Moon Read Free Page B

regretted her words. 'All right, I know things happened, ran out of control; I tried to understand, to cope. But you were the one who wanted to run.'
        'There was more to it, you know that.'
        'I know it would have all died down eventually. Everything.'' They both knew what she meant. 'You can't be sure.'
        'Look, I don't have time for this now, I have to get moving. I'll give your kisses to Gabby and maybe she'll call you tomorrow.'
        'I'd like to see her soon.'
        'I… I don't know. Perhaps at half-term. We'll see.'
        'Do me one thing, Fran.'
        She sighed, anger gone. 'Ask me.'
        'Check on Gabby before you leave. Just pop in, say hello. Make sure she's okay.'
        'What is this, Jon? I'd have done that anyway, but what are you saying?'
        'It's nothing. I guess this empty house is getting to me. You worry, y'know?'
        'You sound… funny. Are you really that down?'
        'It'll pass. Sorry I held you up.'
        'I'll get there. Do you need anything, Jon, can I send anything over?'
        Gabby. You can send over my daughter. 'No, I don't need anything, everything's fine. Thanks anyway.'
        'Okay. Gotta run now.'
        'Good luck with your author.'
        'With business the way it is, we take anything we can get. He'll get a good promo. See you.' The connection was broken.
        Childes returned to the sitting room and slumped onto the sofa, deciding he didn't want another drink. He removed his spectacles and rubbed his eyes with stiffened fingers, his daughter's image swimming before him. Gabriel had been four when he'd left them. He hoped one day she would understand.
        He rested there for a long time, head against the sofa back, legs stretched out onto the small patterned rug on the polished wood floor, glasses propped in one hand on his chest, sometimes staring at the ceiling, sometimes closing his eyes, trying to remember what he had seen.
        For some reason, all he could visualise was the colour red. A thick, glutinous red. He thought he could even scent the blood.
        

4
        
        The first nightmare visited him that night. He awoke afraid and rigid. Alone.
        The after-vision of the dream was still with him, yet it resisted focus. He could sense only a white, shimmering thing, a taunting spectre. It faded, gradually overwhelmed by the moonlight flooding the room.
        Childes pushed himself upright in the bed, resting his back against the cool wall behind. He was frozen, fear caressing him with wintry touches. And he did not know why, could find no reason.
        Outside, in the bleak stillness of the silver night, a solitary gull wailed a haunted cry.
        

5
        
        'No, Jeanette, you'll have to go back and check. Remember, the computer hasn't got a mind of its own - it relies totally on yours. One wrong instruction from you and it doesn't just get confused -it sulks. It won't give you what you want.'
        Childes smiled down at the girl, a little weary of her regular basic errors, but well aware that not every youngster's brain was tuned into the rapidly advancing technological era, despite what the newspapers and Sunday colour supps informed their parents. No longer in the commercial world of computers, he had had to adjust himself to slow-down, to pace himself with the children he taught. Some had the knack, others didn't, and he had to ease the latter through their frustration.
        'Okay, back to RETURN and go through each stage slowly this time, step by step. You can't go wrong if you think about each move.'
        Her frown told him she wasn't convinced. Neither was he.
        He left Jeanette biting her lower lip and pressing each key with exaggerated deliberation as though it was a battle of wills between girl and machine.
        'Hey, Kelly, that's good.'
        The fourteen-year-old glanced at him and beamed, her eyes touching his just a