Locate cousin

I took a deep breath.

“Charlotte, listen very carefully, I will say this only once. You need to keep your head down, and never do any of the things you’ve done so far again so long as you’re around here. And for Pete’s sake keep your cool. I don’t need another hot-head in my day.”

She was silent for a good half minute. When she spoke again, the relief in her voice clashed with the resignation in her words. “You mean there’s really no one here I can trust?”

“Exactly. It’s pure, pure luck you called me. I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know if it’s good or bad. All I know is I want to remain out of it long enough to make that judgement. And if you want to keep that choice as an option, you’re going to need to lie very low and hide really hard from the fallout of everything you did so far.”

“Yes. I should have known...” she trailed off. “

“Hey,” I said, “I’ve gotten half through the day flailing around in the dark just like you. Neither of us knew this was coming.”

“Thanks. What do I have to do?”

I paused as I looked around for a place I could both protect my phone from the snow and protect my words from foreign ears. Just ten paces away there was an alcove in the face of an old building, possibly a condemned door. I put myself in there with my back to the rest of the world.

“Block all numbers from the City (besides me, of course) or who you know are probably here now. In particular the ones you already called today.”

“Yep. Will do.”

“Ok. Where are you staying, now? Not the exact place, just what is the nature of your accommodation?”

“Hotel.”

“Move out immediately. As far as you can. Do not let anybody know where you are.”

“Roger. What’s the long term plan?”

Actually, I hadn’t given this any thought yet. I was speaking to somebody sane for the first time since this morning; foremost in my mind was keeping that person sane.

“For starters, we need to meet face to face away from prying eyes. You know where the old ramparts are, right?”

She didn’t answer straight away. And then she observed “You didn’t exclude yourself from people I can’t trust. How do I know you’re not sending me to the Thought Police?”

I had to keep my cool now. I couldn’t have my only kindred spirit doom us both out of however legitimate paranoia. “You don’t know,” I said, “And neither of us has time to know. I don’t even know I can trust my own will sometimes. If it makes you feel any better, arm yourself. Now, are you coming tonight or..?”

“But why the ramparts?” she interrupted, “Aren’t they ancient, ruined and dangerous?”

“It’s winter. All of the old town is dangerous at this time of year. But there won’t be any tourists hanging around the ramparts right now. There would normally be whores and such, but I suspect they may find themselves out of business as of today... I guarantee there’ll be hardly anything even alive out there by the witching hour.”

“What time do you make that?” she asked.

“1 am.”

“Ok.” she said, “I’ll meet you then.”

“Ok. Good luck.” I hung up.

When I came out of the alcove I felt something falling off my entire back and hood. Somebody gasped, and then broke out laughing. I suppose I was so well hidden by the snow and the recess in the facade that my emergence must have been a little jarring. I didn’t stay to ask nor even look at the person reacting, merely got on my way again as quickly as the rapidly compacting snow on the pavement allowed.

I arrived home, and stopped before the front door. I hesitated. There was no possible doubt that whatever plague was twisting the minds of all who I had seen so far was present in the family household. Mother was affected, that I knew from Charlotte. My sister Gillian might also be. I didn’t know whether Charlotte had her number; they never got on in the first place. I knew instinctively, there wouldn’t be a taboo over incestuous sex anymore. I was ready for that. But I also, potentially, would have to guard against discussion of Charlotte. Mother was bound to bring it up. We’d had no news of that side of the family for years, so her calling and openly revealing herself a deviant was sure to make the rounds.

Bracing myself, I turned my key in the lock, and tried to open the front door.