58

As they neared the cut off point Martha signalled for Susanna to stop, then she pointed "see that old sign for Subway sandwiches? It's a marker. Wherever you find one, look for a letterbox along the road for a Jack Jones. It's a signal for us that there is a safe house in there, a place like where you have been with supplies, weapons and most importantly, communitarians with the base so we know you are there and hurt or trapped."

"Brilliant" Susanna nodded, still in awe as she saw that the scope of this operation was wider reaching than she had first thought.

"Now … we drive until we see the billboard for Harrods. It's the turn. You turn round it and will see a hedge. Drive for the hedge and don't blink." Martha demands, her husband in the jeep behind them tooting as he flew around them and roared off "See? Twat features is already heading that way. Looking for a spanking, that one."

Susanna giggled as she started to drive again, her son in the back seat now kneeling as he looked out the window with wide eyes "Mama? What's that?"

"That's Myfanwy. She's not usually this far from her barn … must be looking for a treat out here. There are some wild sheep about, she likes them even though we do provide for her from her own flock we tend at home. She likes the thrill of the hunt." Martha called back over her shoulder.

"Is she a big birdie?"

"Pterodactyl" Martha replied calmly "A dinosaur. Came though a rift in space and time, Ianto made her a pet. Be careful though, she's not very keen on people. Only him."

"Bullshit" Susana spluttered "A 'Dactyl! Seriously?"

"Yep. She is. Don't scoff, Ianto is very fond of her. Like an overgrown parrot. Mind .. she is also very old and very clever. She might know if you are mocking her too." Martha warned, then the billboard loomed and the disappearing dust cloud helped her know this was where to turn, roaring at the hedge as she gripped the wheel and… poooooff …. Hologram. A fucking … wow!

Martha laughed along with her as she saw the dome ahead over the vast fields that surrounded it. Like a bubble. It was beautiful, the oil slick colours moving in the bright sunlight.

"Wow! Look mama!"

"I know. I am looking. I am darling" she laughed "Wow!"

Horses appeared from nowhere to run alongside the vehicle, their manes flying out and after a few beats Susanna saw that a large white one had a small child on the back riding bareback, clutching the mane that flew around him like a strange cape almost obscuring him, his tiny hand raising to wave before little heels kicked and the horse veered away, the herd following.

"Christ, I almost slammed on the brakes then. Did you see that?" she spluttered.

"He's four now. About the size of a three year old but I assure you, Pip is older than he looks. In many ways. One of Ianto and Jack's Pups. He's not only wise beyond his years, he is as sly as his father. Has Jack's cunning in spades, his lovely Tad's heart and the mind of an old man. Believe you me … watch him. He plays the little child card well but he is far from innocent. The baby girl that he constantly fusses over is his wife."

"Excuse me?"

Susanna had to apply brakes now, turning to gape.

Martha laughed "Pip is Ianto's grandfather reincarnated. Poppy. Poppy … pippity pop. Pip. His wife, Ianto's grandmother who was called Annabelle, Nainny to most of us, is now Nelly, the child of Jack and Ianto's' adopted son and his wife, who came from the same lab as Ianto."

Susanna stared at her hard.

"There is a library, a whole section titled 'The Before." This is a place where we all wrote our own stories. Like a biography as well as adding books of memories of favourite things like movies, candyfloss, the subway … things our children will never know, things we don't want to forget." Martha said softly, reaching out to pat the woman's leg "There is also a series of books on Jack and Ianto. Their stories are vast, several volumes as well as the last few of them together. It explains their lives, their … uniqueness. I suggest once you are situated you make for that. Read. Learn. You are an ex-companion like us. You know the madness of the real world beneath the surface. You will know the words are true."

"Magic in the words" Susanna whispered as she started to drive once more, now energized as the feeling she once had while skipping into a blue box that wanted to hurtle though space returned to her very bones.

Let's go.