Out of Nowhere Read Free Page B

again.
    ‘There’s something so big hurting this one,’ he said, ‘that a puck in the jaw won’t make much difference.’
    He set off across the courtyard lightly carrying the old man across his shoulder, draped like a rolled-up rug. The young monk followed.
    After they’d gone, Stephen stayed for a long time looking out at the empty night. His skin crawled, and he pitied himself. What had happened in the world? Who were these unfortunate people? And who, for that matter, was he?

4. Breakfast
    The next morning Kirsten woke him early, bringing breakfast on a tray. She seemed almost giddy at the prospect of the morning’s expedition, which she insisted on calling ‘The Raid’. Stephen laughed at her.
    ‘It’s only natural that I’m excited,’ she said, not minding his amusement. ‘I am Danish after all, my ancestors were Vikings. Raiding must be in my blood!’
    It was impossible not to smile at her enthusiasm, but Stephen wondered how she managed it in the circumstances.
    Kirsten sat by the table as he ate his breakfast, but she was so excited she couldn’t sit still. Stephen hadn’t known that it was possible to hop from foot to foot while sitting down, but she proved that it was. She talked non-stop, fantasising about what they might find on the expedition. She really didn’t seem upset by the whole situation. If anything, the mystery seemed to excite her all the more.
    ‘You’re coming with us, aren’t you?’ she asked. ‘If you feel up to it, I mean.’
    Stephen wasn’t sure how he felt, but he knew that he couldn’t pass up the chance to see this brave new world. He was unnerved by the situation, but he was very curious too.
    ‘You’re definitely going?’ he asked.
    ‘Of course! I wouldn’t miss it for anything. This is like living in a movie!’
    But what kind of movie? he wondered. He remembered last night’s howling. It had made him feel like he was in a horror film, and horror films tended to have monsters in them.
    ‘It’s not a movie,’ he reminded her. ‘It’s real. We’re not on some adventure holiday.’
    ‘Our expedition today is important,’ Kirsten replied. ‘There’s very little food left in the abbey. The monks get most of their food from their farm, but they don’t have enough supplies stored to deal with six extra mouths. And there are replacement parts and fuel needed for the generator, and clothes for me – I can hardly ask Philip to pick underwear for me, can I? I do know how serious the situation is – or may be. But, at the same time, there’s no way I’m going to miss this raiding party, I mean, it even sounds funny, doesn’t it: the monastery raiding party?’
    He had to admit that, yes, it did sound funny.
    ‘The abbot insists on calling it a “reconnaissance”,’ Kirsten continued. ‘But Philip just laughs when he hears that and says, “Paul, I always knew you were a Jesuit at heart”. Which Paul doesn’t like, because he’s not even a Christian. And then again he’s Swiss – very serious!’
    ‘What do you mean, he’s not a Christian? He’s a monk !’
    ‘Yes, but this isn’t a Christian order. I’ll tell you about it later!’
    ‘But–’
    But Kirsten had sat still as long as her excitement would allow, and was already at the door.
    ‘I have to help Philip finalise the list of supplies,’ she said over Stephen’s protests. ‘We call it “the shoplifting list”. Philip won’t admit it, but he’s just as excited as I am. He’s dying to see what’s out there . I think he’s secretly enjoying all of this. Come and join us in the kitchen when you’re dressed.’
    ‘Maybe Philip’s ancestors were Vikings, too,’ Stephen said.
    Her laughter hung in the air after the door closed behind her.
    Stephen finished breakfast quickly and went to the cupboard. His clothes were unfamiliar to him. They were perfectly ordinary: tee shirt and sweatshirt, dark denim jeans, socks and trainers. Everything, including the shoes, was