Chapter 20: The Ghost in the Machine

"I'm not going anywhere," Margaret repeated. "Now that all that ghost nonsense has been put to rest I'm quite comfortable here and I intend to take up permanent residence. You'll get the fireplace chimney properly cleaned of course, and I'm going to insist that that portrait of Sir Matthew be removed. I can't abide those eyes following me around the room. He rather reminds me of you. And it's the least you can do when you carried Louise and Ruth from the library last night and left your own mother to stumble out with everyone else."

Louisa thought Martin would explode with rage but he seemed strangely calm. He nudged Louisa away a few steps to confer, saying "I was afraid this would happen, but I have a plan." He took out his mobile and made a brief call.

He walked back to Margaret. "I have a proposition for you. I left something in the basement chemistry lab, a valuable antique sword. The lab is right at the bottom of the stairs, it's easy to find. If you go down there right now and bring it back to me I'll let you stay in the house for as long as you like - and I'll remove the portrait too."

Margaret was suspicious about his sudden generosity. "There must be some catch," she said.

"Well, it's clamped in a vice but it shouldn't take more than about three minutes for you to get it loose. And it is very dark in the lab with a strong chemical smell. Be sure to turn on the wall switch for the light and the fan."

Margaret stared defiantly up at her tall son for a moment, shaking her head. "You always were a strange boy," she said, but she turned to head into the house.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Louisa asked.

Martin reassured her he did, as he set the timer on his watch. As they waited, the festival crowd was clearing out in earnest now and workmen began to take the marquee tent down. Ruth came back over to them. "I see Eleanor is on her way out. Have you completely solved the unwanted guest problem?"

"We'll know very soon. I estimate it'll take her about a minute to get down there and a minute to come back, so that's maybe five minutes in all," he replied, still looking at his watch. At the three minute mark, he smiled slightly and nodded, as the others stared curiously. His watch hadn't quite reached the five minute mark when Margaret came running out the front door, unusually fast for a woman of her age, looking very pale and empty handed.

"I will not stay in this dreadful house a moment longer!" she declared.

Martin nodded. "I've already called Mr. Robinson to have your bags packed and - ah there he is now, bringing them out to the airport taxi, which looks like it's just about ready to leave."

Margaret gave him an icy stare, then got into the taxi with Eleanor and off they went.

"So what was all that about?" Louisa couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.

"I explained to Ruth and Chris earlier that I had what seemed to be a paranormal experience in the lab, but some scientific investigation proved it was a powerful illusion caused by an infrasound standing wave generated by a ventilation fan."

"Oh!" Louisa was more confused than ever.

"So the ghost in the machine strikes again," Ruth said. "Don't worry dear, we'll explain how it works in detail later. What matters now is that I gather Martin put the illusion to good use."

Martin nodded. "I'll be getting the mounting of the ventilation fan modified to eliminate the standing wave, so no more chemistry lab ghost. And I've made a decision about the house and the estate. It's simply too big for us and requires too much work to make it safe for us to live there. It needs so much more than just cleaning the chimney and installing a few CO detectors. I wouldn't think it's advisable to have the children there nor the young clients for Louisa's counselling practice."

"It does seem to have an inordinate number of hazards that lend themselves to spooky situations," Ruth said.

"So I've decided to turn it over to the National Trust. I'll contact the lawyer Monday morning to start the process," he said. "My mother wouldn't have been allowed to stay there long, even if she had managed to retrieve the sword."

Louisa chuckled, but then sighed. "I suppose it's just as well. I'm glad at least the festival was a success, well mostly," she said.

To be continued…