THE CLEARING (4 page)

Chapter Six

Riley

*

I stared at the middle-aged couple in front of us. Even after all that had happened I still had trouble believing they had lied and sent us into a trap. They just didn’t look the type. Showed how much I knew.

As he began talking, I wanted to tell Fred to shut up, get out and leave us alone. But of course I didn’t.

‘Now what we told you young 'uns weren't all a lie like you might of thought,’ Fred began. ‘We
have
got two children, same ages as you two and they
are
with Grey. But we didn't tell you everything. We've done some things we're ashamed of. We shouldn’t of done 'em and for that we're sorry.’

As he said sorry, he looked into my eyes. I stared back for a split second before looking away. But now I was becoming a little intrigued.

‘Our kids went missing nine years ago,’ he said. ‘Vanished without a trace. Then, about a year ago, we found out that Grey might have been the one who took ‘em. So Jess and me, we went to Salisbury to see about getting 'em back. We had no plan like, we just wanted to see if it were really true and to beg for 'em back.

‘Well we never met the big man himself, but a man from there called Mr Sadler, he said our kids wasn't there. We insisted. We said we'd met someone who used to be there and they knew for definite that our Lissy and Freddie Junior was there. We said we wasn't going nowhere till we had our kids back.

‘This Sadler man, he kind of smiled in a horrible way and I wanted to kill him, but Jess held me back and she spoke nice to him. She begged and said we'd do anything to get our babies back. Sadler made us sweat outside those gates for days, but just as we was giving up hope he comes back and makes us a proposition.

‘He tells us they’re growing their city bigger and they need more hands. Not old hands like ours, but young energetic kids. Well I know that’s cos kids is easier to brainwash and I want to punch his smarmy face as he's telling us, but I hold my fists down tight and I keep listening. He said if we can send him a hundred kids, we can have our two back. Now Jess and I think he's joking or sommat. I mean, a hundred kids? What's he on?

‘He said it would be easy. There's loads of orphans out there living rough with no sorta life. Just trying to survive, we'd be doing those kids a favour. We said if it were that easy, why didn't they do it thereselves. He said that they were doing all they could, but it wasn't enough. They're looking to get thousands. They're trying to take over the country.

‘Well Jess and I didn't feel too comfortable about it. We asked if there was another way, or could we move in too and stay in the Close with our kids. But Sadler laughed and he flat out refused. So we asked if we could at least see our kids and couldn't believe it when Sadler agreed. He brought our babies out, separately, to see us the next day.

‘They was grown up, teenagers, but you could tell it were definitely them. They looked well, but they didn’t look at us and we weren't allowed to talk to 'em. Can you imagine being so close, but not allowed to put your arms around them and feel your little 'uns after all them years? It was like torture.’

Jessie let out a sob and Fred took her hand.

‘We had no choice,’ he said. ‘We had to think about doing what the man asked.

‘We tried going to the army first and seeing if they’d help us, but they didn't wanna know. I tell you, that lot are as good as useless. We didn't have no one else to turn to, so we kidded ourselves that what we were doing weren't so bad. That the kids we sent would be better off there, looked after and fed proper, with kids their own ages; but we knew it was wrong.

‘We went home and then we went out trying to find children who was in a bad way, who wouldn't have made it without Grey's help. But we both felt sick at what we was doing. I kept seeing my kids' faces in my mind and it kept me going. I'm ashamed and I feel like I ain't going to heaven for what I done.

‘When you two turned up at our place and came up with the idea of rescuing Lissy and FJ, we wanted to go through with it. But we'd nearly reached our target of a hundred kids and it was too much of a risk to let you try out your plan when we knew our two was almost free anyway. So we added you to the list of one hundred and we told Sadler about your plan.’

My heart started racing as I discovered how they deceived us from the start. I felt like a gullible fool all over again. Luc’s fists were bunched. Pa’s chair scraped back a fraction, and I thought he was going to get up and start yelling. But no one said a word.

Jessie also stayed quiet. She’d stopped crying and her face showed no emotion. She looked vacant, like she wasn’t even listening. Fred continued.

‘We kept telling ourselves that we was doing it for our kids. They was relying on us. We couldn't just leave 'em there. We're their parents. We're supposed to be there for them. Who else, if not us?’

Luc cleared his throat.

‘Say for a moment that I believe you - and I’m not saying I do – that’s a horrible situation and I can kind of see why you did what you did.’

‘Well I can’t,’ Pa said. ‘There’s no excuse for it. None.’

‘You got kids?’ Fred asked Pa.

‘Riley is my daughter.’

‘Aah,’ Fred said. ‘Well in that case, I’m very sorry bout what happened. But wouldn’t you have done the same for your Riley? Wouldn’t you suffer eternal damnation if you could save your kids?’

Pa didn’t reply.

‘So have you got your children back now?’ I asked.

‘Well that's just it,’ Fred replied. ‘We went back there after we got ‘em their kids. And we asked for ours back. Another man comes out, and tells us that we done so well, they want another hundred kids from us before they let Liss and Freddie Junior out. We couldn't believe it. We done all that, more or less sold our souls to the devil, for nothing.

‘We can't carry on getting more kids for 'em. And anyway, I reckon they ain't never gonna let our kids go.’ Fred paused and darted a glance at us. Then he looked at Jessie. It seemed like he wanted to say something else, but he remained quiet.

I couldn't help but think they were telling the truth. When we had first met Fred and Jessie on their farm, near Salisbury, I had instantly liked them and now I remembered why: they had come across as genuine and warm, but with a sadness that couldn't easily be faked. That was why, later on, I found it so hard to believe they had betrayed us. But we now couldn't afford to take them at their word. Not after last time. It could have all been another elaborate ploy and James Grey was not a man I wanted to meet again.

Jessie said something, but her voice was so quiet I couldn’t hear her. She spoke again, slightly louder this time.

‘We've no right to ask, but we need your help.’

‘You're our only hope,’ Fred added.

Pa finally spoke. ‘That's all very well, Mr . . .’

‘Just call me Fred.’

‘That's all very well,’ Pa continued. ‘But, even if what you said is the truth, why the hell would we put ourselves at risk to help you and your family after what you did to Riley and Luc? In fact, give me one good reason why we shouldn't have you both shot. If you were in my position, would
you
trust you?’ Pa got to his feet and took a step closer to the couple.

‘Those is all fair questions and I'll answer them as best I can,’ Fred said. ‘We've reached the point where we really don't care what happens to us. Without our kids, what's the point of anything anymore? That's why we weren't really afraid to come to you, to ask for help. We're desperate.
But
, we’ve come across something you might want to hear. Something that puts you and your settlement in danger.’

‘I hope you're not threatening us.’ Pa stood in front of me, blocking my view of the couple.

‘No, no, you're misunderstanding me,’ Fred replied.

‘Well you'd better explain yourself more clearly.’

‘How much do you know about what's going on behind them walls in Salisbury?’ Fred said. ‘It ain't good. When we was last there, we got talking to some folk. You can't believe how many people are hanging around outside them walls now, for some reason or another. It seems like James Grey is preparing himself for sommat big. It’s part of the reason we thought you might help us. We’ve got information that is particularly pertaining to you, down here on the coast.’

‘Okay,’ Pa said. ‘Go on.’

‘Well, first I need an assurance from you.’

‘You're not in any position to ask for assurances,’ Luc said, standing up and moving next to Pa.

‘Let’s all sit back down, shall we,’ Roger Brennan said.

Pa nodded and returned to his seat. Luc did the same.

But Fred stood up. ‘My information is vital to all your safety and the only assurance I need is that you won’t hurt Jessie and that you’ll help us get our kids back.’

‘Sit down,’ Roger barked.

Fred flushed and sat back on the bed. Jessie squeezed his arm as he carried on talking.

‘If you agree to that, then I’ll tell you what you need to know.’

‘Getting your children back from Grey won’t be easy,’ Pa said. ‘And do you even known where they are? That place is huge. It’s a city inside a fortress.’

‘We think we know roughly where they are. But we still need your help,’ Fred said.

‘If your information’s good, we’ll try to help you formulate a plan,’ Pa said. ‘If your information’s worthless, you’ll stay locked up until we decide what to do with you.’

Fred and Jessie glanced at each other.

‘My information is solid,’ Fred said. ‘And we need more than a plan. We need to know you’ll do everything in your power to rescue our children.’

‘Very well. You have my word.’  Pa nodded his assent. ‘As long as your information is as good as you said it is. Now tell us what you know.’

Chapter Seven

Liss

*

Liss soon found her voice.

‘Where’s my brother?’ she asked.

‘Shh,’ the woman called Sarah replied. ‘Let’s get you all out of the truck and we can talk later.’

‘But my brother was taken. He’s called FJ, Freddie. He’s not hurt is he?’

‘Shh. I’m sure he’s just fine,’ Sarah said.

Then the other girls began to talk too. Asking questions about their families, asking where they were and saying they wanted to go home. Strangely, one girl with short hair started swearing and shouting at the others, telling them to shut up and stop being babies.

‘Enough!’ Sarah said and clapped her hands twice. She hadn’t exactly shouted, but she sounded strict and her voice filled the truck.

The girls fell silent.

‘Those who wish to leave this truck and eat tonight will stay quiet. Those who wish to remain tied up inside may do as they please.’

The little girl next to Liss gave a hiccupping sob and Liss shushed her, worried that Sarah would leave her in the vehicle.

‘Good,’ Sarah said as the girls fell silent. She set to work with a small knife, cutting through the girls’ wrist and ankle ties. ‘When you are unbound, you may stand outside the vehicle forming an orderly line,’ she said. ‘Please remain quiet unless I request otherwise.’

As Liss’s ties were cut, she tried to stretch her arms out in front of her, but they were so stiff it was virtually impossible and they hurt so bad. Her legs weren’t as sore, but her bottom had gone numb, full of pins and needles.

She climbed down from the truck and stood next to a tall girl who must have been about FJ’s age. It was dark out, but lanterns glowed and Liss could see that she was standing in a yard in front of a huge building of some kind. The yard was bordered by a long high wall and so there was nowhere to run even if she felt brave enough to try.

Liss suddenly caught sight of the man who had kidnapped her. He was leaving with the other man who had been talking to Sarah. She tried to see where they were going, but soon their figures melted into the darkness, the echoing sound of their footsteps receding.

She turned back to the truck. Sarah was still working her way through the ties. The small girl sat on the floor of the truck even though her ties had now been cut. She looked dazed. Liss turned and held her arms out to her and the girl stared for a moment before shuffling into them. Liss lifted her down, her stiff arms aching in protest. Once on the ground, the girl stuck her thumb in her mouth and held Liss’s hand.

‘I’m Liss,’ she hissed. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Annabelle. I want to go home. Where’s my mummy?’

‘Shh,’ Liss whispered. ‘We have to be quiet. Don’t worry. I’ll look after you.’

Annabelle stepped closer to Liss and gripped her hand tighter.

Sarah had now finished her task and had left the truck. She came and stood at the end of the line of girls. Another woman now appeared in front of them, older than Sarah. She didn’t really look at them, but instead began to count them. When she was done counting, she glared along the line.

‘My name is Leah,’ she said, ‘Follow me.’ She strode towards the building and the girls followed without hesitation. They all walked in single file except for Liss and Annabelle who held hands. Liss worried they would be told off, but Annabelle’s hand was clamped so firmly onto hers that she didn’t even try to let go.

Even though she was scared and tired, Liss was glad to be in the fresh air again. The smell and the heat and the discomfort of the truck had been awful. She kept glancing about in case she spotted FJ, but it was so dark she could only see a few yards ahead. She really wanted to ask someone about him again, but the thought of being sent back into the truck was enough to keep her quiet for now.

There weren’t as many girls as she had first thought. She did a quick head count. There were eight including her and Annabelle. In the truck, she was sure there had been more like twenty. But it had been dark.

Glancing down at Annabelle, she was relieved to see that the girl had stopped crying at last, even though her eyes and cheeks were still swollen and red. She was a pretty thing, her clothes new and smart and her hair all shining chestnut curls. Liss wondered how she had managed to be caught. Her beautiful clothes meant she must have come from a rich perimeter.

The older woman, Leah, had now stopped at a wooden door. She took out a key and slotted it into the lock, turning it once and pushing the door open.

‘Follow me inside,’ she called to the girls. ‘There are wash-hand basins to your right. Scrub your hands using the soap provided. I will be checking to see they are cleaned thoroughly.’

Liss waited in the queue, the sound of running water making her want to pee. As the queue moved along, she found herself inside a dimly lit hall with flickering wall lights. There was a row of wooden benches along the left side of the wall and above them hung a line of coats and hats on pegs.

Soon it was her turn at the sinks. There were three in a row attached to the wall. She let Annabelle go first and helped the girl wash her hands properly. The water was freezing and it was hard to get any lather out of the small cracked tablet of soap. There didn’t appear to be a hand towel, so Liss shook the drips off her hands and wiped them on her jeans. Annabelle wiped her own hands on the front of her dress.

Sarah followed them, washing her hands and giving them a quick smile.

The queue of girls now disappeared through a set of double glass doors. Liss hurried to catch up, dragging Annabelle along with her.

They now found themselves in a large hall which smelt of warm stale food. Women in aprons and white caps were wiping down long wooden trestle tables laid out in rows.

‘Eight more for supper!’ Leah called out to one of the women.

‘It’s too late for anything more than broth and bread,’ the woman called back.

‘Broth and bread is fine,’ Leah replied.

What Liss wouldn’t give to be at home with mum and dad and FJ right now. Sitting at the kitchen table, chatting about the farm and which animals had escaped or were ill or were about to have babies. Laughing with mum about what Hadley the goat had eaten or answering one of dad’s history quizzes. Would she ever see them again? A tear threatened to fall from her left eye but she managed to wipe it away before anyone saw.

‘Line up and hold out your hands,’ Leah said.

Liss looked to see what she should be doing, but, like her, the others were also looking around nervously. After a few seconds’ hesitation, they formed a raggedy line and held their hands out in front of them. Leah walked along the line inspecting their palms, the backs of their hands and their fingernails.

The tallest girl was sent back to wash her hands again. As she turned, she banged her leg on the table and her face flushed bright red. She scowled and marched across the floor, her bare feet slapping the tiled floor as she walked.

The rest of them sat at a clean trestle table next to a serving hatch in the wall. They waited in silence until the girl returned. She had to hold her hands out for inspection again. Leah still didn’t seem very happy at the state of the girl’s nails, but she bade her sit down.

‘Sarah, we are ready,’ Leah said.

Sarah bowed her head and began to speak:

‘
Father, pardon our sins and accept our thanks for these and all other blessings. We thank you for leading us here to him and for delivering more of your children unto his care. In Christ’s name we ask, Amen.’

After Sarah had spoken, one of the women in aprons came over to the table and placed bowls of soup and drinking cups before each girl. Then she returned with thick chunks of crusty bread. The woman poured water for each of them before placing the tin jug on the table.

‘Eat, children,’ Leah said. She had no food in front of her, just a cup of water.

Liss gulped down her water and then blew on her soup spoon before tasting the hot liquid. She motioned to Annabelle to do the same.

‘Quietly,’ Leah said. She frowned at two other girls who had begun slurping their soup down. ‘We eat quietly and slowly. We give thanks for every mouthful.’

The girls looked back at Leah but did as they were told. Liss made sure she made no sound as she ate; she did not want to attract any undue attention.

Once the girls had cleared their bowls and eaten their bread, they sat quietly waiting for whatever was to happen next. Liss was acutely aware of her own breathing and tried to make it quieter. But the more she tried to stifle it, the louder it sounded. She was sure everyone was looking at her.

Then she heard a whimper. She glanced down and saw that Annabelle’s face had turned red again and huge fat tears were rolling down her cheeks.

‘I want my mummy,’ the girl sobbed.

‘Shh, shhh,’ Liss soothed. She was terrified that Leah or Sarah would become cross if she carried on crying.

‘I want to go home!’ Annabelle cried. Her voice echoed across the dinner hall. ‘Mummy! Mu-u-um!’ She was screaming now, her face red and tear-streaked.

Leah stood and marched around to Annabelle who had now worked herself up into a total frenzy. Liss put her arms around Annabelle, but the younger girl was in such a state that she barely noticed.

‘Is this your sister?’ Leah asked.

Liss didn’t know what to say.

‘Well?’

‘Yes,’ Liss said. ‘Yes she is. She’s just tired. I’ll get her to be quiet.’

‘See that you do. We do not tolerate such brattish ungodly behaviour here. This is Grey’s Church, not some barbaric heathen den.’

Sarah rose from her chair. ‘Calm yourself, Leah. I shall show them to their room. They are tired that’s all.’

Leah flushed, but didn’t reply.

Sarah motioned to Liss to follow with Annabelle.

Liss ignored the wide eyes of the other girls. She took hold of Annabelle’s hand and had to almost drag her across the floor to keep up with Sarah who seemed to glide across the tiled floor.

‘Come on, Annabelle,’ Liss pleaded. ‘You can stop crying now. We’ll have a rest and you’ll feel better, I promise.’ But even Liss didn’t believe those words. In fact she felt like joining Annabelle in her tantrum. She wanted to scream for her mother and cry and wail, but she was seven years old, nearly eight. She had to be brave. Crying wouldn’t get them out of here. It would only make things worse.

Wherever this was and whatever these people wanted from her, she made a vow to herself there and then that she would not accept this fate. She would do whatever it took to get out of here, find her brother and go home to mum and dad. And she would take Annabelle with her.