“We’re going to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Rococo Gardens, aren’t we, Dotty?” Keya replied.

“Yes,” Dotty answered, inattentively. “Oh, why would you want to do this?” she asked, watching the two women attack each other’s legs.

“That sounds far more pleasant than sitting around in the cold and dark waiting for the sun to rise,” Dr Peter remarked.

“They are planning to have a small fire this year,” Keya remembered.

“See, Peter. It’ll be a lovely night and I know it’ll help me feel closer to my Celtic ancestors.”

This time, Dr Peter rolled his eyes.

CHAPTER SEVEN

On Tuesday 20th June, the eve of the midsummer solstice, Keya arrived back at Cirencester Police Station in the mid-afternoon.

“Arrest any aliens?” Stan asked as he followed her into the team room, but then he asked more helpfully, “Would you like a cuppa?”

Keya replied, “Yes, please, and I thought we’d established that it’s not aliens making the crop circles but the ancients sending us a message. And as we’re approaching the summer solstice, they seem to have a lot to say. Like please visit our village and spend money at the local shops and pub.”

“Do you think this is just a publicity stunt?” Ryan asked innocently.

“What else do you put it down to? It’s not the work of aliens or an ancient mystical force, whatever people want to believe.”

“And I doubt it’s Doug and Dave.”

“Who are they?” asked Keya.

“Aren’t they singers?” Ryan queried.

Stan regarded Ryan steadily. “No, that’s Chaz and Dave. Doug and Dave were two pranksters from Southampton who fooled the world during the 1980s by creating over two hundred crop circles. Despite it being the sixties, they tied ropes to planks of wood and used them to stamp out their designs.”

“But I don’t see how they could have created the one I visited today at Asthall Leigh. It was intricate and, from the drone image one of the locals produced, completely symmetrical. How could two blokes with oversized pieces of wood on their feet create that?” Keya demanded.

“Such is the conundrum of crop circles,” Stan commented as he left the room.

Keya sat down and looked across at Ryan, whose brow wrinkled as he regarded her.

“You’re not worried about this outbreak of crop circles, are you?” she asked him.

“No, but I am concerned about the play this evening. What if I don’t understand what’s going on?”

“Then you won’t be the only one. I never could get my head round Shakespeare.”

“What’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream about? Millie says it’s a comedy, but what if I don’t find it funny?”

“Let’s see what we can find out about it. Someone must have posted a summary online.” Keya switched her computer on as Stan reappeared carrying two cups. He placed her tea on her desk as she typed in ‘what is midsummer night’s dream about?’.

There were plenty of Shakespeare related results. She clicked on the first one. Then she looked up at Ryan and read, “The play is a comedy and it’s set in a court in ancient Athens, and a mystical forest outside the city walls. It covers the themes of love, magic, dreams, and mischief.”

“I like the mischief part,” said Ryan.

“Are you going to Painswick tonight, to the open-air theatre?” Stan asked.

“Yes, but we want to make sure we know what’s going on,” Keya confessed as she turned her attention back to the computer screen.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s lighter plays,” Stan declared, and Keya and Ryan looked up at him in surprise.

“I watched it last year,” he admitted, before going on to outline the entire plot.

When he finished, Ryan said uncertainly, “It doesn’t sound particularly funny,”

“That’s in the acting,” Stan reassured him.

“I’m grateful for the explanation. Thanks, Stan,” Keya said.

“You’re welcome, and I hope you enjoy it. I understand that tonight is special, and there’ll be acrobats and circus performers and a light show during the interval.”

“Now that does sound interesting,” Ryan perked up.

Keya and Ryan both left the station at five o’clock.

“Dotty’s picking me up tonight. Are we meeting you there?” asked Keya.

“Yes, I’m collecting Millie from the cafe with part of the picnic which she and Dotty have organised.”

Keya looked up at the still blue sky and said, “I’m actually starting to look forward to tonight. A relaxed evening out with friends.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Keya clapped her hands along with the rest of the crowd, who’d enjoyed the first half of the outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A temporary stage had been erected in front of a beech wood, which added to the setting of the magical forest. The audience were sitting on a variety of picnic blankets and camping chairs in a field in front of the grand, but not too large, Painswick House.

“Are there any sausage rolls left?” Ryan asked.

“No, you ate the last one,” giggled Millie.

She and Ryan half lay, half sat on a red and white checked picnic blanket, with most of the remains of the picnic scattered round Ryan.

Behind them, facing the stage, Keya and Dotty occupied two folding blue camping chairs Dotty had borrowed from Aunt Beanie.

“I actually understood most of that,” Keya remarked, “although I doubt I would have done if Stan hadn’t given me a rundown.”

“Would anyone like to look round the garden trail before the second half?” asked Dotty tentatively.