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Meanwhile Gardens:
An Urban Adventure
Written by Charlie Caselton
Chapter
126 - Come Alive
It was the first of a series of very cold mornings. Overnight
frost glistened on the cobbles and pavements making progress
along the Portobello a delicate affair.
The market echoed to the cries of street traders vying to
outdo each other in their quest for custom. "Come alive Portabella,
come alive!" cried one, his fleshy face red with cold. "Tree
buyers where are ya?" shouted another as his neighbour cackled
loudly, "Caulis are cheeeeap!"
Auntie Em slipped her arm through Ollie's. "There's something
positively Dickensian about this street isn't there?" She
said as they passed bundles of Christmas trees piled high
against the side of the road. "I half expect to see a sooty-faced
urchin in a doorway, cap in hand, going 'penny for the guy
guv?'"
"That would have been a couple of weeks ago Auntie Em."
"You know what I mean angel."
Ollie looked at the mounds of fruit and vegetables, at the
muffled and gloved traders - their breath coming out in thick
clouds - at the stalls stacked with oversized cards and cheap
wrapping paper. He knew exactly what she meant. "Who buys
their trees this early anyway?"
"Mind yer backs!" A man carrying a tray of steaming beetroot
dodged past them. He almost tripped over Hum who trotted close
to Ollie's side.
"Did you tell Gem about my overnight in hospital?"
"No sweetness. I thought it best not to."
"She's been very quiet recently."
Gemma's mood had not gone unnoticed by Auntie Em. "She's been
deeply upset about Rion, of course, but also this business
at work..." Emma sighed. She was sure there was more to it
than that but couldn't figure out what.
"You mean Edwin projectile vomiting over journalists?"
Auntie Em allowed herself a small laugh. "I would have loved
to have been there - although obviously not in the front row."
She added hurriedly. Whilst it felt cruel to take pleasure
in someone else's misfortunes Auntie Em indulged herself anyway.
"I gather he only got to 'Ladies and Gentlemen' before he
was brought to his knees."
The image had been one of the few things to raise people's
spirits recently.
"But how are you sweetness'?" Auntie Em rubbed the side of
Ollie's head. She could feel the nasty bump through her mittens.
"It's gone down alot don't you think?"
"No after effects?"
"Not that I can tell."
They fell silent as they turned into Golborne Road. It was
as if the closeness to the mews brought home the continuing
lack of progress in finding Rion.
"Oh Auntie Em," Ollie said frustrated. "She can't just have
vanished, she can't have!"
"And Neil wasn't much help?"
"Unfortunately to him she's just another teenage runaway.
The police haven't got the resources nor the necessary evidence
to proceed further although" he laughed bitterly, "by the
time they get the 'necessary evidence' it could be too late."
"We mustn't think that. We're her only family, we're all she's
got. She needs us to find her." Auntie Em squeezed his arm
tight. "What you're doing is very important."
"It's like she's just disappeared." Ollie said despondently.
"Nothing leads anywhere."
Approaching Cafe Feliz they could see that, even on such a
cold day, most of the pavement tables were occupied. "Come
for a coffee. I'm meeting Kanwar - we can sit outside with
the other hardy annuals and eat pastries 'til we burst."
"Not even custard tarts could charm me today." Ollie kissed
her on the cheek. "I've got to dash Auntie Em. Johnson's coming
round. He's probably there already."
Chapter
127 - FOLK!
Ollie jogged into the mews, Hum
at his heels, to find the silver Merc parked outside his house.
The lifestyle enhancer was talking to Nicky who stood in her
doorway opposite.
"And you're sure you don't have his number?" Ollie overheard
Johnson ask Nicky.
"No." She grumbled. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Come on - I gave you Angie's number when you needed it."
"Whose number are you trying to find Johnson?"
The handsome man turned, embarrassed. "Oh, it's nothing."
Nicky rolled her eyes at Ollie. "Is Jake still coming for
supper?"
"Yes."
"See you later then." Nicky returned to her studio.
"Whose number Johnson?"
"It's not important."
"Johnson!"
"Ok." He smiled sheepishly. "I was looking for a builder -
"
"Go to the Heath."
The lifestyle enhancer looked offended. "For some building
work."
Ollie didn't believe it for a second.
" - and was thinking of asking your friend - ?" Johnson fluttered
his hands as if having forgotten the name.
"Yes?" Ollie knew precisely who Johnson would be looking for.
"You know." Johnson did the fluttering thing with his hands
again. "Him." He said pointedly.
"You mean Wayne?"
Johnson clicked his fingers. "Yes!"
Ollie led the way into his workroom. "I'm not giving you Wayne's
number."
"But you said he did such good work and - "
"Johnson."
" - besides I wouldn't mind if he nabbed the odd objet d'art
- "
"Johnson!"
" - it would be cheaper than some of the rent I've paid for
in my life and - "
"Johnson, I haven't got his number and have no idea where
to get it." Ollie lied. He was sure Candida could get hold
of Wayne but there was no way he was going there.
The lifestyle enhancer couldn't hide his disappointment. "Oh."
He said gloomily.
"Besides I thought you were seeing Murray."
"I am but this would be for building work - honest."
Ollie looked at his friend but wasn't in the mood to take
it further. He moved over to the central workstation. "What
do you think?" Ollie pointed to the half-finished upside down
tables Johnson had commissioned. "Hopefully they'll be ready
before Christmas."
"No rush."
It was obvious Johnson was still peeved.
"Look mate I can't help with Wayne." Ollie put his arm around
Johnson's shoulder. "Want some tea?"
Johnson wasn't sure whether to sulk or not. "Any cakes?" He
asked sullenly.
"And spliff."
As they walked upstairs to the sitting room Ollie asked, "What
else is new?"
"I've been to see Angie. Edwin's stabilised but is being kept
in for at least another week." Johnson's sulk vanished at
the first chance to gossip. "You know what they're calling
him at Ultra?"
Ollie shook his head.
"Even Angie thought it was funny. " Johnson raised his eyebrows.
"Bush." He giggled. "Get it?"
Ollie didn't. He couldn't see the link between Sir Edwin Peters
and a group of terminally unfashionable British rockers. "As
in the band?" He asked doubtfully.
"No dumbo, as in the ex-president..Senior."
Ollie still didn't get it.
"Remember when George Bush went on a state visit to Japan
- or was it China? whatever, somewhere in the East where they
value manners - anyway he barfed all over his hosts at speechmaking
time. Remember?"
Ollie smiled. "Gem'll like that."
"This'll make you chuckle too." Johnson unrolled the magazine,
which Ollie could see was called FOLK! On the cover was a
picture of dancers in traditional garb. "It's one of Luca's
titles. Angie keeps it on her desk as aversion therapy - you
know if the subscriptions and advertising aren't great that's
where she'll slide to." Johnson flipped through the magazine
until he found the page he was looking for. "Look, isn't this
precious?"
The page was headlined 'Schism amongst the Morris'. Ollie
did a doubletake when he saw the picture underneath. The art
editor had arranged the photograph so that it appeared to
be ripped in two. On one side were a group of men dressed
all in white with red sashes around their waists. Facing them
were Gorby, the tweedy couple from the canal, alongwith a
couple of others Ollie didn't recognise.
"I mean what are they going to do - prance each other to death?"
Chapter
128 - Lock up your Daughters
The hour had passed pleasantly enough but Ollie was itching
for his guest to leave.
"It's Rion isn't it?" Johnson asked.
Ollie nodded.
"Still no news?"
"Not really." There was no way Ollie was going to get into
the whole catacombs thing - let alone the M4 mystery - the
drama of it all would keep Johnson there for days.
"I must say Angie seems to have cooled on that - still she
has enough on her plate at the moment." Johnson pulled on
his floorlength Ralph Lauren overcoat. "Phone me if you hear
from Wayne." He hugged Ollie. "Ciao for now."
As soon as he heard the Merc purr out of the mews Ollie called
FOLK! He was immediately put through to the journalist in
question. Ollie was relieved when a man answered in a voice
both friendly and helpful. He couldn't handle an aggressive
hard-nosed journalist at this time - but then, what would
hard-nosed journalists be doing working on a magazine like
FOLK! anyway?
Ollie got straight to the point. "It's about the article in
this month's issue."
"Which one?"
"'Schism amongst Dancers'?"
"Ah yes." The journalist paused for a second. "I had to ask
because I wrote more than several articles in the November
issue. In fact I practically wrote the whole damn thing singlehandedly."
The journalist gave a nervous laugh. "And I don't mean I wrote
it with one hand either!"
I wonder how many times you've said that Ollie thought. He
looked at the picture again. The caption confirmed the couple's
identity. "It's about Mary McGrath?"
"Ah Mary. One of the experts on the Morris. Her father was
king of the Morris Men of course."
"Is he still alive?"
"I wouldn't have thought so." The journalist said slowly.
"I know he had some illness. He hasn't been seen for years
anyway. They're traditionalists you know, sort of Morris Dancer
fundamentalists." The journalist gave his nervous little laugh
again. "That was the problem."
"How so?"
"Well, traditionalists want to keep the link to Mummers Plays
- "
"Mummers Plays?"
"Yes as they - "
"Wait a second." Ollie interrupted. "What exactly are Mummers
Plays?"
"Oh, ceremonial dramas typically involving death and resurrection.
The Morris used to be closely linked to them in ancient times
but that was when the dances were more - er - " The journalist
paused whilst searching for the right word. " - involved."
"Involved?"
"Yes, when they used sacrifices and things - goats, sheep,
white bulls, young girls.."
Ollie felt a pain as if a needle, sharp and cold, had been
jabbed through his heart. "Young girls?" He gasped, his chest
suddenly constricted.
The journalist gave what was now his annoying laugh. "Oh yes.
Lock up your daughters when the Morris come to town!"
Ollie put the phone down, the most awful thought numbing his
mind.
Chapter
129 - Spotted
Nicky rushed over as soon as she got Ollie's call. "It's the
McGraths!" She shrieked when she saw the picture.
"I told you."
Before Ollie could enlighten her about FOLK!, about Mummers
Plays and sacrifices, there was a pounding on the door.
Jake had arrived early. "I just saw them." He gasped as Nicky
let him in. He quickly moved past her and up the stairs.
"Saw who?" Nicky asked to his back.
Jake gave a quick wave to Ollie before flopping into one of
the straight-backed chairs. He collapsed forward onto the
table to catch his breath.
Nicky tried again. "Saw who?"
It took several seconds before Jake had recovered enough to
reply. "Them. On a boat."
"Who??" Nicky asked, exasperated at the vagueness of it all.
"The tweedy couple that run the cemetery."
"Ted and Mary?"
Jake nodded. "I was down at Heron Point having a spliff when
they chugged past."
Ollie smacked his fist into his palm. "And you're sure it
was them?"
"Positive. Isn't their boat called the Morrisco?"
Ollie whistled between his teeth. "But where are they going?
And how do we find out?"
"Wherever it is you can bet that Rion's there." Jake and Ollie
frowned in silence, their brows ruffled in concentration.
"For Heaven's sake," Nicky said. "why don't you just phone
the cemetery? You know, pretend to be someone?"
Ollie and Jake looked at Nicky, looked at each other then
looked back at Nicky.
"Oh no." She said.
"C'mon Nicks. I'm crap at lying, I get all tonguetwisted and
it just never works."
"Me too." Jake added. "I'm anything but convincing."
"But you know when I lie I have to be someone else and I'm
terrible at accents."
It was too late. Ollie was already thumbing through the phone
book. "Say it's about the boat or something, their mooring
rights, anything just use your imagination."
Nicky looked at her watch. It was 6.15. "There'll be no-one
there."
Ollie pressed the speaker button and dialled. "Just try.
After the third ring Nicky breathed out a sigh of relief.
"I told you so. I'll do it tomorrow - I swear."
"Shhhh." Ollie gestured for her to be quiet.
After six rings she got up from the table. "They must have
gone home. C'mon, who's going to - "
"Hello?" A woman's voice stopped Nicky in her tracks. She
whipped round.
Chapter
130 - Leading You Australiana
"Hello? Is anybody there?" The
voice asked again.
Nicky quickly sat down. "Er, hello, this is Rhona from Little
Venice - "
Jake tried not to cringe as Nicky spoke with an Australian
inflection, ending each phrase as if everything was a question.
" - could I please speak with Ted and Mary?"
"I'm sorry they're away. Can I help?"
Summoning all her knowledge gleaned from Australian soap operas
Nicky ploughed on. "Aw, jeez, you wouldn't know where I could
reach them do you?"
Ollie began scribbling something on the notepad.
"It's real important." Nicky continued. "Are they on the Morrisco?"
Ollie held up the notepad on which he had written 'Name of
Mr Dwight's boat?' Jake shrugged.
"Well, yes," The woman said, unsure how much information she
should give out. "they are in fact."
"Do you know where they'll be mooring? Will it be with Mr
Dwight?"
"Ah, you know Nigel?"
"Of course. He's a - " Nicky was stuck for words. " - a cobber."
This obviously wasn't the answer the woman at the other end
was expecting. "Excuse me?"
Nicky thought it best not to repeat her last sentence. She
looked at Ollie who pointed once more to the notepad. "Please
hold." Nicky pressed the mute button.
"What's Mr Dwight's boat called?" Jake asked.
"There's some literary connection," Nicky ground her teeth
furiously. "a famous book or something - "
"It's the Ivanhoe isn't it?" Ollie suggested.
"That's the one!" She flipped back to the speakerphone. "Is
Mr Dwight on the Ivanhoe?"
"Sorry?"
Nicky thought frantically back to that Halloween walk down
the canal. "I mean the Hiawatha? - his boat?"
There was silence for a second. "Do you mean the Longfelloe?"
"That'd be right." Nicky corrected.
"They'll be moored outside his mother's as always. Who did
you say you were again?"
Ollie pulled a finger over his throat. Nicky nodded.
"You've been beaut." Nicky put the phone down and heaved a
sigh of relief.
"Australian?" Jake asked.
"I can't help it. My Scottish is even worse." She shrugged
her shoulders. "It just takes over - sort of a defence mechanism
against lying I guess."
"Longfellow. Longfellow." Ollie muttered. He paced back and
forth. "Now why - " He took a deep breath. "Back in a sec."
He took the stairs in two leaps and ran out to the mews.
Moments later he was back, in his hands the Road Map of Great
Britain. "I was doing some research on where the canal went."
Ollie muttered, searching frantically through the index. "Aha!"
He grinned. "17 SP9 416." He quickly found page 17, all the
while chanting. "SP9 416 SP9 416."
Ollie moved his fingers along the grid until they met. "Longfelloe!"
He said triumphantly.
Nicky and Jake looked over his shoulder to see him pointing
to a speck on the map.
"And look." Ollie traced a thin blue line that ran past the
tiny settlement. "Any guesses?"
"The Grand Union Canal!" Nicky and Jake said in unison.
Ollie nodded. "Let's go."
"Now? Shouldn't we wait 'til morning?" Nicky asked.
"We need to go tonight." Jake said firmly.
"Wouldn't it be better to go when it's daylight?"
Her reasoning was cut short by the phone. Ollie answered it
before it could ring again. "Hello?" After a series of monosyllabic
replies he put the phone down. "That was Tanya. Rion's friend
from Bridlington."
"The psychic one?"
Ollie nodded, his face ashen.
"What is it?" Nicky asked concerned.
"Tanya just sounded really worried. Rion's 'pulse', as she
puts it, is getting fainter and fainter. She says she can't
even feel it sometimes."
That did it for Nicky. "Let's get out of here."
Auntie Em opened the door to
find Ollie and the dog on her doorstep. "You'll look after
Hum won't you? His food's under the sink as always."
Auntie Em peered over his shoulder to see Jake and Nicky in
the van. "Sweetness?"
Ollie kissed her on the cheek. "We'll be back soon."
Before she could protest Ollie had jumped in beside his friends.
Auntie Em watched as they rumbled out of the mews leaving
her alone and none the wiser.
"Let's hope they know what they're doing." Emma leant down
to ruffle Hum's head. Or else, she thought unhappily, there
would only be her and Gem left. It would be like something
out of Agatha Christie.
And then there were two.
Chapter
131 - Raggedy Ann
Rion's cough was now a burning wheeze that
slid down her chest in a frightening echo of her previous
illness.
She could feel herself growing weaker. The weeks in captivity
were taking their toll. She was losing her will to live.
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 howled 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."
Chapter
132 - Under the Weeping Willow
Although 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 hump-backed
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 woman 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?"
"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."
Chapter
133 - Egret Examiners
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?"
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 light-headed
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 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 Rover, 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.
"What the hell are we going to do now?"
Log on next week for your next installment of Meanwhile
Gardens - an urban adventure
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