and he didn't want to waste time.  “Ready?” he asked.  Julia smiled and nodded.  He took her arm and they walked toward the boarding gate.</div> <div> “We don't even know where we're going once we get there, do we?”</div> <div> “Nope-but I hear the people are really friendly.  They have a lot of these bed and breakfast places.”</div> <div> “Have you been there, Quentin?” Julia asked, curiously.  She knew he'd been around the world-especially to the Far East.</div> <div> “Actually, yes,” he answered.  “I just didn't know I was in the land of my ancestors.” He laughed.</div> <div> “When were you there?” she asked, curious.</div> <div> He didn't answer right away, unsure about how much he should tell Julia of his travels and adventures.  “Around the time of the Rising,” he finally answered cautiously.  Julia's eyes widened a little.  Actually, he reflected, that might be a good story to tell her after all.  It would keep them from thinking about Barnabas.  “D'ye want to hear about it, then?” he asked, using his best accent.</div> <div> “My God, you sound just like a leprechaun!” Julia laughed.</div> <div> “Well, Barry Fitzgerald I'm not,” he replied, laughing too.  “What do you know about the Rising, then, me lady?  An' I'll fill in the other bits.”</div> <div> They had taken their seats on the plane.  Gallantly, he indicated she should take the window seat.  He stowed the two carry-on bags they'd brought overhead.  The other suitcase had already been taken care of-he hoped.  He sat down and took her hand.   They talked about the tragedy of the Easter uprising in 1916.  The British promised the Irish they would have home rule if they would help defeat the Germans; the Republican Brotherhood didn't believe it and attempted a rebellion on Easter Sunday.  Fifteen hundred members of the Brotherhood took over the General Post Office in Dublin for six days, hoping for the support of the rest of their countrymen-which didn't come.  All of the leaders of the rebellion except for Eamon deValera were executed or imprisoned.  After the Germans were defeated the British, of course, did not grant home rule.</div> <div> “So what were you doing in Dublin?” Julia asked.  “You weren't fighting for the British, were you?”</div> <div> “Well, yes, actually-“ Quentin began.  When he saw the look on Julia's face, he amended hastily, “No, no, it wasn't like that! I was on leave-I was a pilot in the RAF.”</div> <div> “The RAF?”</div> <div> “We didn't get into the war until almost the end, Julia,” Quentin explained, meaning the United States.  “That's why I flew for the RAF.  Well, I was on leave, you see, and I just happened to be there-” He broke off.  It brought back unpleasant memories.  “I didn't know I was Irish.” He added somewhat defensively.</div> <div> “What would you have done if you'd known?” Julia asked curiously.</div> <div> He shrugged and smiled.  “Probably would've run with the IRA.  That's what the Irish Republican Brotherhood turned into, you know.”  He leaned back in his seat.  “Julia? Do you think that maybe the original Collinses weren't gentry?  That's why it's not in the family history that we're from Ireland, not England?”</div> <div> “I don't know,” Julia said.  “I guess we'll have to find that out.”</div> <div> “I'll bet the family is bluidy Papists!” he whispered to her.  </div> <div> Julia laughed.  “My family must be, too.”</div> <div> “No!” he teased.  “I'll bet your family were the landlords!”</div> <div> “Oh, Quentin, stop!  Really!”</div> <div> “I wonder what we'll find?  Did we start out in one of those whitewashed cottages?  Or in some castle?”</div> <div> “A castle,” Julia mused.  “We'll see several on the way.”</div> <div> “And find all the secret hiding places,” he whispered into her ear, which made her laugh again.  “Oh, I like to hear you laugh. I'm going to make sure you laugh often.”</div> <div> The stewardess came by with complimentary drinks.  “I'll come with your dinner in about a half an hour,” she said pleasantly.</div> <div> “I'm just curious-what time will we get to Dublin?” Julia asked.  I mean, what time will it be there?”</div> <div> “About midnight, I should think,” the stewardess answered before moving on.</div> <div> Julia looked at Quentin, her eyes suddenly wide with fright.  “Sh, it's all right.  There's no way he's going to be there,” he assured her, hoping to convince himself as well.</div> <div> The rest of the flight and, in fact, the rest of the night passed with no indication that Barnabas was anywhere in the vicinity.  Both Julia and Quentin slept for a while on the plane and were wide-awake when they landed in Dublin.  They elected to go to a hotel and then rent a car in the morning.  They planned to drive across the country to Sligo, which was on the west coast of the country.  It was the first peaceful night they'd spent together since Barnabas found out they were seeing each other.</div> <div> The hotel they stayed in was one of the oldest in Dublin.  It was called, interestingly enough, the Castle Hotel.  Their room had a marble fireplace in it.  Julia fell in love with it.  Quentin asked for the fireplace to be lit and requested a a bottle of brandy.  “I'm not tired yet, are you?” Quentin asked.  They took all the pillows they could find and piled them on the rug in front of the fireplace.  Quentin turned the lights out, and he and Julia lay on the pillows and clinked glasses.  “'Tis happy I am to be here wi' you me girl,” he said to her.</div> <div> “It's so…different here,” Julia said softly.  “So unhurried.  We're in no rush to get to Sligo yet, are we?  I'd like to have a look around.”</div> <div> “Sure, why not?”  Quentin moved closer to her.  “No, there's no hurry for anything, is there?”  He took her glass and set it safely out of the way.  “What do you taste like in Ireland, Julia?” he asked, moving to take her into his arms.</div> <div> “I was just wondering the same thing,” Julia said, smiling.</div> <div> “Wondering what you taste like?”</div> <div> Julia laughed.  They were lying facing each other, very close.  She'd begun to unbutton his shirt.  “No, silly.  Wondering what <I>you</I> taste like.  Wondering what you'd look like in front of a fireplace like this.”</div> <div> “You're beautiful in the firelight, Julia.  I can see the highlights of your hair.  You're eyes are like cat's eyes right now.”</div> <div> “Cat's eyes?”</div> <div> “Cats are regal, you know that?  They're wild, too.  That's you, Julia.”  He'd begun to unbutton her blouse, even as she was pulling his shirt open.  He took in a sharp breath as she moved closer, kissing him and stroking his chest lightly with her fingernails.  He chuckled into his throat and moved closer to her, pulled her to him.  “Do that down my back, Julia.”  As she began to lightly scratch his shoulders, he worked at unbuttoning her blouse.  “An Irish rose,” he murmured to her, finally getting all the buttons open.  He held onto her and rolled so that she was on her back now.  Her arms moved up from his back, circling his neck, pulling him down to her.  “Julia,” he said huskily, kissing her and then stopping to look at her.  “Tis glad I am and glad I'll be knowin you like the likes o'me.”  He bent back down to kiss her again when she said it.</div> <div> “I <I>love</I> the likes o'you.”</div> <div> “Do you, Julia?  Because I love you, too.”  He kissed her deeply then, his hands moving with an urgent, primal need across her body.  He wanted to possess her now, before the warmth of the fire and in the afterglow of their declaration of feeling for each other.  How many other couples had made love before this fire in this old, old building?</div> <div> “Come into me now,” Julia was saying to him, and he went willingly, entering her warm body, feeling her draw him in.  It didn't matter how many other couples had been here before…they were the only ones who mattered now.</div> <bR> <div> At some point, they'd gotten up from the floor and moved to the bed.  Quentin woke up with the sunshine streaming in the window and Julia snuggled up against him.  He looked out the window at the clear sky which seemed to be a purer blue here than it had ever been in Maine-or was it just his imagination running wildly down a romantic road?  It had been years and years since he'd last been in Dublin, but he thought he could remember enough interesting places to take Julia to so that they could spend a few days here.  He didn't feel the urgent need to run anymore-maybe they were free of Barnabas at last.  If that was the case, there was no need to rush.  One thing he remembered about Irish people was that they never seemed to be in a hurry-not like the Americans.  This would be an idyllic vacation.</div> <div> Would it need to stay that way? He wondered.  Did they need to go back?  He wondered how strongly she felt tied to Windcliffe and to Collinsport.  He would miss his family, of course, but that was what telephones were for.  Besides, it wasn't like the days before airplanes.  They could fly back anytime they wanted to.  He wondered if it was too early to broach the idea with Julia.  He looked down at her, so still and peaceful. He could feel her exhalations on his chest, though, so he knew she was very much alive.  Julia had begun to stir a little.</div> <div> “Good morning, beautiful lady,” Quentin said to her softly.</div> <div> Julia opened her eyes sleepily.  “Well, well, will wonders never cease!” she said, stretching.  “I'm usually the early bird.”</div> <div> “Must be the change of scenery and the jet lag,” Quentin said.  “Don't expect this to last-pretty soon I'll be back to my old ways.  I was just thinking, Julia, that no one knows we're here yet-from your family, I mean.  Who is it we're going to see?  I forgot.”</div> <div> “Brian Kiernan-a distant cousin of mine from my mother's branch of the family,” Julia answered.  “No, I haven't called him yet.  I should-especially since we're here.”</div> <div> “Well, there's no real rush to get to Sligo now is there?  How about if we take it nice and easy like the people here?  See everything as we go along.”</div> <div> “Mmm…that would be nice,” Julia answered with a smile.  “I only put in for one month of leave.”</div> <div> “You can change it, can't you?” Quentin had begun to caress her cheek and hair.  “I mean, I know it would take about a month to search out all our relatives and listen to all the stories.  Wouldn't you like to take your time with it, though?  It's not like we have to rush right back.  You haven't really started back into your practice yet.”</div> <div> “That's true,” Julia answered.</div> <div> “Money's not a problem,” Quentin went on.</div> <div> “You don't have to convince me, dearheart!”  Julia started laughing.  “I'll call Brian after breakfast.  What is your plan, anyway?  You seem to have one, don't you?”</div> <div> “I was just thinking that it's been so long since I was here last.  There's lots to see in Dublin, Julia, even before we get out into the country.  You'd like these places-especially since you enjoy researching genealogy so much.”</div> <div> He could see Julia becoming interested and excited.  “Dublin Castle!” she exclaimed.  “And Christ Church Cathedral-we could see that, too.”</div> <div> “Trinity College is here, too,” Quentin added enthusiastically.  “And there's a James Joyce museum here.  We can't go looking at William Butler Yeats' grave without seeing the James Joyce Museum, too.”</div> <div> “How did you know Yeats was buried in Sligo?” Julia asked.</div> <div> Quentin pretended to be insulted.  “Oh, Julia, come on! <I>Everyone</I> knows that!”  He laughed.</div> <div> Julia sat up.  “Well, I'm convinced.  Are you hungry?”  She pushed his shoulder playfully.  “I meant <I>breakfast!</I>”</div> <div> “Ah, vitamins and calories-that's what you meant?  Yes, I'm hungry for that stuff too.”  He kissed her.  “Come on, let's get dressed.”</div> <div> After breakfast, Julia called Brian Kiernan and talked with him for almost a half-hour.  Quentin stretched his long frame out on the bed, crossed his legs, and watched her as she talked on the phone.  Her watched her curl the phone cord around her fingers, twisting and untwisting it.  She laughed several times and then took out a pencil and began writing.  Quentin thought she moved with grace.  He thought about the things Elizabeth and Roger had said to him.  Julia was so vital and sexy right now-would she still look beautiful to him in ten or fifteen years?  He had never been sexually involved with an older woman, and his only experience with them previous to this had been the non-relationships he'd had with Judith, Magda and Mrs. Fillmore.</div> <div> Julia hung up.  Turning, she stopped suddenly as she realized that Quentin was watching her.  She couldn't read his expression and blushed.  “What?” she asked, sounding a little disconcerted.</div> <div> “I can't look at you?” he asked.  “I was just looking at you, that's all.”</div> <div> She sat down at the foot of the bed.  “I guess it depends on what you're thinking.”</div> <div> “Older women are better.”  He stretched and sat up, reaching for her.  She moved closer, into his arms.  “So what's Cousin Brian say?”</div> <div> “I told him that we're here.  He knows we're coming-when we get there, we get there.  Oh! And he was surprised I'd brought you-he said he would look up some Collinses and see if they're any relation to you.  Wouldn't that be fun, Quentin-to meet a distant cousin?”</div> <div> Quentin was interested.  “Did he know any Collinses?”</div> <div> “Not under that name.  There are some Culhanes-that's a variation of Collins.  Besides, there are other villages in Sligo-I'm not sure if we're from the same part of the county.”</div> <div> Quentin nodded.  “Did he recommend a place for us to stay?”</div> <div> “Well, he asked us to stay with his family, but-“ Julia hesitated.</div> <div> “Separate rooms?” Quentin guessed.</div> <div> Julia nodded.  “Ireland has come a long way, but it's still a very Catholic country.  I told him we'd let him know.”</div> <div> “I still think I could make an honest woman of you and then we wouldn't have this problem.”</div> <div> “Quentin, really!”  Julia had begun to laugh again.  He didn't join her this time.  She looked at him, her features changing from surprise to alarm to pleasure and back to alarm again.  He couldn't help it-he started to laugh.  “You aren't joking, are you?”</div> <div> “No, I'm not joking.  Don't look so dismayed, Julia.  Is the thought of marrying me so terrible, then?”</div> <div> “No! But-” She was shaking her head.  “Quentin!”</div> <div> “Oh, come on.  Why not? It would be fun.  You know all my secrets.  I don't have to lie to you-I wouldn't have to just `disappear' from your life because I wasn't aging…”</div> <div> “Yes, but that's just it!”  Julia interrupted.  “We may get some funny looks even now.  Yes, I know how old you are and you know, but everyone else thinks you couldn't possibly be a day over thirty-if that.  And in spite of what you say about me, people are going to know that I'll never see forty again.”</div> <div> “So?”</div> <div> “So already people will think I've robbed the cradle.”  She slapped at Quentin's arm when he burst into gales of laughter.  “Stop that!  You know that's what they'll think.  And what are they going to say when I look like your grandmother?”</div> <div> “That I'm just a gigolo…” Quentin began and rolled away from Julia, even as he continued to laugh.  He rolled back toward her, surprising her, and grabbed her arms.  He pulled her on top of him.  “What do you care what people say, Dr. Hoffman?  Do you care?”</div> <div> Julia struggled, starting to giggle.  “I just want to know what you really think.”</div> <div> “I think I want another kiss.”</div> <div> Julia put her hand over his mouth.  “What do you think, first?”  She stopped giggling and looked very serious.  He let go of her and moved to sit up, holding her on his lap.</div> <div> “Okay, let's talk.  What do I think?”  He considered.</div> <div> Julia looked at him sternly.  “Don't lie to me, Quentin,” she warned.</div> <div> “I wasn't going to.  What I think is that you're beautiful and very sexy, and we're good together.  And we're good friends.  So why not?  That's what I was thinking.”  He'd thought some other things, too, but had put them out of his mind.</div> <div> Julia, however, wasn't going to let him over the hook so easily.  “How will you feel about me when I do look like your grandmother?”</div> <div> “I may not even notice if I'm seeing you everyday.”  He kissed her neck.  “Especially if you're like the `little old lady from Pasadena'.  `Go, granny, go, granny, go, granny, go.' “  He tried to nuzzle her neck, but she pushed him back.</div> <div> “What if I get sick as I get older?  What if I have a stroke?  What if I become senile?”</div> <div> “Then I'll take care of you.  Jeez, Julia, can we cross that bridge when we get to it?”  Talking about it was making him feel uncomfortable.  He didn't want to think about her becoming old or infirm.  However, he could see that she was really concerned about it so he sighed and forced himself to think it through.  In fifteen years Julia would definitely qualify as a “senior citizen.”  Maybe she'd still be as vital and sexy as she was now, but what if she wasn't?</div> <div> “I wouldn't want to be a burden to you,” Julia was saying.  “You are very attractive.”</div> <div> He was moved.  He pulled her closer to him but didn't try to kiss her.  “You know what the truth is, Julia?  I hate to think about you getting old or dying-especially because I'm not going to.  But when you die, I'll be alone-and still very attractive.  I guess I would meet someone else eventually.  But until then-why can't we just stay together?  And the hell with what people say.  And if you get sick, I'll take care of you the best way I can.”  He wondered if she would believe him-he wondered if he believed what he was saying himself.</div> <div> Julia didn't answer him at first, but she did snuggle up to him and held him closely.  She, too, was wondering if she could believe him.  She was also wondering what difference it made if he was telling the truth or not.  Perhaps she could go into this with the attitude that she would love him as long as she could-just as she'd told Barnabas.  No one had made her as young and alive as Quentin had.  Why give it up?</div> <div> “Well?” he asked, as her silence continued.</div> <div> “Well, I just wondered-if we just showed up married, would my cousin feel hurt?  They might like to be involved, you know.”</div> <div> Quentin whooped.  “Fine!  Then we'll get married in Sligo!  Call him back and tell him to announce the banns!”</div> <div> “Quentin!” Julia exclaimed, laughing.</div> <div> “Isn't that what they do?  I saw it on `The Quiet Man'.  Don't they have to announce it for four weeks or something first?  Julia, I'm not going to go to Sligo and sleep all alone for a month!  Call your cousin!” Julia shook her head with disbelief, still laughing.  Quentin, however, was serious and began to push her off the bed.  “Go call now!  I am not going to any castles or museums or anywhere else until you go tell your cousin we're engaged.”</div> <div> Julia finally realized he was serious and stopped laughing, her hand going to her mouth.  “My God, I can't believe we're doing this.”</div> <div> “Well, we are, woman!  Go call!  And then I'll call Elizabeth!  Think they'd fly out here?”</div> <div> Julia's eyes popped as she picked up the phone.  “I have no idea.”</div> <div> “Well, who cares?  They can't say they weren't warned.”  Quentin seemed to have gotten an extra burst of energy and had become very excited.  “Come on, call Brian, Julia!”</div> <div> Fingers shaking, Julia called her cousin.</div> <bR> <div> The calls made, Julia and Quentin went out walking.  The Irish people they encountered were very friendly and helpful.  Although Dublin was a city, it didn't have the “mind” of a metropolis.  It was definitely unlike New York, where people scurried and bustled and always seemed to be in a hurry.  The pace was relaxed and unhurried.  It wasn't that people didn't have things to do, they just didn't seem to be as rushed and tense as they went about their business.  They would have to take a bus over to Christchurch Cathedral.</div> <div> During the ride, Quentin held Julia's hand and enjoyed listening to her talk about Irish history. Quentin had been to the cathedral before, in 1916, but he was fascinated at what Julia knew about it.  He knew a little of the history, but not as much as Julia did.  Besides, he liked to listen to the sound of her voice.  The sea air had already made her red hair fluffy, just as he'd known it would.  “Did you know that the Cathedral is Dublin's oldest building?” she asked.</div> <div> “No-it is?”</div> <div> “It started out as just a wooden church.  It was built in 1038 by King Sitric.”</div> <div> “Sitric?  That doesn't sound very Irish.”</div> <div> “It's not-Quentin, it's Norwegian or some kind of Norse name.  Didn't you know-“</div> <div> “That the Vikings were here?  I did know that, sort of-I just didn't realize that they had anything to do with building Christchurch.  So when did they build the cathedral, then, Julia?  That came later-they didn't build cathedrals in the Dark Ages.”</div> <div> “No, you're right, of course, but the oldest part of this stone church was built in 1180.  I've always wanted to visit this church because the Norman and Gothic styles of architecture overlapped each other.  I'll show you when we get inside-into the south transept.”</div> <div> They got off the bus and walked to the cathedral.  As always, Quentin was impressed with Gothic architecture.  He loved the look of the flying buttresses.  As they stood admiring the impressive structure, Julia explained, “The Earl of Pembroke rebuilt this in stone for the Archbishop of Dublin.  He was named Richard de Clare, but he was called Strongbow.  The Archbishop became St. Laurence, the patron saint of Dublin.  There's a memorial to Strongbow in the nave of this church, but he's buried in France I think.”</div> <div> “And the Archbishop?  Is he in there?”</div> <div> “No, but his heart is buried in the chapel of Saint Laud.”</div> <div> Quentin looked surprised and then laughed.  “You know every little detail, don't you-right down to where a man's heart is buried!”  Then he became serious.  “You're really good at this, Julia!  You've really done your homework.”</div> <div> “Yes, well, now it's time for you to do yours-you remember what I'm telling you, Quentin.  You'll need some of this for that book we're supposed to write.”</div> <div> “You'll remind me if I forget of course.”  He held his arm out for her to take, leading her to the cathedral.</div> <bR> <div> They spent the whole afternoon touring Dublin, stopping off for a bite to eat.  Afterwards, they went down to a pub not only to pick up the local flavor of the city but just to have fun.  It was fun in the pub-people were friendly to them and it wasn't at all like places they'd been to in the United States.  There, bar patrons seemed suspicious of strangers.  Quentin and Julia enjoyed themselves very much and were so tired when they arrived back at the hotel that they barely managed to slip into bed, holding each other, before they fell sound asleep.</div> <div> They were not aware that the owners of the pub they had visited closed up, alone, and walked along the deserted street together as usual.  The owners, a middle aged, jolly couple, were too engrossed in their conversation to notice that someone had fallen in step behind them.  They also didn't notice that the pace of the footsteps behind them began to quicken until it was too late.</div> <div> As for Julia and Quentin, they both slept until late the next morning, even later than they had intended.   They hurried a little, dressing and grabbing a bite to eat before walking to Dublin Castle.  There were several places they wanted to see today.  </div> <div> They wouldn't have time to read the paper or to hear the news that the owners of that nice little pub they'd visited had been viciously attacked by a madman.  The man was in serious condition, suffering from a fractured skull.  Apparently he'd been flung against a wall with great strength.  His wife had been wandering in a daze, suffering from a loss of blood from two puncture wounds in her neck.  She was unable to answer any questions intelligibly and only wept and complained “The light!  Please-shut off the light!”</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Surprise Encounter"><U>1:  Surprise Encounter</U></A>  <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Proscribed Venerable Love"><U>2:  A Proscribed Venerable Love</U></A>  <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Stalked by the Vampire"><U>3:  Stalked by the Vampire</U></A> </div> <div>  <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Ally From Nowhere"><U>5:  Ally From Nowhere</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>