"Yes."
"And you're here to help us find the Holy Grail?"
"I came because you drew me here, James."
"You guys are nuts," I said.
Marion turned on me. Apparently she took exception to being called names. Probably, as a psychic, she was tired of people calling her everything from a charlatan to a freak. "Is it nuts that you're here now, in Glastonbury of all places? Is it nuts that you dream of the Holy Grail? Is it nuts that I have in my bag your slightly better-than-average first novel?"
"First of all, ouch. And second of all: Yes! Maybe it is nuts. Maybe I'm the one who's nuts, maybe I'm dream - "
Marion reached for my arm again, and I sprang back.
"Okay, fine!" I said, my voice rising to near hysterical levels. "So I'm not dreaming. He's an ascended master. He's here for a specific purpose. We're all here for purposes. Hell, the whole damn world is here for a purpose."
"Your purpose," said Arthur gently, "is to express the greatest vision of who you are. In this case, I suspect, the greatest vision of who you are is to write a book that helps change the world."
I sucked in air, forced myself to calm down. "So is my purpose to chronicle these events, this search for the Holy Grail?"
"If you so choose."
"It's my choice?"
"Everything is your choice, old chap. It was your choice to come here to Glastonbury in the first place, was it not?"
"Hardly. My dreams were rather persistent."
"Many people ignore their dreams, along with many other signs, as well. You, my friend, chose not to ignore. Bully for you."
"Fine. Bully for me." I looked at Arthur. "And so your purpose is to help us find the Holy Grail."
"One of my purposes, yes."
"And you really are King Arthur?"
He stood from the love seat and bowed deeply. "King Arthur," he said. "At your service."
Chapter Fifteen
Marion stood as well.
As she did so, the crazy, not-so-naked guy who just might be King Arthur, held out his hand rather chivalrously and helped her to her feet. She smiled up at him with some serious puppy love in her eyes. My heart sank.
Great, my dream girl has the hots for King Arthur. What the hell chance did I have?
"So are you with us?" she said, turning to me.
"Can we at least get some breakfast?"
She rolled her eyes and took Arthur's hand and led him through the hotel suite toward the door. She called back over her shoulder:
"There's no time, James. C'mon, hurry!"
"I knew you were going to say that," I said and looked down at my bare feet. "Wait, I have to put my shoes on!"
But they were already gone.
* * *
I pulled my socks and shoes on and dashed after them. The seam of one of my socks was crooked. I hate when that happens.
They were just exiting the hotel and stepping into the bright sunshine of the late morning sun when I caught up to them. Gone was the rain and most of the clouds. Although giving off little heat, the sun was shining furiously.
The three of us merged with a throng of pedestrian traffic along a busy sidewalk. As we did so, I suddenly had a damn good question:
"Hey, if you're really King Arthur, then why not lead us straight to the Grail?"
Arthur, who was a few inches taller than me, glanced back over his shoulder. There was a bemused expression on his handsome face. "And just what do you think I'm doing?"
"Then why not just, you know, make it appear? After all, you just appeared."
Supposedly, I wanted to add. We moved past an outdoor cafe; I eyed the steaming dishes longingly.
"And where would the fun be in that?" he asked jovially.
I blinked. That caught me off guard. "You're here for fun?"
"Sure," he said. "Why are you here?"
I thought about that. Yeah, my dreams had been pretty persistent, but the idea of coming to England to pursue them had certainly been an intriguing one.
I nodded. "Yeah, I guess I'm here because I thought it would be fun."
He laughed. "Life is supposed to be fun, lad. You are supposed to enjoy yourself. It is only you humans who have made things so difficult."
You humans? Okay, that sounded weird.
"I'm buying a scone," I said when we came upon a bakery. I didn't check to see if they stopped or not. I didn't care. I was hungry and I was getting a scone and a coffee, and that was that.
But stop they did, and Marion even put in an order for both she and Arthur, who excitedly picked out something dripping with chocolate icing. I think it was a cinnamon roll, but with all the icing, it was hard to tell. Anyway, I was reminded of a kid in a candy shop.
I paid for everyone, although Marion had her wallet out and was hunting for some money. While she hunted, I handed the young lady behind the counter a few pounds and told her to keep the change. In actuality, I had no idea how much I had just given her, nor did I care.
Back in the sunlight, Arthur was already making a mess of things. Chocolate icing covered his lips and hands; Marion giggled and used a napkin to clean him up.
Damn. Lost her. To King Arthur, no less.
But did you ever have her?
Nope. Not even close.
I couldn't feel too bad. After all, they seemed to make a very nice couple, and they seemed very comfortable around each other. Very natural. Granted, I would have loved to have been on the receiving end of that napkin, but life goes on, right?
On the move, I ate my scone and drank my coffee, and when I spilled a little of both down the front of my shirt, I didn't see Marion running over with a napkin. Granted, Arthur was still making a royal mess of himself (no pun intended) and needed Marion's help, but whatever.
Maybe being freshly re-born had its downside: clumsiness. Maybe getting used to one's new physical body took some time.
Lord, what am I saying?
I had no idea. I had no idea what I believed, or what was going on. But something strange was going on here. Something worth looking into, even if my next stop was a looney bin.
Ah, what the hell. I didn't fly halfway around the world just to go home again, right? And what better way to explore Glastonbury than with King Arthur himself?
Right?
Yes, the same King Arthur who was currently sucking a massive chocolate stain out of his souvenir sweatshirt.
Lord, help me.
Chapter Sixteen
The sunshine was short-lived.
The sky quickly filled with clouds and a sharp wind followed. Tree leaves scuttled across the cobblestone sidewalks, and those with the forethought to bring a jacket, zipped them up tightly with glee. Marion was the only one in our group wearing a jacket. Psychics always think ahead.