Boneland by Alan Garner Read Free Book Online

Quarry. ‘I have to go to hospital,’ said Colin. ‘You will be able to collect me and bring me back, won’t you?’
    ‘Part of the service. But let’s have you in here first.’ He went with Colin to the hut.
    ‘Thank you,’ said Colin. ‘I really do appreciate your kindness.’
    ‘Any time,’ said Bert.
    Colin put on his robes and walked the woods.
    The woods opened summer. Pine, birch, juniper, willow. He went down the length of two days’ hunting into the valleys. He found no one, nor any sign of a one, to the start of the Flatlands. Then he looked for three days’ hunting in the hills away from the Tor of Ghosts but found no one, nor any sign of a one. So he went up towards the Tor and the land of the star that did not turn.
    He met spirits on the high fell; wolves, too, and bulls, and bears and boars, but of people he found no one, nor any sign of a one. He climbed the Tor and looked out across all that was; and he saw nothing. He went back to his lodge, and wept; but he did not forget.
    Bert was prompt.
    ‘Grand day for it, Colin,’ he said. ‘Are you all right? Let’s be having you.’ Colin sat at the front. ‘I was thinking. A grand day. Though we’ll get a rinsing before we’ve done. When you can see the rocks on Shining Tor it promises wet.’
    ‘Do you mind if I ask a question?’ said Colin.
    ‘Shoot, Prof.’
    ‘I rang your office, and the manager knew who I was without my saying. How was that?’
    ‘She’s got a memory for voices, has our Fay,’ said Bert.
    ‘But I’d not spoken to her before,’ said Colin. ‘The hospital made the call.’
    ‘We look after our customers,’ said Bert.
    ‘And your milometer isn’t working. It doesn’t change.’
    ‘I’d best get it fixed.’
    ‘But, if you don’t know how far you’ve gone, how can you manage your fares?’
    ‘When you’ve been at it a while,’ said Bert, ‘you know how much it costs.’
    The taxi stopped at the main entrance of the hospital. Colin checked in at the desk and went to the waiting area. ‘Professor Whisterfield? This way, please.’ The nurse was gentle. ‘Now, I want you to go into the booth and take everything off, including your watch, and put this gown on. Your details are here, but I have to be sure that you’re not wearing a pacemaker and that you have no other metal on or in your body. Right?’ He put on the gown, and the nurse took him to the room. There was a large tube, a tunnel, and at one end a padded bench.
    ‘Lie down here, please, Colin. Are you bothered by being closed in?’
    ‘As far as I’m aware,’ said Colin, ‘I am not claustrophobic. At least I believe I’m not. I feel enclosed sometimes, in dreams. On my shins. But that’s all.’
    ‘Good,’ said the nurse. ‘You won’t go in that far. Now I want you to hold this bulb, and if you’re at all worried you’re to squeeze it, and we’ll stop. And remember. We can hear you and speak to you at all times. During the scan there’ll be quite a lot of noise as the magnets switch on and off. Some people find this distressing, so we’ve got earplugs for you. Or you can listen to music.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Colin. ‘I’m interested in the procedure. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather do without.’
    ‘That’s fine, Colin. Now I’m going to put this frame over your head, but you’ll be able to see clearly. All right? If you’ll make yourself comfortable, we’ll start. It’s important that you don’t move. I want you to keep perfectly still.’
    The nurse left to join the radiographer behind a window at the end of the room. The bench was raised and slid into the tube, until Colin’s head was inside. A voice spoke.
    ‘Can you hear me, Colin?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Then, if you’re ready, we’ll begin. Remember, we can hear you and speak to you. Try to keep quite still. We’re starting. The noise will be loud, so don’t hesitate to say if it’s too much.’
    ‘Understood,’ said Colin.
    The bench moved