The Mist

it’s a bit difficult for me to be away from home. And it’s quite a long trek – I’m sure you understand. But you’re welcome to stay with us over Christmas. I can accompany you back afterwards, or just put you on the right track, if you’d prefer.’
‘The last thing I want to do is upset your Christmas plans,’ Leó hastened to assure them. ‘I’ll try and head off tomorrow morning, assuming I’ve recovered by then. I expect I’ll crash out good and early this evening after today’s little adventure.’ He broke off to yawn. ‘And then I’ll get going first thing and leave you to enjoy your Christmas in peace.’
Erla was still feeling inexplicably twitchy in their visitor’s presence; there was something about his manner that bothered her, that didn’t ring true. Something vaguely threatening. That unnervingly intent stare. ‘Your family must be wondering where you are,’ she said. It was a statement rather than a question.
Leó’s reaction was odd. His face twisted in a grimace and he didn’t immediately reply, then after a pause he answered, as if he couldn’t bear the silence any longer: ‘No, there’s nobody waiting for me.’
‘It’s an unusual time of year for a shooting trip,’ Erla persisted. She was having a hard time believing a word he said and was only surprised that Einar was being so forbearing. Perhaps it was just his innate good manners. As a true countryman, her husband had been brought up never to refuse anyone hospitality. ‘So close to Christmas, I mean.’
Again, there was a delay before Leó answered: ‘Me and my friends aren’t that big on Christmas, to be honest – though we were planning to drive back to town tomorrow morning. Not that we’ll be able to now, which is a bit of a bugger.’ He smiled. ‘Excuse my language. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see your lights. I was totally lost and scared to death that … well, that I’d be caught out by nightfall.’
‘Oh, the nights here are something else,’ Erla said quietly, but with such feeling that Leó looked a little taken aback. ‘I hope you’re not afraid of the dark.’
‘God, no, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Anyway, what do, er, how do you pass the time in the long winter evenings? I don’t suppose you can get TV up here?’
‘No, thank God!’ Einar said with feeling. Erla shot him a glance, aware that he was eager to change the subject and prevent her from continuing what amounted almost to an interrogation of the man.
‘Then perhaps we can sit down this evening and have a proper talk,’ said Leó, with an odd inflection to his voice.
‘Erla, why don’t you show Leó to the spare room?’ Einar asked.
She stood up reluctantly. She would rather Leó left right now. Realizing that she was nervous about sleeping under the same roof as him, she told herself off for being silly. What possible reason could he have for wanting to harm them? And, anyway, they were two against one.
‘Thanks.’ He smiled warmly, looking her straight in the eye, and for a moment she felt ashamed of her suspicions. He was a good-looking man, tall, with thick black hair shot through with grey. ‘Thank you so much again. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t found you.’
Again, she remembered that there had been nothing about a missing man on the news. It was worrying, but of course there could be a perfectly natural explanation.
‘I’ve just got to go and check on the animals,’ Einar said. ‘Make yourself at home, Leó, and feel free to stay with us as long as you like.’
Erla led the way to the spare room, which was next door to Anna’s old bedroom. It wasn’t very big and they rarely used it, so it smelled a bit stale. She opened the window, admitting an icy draught that sent the curtains flapping wildly. The furniture consisted of a shabby old divan, a chest of drawers and a bedside table. The chest was used for bedlinen and old clothes of theirs and Anna’s that they no longer wore. On top were a number of framed photographs, some of Einar’s parents and various relations, others from their own collection, including a black-and-white snapshot from back when Erla and Einar had first met, when they were young and foolish and used to spend their free time bumping over the country’s rough gravel roads in an old wreck of a car. Even then it had been on the cards that Einar would have to take over the farm, but at the time she hadn’t fully grasped what that would mean. Subconsciously, she had hoped they’d eventually be able to make a life for themselves in the capital instead, even go on the odd foreign holiday, but none of these dreams had come true.
Then there was the family portrait of them with Anna as a beautiful, red-haired teenager.
‘There are sheets in there,’ she said, pointing to the chest and trying not to sound too offhand.
‘Thanks, thank you.’ He was staring at her so intently that she began to feel uncomfortable again. It was as if he were trying to figure her out. But perhaps, as so often, she was simply letting her imagination run away with her.
He took a step or two towards her and she recoiled, believing for an instant that he was going to attack her. But to her relief, he stopped and said politely: ‘I think I’ll have a bit of a lie-down. I’m feeling pretty shattered.’
Erla nodded and slipped past him, out of the room.
‘I’m going to join Einar in the barn. Come and find us if you need anything,’ she said. ‘With any luck, you’ll be home tomorrow,’ she added as a parting shot, and closed the door firmly behind her.
She wasn’t in the habit of helping Einar with the feeding, since he was perfectly capable of managing on his own, but she didn’t want to be