I had been hoping that out of all the people I spoke to there would be somebody who would ask me to perform the laying on of hands, to cure some ache or other condition that they or a child of theirs was suffering from, which they had been waiting on me to return to cure - I had never been away from the Community for more than a day without this happening - but nobody did.  I suppose it was naive of me to expect anything else, but nevertheless I was at first surprised, then confused and finally saddened.

Then I heard through Sister Erin that Salvador intended to make one of his rare appearances at the evening meal, and would greatly prefer it if I was not there.  I had no real choice, and so agreed to eat later, perhaps in my room, if Salvador got into story-telling mood after the meal proper was finished.

I decided to visit Sophi again, and walked in a light shower down to the bridge and across, but there was nobody home in the Woodbeans' house.  A thought occurred to me, and so I walked on up the darkly dripping drive and discovered Sister Bernadette at the drive entrance, sitting on a section of broken wall beside the gates, looking out over the semicircle of weed-covered tarmac, holding a furled umbrella.

Sister Bernadette was wrapped up well but still looked cold.  She was gazing the other way, at the road, as I approached.

'Sister Bernadette,' I said.

She jumped up, snagging the umbrella in overhead branches. 'Oh!  Is.  I didn't-' she said, sounding flustered.  She looked up, then pulled down on the brolly, creating her own tiny but drenching rainstorm as the leaves and branches above dropped their load of moisture on her.  She hauled again, but the entangled brolly was stuck fast and she tore its fabric. 'Oh!  Bugger!' she said, then looked horrified. 'Oh, pardon.' She blushed, pushing a hand through her damp, disturbed red hair and then pulling again at the umbrella.

'Let me help you with that,' I said, and unhooked the offending implement from the branches.

She brushed some water off her face and head and nodded to me as she folded the umbrella.  'Thank you,' she said.  She looked around. 'Wet, isn't it?'

'A bit showery,' I agreed.  I looked at the sky. 'Seems to be going off now.' I sat down on the broken wall.  She looked as though she was going to sit down too for a moment, but then didn't.

She took a deep breath, and moved her shoulders as though they were tired, staring down at me with a broad, false smile. 'Are you going for a walk?' she asked.

I shrugged. 'Just wandering,' I said, and sat back, drawing one leg up until I could wedge my boot heel on the rock.  Bernadette looked alarmed.

'Oh, I see,' she said.

'And you?' I asked.

'I'm waiting for the delivery van which is bringing the fireworks for the Festival,' she said quickly.

'Ah.  I see.' I rested my back against the stones behind me. 'I'll give you a hand.'

'Oh, no!' she said, her voice high with stress but a smile still fixed on her face. 'No; no need for that,' she said, and then laughed. 'No; the van might be a long time yet; I'd rather do it myself, really I would.' She nodded emphatically, her rosy face shining with moisture. 'Actually, truth be told, Is, I'm quite enjoying the feeling of being alone.  Gives you time to think.  Gives you time to contemplate.  Things.  It does.'

'Oh,' I said, pleasantly. 'Would you rather I left?'

'Ah, Jesus, I'm - pardon me - I'm not saying that, Isis.'

'Good,' I smiled. 'So; Sister Bernadette.  How have you been, anyway?'

'What?' she said, glancing wildly at the road as a truck went past heading west, and then staring back at me. 'Ah, sorry?'

'I was just asking you how you were.'

'Ah, fine.  And yourself?'

'Well,' I said, crossing my arms. 'I was fine, too, really, until yesterday.  Everything seemed to be going well, apart from the problem of finding Cousin Morag… ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself…' I said, smiling.

Bernadette's smile became even broader and even shallower than it had been. 'Ah,' she said. 'But you don't want to be bothering yourself telling-'

'… I got down to Edinburgh without any problems,' I said. 'The inner-tube worked very well, as I was telling Brother Indra earlier.  The worst bit of the river journey was probably going down the weir, you know; the bit where the river becomes tidal…' I said, settling back even more comfortably.

I took my time.  Bernadette stood looking at me with a smile so broad and stretched you could see right through it to the terror underneath, while her wide, round eyes moved desperately around like a pair of caged animals seeking escape.  The sound of a larger vehicle approaching on the road brought an even tauter look to her face, and produced a sort of tic in her head as she tried to look at me and watch the road at the same time, while her gaze flicked back and forth with impressive speed, like somebody desperately trying to signal No with their eyes.

After a while, however, I think a degree of resignation crept in; a glazed expression settled over Sister Bernadette's face and I was left with the impression that her brain had stopped talking to her facial muscles, perhaps complaining of over-work.  I had got to the flight north with Grandma Yolanda when the bus arrived.  Bernadette was so far gone she didn't notice.

The bus drew away and Uncle Mo was standing there, looking small and dapper, a camel-hair coat draped over his shoulders and a leather bag in his hand.

It was only when I waved over to him that Bernadette seemed to come to. 'Oh look,' I said. 'There's Uncle Mo.  Golly.  What a surprise.'

'What?' she said, turning as I rose.  I started off across the weedy tarmac towards Uncle Mo.  Bernadette ran after me.

'Sisters!  Niece!' Uncle Mo said, dropping his bag and holding out his arms as we approached. 'You shouldn't have come just to meet me!'

'We didn't, honest!' squawked Bernadette as I hugged and was hugged by Uncle Mo.  He smelled strongly of cologne.

'Isis,' he said, beaming.  He kissed my cheek.  Since I had seen him last he had grown a little pencil moustache.  And a little chubbier. 'So good to see you.'

'Hello, Uncle.  This is most unexpected.'

'Ach, a whim, dear girl.  To arrive early for the Festival.  Ah;… Sister,' Mo said, shaking Bernadette's hand. 'Mary, isn't it?'

'Ah, no; Bernadette.'

Uncle Mo snapped his fingers. 'Bernadette, of course.' He tapped one temple then held out one hand and looked up at the sky.' What did I call you?' he asked.

'Mary,' she said.

There you are.  Meaning to say Bernadette, it comes out Mary.  There you are.  So.  Now.  Are you both well?  How is everybody?'

'Fine,' Bernadette said as I picked up Uncle Mo's bag.  Bernie looked annoyed, as though she should have thought of doing that.

'Niece,' Uncle Mo laughed, holding out both hands to the bag in my hands. 'Please; I am not yet so old as to be totally incapable.'

'Let me carry it, Uncle,' I said. 'It would be an honour.'

'Well.  Well, if you… yes, well, there you are.  Why indeed not?' He cleared his throat. 'So.  Isis.  I hear you've been on your travels.'

'Yes, Uncle.  I saw the Fossils in Edinburgh and Brother Zeb in London.'

'Zeb!' Uncle Mo said, nodding. 'Yes.  Of course.  I remember.  Why, I haven't seen Zeb since he was this high.' He held out a hand at waist level. 'And so, how is Zeb?'

'Oh, he's just shooting up these days, Uncle,' I said.

'Excellent.  Excellent.  So; we are all well.'

'Yes, everybody's well, Uncle,' I told him as we walked towards the little gate. 'Though to be honest with you I'm having a few problems myself just at the moment, but I'm keeping well.  How are you?'

'Most hale and hearty, thank you, Isis.  But what are these problems you talk of?'