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Having been on the island for a few days, Nancy felt the training was going well, albeit a bit tedious from time to time. Today’s lesson had been about slipping back to various times in the past.
Want to go back two years? Easy! How about seeing how your great-grandmother lived a hundred years ago? Simple!
She had been in a strange mood all day, not taking part in any of the group’s usual banter. When break time was announced, the curator looked at Nancy with concern. ‘What’s wrong, Nancy?’
Nancy fixed the curator with a furious glare. ‘I am mighty pissed off right now, because, from what I have learned since I have been here, Damien did not have to die. But he did, and that left not only his son without a father but also his unborn daughter to grow up without knowing her dad. Now I am dead too, which means they are orphaned. It was unnecessary, Damien’s death, and caused us back in the land of the living to be left totally and utterly heartbroken.’ She jabbed a finger at the curator. ‘Did you know how much grief it would cause?’
Damien sat back in shock at the sight of his wife giving both barrels to the boss, but he composed himself to speak. ‘Darling, it’s not right to talk to her like that.’
Nancy backhanded him across his arm. ‘Shut up and let her answer me. You might be afraid of the bitch, but I’m not.’ A red mark began to spread across Damien’s skin.
The curator stuck her chin in the air. ‘No, I didn’t know. The future at that point hadn’t yet been formed, but he had broken the rule and so had to come to the island. It’s his fault, but in the long run, it’s worked out well for you both. You have immortality.’
Shaking her head, Nancy frowned. ‘That’s as maybe, but it still doesn’t make up for the fact that the kids now have to fend for themselves.’
In a rare sign of contrition, the curator put her hands together as if in prayer. ‘I’m sorry, Nancy, I really am. In this job, sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture for the affected families. I wish that I’d have put a padlock on the door in the museum, and this sorry tale would have been avoided.’
Hector raised a hand in the air with the necessary caution, seeking permission to speak. Nancy nodded affirmatively. ‘Thank you, Nancy. You have to understand that it not only means you and Damien are back together, but it also means me and Maxine have been promoted and poor Cuthbert has been released from his sentence. I, for one, can never overstate my eternal gratitude. The thing is, Nancy, you never know what is around the corner. If Damien hadn’t come here, he might have had a fatal accident the next day, and that really would’ve been the last time you would’ve seen him.’
Hector blushed as he realised that he had interrupted the curator with his speech. She sensed his discomfort and waved a dismissive hand in his direction. ‘Don’t worry, Hector. Thank you for your comments.’ She glanced across at Nancy. ‘I hope you feel somewhat better now.’
Eloise spoke, which made Damien jump a little as he’d almost clean forgotten she was there. ‘I can truthfully say that Damien has been an amazing addition to this island. If he hadn’t come when he did then Maxine would still be in solitary and Hector would still be waiting for a newcomer.’ Smiling at Damien, she clapped her hands together. ‘Anyway, this lesson has ended now. I suggest that you four take a couple of days off and go exploring again. I think it would do you all the world of good to get away from this environment and be out in the fresh air.’
Nancy shrugged and looked at Damien, who in turn looked at Maxine and Hector. Both of the men’s eyes lit up at Eloise’s news, and a huge smile spread across Damien’s face. ‘I’ve missed being in the outdoors the last few days. Let’s go for it, guys!’
The big German nodded with enthusiasm. ‘Ja, there is plenty to see. More people means more ground we can clear with the machete.’ He and Damien made eye contact and burst out laughing.
Maxine raised an eyebrow. ‘I think Nancy and I will leave the machete swinging to you two. We have our nails to think about.’
Nancy winked at Eloise and then turned to bat her eyelashes at Damien. ‘As long as you don’t make us pitch a tent, darling.’