How Automatic Writing Works

Katherine continues her automatic writing.

Her face is expressionless. Her orange pen flies over the paper.

Lavender and Baby Pierre pay rapt attention. Who is coming through?

Katherine writes, in a curious hand: A WEEK IS A LIFETIME ON THE OTHER SIDE> INSUPPORTABLE< IT IS> OH MY FEET ARE SO COLD> BLUE> BLUE>

She shivers and stops writing. Stares down at the notepad. Looks surprised.

Well I never, says Katherine. Look at this Gaius.

A week is a lifetime on the other side, reads Gaius. What do you mean?

Not me, says Katherine. Some one else has come through.

Rubbish, says Gaius. I saw you write it.

But she was all in a trance, says Lavender. It's a dead spirit!

Dead spirit, scoffs Baby Pierre. Spirits aren't dead, Lavender. That's the Twitcher.

I know it's the Twitcher, says Lavender.

How? asks Katherine. How do you know it's the Twitcher?

By the clues, says Baby Pierre. First, the Twitcher has to stay in the Dubai Aquarium for a week.

Why are his feet cold? asks Gaius, becoming interested again. It's hot in Dubai.

I know! says Lavender. He's nervous! He can't wait to go to Kas to meet his sweetheart, but he's scared she won't like him. He's getting cold feet.

Plausible, says Gaius. But I still don't believe it.

I need a cup of tea, says Katherine. I've come over all funny.

There's no tea on the bus. Gaius hands her a bottle of iced water.

Katherine gulps it. Her own feet are cold. Well, one is, particularly. The blue one. Perhaps she has been channeling herself?

It never occurs to her that she could have been channeling Ageless.

.......

Ageless is skating round and round the ice rink in the Dubai Shopping Mall, wearing his red knitted hat.

A whole WEEK here! grumbles Ageless. Insupportable! Brrr! My feet are freezing in these boots. Why do they only have one colour? I don't like blue.

Bump! he is knocked over by a speeding skater. He sits down on the ice and remains there immobile, until someone picks him up from behind.