Page:The strange experiences of Tina Malone.djvu/80

80 time, very faintly, but as if watching with interest everything I did.

Would they never leave me in peace?

I had written to the other doctor—a great hypnotist whom Tony had advised me to consult some time before. I had also written to the girl who had been supposed to have given my name to him to be practised on. I had asked this last to come to see me as soon as I returned home.

Dr. Weston wrote to say that he was travelling to the mountains but would be returning in a week and would see me then.

Why I thought it I don't know, but I felt as if I knew someone was looking for me. Somewhere in the underground—searching—searching—And then, one day, while I was sitting trying to read, I felt that he had found me.

But the voices had never really ceased and there was now this new consciousness of a successful search on someone's part.

I had some sense of peace, for it was a very quiet little voice I heard at this time, insistently telling me to "Remember Wallerawang."

Why it should be so anxious for me to remember Wallerawang I don't know, but I did remember.

Then I went home.

Wallerawang was not far from my brother's town and somehow I felt as if I were to be picked up at Wallerawang by those taunting voices and somehow the old dread I had been given lately that I was to be gagged and carried off to some secret place came to torture me. The fear was there before I left but I did not dare to voice it to my brother and I wanted to spare him.

I welcomed the fact that there were others in the carriage besides myself and waited for Wallerawang hardly daring to look out of the window. But look I did and shivered as I saw a policeman and wondered if a policeman always came to meet the trains.

But the train hurried on and all fear left me. Nothing had happened although I had "remembered Wallerawang."

And so I went home.

But the everlasting voices were still there and, I suppose, returned in full force when they found me back again.

Enid Dutton came as I arranged and said she was sorry I heard "voices," and denied having ever had anything to do with my being practised on.

And then I went to Dr. Weston.

I had always had a fear of being hypnotised and having to submit my will to another's. But Tony told me this was my best chance. The voices were still going, and I was having a conversation with one all the way in. I was saying to myself: