Free The Chrysalid Conspiracy by A.J. Reynolds Page A

before?”
    Lucy, shocked at this sudden change in her daughter realised that in her search for a comforting resolution to her dilemma had opened the wrong door. Oh no, she thought. What have I done? It’s too much too early. She had left herself no choice but to continue and try to exert some damage control.
    She told Amelia the events leading up to her ‘day dream’, as she described it, and about the expression on the Vicar’s face but added. “I’m sure it was because he was pleased about my support for his Halloween service, Bridie was laughing, after all.” She claimed.
    Unfamiliar thought patterns in Amelia’s mind trapped her mother’s bluff, and she tried a shot in the dark. “And when did you first hear the ghost of Elgar, and how often?”
    “What?” Lucy was confused by her daughter’s lack of compassion and began to feel she was being interrogated. “I’m not sure,” she responded. “I can’t remember. I haven’t heard that sound since…” Lucy’s voice trailed off. “Since the night of the accident, when your father died. I can’t get it out of my mind. I’m afraid I haven’t slept much.”
    “One more question Mother, Did you hear the sound before or after the accident?”
    “I must have heard it before.” Said Lucy, “I was unconscious for three days afterward.”
    “So it was a warning then.” Amelia confirmed her worst suspicions.
    Noticing her mother’s distress her mind snapped back from wherever it had been and tried to offer some comfort. “I don’t find it funny, Mum. Would you like to stay in bed for a while longer this morning? Some breakfast?”
    “No thanks, I’m really not hungry yet. I’ll have something later.”
    “More tea then? That always sorts you out.”
    Her mother nodded, smiled a thank you and Amelia made her way to the kitchen.
    As she waited for the kettle to boil, she noticed that the washing-up from the previous night had been done. A quick look in the dishwasher revealed everything was glistening and shiny. This is where Rayn had disappeared to last night, bless her , she thought. It was then she spotted Rayn’s note.
    “To my good friend Amelia. I hope you like the kitchen. It was my first domestic battle with a dishwasher. Hope I didn’t ruin it.
    PS. How much will you pay me to shut up about the state of your room?
    (Gotcha) LOL PS. S.Y.T.
    It was just what she needed to change the mood. The child in her resurfaced and Amelia had a broad grin on her face when she gave her mother her tea.
    “What’s got you going then?” enquired Lucy. Amelia showed her the note and they both cheered up.
    “What does S.Y.T. mean?” asked Lucy.
    ‘See You Tomorrow’. LOL is ‘Laugh Out Loud’. Text ‘newspeak’. Now there’s an example of a lazy mind.”
    “Sounds frighteningly Orwellian.” laughed her mother.
    When Lucy was up and dressed, Amelia dived upstairs to change. I really must wash this tracksuit one day, or at least give it a decent burial she thought as she kicked it under the bed. Downstairs again in her familiar jeans and jumper, she made a mental note to keep an eye on her mother during the day. The conversation had unnerved her, but she worried more about her mum than herself. They met up in the utility room and Amelia moved the baskets while Lucy checked the quantity and quality of the delivery.
    “That can go back,” she said, pointing out a box of ‘Handy Pack’ weed-killer sprays. “They know we don’t sell that stuff.”
    “I put your special delivery package in your workshop mum.” Amelia told her.
    “Thank you my love. You didn’t break the seal, did you?” Lucy asked.
    “Of course not, and if you don’t stop asking me that you can lug them in there yourself.” Amelia distributed everything to either the shop or the workshop. Not for the first time she was tempted to ask her Mother about those mysterious packages which had been coming and going as long as she could remember. Deciding against it she stacked