by Gill Jepson
The three friends slipped behind the wall and into the passage which seemed to lead downwards. They lit a second candle and walked carefully onwards.
The way was dark, rocky and narrow in parts. The further they travelled the darker and steeper it became. They were all silent, partly from the deep concentration they needed to find their way and partly because they were unsure of what… or who lay ahead. The tunnel was quiet and became warmer the deeper they went. After a while they could make out a strange rushing sound, and little taps or knocks above them. At first they could not understand what it was and then Nate suddenly had a brainwave.
“Oh my God! I know what that is! It’s the sea! We’re under the bloody sea! It’s the water and the rocks moving above us!”
“We will drown and ne’er be found!” cried Dolly, panic stricken.
“No, we won’t! This tunnel has been here for… for centuries and it’s not even wet down here!” retorted Nate.
“I am sure we are safe, Dolly, as Nate says… the tunnel has been here many a long year,” added Tom kindly.
They continued on and the tunnel levelled out. They came to a fork and they moved into an area with huge wooden supports appearing at intervals along the way. It widened for a while and the sandy floor showed signs of footprints here and there were scattered tools and the detritus of labour. It was obvious that they had strayed into old mine workings, and from the appearance of them they had not been used for many years.
“I did hear tell that the old monks had labourers who mined the land for iron. ’Tis likely that these are their workings,” offered Tom thoughtfully.
“Wow! So that’s how the tunnel stories began! The miners must’ve dug it out for the monks. It can’t go that far though – they only had hand picks…” Nate said.
“And, pray, what else would a miner have but hand picks?” asked Tom.
“Machinery, drills!” Nate answered. “But… you won’t have seen anything like that yet… trust me – you wouldn’t believe it!”
“Aye, there is much thou sayest that I cannot believe or even understand!” laughed Tom.
Dolly sank to the floor, wearied from the journey. She removed her shoe and tipped out the sand and small stones which had accumulated there.
“I cannot walk a step further. I must take water, I am parched quite dry!” she sighed.
The boys sank to the floor gladly. Tom blew out one of the candles and took off the leather costrel he was carrying around his waist. They each took a drink and soon felt much better. They took out the map once more and tried to locate their whereabouts. The maze of tunnels was confusing once they were past the undersea section. However, they could see there was a way forward and hoped they were still going in the right direction, though being this deep underground it was hard to tell. When they had rested they collected their belongings and moved on. The tunnels narrowed and widened and at times were hard to move through. On more than one occasion they had to double back retracing their steps because the way was a dead end or blocked by fallen rock.
They had been walking for what seemed an age when they noticed ahead of them a pale yellow light, flickering and fading. They jumped back behind a rocky outcrop and crouched, whispering hurriedly.
“What is it? It could be your smugglers, Tom?” prompted Nate.
“It may be the daylight?” ventured Dolly optimistically.
“I think not, it looks like lanterns or candlelight to me,” Tom shook his head. “We cannot go back, but we must take care moving forward. I will go towards the light and see what dangers are ahead. Wait here with Dolly, Nate, and watch for my signal. Blow out the candles.”
He spoke with such authority that Nate did as he was told. He and Dolly watched Tom creep down the tunnel towards the light. He kept close to the wall and then slowly disappeared from view. The atmosphere was tense as they crouched, quietly waiting for Tom to return. The pair shot anxious glances at each other, both worried and concerned for their friend’s safekeeping.
Their thoughts were shattered by Tom’s sudden reappearance. He slid along the ground next to them, sending stones and dirt in every direction.
“’Tis them! Swarbrick and his gang, just ahead. They have much booty and contraband,” he whispered agitatedly.
“Well, you can’t nick ’em now, Tom! It’s too dangerous and we don’t know another way out!” hissed Nate.
Tom raised his eyebrows, “I conjecture that ‘nick’ means apprehend?”
Nate grinned and nodded.
“I am not so foolhardy as to risk Dolly’s and thy safety for a cache of tobacco and rum… but I will return, as is my duty, later. Meanwhile, we needs must travel around them without being seen; ’twill be difficult, but if we stay together we will succeed.”
The three of them crept down the passage the same way Tom had. As they turned the corner, the path fell away into a cavern where the smugglers were moving their plunder. On the far side of the poorly lit cave was another tunnel; the smugglers were carrying barrels and boxes into the cave. There were half a dozen of these ruffians, directed by Swarbrick who sat atop a barrel smoking a clay pipe and calling out gruff instructions.
Not for the first time since he had been in the eighteenth century Nate felt afraid. The talk of smugglers had seemed exciting before, but now, confronted with real, brutal men armed with knives and pistols, it did not seem so anymore.
On the right, nearest to Swarbrick, another passage entrance revealed itself. Tom signalled silently to them to follow. He crawled between rocks and boxes behind Swarbrick, towards the opening. The other two followed close behind, Dolly in between the boys. The opening was slightly behind him and the three would have to pass extremely close to escape down the other passage. Tom led them within a few feet of Swarbrick and they halted at the tunnel mouth. Tom went first, watching for the other men and making sure nobody was looking his way. He slipped into the tunnel and disappeared into the darkness. Nate was moist with sweat, he could hardly breathe he was so tense. Dolly was next and she looked as terrified as he felt. She lifted her skirts and made a run for the tunnel. She too vanished into shadows. It was his turn now. He froze as Swarbrick stood up and stretched. The man still had his back to him, but he was speaking to another smuggler who was now facing in his direction. His stomach churned and he wanted to run, but knew he would need to gauge his movements exactly to avoid being caught.
The two men were laughing and talking and Nate slowly moved towards the entrance. As he stretched, ready to run, a cry went up from the smuggler facing him. Nate stopped for a second and then ran for all he was worth into the tunnel. He crashed into Dolly, knocking her over. The two boys pulled her swiftly to her feet and dragged her headlong into the tunnel. They had no candlelight and could hardly see where they were going, but the noise of the pursuing smugglers urged them on. Dolly screamed as one of the men pulled her hair and tried to drag her back. Tom launched himself at the man and knocked him over, rolling him into the tunnel wall. The man lay inert on the floor and they ran on. Two more men scrambled towards them, but they were quicker and nimbler and raced onward into the darkness. Nate, who had run ahead, rolled a large rock into their path, to buy them a little time.
They finally reached a fork in the tunnel and sped along the left-hand side. They ran until their chests felt they would burst, but eventually, could hear their pursuers no longer.
They collapsed in the dark and all that could be heard was their heavy panting and an occasional sob from Dolly. The heat was oppressive and all felt in need of a drink. They silently supped from the flask.
“We are safe now!” said Tom “We must find our way out of here.”
“And how do you suggest we do that? I can’t remember which way to go from the map can you?” contradicted Nate.
“And we cannot go the way we came… how will we get home?” pleaded Dolly.
Tom was crestfallen. He had no answers and he now had to break the news that he had dropped the map and had no direc
tions to offer at all.
He decided to bluff and limit their panic.
“I know this is the way, I recall the direction – ’tis straight forward from here to the outside.”
He stood and relit the candle from his bag. The tunnel ahead was very narrow. They trudged their way along, the width narrowing as they went. The shaft became very oppressive and Nate began to feel claustrophobic. Soon they were bent double and within minutes the height of the tunnel had dropped so much that they were crawling on hands and knees.
“I like this not!” whimpered Dolly.
“That’s two of us then,” added Nate “Hey Tom! You sure this is the way?”
Tom did not answer. The candle went out and they were plunged into darkness again. They heard a rattling of stones and a thud, followed by a string of eighteenth-century curses.
Dolly squealed, as she too slipped down the sudden slope in the tunnel and landed heavily on top of Tom. Nate followed quickly and winded the other two.
When they had collected themselves Tom lit the candle and they could gain a better view of their location.
The tunnel had dropped some feet down and had opened up into an extinct mine working. It was at least encouraging that there was evidence that miners had been this way. They ate some bread and cheese which Tom had in his bag and finished the remainder of the water; then moved towards the only exit and followed it upwards. The temperature began to change, becoming a bit fresher and cooler. There was little room to manoeuvre and they walked in single file. The tunnel smelt dank and as they carried on upwards trickles of water ran down the walls. Soon they could feel a definite breeze on their faces and their steps quickened. The tunnel levelled off again and they found they were walking in little puddles of muddy water. The darkness was less dense and they passed a break in the wall. The hole led them towards daylight, so they stepped from their path and walked into the new tunnel.
This was lined with red sandstone bricks and the floor was clay and very wet. It was obvious that this was no mine tunnel but something more finely engineered. As they walked along, a shaft of light shone down, just ahead. They were now walking bent over because the height had reduced. They came to rest beneath a grille, similar to the one at the castle. Voices could be heard above.
They sounded like children. But they could take no risks and remained silent.
As the voices got clearer Nate looked puzzled. One voice seemed familiar.
“Something strange happened to us last night… there were weird creatures… and the monk… at our houses,” it said.
“It’s my sister! It’s Rebecca!” he hissed. “We are in my time! I’m BACK!”
The other two looked incredulously at him.
“I’ll shout her… she’ll help us!” he jumped up, banging his head on the tunnel roof.
A shadow fell across the grille. A figure came into view. He was dressed in a long white robe, with a black scapula over the top, tied with a rope belt.
Nate nearly fainted with shock. Tom and Dolly stood frozen with fear.
The monk smiled and raised a hand in benediction. He then placed a long index finger over his lips to silence them and shook his head.
He gestured them to continue along the tunnel.
They did so without question.
Tears prickled the back of Nate’s eyes, his comprehension confounded by this last turn. He knew where they were alright, they had reached the abbey! But why would a monk… in his own time… stop him from shouting Rebecca? Was he ever going to get out of this predicament?
They carried on until the culvert opened out into daylight. They were at the foot of Abbot’s Wood and it was sunny and warm. They looked a complete mess. Muddy, dishevelled and weary, they flopped on to the banking, under the trees. Nate didn’t know quite how to tell his companions that they were now in the twenty-first century. But for now they would rest and work out what to do next.
The warm sun made them drowsy and they fell asleep on the soft grass. When they awoke an hour had passed, but they felt much better. Nate cleared his throat and struggled to think what to do. Tom broke the silence instinctively.
“So, what dost thou think we should do now? For we are in thy time, I suspect?”
Dolly turned sharply when he spoke and shock spread across her face. She had never really believed that Nate was from a different time to her and Tom, and suggesting that they had travelled to the future was too much to bear. Panic rose in her chest and constricted her breathing, her eyes welled with tears and she began to sob. Tom put his arm around her and the three of them sat in silence.
Eventually Nate spoke.
“I’ve got an idea… but I don’t know if it will work…”
“Speak, for we need to consider some remedy to this situation,” answered Tom, his voice hollow.
“Well… you have to be brave… I know it’s scary… I felt the same in your time. You’re gonna see things which will be more than you can imagine and I guess you will be frightened, but trust me, you’ll be safe – promise!” Nate reassured them.
He jumped to his feet and walked behind the trees, leaving the two to come to terms with the situation. He delved into his pocket, where his Nokia mobile had been since he had been on the headland at Aldingham… weeks ago. He took it out and prayed that it had held its charge since he had turned it off the day he reached the eighteenth century. He held his breath as he watched it light up. He was relieved and worried all in the same moment. Now to make the call – but could he rely on Tom and Dolly to play their parts? The mobile rang and someone responded. A short conversation ensued and Nate smiled and turned the phone off again.
He warned the two young people not to fear what they saw, and to do as he did and keep conversation to a bare minimum. He led them through the woods and down the steps, across the road to the Abbey Mill. Luckily not many people were about so they could keep a low profile. Within minutes an old, battered white Ford Fiesta appeared over the hill, trance music booming through the open windows. It screeched to a halt next to them. Dolly looked ready to faint and even Tom was visibly shaken. Rob was at the wheel and he leaned over and yelled at them to get in. Nate bundled them into the back seat and kept his fingers crossed that they wouldn’t say much. He had no need to worry, both were too terrified to even move.
“You are seriously weird! What do you wanna do all this re-enactment stuff for?” he laughed.
“It’s to help people get the idea of the past,” lied Nate.
“All of you going then?” he said nodding to the others.
“Er yeah! They’re with me,” said Nate. “Did ya get the Maccies?”
“Doh! What do you think this is?” Rob said, lifting two brown bags from the well of the front seat as Nate got in. “And watch the drinks… don’t knock ’em over!” he instructed.
Nate kept them with him; he did not want to overburden Tom and Dolly too much with strange things. They sped off towards Yarlside at an alarming rate of knots, Rob keeping up speed to the beat of the music. A small whimper escaped from Dolly’s mouth. He glanced in the rear-view mirror at the two in the back.
“You’re all freaks! And do you have to look so filthy? I’m sure they had soap in the eighteenth century!” he chuckled.
“I wouldn’t bet on it Rob! But you wouldn’t know!”
“Anyway, you owe me for the McDonald’s and my petrol,” Rob insisted. “’You back tomorrow? Mum was asking… she said you’ve gotta tidy your room before school on Monday.”
Nate was surprised. They hadn’t missed him? He had been away weeks… but Rob was talking as though he had seen him yesterday.
“What day is it today?” He laughed nervously.
“Plonker! It’s Thursday… you dim or what?” retorted Rob.
“I forgot… it seems centuries since I was home,” he quipped, laughing inwardly at his joke.
“No, you’ve only been camping since Monday – but Mum wants you back Saturday,” added Rob with authority.
&nb
sp; The car drew to a halt at the car park next to the Concle. Nate got out and grabbed the bags of food and the drinks. The two reluctant passengers scrambled out of the back seat and stood on the gravel. Dolly dropped a small curtsey in thanks for the end of the journey and Rob shook his head in disbelief.
“Freaks!” he muttered as he pulled away and sped off down the road back to Barrow.
They followed Nate across the car park, past the Concle towards the beach. Dolly lingered, unable to comprehend how different her home now looked. They flopped silently on to the beach bank. Nate handed out the fast food packets and placed them into his companion’s hands. They both looked at it, unable to identify it as food.
“Eat!” commanded Nate, “It’s good… its bread and meat… and the thin things are fries… you know, potatoes!”
Silence.
“Go on, you’ve gotta keep your strength up!” he urged.
They peered closely at the burgers and Tom lifted the bun to expose the burger. He stabbed it with his finger and licked the ketchup. He winced and shuddered. Dolly sniffed the fries and gingerly took one in her fingers, raising it to her lips. She began eating. They slowly ate the food, grimacing and glancing at each other.
“Well? Do you like it then?” asked Nate anxiously.
“’Tis like no meat I have ever tasted. What creature does this come from?” questioned Tom.
“Aye! And this bread tastes like nought I have eaten…’tis limp and… urgh!” added Dolly with a shudder.
When it came to the coke this was slightly more successful. There was some difficulty getting them to use a straw, but once they dispensed with that and drank from the open cup they managed well.
“This ale doth tingle on the tongue! It doth taste most sweet,” giggled Dolly.
“Aye, ’tis strong and sweet to be sure, but it doth quench a thirst I declare!” rejoined Tom.
When they had done Nate collected the rubbish and placed it into a nearby bin.
