Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 George Douglas 21

   Mary awoke in her examination room.  Her head was aching.  It was as if
she'd suddenly been hit in the head with a sledgehammer.  She groaned and
got up from her chair.  Su was watching her closely as she went to her bag
and took out some tablets.  She took an offered glass of water and
swallowed two tablets.

   "Oh, I do feel strange," she said at first and then realised that she
had two sets of memories in her brain.  She could tell which ones she was
aware of and then there were the others . . .  The memories of things she
couldn't have done.  But nevertheless she had done them!  And then there
were the other memories, impossible memories of being a plaything trapped
in a lake until being picked up and taken by a girl? . . .  No, by Cathy!
Then being in agony for some seconds until the pain stopped, and finally
being shrunk down and swallowed by Cathy!  That was mad!  How could she be
swallowed?

   She shook her head.  No, that must have been a dream brought on by her
attacker!  How they managed to hit her without her knowing was a mystery.
But it had shaken off quite a lot of cobwebs.

   She looked at Su.  "I have to see Sir Timothy immediately!" she told Su.

   "I think he's currently with George and Sandra.  I would think you'd
need something to eat first before seeing him," Su said.

   "It can't wait, Su.  I've been giving secrets away!  Place me under
arrest and get Sir Timothy to see me as soon as possible!" Su could see in
Mary's eyes that she was serious.

   Su placed her hands on Mary's shoulders and pushed her back into her
seat, "You are going to remain there and eat a proper dinner.  Then I'm
going to escort you to your room and ensure that you get some sleep. 
Whatever you're going to say to Sir Timothy can wait until then! 
Understand?"

   Mary looked up at Su and thought how ridiculous it seemed.  Su was a
short woman, almost a girl in height and here she was telling Mary what to
do.  But Mary did realise that Su knew more about disabling a person than
she did.

   "Very well Su.  I'll do as you say." She resisted the urge to say
`mother' as she wasn't sure how Su would take it.  "Where shall we go for
dinner?"

   Su smiled and tapped a few words into her PDA which acknowledged her
inputs with a `ping'.  She then went to the examination bench and pulled
two chairs next to it.  "Why not here?" she asked.

   Mary smiled, "Why not indeed.  You'll never know how many meals I've had
on that bench while I was examining some of the women here."

   Su blushed.  "Why Mary, I never knew.  Why didn't you ever try me?"

   This time it was Mary's turn to blush.  "I'm sorry Su, but with your
build you always struck me as too young for me.  I'd never try that with
underage girls and, I'm afraid, that's what put me off."

   Su smiled at her and lightly kissed her cheek.  "That's nice of you.  I
mean I'm not really that way inclined . .  .  But I wouldn't have minded."

   A knock at the door announced the arrival of the dinner.  Su went to the
door and Sally was there bringing in a tray.  She placed the plates onto
the bench, after glancing at Mary and blushing.

   "How's Cathy?" Mary asked Sally.

   "She went straight to bed and fell asleep.  I thought she'd already had
a nap here?" Sally said.

   "Oh no my dear, she didn't sleep at all.  She was very busy.  Sally be a
dear and keep watch on Cathy tonight.  If anything strange happens then
contact Sir Timothy immediately and then me." Mary told her.

   "But what could happen?" Sally asked.  "I mean it was just a normal
examination wasn't it?" Then her face dropped.  "Oh Mary, don't tell me
you. . ."

   "Of course not!  What type of person do you take me for?" Mary said.  "I
only mean that after what she experienced while under hypnosis she might be
disorientated, that's all," she added with a disarming smile.

   "Oh.  Sorry Mary I just thought that you might have . . ." She stopped
talking just in case she let something slip.

   But Mary just patted her hand.  "I know Sally.  You're concerned for
your charges as am I.  Now hurry back and don't forget to keep an eye on
Cathy for me." Sally nodded and left the room.

   Su looked at Mary.  "Did you . . .?" She didn't finish the question.

   Mary just smiled.  "I'm not going to tell you. . .  You wanted to eat
down here so let's get started." And so they did.  Su was burning to know
about Mary's actions but knowing that she wouldn't be telling her.

   --------------- Sally returned to the girl's bedroom.  She carried a
`cool-box' containing sandwiches and cold drinks, just in case.

   Kathy and Sharon were busy in the common room with the computers going
over previous lessons.  They smiled at her when she said that she was going
to be in the bedroom that night.

   "Scared we're going to be doing naughty things?" Sharon asked.

   "No, it's just that Mary wants me to look after Cathy tonight," Sally
said shaking her head at Sharon.

   "Why?  What happened to her?" Kathy was concerned.

   Sally shook her head, "I'm not too sure.  Mary was trying an experiment
in hypnosis and it seems that Cathy got a bit overwhelmed by it.  She's
sleeping now so please don't disturb her when you go to bed tonight."

   The two girls looked at each other before they nodded and turned back to
their screens.

   Sally pulled a comfortable chair out and set it by Cathy's bed.  She was
used to sleeping lightly in uncomfortable situations and positions.  She
looked at the sleeping girl and noticed Cathy's eyes were moving behind her
eyelids.  `I wonder what you're dreaming about?' Sally mused to herself
before allowing her eyes to droop and falling asleep herself.

   -------------

   Cathy was back in the Dreamtime watching the aboriginal youth going
though a complex dance.  He was acting out the hunting of a kangaroo. 
Beside her the two sisters were also following the steps.  The dirge of a
didgeridoo was playing along with the action but Cathy didn't know where it
was coming from.

   On her knee was the lizard, its head bobbing up and down as it also
watched the youth.  The atmosphere was relaxed, unhurried.  Cathy looked up
to find Robert was across from her and was watching her, not the youth.  He
was smiling at her.  Cathy moved the lizard from her knee onto the floor
and carefully walked around to where Robert was.

   `_Why am I back here?_' she asked.

   Robert just smiled at her and beckoned her back into the cave.  She
emerged into the same room but this time Bemalin was missing as were the
others from his side.  Robert shook her hand.

   `{_bl}Thank you young lady for your help.  You have stopped Bemalin in
this realm and for that we will be eternally grateful.  {_bl}' He bent down
and kissed her hand again.

   Cathy regarded him, his whole attitude had changed.  He seemed happier
for a start.  `_You do realise that I haven't made up my mind about you
yet! _' She said trying to sound solemn.

   Robert beamed at her.  `{_bl}Of course my dear.  Don't worry about that,
I don't!' He leaned forward.  `Tell you the truth my dear I prefer it if
you followed your heart instead of listening to others.  That way you can
only blame yourself.  {_bl}' He smiled as if at some joke which Cathy
didn't get.

   `_What I don't understand is why he, Bemalin, was so insistent of
offering me the world.  I mean what could I do with it?  _' She had puzzled
over that when she had told the story to Sir Timothy and her parents.

   `{_bl}Oh that's easy to explain.  {_bl}' Robert showed her to a seat
and, after she had sat down, did likewise.  `{_bl}You see my dear; Bemalin
was used to people lying about themselves.  I mean even I change my
appearance slightly when I'm here.  (You didn't think I looked and sounded
like this all the time did you?) Anyway, Bemalin thought you were an older
girl trying to make herself look young to play on his senses.  He wasn't
aware that this is your true appearance and age.  So he based his approach
on a teenaged girl who had tasted the pleasures of the world.  {_bl}' He
looked a bit sad as he said, `{_bl}I'm afraid you've got a lot to learn
about real life, but I hope that you will remember this . . .  Be yourself,
don't listen to the lies that other may try to tell you.  Listen to your
heart and mind and judge for yourself not others!  {_bl}'

   Cathy though for a moment and then smiled, `_Does that mean I shouldn't
listen to you either?  _' she asked.

   Robert blinked for a moment.  `{_bl}Do you know, I rather think it
does{_bl}!' he said smiling.

   Just then another figure rose from one of the chairs and stepped into
the light.  `{_bl*}Good evening Cathy, I'm glad to meet you here{_bl*}'
said Sir Timothy.

   Cathy looked at him in shock.  `_What are you doing here?  _' She asked
him.

   He smiled at her, `{_bl*}How else could I be aware of certain things in
the real world if I'm not briefed by my ancestor here.  {_bl*}' He
indicated Robert.

   Cathy was confused.  `_But how can you be here and outside?  _'

   Sir Timothy laughed.  `{_bl*}How can you be here?  {_bl*}' he countered.

   `Oh that's easy,' said Cathy.  `_I'm asleep and dreaming this!  But I
left you with mummy and daddy and you were wide awake then!  _'

   `{_bl*}True, but that was several hours ago.  I proved to your father
and Sandra that you weren't telling stories, that you had actually visited
this place.  I didn't tell them exactly how I knew about it, just showed
them some printed reports I had ready.  I didn't know you'd met the Wawilak
sisters but I was able to tell your parents about them.  But there is just
one thing I don't understand.  {_bl*}' He looked at Cathy.  `{_bl*}You said
that the youth helped you, but the two of you wouldn't have been able to
defeat Bemalin.  Who else did you have?  {_bl*}'

   Cathy looked at him.  He wasn't threatening her; he did seem interested
in her.  She lowered her head and nodded.  `_Jeanne was there as well.  She
attacked the spirits and was killed by them.  It was while they were doing
that I was able to make up a vacuum cleaner to suck the cloud up.  _' She
started to cry.  `_I was too late to save Jeanne; she died in front of
me_.'

   Robert spoke up.  `{_bl}But she didn't really exist!  She was just an
avatar you created.  {_bl}' He was trying to console her.

   `_She was real to me!  She acted on her own to help me.  She gave up her
life for me!  As she was dying she told me that she would return to me when
I really needed her.  And then she vanished. . .  And then . . .  _' She
stopped

   `{_bl*}And then?  {_bl*}' Sir Timothy prompted.

   `_There was someone else there.  She told me that Jeanne was perfectly
alright and happy.  She told me not to worry about her as she would always
be with me.  _' Cathy said softly.

   `{_bl*}And you believed her and trusted her word?  {_bl*}' Sir Timothy
asked almost as softly.

   Cathy looked him straight in the eyes.  `_Of course . . .  Mummy would
never lie to me!  _' she said simply

   If Sir Timothy was surprised he didn't show it.  He just shook his head.
`{_bl*}Of course not.  {_bl*}' And then was silent.

   Robert took Cathy in his arms and held her.  `{_bl}I think it's time you
went back to the real world.  You can come back here as often as you want.
You will always be welcomed.  {_bl}'

   Cathy pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes.  They were grey and
showed great age.  `_I might not want to join you, you do know that don't
you.  _'

   Robert smiled and Cathy noticed how his skin wrinkled around his eyes.
`{_bl}Of course my dear.  It's your choice - it always has been.  {_bl}'
Cathy didn't know what made her do it but she kissed Robert on the cheek.
His hand moved up to touch his cheek.  `{_bl}Oh my.  I don't think anyone's
done that for years.  Thank you my dear.  {_bl}' And he bent down and
kissed her forehead.  `{_bl}Goodbye my dear.  I hope I'll see you soon. 
{_bl}' And the room vanished.

   ------------------

   As Cathy opened her eyes she saw Sally in a chair sleeping away.  As she
stretched her arms Sally woke up and smiled at her.

   "Good morning, Cathy" she said quietly so as not to waken the other two
girls.

   Cathy smiled at the young woman, "Good morning Sally, what time is it?"
she asked.

   Sally looked at her watch.  "It's half-past two, how are you feeling?"

   Cathy thought for a bit before answering.  "I do feel a bit hungry; I
don't suppose there's any chance of a sandwich and a drink?"

   Sally nodded and reached down beside her to pull up the cool-box, "What
do you want?  I've got ham or roast beef?"

   Cathy smiled at her.  "I wouldn't mind the roast beef.  How did you know
I'd want something?" she enquired of Sally.

   Sally smiled as she passed some wrapped sandwiches over to Cathy, "I
thought you might get peckish during the night so I came prepared."

   Cathy giggled, "Were you in the Brownies?" she asked

   "And the Guides, after that joining this crowd was just like the next
step.  You know trying to do the right thing and all that." Sally said
seriously.

   "No, I don't!  Sir Timothy been trying to get me to join your side but .
. .  I'm just not sure I'm old enough to commit myself." Then another
thought struck her.  "Sir Timothy!  Sally, could you find out if he's able
to see me now?" She was so serious when she asked this that Sally found
herself reaching for her PDA.  Although she didn't expect an answer she was
surprised when it pinged immediately.  She read the reply and looked at
Cathy who was busy eating away.

   "Whenever you're ready he'll see you," she said simply.  Cathy jumped up
from her bed and started to go to the door.  Then Sally called her back. 
"Uh Cathy?  Don't you think you'd be better with something on?" Cathy
stopped and looked down at her body.  When Sally had put her to bed she had
undressed Cathy to her underwear.

   "Oh shit . . .  I mean shoot!" Cathy covered her mouth and ran back to
the bed.  She found her nightdress which she put on.  Sally handed her a
robe and then joined the young girl as she went to the door again.

   -------------

   Sir Timothy was awakened by his PDA sounding.  He read the message and
smiled.  He quickly wrote out a reply and then got up.  He went into his
sitting room, ensuring that he was wearing a robe.  He placed two chairs in
front of the fire, although it wasn't really necessary, a fire was always
nice to sit in front of.

   A discreet knock on the door announced the arrival of Sally and Cathy.
Sir Timothy thanked Sally and asked for her to remain outside.  As she
hesitated and looked at Cathy He smiled.  "It's alright Sally, I've no
intentions towards Cathy apart from a little talk.  But I want this to be
private.  If Cathy calls then you can come in to protect her." He added
this last with a smile.

   "It's okay Sally.  I trust him," Cathy said and smiled at Sally who then
nodded and left the room; although she pulled the door to she left it open
slightly so as to listen for any loud shouts.

   "Now Cathy, you have some questions about Robert De Sable and how I can
be in your dream place tonight."

   Cathy felt her mouth open in surprise.  "So it was real?  I thought it
was just a dream."

   Sir Timothy laughed, "It was real!  But then it was a dream as well." He
saw that she was getting confused.  "When you went to sleep earlier you
were still involved in the hypnotic state that you went into.  That drew
you back to the cave."

   Cathy nodded, "That seems straightforward.  But why were *you* there?"
she asked.

   Sir Timothy thought for a moment before answering.  "When you returned
you managed to bring something with you."

   Cathy didn't know why he asked that question but she answered it anyway,
"yes.  It was a part of Mary that was trapped in the Dreamtime.  I had to
return it to her, to make her whole."

   "Which you did!  Well, as far as I can tell from the reports that Su
made.  But why did part of her remain in the Dreamtime?"

   "Well she apparently fought against Bemalin and lost.  He took part of
her and replaced it with . . ." She paused for a few moments.  "You thought
I lost my fight against him and he replaced me completely?" she asked him.

   "Yes Cathy, I was worried about that.  If Bemalin had defeated you and
taken you over, how would we know?  You could have caused more harm to the
organisation, maybe even sabotaged it beyond our capability to regroup."
Sir Timothy's face remained serious so that Cathy could tell that he meant
what he said.

   "So, how can you be so sure that I'm me?" Cathy asked.

   Sir Timothy laughed out loud, which caused Sally to peek through the
door.  Once she was sure that everything was alright she returned to her
position outside the door.

   "I'm sorry Cathy.  That was the reason why I had to go into the
Dreamtime.  To make sure that you were who you should be." Sir Timothy told
her.  "Once I stood by the lake and saw the vacuum cleaner there I knew
immediately."

   "Why?" Cathy asked and then added, "It was still there?"

   Sir Timothy chuckled and then answered both questions, "Yes it was still
there, standing by the lake with a dark cloud visible floating around in
it. And as to why?  You don't know how old Robert de Sable is do you?" At
Cathy's shaking head Sir Timothy carried on, "Robert de Sable spent three
years as a Grand Master in our organisation, from 1191 to 1193.  He
wouldn't know what a vacuum cleaner was!  Neither would Bemalin, who's from
before that date."

   Cathy sat back opened mouth.  "Don't you mean 1991 to 1993?  I mean he
wouldn't be alive if what you said was true."

   Sir Timothy just looked at her for a moment.  "The date is correct. 
Robert is my ancestor.  He volunteered to keep an eye on the other realm
when it was time for him to die, and he's been there ever since.  He holds
the faith that the organisation has lived by since 1118 when the order was
established."

   Cathy found that she was getting tired and couldn't really concentrate
on what Sir Timothy was saying, although somehow she felt that he was
making her tired.  She yawned.  Sir Timothy looked at his watch.  "Oh my
goodness it's nearly 4.  You need to go back to bed.  SALLY!" At his call
Sally entered the room, "There you are Sally, I think Cathy needs to get
back to sleep, would you do the honours.  And then I suggest you go to bed
yourself, Cathy will be fine tonight."

   "Certainly Sir Timothy, good night.  Come along Cathy." And she gently
took Cathy's hand to lead her out of the room.

   "Thank you Sir Timothy, you've given me a lot to think about," Cathy
said as she walked away.

   `I hope I have,' Sir Timothy thought to himself and then he retired for
the rest of the night as well.

   --------------------

   The next day Cathy slept in while Kathy and Sharon went to find Su in
the gymnasium for their morning exercises.  Su didn't comment about Cathy's
non-appearance and was surprised when Cathy appeared half an hour later.

   "I'm sorry Sensei, I overslept," Cathy apologised to Su.

   "That is alright Cathy.  I must admit that I did not expect you today,"
Su said as she watched the girl take her position on the mat and follow the
exercise routine with the others.

   As they finished Jameson was knocking at the door to the Gym.  Kathy
surprised everyone by calling out for him to enter.

   "Miss Su, Mr.  Clark would like to see you after breakfast this
morning," Jameson said before turning to the three girls, "and the special
test is ready for you three also after breakfast.  I hope you're ready for
it?" he said as he turned and left the Gym.

   The three girls looked between themselves, "I haven't even tried to swot
up on what we've done!" Sharon said.

   "I don't think it's something we've learnt.  Remember Sir Timothy said
it was to test our skills.  I just wonder what we're supposed to do?"

   Su called them to positions by saying, "First of all we will practise
our breathing exercises and worry about other things later."

   --

   The Breakfast was a quieter, more subdued, one as the girls tried hard
to imagine what Jameson had prepared for them.

   George and Sandra kept trying to speak to Cathy but she was too wound up
to say anything except yes and no, apart from quickly adding "I do love you
both you know."

   George smiled at his daughter, "I know pumpkin, and I love you too"

   Although it was only a few days since they'd been forced out of their
homes George and Robert decided that it was time to return to the office,
Sandra had also made the same decision.  Jameson informed them that cars
would be made available to them.

   Frank was scheduled to meet up with others of Reg's group.  Most of whom
he already knew from his army time.  This was leaving Nicola, Karen and
Alison with nothing to do, but the housekeeper had plans to keep them
occupied.

   The girls decided to saunter off to the classroom; they tried to think
what Jameson could have cooked up for them.  "I bet he's going to make up a
whole lot of unanswerable sums and then ask us where he went wrong!" Sharon
said.

   "He could be trying us out on Algebra!  You know all those letters
instead of numbers!" Kathy said.

   "Or he could make us do an essay on the different Shakespeare plays!"
Cathy said.  Each girl thinking about their worst fears.  All too soon they
were at the classroom and Cathy opened the door.

   Jameson looked at the three girls and studied their faces.  He paused
for a moment and then started his introduction.  "Good morning ladies, I've
been asked to give you girls an initiative test.  You will each be given an
assignment.  Using only the equipment in the next room you are to acquire,
or do your best to retrieve, the answers requested.  In the light of the
past events there are guards inside the room for your protection.  First,
Miss Kathy Webb."

   Kathy nervously took the envelope from Jameson and walked into the room.
When the door closed she found two female guards had taken positions either
side of the door.  She was happy they were there, as she had thought that
it would have been men and the idea of being in a room with just men scared
her.  The room had several shelves of books and pictures of old statues in
it.  On one wall there was a calendar and on the other was a picture of a
river with strangely dressed soldiers standing on the bank.

   She opened the envelope and started to read: `The term crossing the
Rubicon refers to what historic event.  The person that this refers to was
told to be cautious on a certain date.  Why would this date be wrong
currently?' She just stared at the paper wondering where to begin.

   30 minutes later Jameson entered the room to see how she was getting on,
but found her seated by the computer screen but with her head in her arms.
She was crying.

   "I couldn't get anywhere!  I looked for Rubicon in the Internet and
there were over 7 thousand entries, I can't look through them all!" and her
tears started again.  Jameson wanted to hold and comfort her but knew she
wouldn't want him to.

   "It's alright Miss Kathy.  To be honest the test isn't fair it's just
trying to see how you'd react in a strange situation.  There's no pass or
fail here."

   She looked up at him.  "But why ask these questions if they can't be
answered?" She said.

   "But they can.  There is an answer to all the questions.  I will give
you the answer but you can't tell the others them." Kathy looked at him as
he told her.

   -

   "Miss Sharon.  You are next in.  Here are the questions.  Remember
everything in the room is there to help you!" He opened the door and Sharon
entered.  Cathy looked at Kathy and smiled at her.

   "Did you get the answers?" Cathy asked her but Kathy shook her head.

   "No!  I couldn't even get started properly!" Kathy said, "Jameson
finally had to tell me what the answers were." At Cathy's look she shook
her head again.  "And he made me promise not to tell you."

   Cathy looked at Jameson.  "That was mean!  As if I would have cheated!"
and she crossed her arms angrily and stared at Jameson who just returned
her gaze calmly.  After a few minutes Cathy smiled at him.  "Well maybe a
little," she said.

   --------

   In the Room Sharon was having a bit more luck than Kathy had.  She
recognised the soldiers as Roman centurions.  But she didn't recognise the
setting.  She also went onto the computer and checked on Rubicon.  And then
she thought of the picture and decided that it was a river.  Why else would
they be crossing it?  Although she thought it could be like that thing in
Parliament where MP's would cross the floor to change sides.  So was that
it?  She sat down to think.

   Outside the room Cathy was keeping quiet and reading a book she'd taken
from the library.  She was dying to convince Kathy into giving her the
answer but then had decided that it wouldn't be fair at all.

   Jameson was still checking his watch when the door opened and Sharon
came out.  Fifteen minutes was the new record but then Sharon had to admit
that she couldn't answer the last question.  Jameson read through her
answers and agreed that they were right.

   "I'll tell you the answer to the last question while Miss Cathy is
inside the room.  The door is soundproofed so she won't be able to hear
us!" he said smiling at the two girls and watching Cathy's face as she
tried to scowl at him.

   Jameson opened the door and ushered Cathy into the room.  Again he gave
his now familiar talk.

   "As I explained to Miss Kathy and Miss Sharon.  There are several clues
to the answers in the room and remember *everything* in the room is there
to help you." He closed the door and the two female guards took their
positions.

   Cathy opened the envelope and read the three questions.  She looked at
the computer but then she remembered that Kathy had said that she couldn't
find out the answer that way.  She also looked at the painting, the roman
soldiers standing on the bank of a river.  She noticed that one of them was
halfway across the river.  He was wearing leaves around his head.

   She sat down on a chair in front of the computer screen and thought. 
`_Why did Jameson tell us all that everything in the room could be used? 
What is in the room?_' She scanned the room again.  The computer, the
books, the pictures . . .  The two guards!

   --------

   Jameson was startled as the door opened and Cathy appeared smiling. 
"I'm sorry Miss Cathy?  Have you given up already?" Jameson asked her.

   "Of course not Jameson!  I've found out the answers and decided not to
stay in there," she said sweetly.

   Jameson checked his watch.  7 minutes had passed and here was Cathy
saying that she'd solved all three parts of the question?  Jameson didn't
believe her.  "Very well Miss Cathy, but if any part of the answer is wrong
I will fail you on this test," Jameson intoned, although there wasn't any
pass or fail mark on the test.

   Cathy smiled at Jameson and then started to give her answers.  "Very
well.  Crossing the Rubicon refers to an incident where Julius Caesar
promised the Roman Senate that he wouldn't bring his troops into Rome.  But
he then did and overthrew the Roman Government to become Emperor of Rome.
Ever since then when an unpopular action is taken by anybody they are said
to be crossing the Rubicon." Jameson nodded to the answer and then waited.
"Second.  Julius Caesar was told to beware the Ides of March - or March
15th.  This turned out to be the date on which he was assassinated."

   "Okay smarty.  What's the answer to the third part?" Sharon asked her
friend.

   Cathy poked her tongue out at her, and she then straightened her face
and regarded Jameson.  "Okay then I'll answer your question.  When the
Calendar was altered back in Seventeen hundred and something, we lost
11days!  So March 15th should really be March 26th." She looked at Jameson.
"Isn't that right Mr.  Jameson?"

   Jameson sat down in shock.  "Perfectly correct Miss Cathy.  But how did
you find that out so fast?  Miss Sharon found out about the first two
answers but couldn't find the information on the last question?"

   Cathy smiled.  "You see, Jameson, you kept on about how everything in
the room was available to help us.  At first I thought you meant the
computer and the books.  This would be the normal things to use." She
paused for a moment before continuing, "But then I realised that if the
picture was a clue - I found the title of the picture on the internet, it's
called Caesar at the Rubicon by the way, and from there I got the Ides of
March.  But the last part nearly stumped me." She smiled as she recalled
this, "So I asked Marcia and Tina who, it seems, are part time historians.
They told me about the changes to the calendars and how it affected dates."

   Sharon stared at her.  "Who are Marcia and Tina?" she wanted to know.

   Cathy tried to be nonchalant, "Oh they're the two guards that Jameson
had in the room."

   Kathy looked up.  "But that's cheating!" She turned to Jameson, "Isn't
it?"

   Jameson stood up and shook his head.  "I'm sorry to say that Miss Cathy
has completed the task successfully.  I did say that everything in the room
could be used.  It was really to see how you managed to understand the
instructions and interpret them." He gave a small smile to the girls, "I
wasn't able to give you any direct instructions for which I'm sorry, but
then the test couldn't be fair."

   Sharon stamped her feet once and then turned to Jameson, "I don't think
you're nice at all!" She stated smiling to take the sting out of her words.

   Jameson wasn't fazed by her actions, "I'm really am sorry Miss Sharon,
but if I told you outright how to behave in the test then it wouldn't have
worked." He turned to Cathy, "What made you ask Marcia and Tina in the
first place?"

   Cathy smiled, "It was the way you emphasised that everything in the room
could be used to find out the answer.  All I did was to ask them if they
could help me and they said they could." She turned to her two friends,
"You know they're very friendly.  They asked me to apologise to Kathy. 
They would have helped you, but they had to be asked first." She glared at
Jameson.  "It seems they were given particular orders about that!"

   Jameson stood his ground under her gaze.  "I'm sorry Miss Kathy but that
was the order I gave them.  Another part of the test was to be able to ask
when you're having problems." He looked at the three girls.  "It's a hard
lesson to learn but there are times when you can't do things.  Then you
have to ask others to help you.  That's part of understanding teamwork,
knowing when to rely on others to provide what you need, along with knowing
when to provide such aid that you can give."

   Sharon suddenly nodded her head.  "So what you're saying is that we
can't expect things to be sorted out by ourselves.  At times we are going
to need others to help us."

   Jameson smiled.  "That is correct Miss Sharon.  That was the real point
of this test.  To see whether you were able to ask the help of other
people, when you found that your knowledge was lacking." He smiled at her
and then at Cathy.  "However I thought that Miss Cathy here already knew
that.  Which she did!"

   Kathy frowned and looked down at the floor.  "So I failed."

   Cathy went to Kathy and hugged her.  "No you didn't.  You tried to solve
it.  You didn't realise what else you could have done.  Remember Jameson
said that there was no pass or fail.  As long as you've learnt from this!
It wasn't a test, it was a lesson." She turned to Jameson, "Wasn't it?" she
asked him.

   Jameson smiled.  "Yes Miss Cathy, it was just another lesson."

   -------------

   Mary asked to see Sir Timothy that morning.  He met her in his sitting
room, he thought she'd be better in an informal setting rather than his
office.

   "I've been foolish." Mary began, "I've been giving secrets of the
organisation to the Association.  I'm sorry."

   Sir Timothy saw the tears on her face and went to her.  He wrapped his
arms around her.  "Mary.  Mary, it wasn't you.  Now just think back when
you were in Australia.  You went into a trance and were in a cave."

   Mary thought for a moment and then shuddered.  "Oh my god.  That beast
Bem . . .  Bem . . .  BEMALIN!  He made me fight him. . ." She stopped.

   "And you lost that fight," Sir Timothy prompted.

   "Yes.  It was terrifying the things he made me do . . ." And she lapsed
into silence as she thought about it.

   `{_br}You have failed and I claim my prize!  {_br}' Bemalin turned to
Robert and laughed.  `{_br*}You see the type of weaklings they have in the
world.  Even this one couldn't withstand my power!  Now go!  Leave me with
my prize!  {_br*}'

   Robert shook his head in sorrow.  `{_bl}I'm sorry my dear, I did try to
warn you but you ignored me.  {_bl}' And he slowly walked away from the
prone form of Mary.

   Bemalin stood up before Mary and laughed in her face.  "{_br}You stupid
woman.  You thought you could best me!  Well learn this!  I always win. 
You should have listened to that foolish man; he told you not to fight me
and you didn't listen to him.  You are mine to play with!  {_br}' and he
changed in front of her.  His face lengthened and his back grew spines. 
His arms seemed to reach out to a great distance.  His hand grew talons,
and his legs lengthened.  But what made her scream in fear was the size of
his erect penis as it bobbed in front of him.

   `{_br}Yes!  They all look at that next!  {_br}' Bemalin sneered as he
reached down to pull the younger Mary up from the ground.  He looked at her
frightened face and smiled then he went closer and started to lick her
face. `{_br}Sweet.  Like strawberries!  {_br}' He said as she started to
scream again.

   With a gesture her clothes burst into flames and vanished leaving her
naked body to his inspection.  `{_br}You're little older than I like! 
Maybe you could think how you looked when you were eighteen?  No?  Oh well.
{_br}' And he pushed her down onto the floor of the cave and roughly
entered her causing her to scream in pain.  `{_br}Oh to be really doing
this in your body, what bliss what ecstasy!  {_br}' Bemalin kept saying
into her ear as he started to rape her.

   She lost count of the number of times he entered her body.  After a few
hours he tired of her vagina and started to use her anus.  She tried to
return to her real body but he stopped her every time.  `{_br}You forgot.
Once you lost I had control of you . . .  Now there's a thought!  {_br}'
and he smiled again, a smile that Mary had learnt to fear.  She felt his
hand on her head and then impossibly inside her head.  This time she
couldn't scream.

   `{_br}There is a prophecy of a hero joining the other side.  One of
great power!  If I could get him to enter this realm and trap him here I
could use his power and destroy the other side completely.  {_br}' He
looked at Mary.  Her mouth open in a soundless scream as his hand grasped .
. .  something inside her.  And pulled it out.  `A memory of you, my sweet
slave!  {_br}'

   He moulded the form and created a small figure of Mary as she was then.
But clothed.  This was then thrown into the lake beyond her grasp. 
`{_br}There will a part of you remain for all time, but don't worry.  I
have plans for you{_br}.' He pulled her face up and pushed his penis inside
her mouth, pushing it back to her throat and then almost taking it
completely out before pushing it in again.  He kept on doing this until he
ejaculated inside her mouth.  But instead of the sperm going down her
throat she felt it moving upwards inside her head, causing her pain as it
moved inside her.

   `{_br}There my slave, a part of me will be forever in you!' He grasped
her face and looked into her haunted eyes.  `I'll send you back as my spy.
At some stage I'll position you with the organisation.  They'll never know
about you.  And you'll always do my bidding.  {_br}' He laughed into her
face.  `{_br}Oh don't worry, you won't remember any of this.  And I'll send
you back to your body.  But you'll never crave the touch of man again! 
{_br}' and his laugh was the last she knew before waking up.

   Mary came back to herself and found that she was crying in Sir Timothy's
arms.  `It was true I never did want a man to touch me again!' Mary thought
to herself and then wondered why she didn't mind this proximity of Sir
Timothy.

   "It's alright now Mary.  When Cathy brought that part of you back it
forced Bemalin out of your mind.  In a way you defeated it," he told her
softly.

   "But I gave away so much information." She started to sob again.

   But Sir Timothy just stroked her head, "Only what we let you have. 
Don't worry, we knew that you were under control of another, that's why I
was so happy when you joined us.  I knew that it was better for you to be
with us when Cathy arrived so that she would be able to help you."

   Mary remembered something and started to laugh.  Sir Timothy looked at
her curiously she pulled away and started to wipe her tears with a
handkerchief.  "I'm alright honest.  It was something that Bemalin told me.
He was waiting for a great hero to arrive.  He said that this man would
challenge Bemalin and so he wanted me to get the man into his realm for him
to defeat." She started to laugh again.  "He never realised that the `great
hero' was Cathy.  And she did defeat him!" She paused in mid-laugh. 
"Except . . .  I suppose she did defeat Bemalin?  I mean what if he won. .
."

   Sir Timothy stopped that line of thought.  "Cathy won.  I'm sure of
that. And she's the hero we were all waiting for.  Except she must never
know that!  She must join us of her own free will!  If we force her then we
will lose the final fight that's approaching.  This is the lesson that
Bemalin never understood."

   Mary accepted his word, although she didn't know why.

   -------------

   Su stood nervously in front of Clark.  In his office were several men, a
couple in uniform, all talking about Jason.

   "He'd never go for it.  If he's as bad as you say he'll lie low until
the whole thing's blown over," one man was saying.

   Clark shook his head.  "No Bob, that's the best part of this.  He
doesn't know that he's been rumbled.  If we play it close, keep it to just
ourselves we've got a good chance."

   "Okay, say he's still active.  How can we be sure that he'll take the
bait?  I mean she's small enough to pass as a teenager, but can she look to
be even younger," another man asked.

   Clark looked at Su and said "I'm sorry Su but I had several taken from
the video." He started to hand the pictures around the men.  A couple
whistled.

   "That's never this woman!  She looks too young."

   "You're kidding us!  Aren't you Charlie, this is her sister!"

   "Come on Charles, bring us the proper girl."

   Clark shook his head.  "Sorry guys but the person in those pictures is
Su.  And she is the person we need for the job."

   "Okay then, she can look the part.  But can she stop this Jason
character from destroying his stash?" This was from a man who was eyeing Su
in a manner that she didn't like.

   "Bill!  If you will curb your libido slightly.  I'm sure that Su here
would be pleased to show you in the gymnasium." Clark said lightly, "You
won't mind, will you Su."

   Su looked coldly at Bill and then said, "No Mr.  Clark.  I do not mind
at all." And she turned and led the men out of the room.  As they walked
Clark was speaking again.

   "The pictures you have showed Su as she was first disguised, that was
without professionals doing the work.  I'm assured that with experts she
can have a perfect disguise.  And by perfect one that wouldn't come off by
pulling the wig."

   "Okay so you can get the disguise.  But you haven't said how you're
going to stop this Jason character from doing anything!" Bill said again as
Su entered the gym.

   Su removed her shoes before stepping onto the mat and she turned to face
the men.  She was now in control of herself.  She bowed to the group. 
Clark then spoke again.

   "Bill, you're quite good with your self defence.  Why don't you subdue
Su.  Teach her a lesson!" Bill looked at Su and then back at Clark.  Then
he squared his shoulders and stepped onto the mat.  He reached out with his
hands to grab Su.

   The next thing he knew was that he was on his back.  Su had his arm
extended and a foot on his neck.  Keeping him down on the mat.

   "Hey!  I wasn't ready!" Bill shouted out.  Su released her grip on him
and stepped back.

   "You will remove your shoes when on the mat!" she instructed him.

   "Yeah!  Sure!" Bill said and bent down as if to untie his shoes but
lunged for Su . . .  Only to find that she wasn't where he thought she
would be.  There was a pain on the side of his neck and darkness descended.

   He awoke to the sensation of the cold water that was being splashed on
his face.  "What happened?  Did I trip up or something."

   Clark laughed, "It was something.  As you tried to attack Su she hit you
on the neck.  Knocking you unconscious." He turned to the others. 
"Gentlemen, Su here is a champion at martial arts.  She also teaches at her
father's Dojo.  She is dangerous and should never be taken for granted. 
Does anyone else want to attack her?"

   Surprisingly there were no takers for that and so Clark shrugged his
shoulders.  "Oh!  Well then I'd better take the place of the assailant." He
removed his shoes and stepped onto the mat to stand behind Su.  "I'm going
to take the part of our target Jason - How he might react if we started to
break down the door."

   He started to play with Su's hair and saying how pretty she was.  He
nodded his head and one of the men shouted out.  "Police stay where you
are!"

   "Christ!" Clark said and went to move away.  But Su grabbed hold of his
arm and kicked at his leg, not hard but enough to trip him.  As Clark went
down Su then placed him in the same position that Bill had ended up in.

   "As you can see." Clark said whilst still trapped.  "As long as Su can
get hold of him, our target should be restrained long enough for us to
arrest him without him being able to get to his equipment." He tapped Su's
leg with his free hand.  "Uh Su?  Do you think you could release me now?"
He asked.

   "Of course Mr.  Clark." Su said and removed her foot from his neck and
then dropped his arm.  Clark didn't know which to rub first his arm or his
neck.  Both were aching.

   "Any further questions?" Clark asked.

   "What about the other children involved?  Are they going to be any
problem?"

   Clark shook his head.  "Can't answer that one!  If Jason has kept to the
same script with them all then they will be scared of us.  We're going to
have to show them that they are not to blame in this.  I'd suggest that we
have several women police officers on standby.  I propose that we get Su
into the area today.  To see the lie of the land.  Tomorrow we have her
dressed up and in the park about the same time as the schools get out." He
turned to Su.  "Remember for that you have to look innocent and
irresistible to Jason."

   She looked down at the mat.  "I am sorry Mr.  Clark.  But I do not think
I could do that!"

   "I don't know honey!  You look sweet and innocent to me!" Bill said.  At
Su's look he held up both his hands in surrender.  "I'm sorry, but that's
how you appear to me."

   Su thought for a moment and then nodded.  "Thank you.  But please
remember that I am not your plaything."

   Bill shook his head.  "Never!  That would be the last thing I would
think about you.  Nitro-glycerine perhaps but never a plaything!" He said
that in such a tone that made the other laugh.

   As Su looked at Clark for an explanation he smiled.  "He means you are
very dangerous and explosive.  He won't be messing around with you!"

   Su understood and smiled.  "Thank you." Bill gave a relieved sigh which
made everybody laugh again.

   Some time later Su, dressed in a grey wig and a large dress, was being
driven with Kathy to the park.  Su was wired for sound and wearing a pair
of glasses into which was a small camera.  The car was one of the
organisation's and housed a full communications kit which allowed them to
talk to Su and also see from her glasses.  The windows of the can were
darkened so that nobody could see in.

   "Now Su, this is just to check the layout.  You've already gone over the
map." Clark was talking away.

   "Yes Mr.  Clark.  I do know my way around the park.  You do not have to
worry about that!" Su reassured him for the hundredth time; at least it
seemed like that to her.

   "Okay, now your people tell me that we'll be able to receive pictures
from that camera on these screen here." Clark was fiddling with the screens
as he said that.

   Su put on the glasses and then switched on the receiver.  Clark was now
looking at a picture of himself side on.  He turned to face Su noticing,
from the side of his eye, that he was now facing the camera.

   "Well that seems to work, but then we are so close!" he said.

   "Mr.  Clark these will work for up to a mile and a half.  You do not
have to worry about that." She pressed some buttons to start the tape
recording.  "Now if you will not touch any of the controls you will be able
to watch and talk to me." Su pushed an earpiece into her ear and showed
Clark a microphone.  "If you need to talk to me press that button and
release it when you've finished." She smiled at him to show that she was
only playing around.

   "Okay Su, it's just that I don't want anything to go wrong," Clark said,
realising that he was starting to fuss.  "Just be careful.  Okay?"

   Su nodded, "Certainly Mr.  Clark." Then the driver informed them that
they had arrived.  Su got out of the car and started to walk into the park.

   "Kathy, I need to know where you went before Jason stopped you!" Clark
said as he held down the talk button so that Su could hear him and Kathy's
answer.

   "It was on the cycle way near the trees by the pond." Kathy said,
"Jason's hut is just the other side of the pond."

   Clark released the talk button and Su answered.  "Okay, I'm going to
walk to the pond." The camera displayed the park and the path that Su was
following.  In a short time she was by the pond, several ducks were
swimming in the water and looking out for food.  "I should have brought
some bread." Su commented as the ducks started to swim towards her.

   A sound behind her made her turn around.  A young girl, about 12, was
slowly walking along the path behind her.  As Kathy saw her on the screen
she gasped out.  "That's Charlotte!  Why isn't she in school."

   Clark looked at the picture and saw that the girl was dressed in a
school uniform, white socks, grey pleated skirt, a grey pullover with a
white blouse beneath it.  She carried a bag on her back.  He pressed the
talk button.

   "Su, that girl has been identified as Charlotte, another victim."

   Su thought for a moment and then started to talk in her microphone, "Do
you want me to stop her and bring her to you?"

   Clark was trying to think fast and then reluctantly said, "No Su.  We
can't tip our hand just yet.  Let her go!"

   "But Mr.  Clark you don't know what Jason might do to her!  Can't we
take her back to the house with us?" Kathy asked frightened for her friend.

   Clark shook his head and held the girl.  "I'm sorry Kathy.  But we can't
do anything to make Jason suspicious.  If we take Charlotte away now he
might pack everything up and we'll have nothing.  I know it's wrong, but we
have to wait." He looked at the screen.  "Oh no, now what's she doing." The
camera showed Su approaching Charlotte

   "Hello girl, have you seen my dog?" Su asked Charlotte.

   Charlotte jumped as if she hadn't seen Su, to be honest she was so
frightened that she wasn't looking where she was going.  "What?  Sorry. 
Dog?  No, I'm afraid not." She said

   Su smiled at the girl, "Well if you do can you bring him back to me. 
That's a nice child." And she walked pass Charlotte.  As she passed the
girl she whispered.  "Charlotte please don't worry, Kathy says courage!"
and she walked on.  Charlotte turned to watch Su as she walked along the
path.

   The words burning away in her head.  `Kathy says courage.' Kathy was
safe!  Jason had said she'd displeased him and he'd taught her a lesson. 
That was why Charlotte had to skip school to be here today.  Jason had more
films to record and she was the leading actress.

   She didn't want to go to his house, but he had threatened to show her
pictures around the school and so she had to do this.

   She got to the door which was pulled open and Jason looked around before
pulling her in.

   Su was watching the action from behind a tree and also, thanks to the
camera, was Clark and Kathy.  Clark got his first look at Jason and didn't
like him from the start.  "Su you'd better return.  We've got a busy day
ahead of us tomorrow!"

   From her seat beside him Kathy was crying.  "But what about Charlotte,
what's going to happen to her?"
   Clark didn't have an answer for her.  He was worried as well.