Always: You'll Never Walk Alone (8 page)

Chapter Ten

I don’t know how long I lay there. I wasn’t sleeping, but I wasn’t conscious of time either. I knew if I didn’t move I would surely die, but I couldn’t move. I just lay curled up in a ball, sweating, shivering and way past caring.

I became aware of hot breath on my face. I ignored it. Maybe I’ll just die soon. My heart will stop beating. No one will know. No one will care. My brain will stop working. I’ll stop thinking. No more sweating. No more shivering. No more pain. No one will know. No one will care...

The hot breath on my face was still there. And then… Sarah was with me. We walked hand in hand across the fields. She turned to me and smiled, “I love you Stephen.”

The hot breath was still on my face. “I love you Stephen.”

I don’t want to open my eyes… “I love you Stephen.”

NO! “Stephen…”

Hot breath.

“Stephen…”

“Sarah?” I opened my eyes.

The horse stared back at me.

“Where’s Sarah?”

The horse stared at me.

Where are we?

The horse stared at me.

Where did you go?

The horse stared at me… then nuzzled my face.

“Alright, I’m coming.” I pulled myself to my feet. The fog had lifted enough to see the cart, five feet behind me.

I hitched the horse and climbed back onto the cart. We started off again. I let the horse lead the way. I had no sense of where we were going as we travelled along the country roads. The fog thickened once more and the world continued to be silent. The only sounds were the horse’s hooves, and the wheels turning in the soft mud. I would sleep then wake to the same blanket of white. I finished the food that was left and slept again.

The blanket of white turned dark as we continued our journey through the night. My body ached and the sweat soaked my clothes.

The dark turned light. The horse had stopped, and was chewing at a bush. I didn’t know where I was, where I was going, or what I was doing. I was sitting on a cart surrounded by white clouds. Maybe I was dead. The horse continued chewing. Is this what death is like? What is that smell? How did I die? The horse looked back at me. Why does my body hurt so much if I’m dead?

And then, I saw a bright light. I think you’re supposed to go towards it. The horse went back to chewing the bush. I sat there. The light grew brighter… Maybe I’ll see my parents again. I sat there.

The clouds dissipated…

Before me was something I had never seen…

Water, as far as I could see…

Water, coming in waves and crashing against the land.

“Well ’ello, ’ello, what’s this, what’s this?”

“Looks like someone enjoying the view on a lovely morning.”

“Well, sure ’tis, sure ’tis.”

“He don’t look too ‘appy tho’ does ’e?”

“Well no, no, ‘e doesn’t, ‘e doesn’t.”

“D’you think ’e’s alive? ’E’s very still.”

“Maybe ’e’s sleeping, maybe ’e’s sleeping.”

“Why don’ you give ’im a poke?”

“A poke? A poke? Yeah tha’s it, tha’s it.”

I felt a bony finger poking my arm. I lifted my head to see the strangest couple I had ever encountered. They could have been anywhere from thirty to sixty. The man stood six feet tall, the woman no more than five. He was dressed in a ragged cloak over bright red breeches and a green and yellow shirt. His hair stood straight up, as if he’d just seen a ghost or something worse. She wore what may have been a wedding gown a long time ago. It was filthy, covered in food stains, mud stains, and what could have been fifty years’ worth of other assorted dirt. Her hair was an exact match to his.

“Well ’e’s alive.” She laughed.

“E is tha’, ’e is tha’. He laughed along with her.

Was I dreaming? It didn’t feel like I was dead.

“Are you real?” I asked

“Are we real? What sort of question is that?

“’Course we’s real, ’course we’s real.”

“D’ya think ’e’s ’right in the old noggin’? ’E looks wet, m’be ’is brain’s rusted.” They looked at each other and broke into laughter, which continued for a good five minutes.

“I’m sorry,” I said “But do you know where we are? I’m lost.”

“’E’s lost.”

“I think ’e’s more than lost, more than lost.”

“Well let’s see. This is the land. That’s the sea… We must be on the coast” and they broke out laughing again.

“The coast, the coast.”

“The coast? Are we in Cornwall?” My hopes rose.

“Would you like t’ be in Cornwall?”

“Yes. I have to get there as soon as possible.”

“Well you’re in luck… This isn’t Cornwall.”

She saw my disappointment, and quickly said, “We can take you there tho’, can’t we?”

“Oh yeah, oh yeah. We can take ’m to Cornwall, to Cornwall.”

I started coughing again. When I finally managed to stop my body started to shiver uncontrollably, and the sweat broke out again.

“The boy’s sick, the boy’s sick.”

The woman climbed up beside me and felt my head. “You’re in a bad way boy.” Reaching into a bag that appeared from somewhere, she took out some plants. “Eat this boy, ’n lay y’self down in the back. We’ll take you to Cornwall. C’mon Ceec we’re off to Cornwall.”

I climbed into the back as the man moved up next to the woman. He took the reins and whipped the horse. “Cornwall, Cornwall. Move it nag, move it.” And we took off at a gallop.

I passed in and out of consciousness for the rest of the day. The woman fed me more of the herbs and a bitter tasting tea whenever I opened my eyes. It was dark again when I finally woke up and became aware of my surroundings. We had stopped in a clearing in a forest. A fire was blazing in the centre. The couple were sitting, talking in the same strange manner that I’d heard them using before. I was still lying in the back of the cart. I sat up just as the woman turned towards me. “’E’s awake! ’Ow ye feelin’ sonny’?

The aches had almost disappeared and my mind had cleared, although I wasn’t quite sure how I’d got here. I told her I was feeling fine although I was very hungry.

“’Ungry is it? Well ’ow ’bout a nice bit o’ bunny?”

There was a rabbit roasting over the fire and the smell was so good, it almost made me faint. I told her that would be wonderful, and she turned to the man and told him to cut a piece off for me. “A piece o’ bunny, a piece o’ bunny? Comin’ up, comin’ up.” And he brought over a big chunk. I took it from him and almost dropped it. It was so hot it burned my fingers. “Now don’ you go frowin’ it ’way. We only just caught the bugger.”

I handled it gingerly. Then ate it. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten something so delicious. “Take it slow now ’fore ye make y’self sickly ag’in.”

I finished the piece and the man gave me another. I thanked him. When I finished eating, I introduced myself and asked who they were.

The woman pointed to the man and said “’e’s ’im”, and pointing to herself said, “I’m me.”

“Yes, but don’t you have names?”

“Oh it’s names you’re wanting. Very formal. Well ’e’s Lord Cecil.” He took a bow. “And I’m Lady Anne.” She curtsied. “If we ’ad any friends they’d call us Ceec ’n’ Annie. Would you like to be our friend?”

I told her I would, and she said “alright Ceec ’n’ Annie it ’tis. Pleased to make your’quaintance Stephen.”

We finished off the rabbit and fed the horse. Annie said I needed to get some sleep or I’d get sick again. So I lay down, wrapped the large coat around me and immediately fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning we were up before the sun. Ceec and Annie up front, me in the back. I asked them how far it was to Cornwall. They looked at each other, then Annie turned to me, “Well it’s a little way yet, we’re goin’ t’ stop in Salisbury first…”

“Salisbury! But I left Salisbury days ago. I don’t want to go back there.”

Annie looked at Ceec and then back to me. “Salisbury’s on our way, you must’ve been goin’ in the wrong direction.”

I was crushed! I was sure we were almost in Cornwall. Now I found out I’d wasted the last couple of days, going in the wrong direction.

“But… where are we now?”

“Well this is what they call the New Forest. Tho’ why it’s called new I don’ know, seems pretty old t’ me. When we met you, we were at Lymington.”

“Where’s Lymington? I thought we were almost in Cornwall.”

“Lymington’s south of Salisbury. You must’ve taken the wrong road. S’easy t’ do. One road looks much like anover. Don’ worry we’ll soon be back to Salisbury, then we’ll be ‘n Cornwall ’n no time.”

“But you don’t understand I can’t go back to Salisbury.”

“Hmm, got some trouble there eh? Don’ worry we’ll leave you outside then pick you up on our way out. We won’ be there long will we Ceec?

“No, no not long, not long. Just a few hours, a few hours.”

What choice did I have? I had no idea where we were, or how to get to Cornwall. I had to put my faith in Ceec and Annie, although I wasn’t sure if they could be trusted. What was to stop them taking the horse and cart and not coming back?

Would I ever get to Cornwall?

At least I felt healthy now. The herbs and tea Annie gave me had taken away all my symptoms. We’d just have to go to Salisbury then I’d hope for the best.

We continued our journey in silence. Occasionally Annie would jump from the moving cart and gather up plants from the side of the road. Then run to catch up and jump on again. I assumed these were the same plants she’d fed to me, since she stored them in the same bag.

It was evening before we reached Salisbury and we made camp not too far outside of the city. Ceec went out and set some traps while Annie lit a fire. In less than an hour Ceec returned with three rabbits over his shoulder. “Good hunting, good hunting”, as he skinned them and put one over the fire for dinner.

After we finished eating Annie told me to wait here. They would be back early in the morning. “Be ready to leave as soon as you see us comin’.” And they were off. Leaving me alone to wonder if this would be the last I would see of them, my horse, and my cart.

As they disappeared into the darkness, I lay down by the fire, looking up once more at the vast expanse of the heavens above me. I fell asleep thinking of Sarah.

Chapter Eleven

I was awoken the next morning by the shouts of Ceec and Annie. “Come on, come on. No time to waste, no time to waste. Wake up, wake up.” The cart was careening towards me. I stood up just as they pulled up next to me. “Jump in, jump in. We’re off t’ Cornwall, t’ Cornwall. Climbing onto the cart I was jolted off my feet as Ceec whipped the horse and we galloped off.

“What’s the rush?” I stammered.

“No time t’ waste.” Said Annie “Got t’ get t’ Cornwall.”

Turning to Ceec, they burst into gales of laughter. “Cornwall, Cornwall.” Laughed Ceec.

I’d never come across a couple who enjoyed each other so much and I soon found myself laughing along with them.

After travelling some distance Ceec slowed us down and I jumped from the cart to walk alongside. Annie seeing me walking jumped down and fell into step beside me. “So tell me Stephen why couldn’t you come ’t Salisbury wiv us? And why is it so important t’ get t’ Cornwall?”

I was unsure as to how much I should tell them. I still didn’t know if I could trust them. I turned towards her determined to evade her question, but as I looked into her eyes, they were so honest and filled with humour that I found myself telling her my whole story.

By the time I’d finished it was midday so we stopped for some lunch. Annie reached in to the cart and pulled out a chicken, some bread, tomatoes and three bottles of beer. Ceec started a fire and in no time at all we were sitting down to a lunchtime feast.

I asked where all the food came from.

Annie said, “There’re lots o’ generous people ’n Salisbury. Always willin’ t’ help the less fortunate.” And they both burst out laughing again.

“Very generous, very generous.”

We finished our lunch. Ceec said “Time t’ sleep, time t’ sleep.” And lay down with his arms around Annie. Within seconds, they were both asleep and snoring lightly.

I got up and explored our surroundings. In the distance, I could see a small town along the road we were travelling. The sun was warm on my face but when it slid behind a cloud, the breeze was cold against my skin. I walked to the top of a small rise and turning around all I could see was green in every direction, occasionally dotted with the white of grazing sheep. I was in awe of the beauty that surrounded me, and determined more than ever that once I rescued Sarah we would find a little cottage and live in the country together. I thought of us having children together and for the first time in a long while, I felt that silly little grin.

I strolled back to Ceec and Annie, arriving just as they were waking. The fire had burnt down and we cleaned up our picnic site and continued towards the town.

“Tha’s Shaftsbury ahead. We ‘ave some business there so we’ll drive right froo to t’other side and you can wait there. Then me ‘n Ceec’ll go back ‘n do our business. We’ll be back ‘fore it’s light, ‘n then we’ll be on our way again.”

I felt it was probably best not to ask what their business was, so we drove on ‘til we reached the edge of town.

“Now you lay down in the back, ‘n cover y’self wiv that old coat.”

I did as she said and we drove into the town. We hadn’t been in the town more than a few minutes when we came to a stop. I heard shouting and cursing, and lifted up the edge of the coat to see a flock of sheep surrounding us and blocking traffic in every direction. There was another cart up ahead, which had lost a wheel. The driver was standing by the cart and swearing at the wheel, the sheep and what appeared to be most of the town. Ceec pulled out another beer and he and Annie sat and watched the spectacle while sharing it. The other driver was trying to lift the cart, then pick up the wheel to replace it on the axle. But, with all the sheep pushing and shoving, every time he tried to lift the wheel a sheep would be standing in it. So he’d have to let the cart down clear the sheep away, then lift the cart again, only to find the sheep back in his wheel.

Ceec and Annie were having a fine time, making comments and taking bets as to how long it would be before he’d ever get it fixed.

“I says we’ll be ‘ere ‘til Easter.

“No, no, midsummer, midsummer, at least, at least.”

“That would be too baaad.”

“Well, well ewe would know, ewe would know.”

“Better not let ‘im ‘ear ewe talking like that, or ‘e’ll lambaste ewe.”

“What d’you get if you cross a sheep wiv a man leaping off a cliff?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. What d’you get if you cross a sheep wiv a man leaping off a cliff?”

“A wooly jumper.”

And they burst into uproarious laughter.

“Okay, okay, what d’you get if you cross a sheep dog wiv a daffodil?

“I don’t know, I don’t know. What d’you get if you cross a sheepdog wiv a daffodil?”

“A Collie flower.”

I thought they were going to fall off the cart, they were laughing so hard. The other driver saw them laughing, which only served to make him more upset, and he shouted at Ceec and Annie, shaking his fist and threatening bodily harm. Annie blew a raspberry at him and stuck out her tongue. He started towards us, but before he could take more than a couple of steps a constable pushed his way through the crowd and calmed down the situation. Under the orders of the constable, and with the help of two of the larger members of the crowd they soon had the wheel back on the cart and the roadblock cleared. We drove past the other cart, now off to the side of the road, Annie shouted out to the driver, “Wheel be seeing ewe.” And stuck out her tongue.

The driver went to come after her but, Ceec whipped the horse and we were away.

Continuing through the town we soon reached he far side. Coming to a clearing off to the side of the road about a mile out of town, we pulled off. Annie gave me some bread, vegetables and beer and they turned back towards the town.

“We won’t be long. Make y’self comfortable ‘n stay outta sight ‘til we get back.”

I watched their backs as they left, wondering who these two people were, and what was the business they had in these towns. Something told me it probably wasn’t completely legal. But, they were so much fun and after spending a few days with them I really didn’t want to continue on alone. So, I thought it best to keep quiet about the business and enjoy their company. I sat down ate the food and beer, and listened to the sounds of the animals coming out for their evening adventures.

How much longer was it going to take me to get to Cornwall? This trip was only supposed to take a few days. It had been weeks already and I still didn’t know how much longer it was going to be. Sarah probably thought I’d forgotten her. She was all alone. Who knew what she was going through? “Hold on Sarah. I will be there.”

When I woke up the next morning, Ceec and Annie were sleeping beside me. I had no idea when they’d arrived. I hadn’t heard a thing. My mouth was dry, so I walked over to the cart to see if there was something to drink. Rummaging around in the hay, I was shocked to find two sacks filled with wine glasses, silver candles, silver cutlery and pieces of jewellery. My worst fears confirmed, I quickly retied the sacks.

When I turned back, Annie was sitting up looking at me and smiling. “Good morning Stephen. We got back early. Hope we didn’t disturb you.”

“No, no I never even heard you. Did you get all your business done in Shaftsbury?”

“Oh yes. We ‘ad a very good night. Wake up Ceec.” She poked him. “Time for some breakfast, ‘n then we ‘ave t’ get Stephen on to Cornwall.”