A Cockney's Journey (11 page)

    “This is our new phone number. If you can’t find your mum, ring me. You can stay at ours till you do.”
    “OK, Joyce, thanks a lot.” I returned to the bus stop to wait. I could see the headlights of another oncoming bus.
Thank goodness, a number twelve
. It screeched to a halt. I hopped onto the platform and sat down inside.
    The bus sped past St Giles’ Church. I had fond memories of the times I sang in the church choir on Sundays. My nan introduced me to the congregation when I was twelve, really nice people, very friendly. My kind of people, without a doubt! But, like everything in my life, the good times never lasted and were promptly followed by the bad; most of the time through no fault of my own.
    “Next stop Camberwell Green, folks,” the conductor reminded those who wanted to get off.
    I got up and jumped off the bus, slowly walking up Camberwell Grove towards my mum’s sister’s house. I turned right into George Square, looking for number thirty. These Victorian houses were massive and the artworks on the front entrances were breathtaking. Black and gold ornate railings with stone stairs and pillars leading up to front doors, which were covered by a concrete ornate balcony. The stonemasons and plasterers in those days were pure class. I stood in front of a large green front door and banged the black lion-shaped iron knocker. The sound echoed around the square. The door opened slowly and an elegantly dressed lady stood there peering at me.
    “Can I help you, young man?” she asked in a low posh tone. She looked down at me and screwed her face up. “Are you Margaret’s son, Edward?”
    “Eddie, actually,” I stated. “I’m looking for my mum. Is she here?” I asked
    “Absolutely not, why should she be?”
    “Oh, it doesn’t matter, Sorry for bothering you.” I turned round and started to walk down the steps,
    “Stop!” she shouted. “Your head is covered in blood. Come here, boy.”
    She pulled me into the hallway, surveying the damage to my head,
    “How did this happen?” she demanded. “Let’s have a closer look at your head in the kitchen.”
    I stood under the kitchen light as she swabbed my head and neck with warm salt water.
    “Well, are you going to tell me what is going on, Edward? And why would you assume your mother was here?”
    “My mum wasn’t at home so I thought she came to visit you. I tripped getting off the bus. That’s how I hurt my head.” She looked at me as if she knew I was lying.
    “Did your mum and dad have another fight, Edward? And will you please tell me the truth?”
    Reluctantly, I told her the truth. “Yeah, but this time I think she’s walked out, taking my brothers and sisters with her. She left me to face him when I got home from work, which I’m not happy about.”
    “Your head, did he do that to you?” she asked angrily.
    “Yeah, he threw an empty whisky bottle at me.”
    “My God, how long has this been going on?”
    “About four years, since I was eleven.”
    “What about before that, Edward?” she asked, as if she already knew.
    “Yeah, very nasty, He’s hated me ever since I was born. The serious violence only started when I was eleven, as I said.”
    “What are you going to do now?”
    “I’ve got to find out where they are, I can’t go back to the house, he will kill me.”
    “Have you any ideas about where to look for them?” she asked in a concerned voice.
    “No not really, the only other place is Nanny‘s but she’s in Margate. I really can’t see her going there, I mean Mum never stood up for Nan in front of him. He hates Nanny as much as me. He won’t even let her in the house.”
    “So I’ve heard! Listen, Edward, I spoke to my mother earlier. She hasn’t heard from your mum in four weeks, so she hasn’t gone there. Why don’t you stay here tonight? Things might look different tomorrow. The spare room is already made up.”
    I must admit I was absolutely cream-crackered and the thought of a good night’s kip swayed my decision.
    “I would love to, Auntie,” I said. “If that’s OK?”
    “Good! Up you go. It’s the first door on the right,” she said, pointing towards the stairs.
    I climbed the stairs to the landing and opened the door to my right. I flicked the light switch on, then entered the room.
Blimey, a double bed.
I quickly undressed to my boxers and put the lamp on, then switched the main light off. I slid between lovely clean, crisp sheets. The smell of lavender engulfed my senses. Immediately my head touched the pillow, my eyelids became like lead weights. All the horrors of the evening disappeared as I fell deeply into my dark world…
    I wondered how far I had walked. It seemed like hours or even days. I didn’t even know where I was or where I was going. All around me was a vast barren wasteland. I could just about make out on the horizon a large cluster of mountains. I was hungry, thirsty and very hot, but still I kept walking in the same direction; towards the mountains. Why? What’s there? I asked myself. I just knew I had to make it at all costs. Just then, a rabbit ran past me.
    “You’re never going to make it,” it shouted, as it vanished in its own dust. I heard flapping noises in the distance getting louder by the second. I looked up at the sky. Coming towards me was this black mass. As it got closer, I realised it was thousands of bats. As they passed overhead, it went dark for a moment and then they were heading in the same direction as the rabbit. I heard laughing behind me. I turned around in the direction of the sound that had startled me.
    “Who you looking at, fella?” the chirpy voice asked.
    “Sorry for staring,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief at what I was hearing. “I’m a bit confused. What is happening?” I asked uneasily. “First a rabbit talks to me, now a magpie?”
    “You won’t make it by dark and then you’ve had it,” the magpie reckoned. He carried on circling around me, flapping his wings as he was chatting. “However, if by some miracle you do make it, look me up.”
    He flew off in the same direction. What did he mean, if I didn’t make it? I’ve had it. I carried on walking but my feet started to ache. I noticed the sun going down slowly above the mountains. I started to run. I was getting closer to my goal, but not close enough. All of a sudden it started to get dark very rapidly. I looked up at the sky and saw that the clouds were black. It turned cold. I felt the wind pick up and in the distance I saw flashes of forked lightning. What the hell was going on? I started to feel scared, all alone in this strange place. The soft rumble of thunder was barely audible at first. Gradually, the flashes became more brilliant and the sound of thunder increased. The wind was now howling and blowing in all directions. The crash of the thunder would follow only seconds after the lightning. I watched in both amazement and fear. There was no rain, not a single drop! In the distance, coming towards me, was a silhouetted figure in a black hooded cloak, riding a galloping white stallion. I could hear the thunder of the stallion’s hooves getting closer and louder as they approached. Behind the horse was a pack of silver-haired wolves snarling, trying to keep pace with the stallion. I started to run as fast as I could, heading in the direction of the mountain. My chest was thumping like a drum; sweat was pouring down my forehead.
    “This way, quick or he’ll get you.” I looked down. Running by my side was the rabbit, looking up at me.
    “Who is he?” I asked.
    “Tyzak,” the rabbit screeched, darting off to the right. “Follow me. You must get to the mountain.”
    “Who’s Tyzak?” I asked nervously.
    The rabbit never answered my question. “Just keep running. No time for questions. Save your breath. All will be revealed later.”
    I followed the rabbit, fully aware that he was gaining on me rapidly. Ahead of me, I could see a band of fog appearing from nowhere. The rabbit stopped and pointed into the fog.
    “In there and be quick. Don’t stop till you get to the other side, and pray he’s not waiting there for you.”
    “Thanks for your help.”
    “He can’t see you in there. Now get going.”
    I ran into the fog. I could hear the stallion rear up behind me and the wolves were howling and snarling. I ran deeper into the dense fog, blindly trying to find my way. After a while I had to stop; my lungs were bursting. I stood surrounded in a blanket of fog, bending over getting my breath back. My heart was thumping; my limbs were exhausted, I was gasping for air. I had this feeling that I was not alone in the fog. My lungs filled with musty air, allowing me to think straight again. I carried on walking, thinking that if I ran I would be heard. I silently headed in the same direction, hoping I would find the way out. A long silent period lapsed when I heard faint voices ahead of me. I noticed the fog was getting thinner by the second and I could see the white stallion unaccompanied. My God, where is he, I thought, panicking. I glanced around; there was nothing to see but the stallion as clear as day and behind him, the mountain. I considered my options and decided to make a run for it.
    In a delirious state, I started heading towards the mountain. The speed of my actions made the stallion rear up startled. I ran past so fast that I didn’t notice the pack of wolves curled up on the floor, resting. After a few moments, I was at the base of the mountain. To the left was a narrow winding pathway up the side, leading to the summit. In front of me was a small entrance, leading to a cavern. I opted for the cavern. Behind me came the sound of howling and the rumble of hooves. I ran straight into the cavern, plunging myself into total darkness. He reached the entrance. The wolves were running around in circles, waiting for their instructions. The stallion reared its front legs, knowing he couldn’t get through the small entrance. I crouched down behind a large boulder, straining my eyes to peer at the faint light that was being reflected into the mouth of the cavern. I waited, silently staring ahead, when I heard a voice quietly stating the obvious.
    “There’s no escaping from me. I know you’re in here. You cannot get out. You’re trapped for eternity. I’ll leave you to face the guardian of this cavern. When he’s finished with you, I’ll have what’s left,” the voice said, laughing hysterically.
    I crept deeper into the cavern, blindly looking for another way out.
    I kept moving, slowly feeling my way. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the light from the entrance had vanished. I was in total darkness. I stopped and, peering into the blackness, my eye caught a flicker of firelight in the distance. A faint feeling of hope filled my body as I made my way towards it. Advancing a little more, it became very clear I was in serious trouble again.
     In the middle of the fire was a salamander, its eyes were large and black and the body was like some sort of lizard-cum-reptile. It had extremely long fangs; I froze with fear; my eyes transfixed by its eyes. I was paralysed to the spot. My brain told me to run but my body ignored the command. I screamed for help yet nothing came past my lips. The salamander rose out of the fire and its wings opened, revealing large talons. It stood, looking down at me, hissing and licking its long, sharp, pointed tongue.
    “Why are you here?” the salamander asked, spitting out a short burst of fire and smoke. “Normally I wouldn’t ask. I’d just devour you. However, I’ve eaten today and I am curious as to why a little runt like you has dared to enter my domain. Not even Tyzak is brave enough to come face to face with me!”
    “I don’t know, I must have got lost, I am truly sorry.” I said, trembling with fear.
    The salamander moved swiftly towards me, bending its neck, shoving its head straight into my face. Its long tongue wrapped itself around my neck, squeezing the air out of my body.
    “I’ll have you later when I feel hungry,” it hissed. The creature opened its talons. I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my stomach as it ripped open my gut. I screamed in blind panic, begging for help…
    The noise of the bedroom door flying open and slamming against the wall jerked me from my sleep.
    “Edward, are you alright?” my aunt cried.
    I sat up in bed, sweating and holding my throat while crying.
    “You poor boy, been having bad dreams?” she said, wiping the tears from my eyes with her handkerchief.
    “Yeah, he’s getting closer,” I said.
    “Who?” she asked looking puzzled.
    “Doesn’t matter, it was just a nightmare, Auntie.”
    “I’m not surprised, with what you’ve been through. Come here, Edward.”