Meanwhile Gardens (39 page)

This place was much worse than the other. At least in the vault she was never alone. Whilst the occupants had long since ceased living there was still a presence, benign and comforting, in their proximity.

Here there was nothing. No fire to keep her warm, no mattress and worst of all no constantly burning candle. Rion could handle the damp she thought, and even the cold so long as there was a source of light no matter how weak. Her night was only relieved when she had a visitor, but she had fewer and fewer of those.

She knew she was being held deep in the earth. Gorby had said as much when he had brought her here Rion didn’t know when. Time in this dark subterranean place had no meaning.

Her ‘room’ had been carved out of the rock. It was ancient in its roughness. She could feel no brickwork or sign of habitation, it simply appeared as a side tunnel going nowhere. The flimsy wicker door was enforced with the threat of being lost in caves where, Gorby had said with his creepy smile, even those with a map had vanished. Rion was
in no doubt that it was best to stay where she was.

All she could do was sleep. But even then she was never sure if this was sleeping or not – all the young girl knew was that she was in the dark with her thoughts, with her dreams and nightmares. It was only when she coughed that Rion realised she was awake.

No one would find her here she thought unhappily.

Hearing the faintest of footsteps Rion felt her way to the front. As her visitors came closer it was apparent they were the twins – at least Gorby wasn’t with them. Rion quickly went to the back and lay down. Moments later flashlight bounced off the cell walls.

“She’s sleeping,” a voice she recognised as Beck’s whispered.

Senior’s voice was low but urgent, “We should get her some medicine.”

“Why?” the younger twin asked. “She’ll soon be in the Otherworld.”

“It’s not right. You know as well as I do it’s not right.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s too late now anyway.”

“But – ”

“But nothing. We’ve come this far they’re counting on us.”

“So is she. She didn’t tell Gorby about what happened in the vault did she?”

“So?”

“We owe her one.”

“We owe her nothing,” Beck said firmly. “We’re doing her a favour.”

“What is this other world?” Rion’s voice in the darkness caused the twins to jump.

Senior was the first to recover. “So you’re awake?” he said in his normal voice.

“Now I am, yes.” Rion covered her eyes to escape the blinding flashlight. “What is this other world?” she asked again.

“A place where you feel no pain,” Beck said.

So they’re going to give her more pills Rion thought, but she was past caring. “You mean like when you give me those drugs?”

“Sort of,” Senior said without conviction.

“It’s the place our ancestors the Celts believed was as real as the physical world and as ever present.”

“‘Our ancestors the Celts!’” Rion mimicked. “You don’t believe in all that. When the Earl’s coffin was rattling about it was all ‘Mary, Mother of God, Sweet Jesus,’ wasn’t it? I didn’t hear a single Odin or Thor amongst them.”

“Maybe – ” Beck thought for a second, “maybe because those are Norse Gods not Celtic.” He stopped talking upon hearing footsteps echo down the tunnel.

“Who is it?” Rion asked.

“Be quiet!” Senior hissed.

They watched as two figures approached. Carrying a lantern the taller one hugged his companion close to him.

“It’s Gorby.”

Rion went to the back of the chamber upon hearing the name of her original kidnapper. She hugged herself in an effort to calm her trembling body.

As Gorby came closer it was clear something was not quite right. “Who’s he with?” Beck asked puzzled.

The guard strode up, greeting them cheerfully, “Hello lads!” He shielded his companion from view. “You haven’t met Ann have you?”

Rion watched the eerily lit figures from the darkness at the back of the cave.

“Er, no, I don’t think so,” Senior held his hand out. “Hi
Ann, pleased to make your acq – ”

Gorby exploded in laugher, his guffaws ricocheting off the hard stone. He roughly pulled the unfortunate Ann from behind him to reveal a lifesize doll in bluechecked pinafore, pigtails and childishly made-up face.

“It’s Raggedy Ann – geddit?” again he bellowed with laughter. “Come on, it’s practice time.” Still chuckling he set off back the way he came. The twins followed, Senior casting a concerned glance back before he left.

Rion shook with fever and fear. She watched as the enormous shadows faded from view. “Nutters,” she mumbled to herself. “Complete nutters.”

A
lthough Jake and Nicky seemed unaffected by the night spent in the van, Ollie had a nasty crick in his neck. He also had a sharp pain darting along the left side of his body that appeared to be even worse than when he had awoken earlier.

“Not much here is there?” Nicky looked at the few houses lining the main road. “No sign of a shop and it looks like there’s only one pub.”

Within seconds they were in the countryside once more.

“Was that it? Was that Longfelloe?” Ollie asked bemused.

“I guess so.” Jake examined the road map on his knees, “You know if you turn back and take the – ” he moved his finger down the page, “ – third right the road should run along the canal. Let’s start there.”

Even motoring slowly they were through Longfelloe without catching their breath. Following the sign for Cheddington they soon found the Grand Union Canal beside them. Jake stared intently along its length.

“Spy any barges?” Nicky asked.

“Certainly not downstream, you can see quite a way, but perhaps – ” he looked to his right where the canal turned from the road and made its way through some fields and out of sight, “upstream. Pull up somewhere and we’ll walk.”

Ollie parked on the verge further on from the humpbacked bridge. “Don’t forget the binoculars – we can always pretend we’re birdwatchers.”

They followed the towpath under the low railway bridge and through the reeds. Opposite a small wood they could see the canal vanished right before reappearing on the other side of a headland.

“Maybe we got it wrong,” Ollie sighed. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Maybe the man I spoke to was feeding us misinformation, maybe they know we’re here and they’re miles away, maybe – ” Nicky’s musings were interrupted by Jake grabbing her arm.

“Bingo!” Jake put the binoculars up to his eyes. “Yes!” he said excitedly. “It must be them.”

They followed Jake’s gaze to see a small cottage some way above the canal. “But where are the boats?” Ollie asked.

“Take a look,” Jake handed the binocs to Ollie who squinted down the barrels.

“At what?”

“Further on from the cottage see anything? Look under the weeping willow.”

Ollie twisted the barrels, focusing and refocusing on the prows of the two longboats sticking out from the overhanging branches. “I can see – yes, it’s the Longfelloe!”

Nicky grabbed the binoculars from him, “My turn.”

“What do we do now?”

“Let’s watch and wait.”

They took turns scanning the cottage and surrounding countryside. “There’s been no movement at all has there?” Nicky said after fifteen minutes.

“They must’ve gone out.”

“Should we go and nose around?”

Jake looked up and down the water, “Why don’t I go? I mean, they know you both don’t they?”

Nicky didn’t want to miss out on anything. “Yeah, but – ”

“You could keep watch over here. If you see anyone just – ” Jake thought for a second. “Can you do this?” he cupped his hands, put his lips against his thumbs and blew – a very convincing owl sound followed.

“I used to be able to years ago.” Nicky fitted her hands together and blew to be met with a reasonable hooting.

“There you go! How about you Ol?”

“Of course!” Ollie said, keen not to be outdone. He tried as he remembered how but all that emerged was a formless huffing.

Nicky couldn’t keep from smirking.

Ollie again breathed hard into his clasped hands but to no avail.

“Well as long as one of you can do it.”

Nicky handed Jake the binoculars, “Take these, if you’re caught just say you’re from the Audubon Society come to examine their egrets.”

“Egrets eh?” Jake smiled quizzically and set off.

They watched until he went round the corner and vanished from sight. Within minutes Jake had appeared in the fields on the other side. He looked through the binoculars, in the manner of a bird enthusiast, before carrying on.

“He’s a natural,” Nicky smiled, “which is more than can be said for you.”

Ollie glared at her. He kept practising the owl sound whilst Nicky kept an eye on the cottage. Ollie tried and tried. He finally managed to coax a faint sound from his hands.

“There!” Ollie said proudly. He redoubled his efforts,
soon giving an imitation that would make any Red Indian proud. Hearing the distant call Jake looked up.

“Now look what you’ve done,” Nicky said crossly. “It’s ok,” she mouthed. “OK.”

“As if he’ll see that.”

Ollie waved his hands flatly in the manner of an umpire signalling four runs. He gave an exaggerated thumbs-up and was relieved when Jake did the same. They watched as Jake approached the pretty cottage with its wooden veranda. He peered through the lattice windows before vanishing round the back.

It was then Ollie noticed someone creep out from the weeping willow. “Who’s that?” he wondered.

Nicky knew the person’s identity in an instant. Even from this distance the height and stoop gave him away. “It’s Ted McGrath. Quick!” Nicky put her hands together and blew as hard as she could. To her horror not a peep emerged. She watched anxiously but Ted was still some way from the cottage. Again she tried but her throat had suddenly dried in panic.

Ollie was trying equally hard but without success. “We can do this!”

“Of course we can.”

Both increased their efforts.

“I can do this. I can do this,” Ollie chanted, cupping his hands and blowing for all he was worth. He soon felt lightheaded but refused to give up.

Nicky looked on jealously as a brief toot sprang into life then faded just as quickly. She glanced up upon hearing a faint rumbling and was confused to see there were no clouds, stormy or otherwise, in the midday skies.

By this time Ted was making his way along the path that led up to the house. After much puffing a stronger sound
came from Nicky’s hands only to be drowned out by the London to Liverpool express thundering by. Having mastered the technique Nicky and Ollie hooted and hooted to no avail.

Ted was now on the veranda. The last carriages of the train flashed by as Ollie, now very dizzy, continued trying to alert Jake.

With his hand on the door the tall man turned around, looking for what sounded like a pair of jousting owls. Not seeing any he opened the door and went in.

Redfaced, Nicky staggered in a circle before passing out. Ollie carried on for several loud hoots before he too fell to the ground, his body in full hyperventilation. By the time Nicky pulled him to his feet she could see Ted, and a second figure she was sure must be Mary, emerge from the cottage and drive off.

Seconds later Jake ran across the fields. “C’mon!” he shouted.

They needed no further urging. Ollie and Nicky tore down the towpath arriving at the van at the same time as Jake.

“We can probably still catch them!”

They hopped in the van, screeched round and headed towards Longfelloe.

“Which way?” Ollie asked as they sped through the tiny settlement.

“Straight on.”

Nicky caught a glimpse of a car disappearing round a bend, “No, there they are! Go right – right!”

Ollie just made the turn.

“Not too fast, we don’t want to alarm them,” Jake warned.

They stayed at a reasonable distance. “This is ridiculous,” Nicky said. “We’re the only vehicles on the road, they must know we’re following them.”

Feeling more Inspector Clouseau than Poirot Ollie edged the van closer. “What are we going to do anyway?”

“Overtake,” Jake said, “and cover your face!”

Ollie pulled past the Volvo, his hand to the side of his head as if shielding himself from the sun. Nicky lent down to hide herself.

“It’s not them!” Jake groaned upon seeing a young couple stare curiously back at him. “Damn, damn, double damn,” he smacked the dashboard. “Turn around!”

Ollie pulled in to let the maroon saloon pass. “We’ve lost them,” he turned to look at Jake who was gnashing his teeth. “Let’s get a bite to eat and a drink – maybe find someone to help us.”

The only pub in the small settlement was empty apart from an old man dribbling into his Guinness. They got three pints and the promise of a sandwich from the barman, a fresh faced young man, redheaded and eager to please who, despite the gravity of the situation, had Ollie’s mind wandering onto other, more pleasurable things.

“They nearly saw me you know,” Jake led the way to a table beside the fire. “I don’t think they did but it was close.”

“We tried warning you,” Nicky took a gulp from her beer, “but the sound just didn’t come and by the time it did AND the train had passed, Ted was almost in the house.”

“He appeared slightly confused as to the desperate birdcalls though,” Ollie said. “What did you see anyway?”

“Well, at first I thought the place was empty. All the rooms had dust sheets over the furniture and just looked very unlived in.”

“Maybe it’s just a holiday home,” Ollie suggested.

“Maybe. But in a small room at the front of the house I saw an old woman in a nursing cot being attended to by Mary.”

Nicky looked up. “An old woman?”

Jake nodded. “Mrs Dwight perhaps?”

“Gorby’s mum?” Ollie combed his fingers through his hair. “Well, it’s her house isn’t it?”

“Then Ted came in, Mary arranged the pillows around Mrs Dwight and they left.”

“Did they say anything?” Nicky asked.

“I thought I heard Mary say something like ‘Perfect, it must be perfect.’”

“Hmmm,” Ollie sat in thought. “But where did they go?”