I'm sorry that chapter 33 was a bit of a shambles. I ended up posting my first draft from docs because the one on here was all weird computery language - what's that all about, has it happened to anyone else? When I got back from work, I tried to remember what I had done differently and edited it to the best of my memory. I should have waited but I was an impatient dick. Onwards and upwards. Sorry again. Love, k.

35

The hour was late when the car arrived. A fabulous sleek affair in dark green and brass, with pale leather bench seats front and back and a dickie seat in the trunk. It was forty miles to Charlottetown and Teddy had made it in one hour thirty minutes flat. He would have been faster but he had to stop three times to allow for various sheep and goats wandering over the roads. The sheep took no notice of the horn (a glorious trumpet worthy of angels) while the goats seemed to take the noise as an invitation to mount the car and threaten the pristine paintwork. But listen to that engine purr, see how the canopy glides right back, and what about that suspension.

The Blythes duly got in and fingered the instruments and tested the seats. Gilbert took possession of the steering wheel and lamented the fact that unlike reins he would need two hands to keep control of this beast. Jem had the bonnet up soon after which meant the prime seat was vacant because Gilbert simply had to look. By that time the Merediths had arrived, however, so there were plenty ready to take his place. Starting with Bruce, who made vroom vroom noises and then for reasons known only to himself, the ack ack of a machine gun. John had a turn next and saw the windscreen was spattered with insects and that the pale leather seats were already marked by Bruce's boots, and thought modern conveniences were almost always more trouble than they were worth. Rosemary was nose deep in the novel she couldn't put down, but eventually she remembered to wave at Anne and Rilla ensconced in the backseat. Jerry, who lingered on the edge of the party, hands in his pockets looking awkward, found his curiosity outweighed his sheepishness and was soon under the car (where Carl was) admiring the construction of the rear axle.

"Getting hold of the car was the easy part," said Teddy, "it was tracking down the gasoline that was hard."

There had been a rush on everything as the Island's occupants prepared to bunk down again for another stint of quarantine. He got twenty gallons from one place, thirty-five from another, and forty from a guy who knew a guy - if the Doctor got his drift.

"I overpaid for the last lot, but it was that or nothing." Teddy handed Gilbert the change from the money he had been given. "Sorry, sir. I hope you weren't expecting more."

Gilbert looked down at the single crumpled note and various coins and almost insisted Teddy keep it by way of thanks. He stuck the money into his pocket. It wouldn't have been right to pay Teddy like he was some sort of servant, and he shook his hand instead and said the boy did good.

He was frowning soon after. Where was all this gasoline? And was told that a lot of it was already in the tank.

"I left the rest at the top of the drive," said Teddy, hoping he had done the right thing, "because it took up some of the seats and I knew as soon as the car arrived you would all want to try it out and get in."

He loped down the drive to retrieve two enormous jerry cans and carried them as though they weighed nothing at all. He even pumped his arms up and down, marvelling at his own strength, the tendons like ropes at his elbows, the biceps bulging. His size was something he was still getting used to; he was no longer the lanky youth of four years before. Sleeping in the school house in secret on a rolled out rug on the floor. He was saving - for what? - not that it mattered. He blew it all the night he signed up and paid for every man's drink in the bar. Then there were the women, two that night and another in the morning. That one had followed him all the way to the station. He lost her, of course; he fancied himself the love 'em and leave 'em type. Though he was beginning to realise there wasn't much love in his love anymore.

The love he found here was embarrassing. Look at them, the Blythes and the Merediths huddled happily together. The sheep farmer and his kids had turned up, two of Bruce's mates, and look - there was Ken. The pleasure they took in a new car or a party or a simple dinner; the care they showed each other. An embarrassment of riches. Teddy knew what that meant now and had never felt so poor.

They all turned towards him as he came into the yard, except Bruce's mates who were fighting over who got to sit behind the wheel. The smiles of before were shrinking with every step Teddy took toward them. Jerry reached him first.

"Where's Una, she came back with you, right?"

"Oh yeah, about that - hey, could you take this for me?" said Teddy and offered him one of the cans.

Jerry stared at it and then at him. "Where's my sister?" he said.

Teddy looked around him as the crowd ventured closer, faces all verging on concern.

"Teddy," said the Reverend, "we can't find Una, did you drop her home?"

"She didn't come back with me, but-but-" Teddy stammered as every eye was trained on him, "I know where she is."

They waited for him to continue. Teddy's palms started sweating and he put down the cans.

"We separated not long after we arrived. We had to, the car was at the harbour and Una's books were in some warehouse on the other side of town. We met up again just before I went looking for more gas." Teddy paused to check his memory, because it was registering now how crucial his next words were. "She was coming out of a store I was passing, and she told me her books weren't at the warehouse, but she knew where they were. So we arranged to meet by… I think it was an Anglican church, sort of on the edge of town."

"Catholic, that church is Catholic," said Rosemary pointlessly.

"It was big, I know that much," said Teddy. "So, I waited for a good while and then I thought I better head home because I didn't like driving Dr Blythe's car in the dark."

"Wait," said Jerry, "are you saying you left my little sister in Charlottetown - by herself?"

"Well yeah, but it wasn't like that. She said - we agreed - that if she didn't turn up at that church by seven, I should go on without her and she would catch the train back home."

John looked at Jerry. "When does the last train get into the Glen?"

Jem looked at his watch. "It's almost nine thirty."

"They run hourly after six on Saturdays," said Carl, "The last one will be in by now."

"You never went to the station to look for her, or the warehouse, did you check?" Rosemary's questions were just as pointless as her previous remark, but panic had her in its clutches. She was looking as white as her hair.

"I didn't go anywhere else; it wouldn't make sense if she turned up and I wasn't there. Una wasn't worried, Mrs Meredith, she knew where the station was and had plenty of money - and a coat in case it turned cold." Teddy was rambling because he couldn't stand to see all these once welcoming people staring coldly at him.

"She's never been to town before," said Rilla.

"She's never been anywhere," said Ken.

"C'mon, Cap," said Teddy, "she's twenty-three."

"Oh Teddy, you should never have left her," Anne murmured.

"I can't believe you just drove off," Carl was livid, "and you didn't think to tell us till now."

"He wasn't going to tell us at all, I had to ask," Jerry snapped. He grabbed Teddy's arm. "Come on, we're going to the station to look for her. You better hope she's there, Willoughby, God help you."

Rosemary and John decided to go home with Bruce to see if Una was there. Bruce insisted Carl go with them, he wouldn't say why, he just wanted him close.

Gilbert had his hands in his hair, his brow pulled taut. "Confound it, Anne," he said to her, "I should have collected the car myself. Teddy wouldn't know that we watch out for Una - I should have gone with them."

"Sir?" said Ken as he approached, "may I take the car? I'm the only one besides Teddy who can drive it, and I know these roads, I could be in Charlottetown in a little over an hour."

It was decided that Ken would check in at the Manse first and then the station. Teddy and Jerry were the only ones on the platform, red faced and panting. The last train had come and gone, the station master had informed them, and he never saw Miss Una, not all night.

"I'm heading to Charlottetown," Ken called to them through the open car door.

"I'm coming too," said Teddy, running over to him.

"You are going straight to the Manse to tell them I've gone to fetch her -"

"Jerry can do that."

"Jerry is coming with me."

Jerry ducked inside the car and glared at Teddy through the window.

"Come on, Cap, lemme ride with you," Teddy begged, "I know all the places she went to - I can point them out."

"The Manse," Ken snapped. "That's an order."

Then he drove away without another word.

...

Next chapter to follow...