TellersQuest: 2. Questions

1. Blast! Prof. Rafter had no time for chatter about biscuits. He withdrew his attention. He had a course about transcendence to prepare.

OFF: You might be wondering how Rafter could listen in on a conversation several miles away you'll have to live with it for the moment.

2. He could always improvise! The subject was familiar enough but he didn't like repeating himself. No, the real problem was elsewhere. An!

3. What was An doing in Avan with Sally? If the girl was to befriend Sally it might force his hand. And he didn't want to have to act yet.

4. Rafter sensed someone approaching. He set aside his papers and rose to open the door. Alo greeted him with an infectious smile.

5. The shaman, for that was what Alo was, ran his suntanned hand over his bald head as he took a seat with Rafter in the bay window.

6. The office overlooked the River Bree that flowed through Avan to ErinSea amid the call of gulls and the chug of an occasional boat.

7. "I received your dream message. What's up?" Alo's asked, his voice surprisingly deep and rich, full of a mass of colours and nuances.

8. There were things Alo didn't know and Rafter preferred to keep it that way. But he needed advice and Alo was a longstanding friend.

9. "You remember I told you about my trip to another world," Rafter began. It had been a long time ago, but parts continued to haunt him.

8. There were things Alo didn’t know and Rafter preferred to keep it that way. But he needed advice and Alo was a longstanding friend.

10. "I didn't think you actually went. I thought it was just dream travelling." He'd known Rafter for years. They often talked of shamanism.

11. Dream travelling as well as sending messages using dreams was on the curriculum of the Theosophy Department of Avan University.

12. "No. I really went," Rafter pursued, wondering how much to say. "How did you do that?" Alo asked eagerly, clearly eager to know more.

NOTE: There were limits to subjects taught at university. Dream travelling was for a select few. Going to other worlds would be a scandal.

13. "That's not my concern at the moment." Rafter opted for evasiveness. "The problem is that someone has just turned up from that world."

14. "And that person might reveal your secrets." Alo grinned, obviously joking. Luckily, he didn't realise how close he was to the mark.

15. Rafter shifted uncomfortably. He didn't need to further dissimulate however as someone knocked and Mae the department secretary entered.

16. "You called Professor?" Mae asked. He hadn't actually. "Yes. Please set up a meeting with Lyra." "She's gone to see Sally, I believe."

17. Rafter raised his eyebrows. He knew Mae and Lyra were good friends. "How long is she likely to be?" Mae didn't know. "It was urgent."

18. Blast! Get a hold on yourself, he thought. We have no idea why she has gone to Sally's. Had he not sensed a problem with Sally's friend?

19. "Lyra said Sally's friend had been taken ill. I'll tell her you want to see her when she gets back." Mae was efficient and dependable.

20. "So?" Alo asked. The situation was getting difficult. If Sally or Lyra knew he could be in real trouble and there was no way to stop it.

21. "I'll have to wait and see." It was plain Rafter was uncomfortable with the situation and hiding something. Alo didn't seem satisfied.

22. However, Alo was not one to pry. He respected Rafter's secretiveness, so the Prof. wasn't surprised when Alo abruptly changed subject.

23. They chattered amiably for a while then Alo left. Rafter glanced at his course notes but An's sudden appearance still preoccupied him.

Go back to Episode 1 or on to Episode 3