Speak No Evil

CHAPTER NINE

DR PALEY MUST HAVE cancelled all his other appointments that day. He brought in sandwiches for himself and Paul, and then it was back to the videotape. The doctor left him in the room to watch it alone.

‘So you left your home as a gerbil and became a boy again,’ the doctor was saying. ‘Why did you decide to switch back to your real shape?’

‘I don’t know,’ the boy on the screen replied. ‘It just happened. One minute I was a gerbil, and then I was a boy.’

‘Interesting,’ Dr Paley murmured. And even though he was off camera and Paul couldn’t see him on the screen, he had the feeling the doctor was making notes. And then what happened?’

‘I walked. But I was so hungry. . I went by a building site, and some workers were outside eating lunches. There was an open lunch box, and I saw a sandwich inside. No one was looking so I took it. I had a bite, but then this man saw me. And he hit me.’

Watching, Paul saw himself flinch, as if he could still feel the blow.

‘And then. .?’ the doctor’s voice prompted.

‘I ran. He chased me, but he didn’t catch me.’ He paused. ‘I think maybe I turned into something that could run faster than me. Yeah. . I was a squirrel for a while. Then I was me again, and I was cold. I saw a shop, and there was a coat in the window. I went inside The boy in the video began to shake.

‘What happened?’ Dr Paley asked.

‘I tried to take the coat. A man — he started to yell at me. Then he took out a gun. He was going to kill me, just like those men killed my parents. I was really scared. But then I turned into a rat and got away.’

‘Where did you go next?’

‘I found some dustbins. There was food on top of the rubbish. I ate some of it. Someone saw me, he threw something at me. . I think it was a brick. I jumped off the bin and turned back into myself. There was a grate on the pavement behind the bins, and it was a little warmer there. I must have fallen asleep. A policeman woke me up.’

‘Yes, I have the police notes here,’ Dr Paley said. ‘The officer reported that you didn’t respond verbally to his questions, but that you obeyed his directions when he told you to get up and come with him. He took you to the police station where you were given something to eat.’

Paul saw a twitch of the lips on his face, almost as if he’d wanted to smile. ‘A ham sandwich. A bag of crisps. Two cookies — chocolate chip.’

Dr Paley continued. ‘The police were unable to identify you. You didn’t match any descriptions of missing persons. A representative from social services took you to a youth shelter. Her notes are almost identical to the police officer’s notes. You didn’t communicate at all, but you followed her directions. At the youth shelter, you were examined by doctors and psychologists. It was determined that you were in some sort of state of shock and that you’d eventually recover. You were then assigned to a foster family — a Mr and Mrs Granger who were already sheltering two foster boys. Is that correct?’

‘Yes,’ Paul said.

‘Have you shape-shifted while living with the Grangers?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m not afraid of them. And they might not feed me if I was a rat or a squirrel.’

‘The Grangers. . Were they kind to you?’

‘Yes.’

‘They didn’t hit you, or yell at you, or threaten you in any way?’

‘No.’

‘But you didn’t speak to them either. Or to the other boys in the house. Why is that, Paul?’

‘I couldn’t. I was turned off.’

The real Dr Paley had returned to the room, and he must have heard that last bit. He picked up the remote control. ‘Turned off like this?’ he asked, and the screen went blank.

The real Paul tried to say ‘yes’, but it was too much effort. He simply nodded.

Dr Paley pulled his chair around to face Paul. ‘I think I understand, Paul,’ he said quietly. ‘It was easier to just stop — stop being. To be a thing instead of a person. Am I right?’

Paul nodded again.

Dr Paley looked at his watch. ‘That’s enough for now, Paul. Why don’t you go out into the garden for a while? I think you could use a little fresh air. Then we’ll watch more of the video.’

Paul left the office and went downstairs. What the people here called ‘the garden’ wasn’t really a garden — at least, there weren’t any flowers or plants. It was just a paved outdoor area with a couple of benches and some lawn chairs, and it was surrounded by high wire fences. But the weather was warm, no one else was around, and the lawn chair was more comfortable than the hard chair in Dr Paley’s office. Paul sat back, closed his eyes, and pondered what he’d remembered. He had a lot to think about.

‘Hey, get up.’

Paul opened his eyes. Three teenage boys, older and bigger than him, had arrived in the garden. Two of them had plopped down in the other two chairs, and the third seemed to want the chair Paul occupied.

‘I said, get up!’ the boy barked.

Paul did as he was told. He rose from the chair. The boy pushed him aside and sat down.

‘Now beat it.’

Automatically, Paul turned to leave. But then something inside him made him stop. It was nice out there, the sun was shining, he didn’t want to go back to his little room. He didn’t want to leave the garden. Why had he just given up his chair so easily? Because the other boy was bigger, and Paul was afraid of him?

‘Beat it!’ the boy yelled. ‘Get outta here!’

And a realization hit Paul hard. He didn’t have to do what he was told to do. He didn’t have to be afraid. Because he had a gift. And now was the time to use it.

He allowed a soft, shivery sensation to engulf him. A moment later a shriek went up from the boys as a huge wolf took over the space where Paul had been standing. The animal opened its mouth, baring large sharp teeth, and let out a howl. The three boys fled the scene and ran back into the building.

A window flew open. ‘Omigod!’ someone screamed. ‘Quick, call animal control! There’s a wolf in the garden!’

Paul let out another howl, louder this time. It felt wonderful, like a cry of freedom. He ran round the garden, leaping over the chairs and benches. Now more people were looking out of the windows and screaming.

‘Get the security guard,’ someone yelled. ‘He’s got a gun!’

Paul froze. He ducked around to the side of the garden, where no one could see him. And he turned back into a boy.

When the security guard appeared, all he saw was a small, thin boy sitting on a lawn chair.

‘Did you see a wolf?’ the guard asked.

Paul shook his head. Then he got up and went back into the building.