Revelation By Vincent Cobb Free Sample

Book `Three of the Angela Crossley TrilogyPublished byM-Y Books RevelationbyVINCENT COBB

CHAPTER ONEA few days later a thought came to me. I would try to arrange anappointment with Edith Morrison, the psychic aunt of an old friend fromthe West Midlands force, who I had met during the Connie adventures. That was assuming, after all this time, she was still alive.I was fortunate. Not only was she still alive but also she announcedthat she had been waiting for me to contact her since our last visit. Iwas tempted to ask her why but then I had second thoughts; I wouldwait until I came face-to-face to ask the question.I made my excuses with the Dean and a couple of days later I set off for Stourbridge to meet Edith. It was again a cold winters day – the sunwas shining, but it was almost as if it were bidding us goodbye, it wasso watery. It gave way to a sharp wind that threatened to blow –insome snow. The Avenue where she lived had hardly changed at all during theintervening years. The detached houses were well kept and the treeslooked as if they had been cultivated to ensure their survival; well-keptlawns sweeping down to the pavements hugged the trees comfortablein their environment.Edith met me with a smile and a friendly hug. Her face had aged sinceI last saw her and the lines deepened around her mouth. I guessed shemust be closer to eighty by now.‘I’m so glad you decided to come,’ she said. ‘The years have passed usby and I thought you might never come back.’‘But … but -‘ I was shocked at her announcement.‘Why was I expecting you?’ She asked escorting me through into theparlour.‘Well. Yes.’She led me into the same comfortable lounge that I remembered frommy last visit; it too had hardly changed. A carpet that showed its agefrom wear and curtains that, at one time, might have been expensive,now were showing their years.After we were seated she said to me, ‘Do you remember when we metI told you that psychics do not suddenly wake up one morning todiscover we have the gift presented to us, ready to deploy? Do youremember that, Angie?’‘Well sort of … I mean we

were

talking about Connie … so I thoughtthat whatever it was you were saying to me was related to her.’‘At the time it was. And I was sorry to hear about her terriblemisfortune. But, what I was really saying to you was that this gift we

have endowed to us is an evolving blessing that can take years toreach maturity.‘I wasn’t talking about Connie at the time, Angie, I was referring toyou.’‘Me!’ I said, surprised. ‘But my name didn’t come into it.’‘Not at that moment it hadn’t. But I knew I was in the presence of anemerging invocation. There wasn’t anything I could say that mighthave encouraged its manifestation, but I knew, in my psychic, that oneday in the future you would come back to me. Isn’t that why you’rehere? To seek the answers to your puzzle?’‘I … I don’t know, Edith. It’s true I wanted to ask you if I might have thegift – perhaps explore the possibility together. But it never occurred tome that it was preordained we should meet. I mean I’m astonished – I just wanted to talk to you …’‘And isn’t that what we’re doing?’ She asked in a gentle voice.‘Yes. Of course. But you’ve anticipated me.’ I shook my head, unable toaccept the reality of what she was saying. This was not what I hadexpected … talking about it … yes … discussing how, if the psychic giftwas present in me, we might develop it? … Yes. But to have somethinglike this hurled at me was pretty bloody frightening. I got up from thechair following the impulse I had to just run away.‘And now you want to escape – is that it?’‘I can’t deal with this, Edith,’ I exclaimed. I rubbed my forehead withthe back of my hand as if I were trying to clear my thoughts.‘Yes. I know, Angie. It’s made you afraid, hasn’t it? It isn’t surprisingyou know.’ She laid her hand on my shoulder. ‘I’m sorry if I startledyou. So why don’t we sit down again and try to talk about it. See if Ican’t give you some reassurance. I’ll make us some coffee.’I didn’t reply. I was almost in the same state of shock that hadconsumed me at the University. All these years and Edith had waited,patiently, knowing that at some time in the future I would return to her.But what would she expect me to do now? I mean, here I was as shehad foretold, but how on earth could I seize this gift and turn it to myadvantage? That’s if she was right. I was still shaking my head whenshe returned with the coffee.‘Feeling better, my dear?’I wasn’t sure but I nodded. The coffee was strong and hot, just what Ineeded.‘Well, when we’ve finished our coffee I would like you to come withme.’‘Come with you … where to, Edith?’‘To church. It’s only down the road.’‘I don’t understand. What has this gift to do with God?’‘Where do you think it emanates from, my dear?’‘I … I don’t know,’ I gasped, astonished at her suggestion. ‘What I doknow is that I am not the least bit interested in religion.’