by Loui Downing
“This is Red 44JL X118P I hear you loud and clear. What’s your status?” replied an older voice, trying to get his breath back. Neville eyed the back of the radio device and lifted his foot off the brake as he passed the village and headed east towards London.
Neville followed the patrols communications which lead him to a deserted street. He lent forward to get a closer look at where the patrols may be, noticing an upwards torch light coming from a house on the hill at the very end of the street. Something was odd about the street, it was identical to the one behind him, the same houses, same cars outside, everything exactly the same. Neville edged the car forward to avoid alerting the patrols of his presence. The cold breath of Neville’s and the silent roar of the engine were the only noises around. He parked the car near a house at the end that had four candles in the window and horrid curtains. He was so nervous that the palms of his hands sweated continuously. The probability of him being caught was extremely high, which made him conscious of every move. Over ten patrols were tacitly positioned in front of the house, waiting for their instructions. A chubby man got out of an expensive shiny black car and was greeted by an older man in patrol uniform. Neville switched the volume up on the radio so he could listen in on their conversation.
“What’s the status Roger?” asked the chubby beige coated man; his face covered by a large black hat. Neville placed his ear closer to the speaker of the radio.
“The children are inside. We are waiting for final orders” replied the Scottish man, his beard fledged across all over his face. Neville thought of Gangloi had said to him as his words swirled around his mind. He knew that he had to enter that house and see his brother, but just how could that be possible what with the patrols surrounding the house. Gangloi’s words sank into the darkest crevices of Neville’s mind, where he tried to piece together what was going on. He yanked the handbrake up tightly and left the car ticking over as he held the device that Gangloi had given him in the shape of a torch as the words came back to him ‘…see the truth…see the truth…’ as he tried to locate some sort of activation button but could not find one. He pointed it towards a house and a blue light lit the dark skies, which alerted a patrol who turned around. Neville ducked under his steering wheel and aimed the torch down to the floor to hide the light; however, the light had gone out moments before. The patrol resumed his stance and forgot about what he had seen, Neville luckily escaping his stare. Neville looked at a small black marble strip on the handle of the torch, and letters began to form.
‘Truth of Existence’
Neville couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had pointed it at a house on the street and now it was telling him whether it was true. Neville was overly excited by what had happened and scrapped around for some paper and a pen within the car. He came across some in the glove compartment and started to write down something he has wanted to find out for years.
‘Are my parents alive?’
Neville waited anxiously as he aimed the truth torch at the piece of paper that was sat beside his feet on underneath the steering wheel. The blue light sprang to life and as soon as Neville lifted it away it was gone. He braced himself and looked at the marble strip. Waiting for that piece of information he thought would never be answered.
‘This lies in the hands of the beholder’
Neville lifted his fingers one by one from his face to look at the words written on the truth torch. He was outraged and shone the light frantically down towards the paper to check the answer.
‘The same question cannot be asked twice’
He waited again for the words to immerge out of the cloudy black marble strip. This time the letters were in red, which scared Neville as he remembered Gangloi and his requests to keep the truth torch safe.
The torch fell out of his hand as it sunk in to him that it rests in his hands now. He placed the torch on the dashboard and ran his hands through his hair. Desperate to uncover the truth of his family’s whereabouts and what happened in England all those years ago, affected him dearly. After travelling all this way and still nothing useful had materialised, he wondered what more he could do. For a moment he sat reminiscing about his childhood, the days with his mother and father saying good night, waving to him in a Robin Hood play at his school and when he was younger with his dad at the rugby training after school. All irreplaceable memories that Neville remembered like it was yesterday, the air, the atmosphere and the feeling was especially something he would treasure for a lifetime. However, from what he has encountered so far he is still to find out and by the looks of things can reveal the answer to his question.
There was a flash of light as the torch came to life, gleaming in full towards the house that the patrols were guarding. Neville panicked and hid as he heard some commotion coming from the house. He lifted his head slowly, like a bee trapped in honey. He saw three patrols all looking in his direction. He waited until they had averted their eyes and grabbed the truth torch and left the car for the bare icy road. With slips and slides of rubbery feet holds, he managed to reach a safe distance and catch his breath.
“Pssst” said a dainty voice coming from further along the road. Neville looked and saw nothing. The adrenaline from a few moments ago was rushing around him like an excited dog, his vision weakening as he felt faint for a split second. Something tapped Neville on his leg. He stood for a moment trying to balance at the same time he was looking for the nearest exit. He turned around with his fists aligned and ready to attack, but no one could be seen.
“I find tha very offensive!” said a cracked and clogged voice.
“Gangloi” said Neville, lowering his arms and greeting him with a tap on the shoulder.
“I thort you said he was nine feet tall and had arms the sizes of whales!” groaned another voice, speaking loudly. Neville gasped as an older creature immerged from behind Gangloi, covered in a cloak and holding a stick.
“This is Mert. He is a descendant of the great sea keeper who recently passed away. You might have to speak up he only has one ear.” introduced Gangloi, Mort came forward with his hand raised and head pointing to the floor. Neville recognised the withered smouldered hand from his travels as well as imagining someone with one ear as gruesome as Mert’s skin.
“I think we have already met” replied Neville aggressively.
“No?” said Gangloi, standing in front of Neville and Mert defensively.
“He has only just been released. That must mean…” said Gangloi, turning to face Mert.
“We must go…there is little time” replied Mert, retrieving a complex piece of gadgetry from his clock similar to a pocket watch.
“What’s wrong?” enquired Neville, unsure whether to go with these creatures.
“We Neville…have no part in this…it is in your hands now” replied Gangloi, looking back at Neville, Mert strolling off into the darkness and disappearing.
“Why do you keep saying that?” moaned Neville. He searched for Gangloi and Mert but all that was there was the lonely street as before. He glanced at his truth torch and noticed something remarkable.
‘Virtual Reality’
Neville repeated the words over and over to himself. In an instant boil of emotion, Neville pointed the truth torch towards the end of the street that he previously thought looked the same. The words took an age to form but shocked Neville as they appeared one by one.
‘Truth of Existence’
He had finally realised what he had to do and headed immediately over to the house in the other direction away from the patrols. He ran as fast as he could, tripping on the pavement without a care in the world. Neville put the brakes on and stopped a few yards from the gate.
“GREETINGS…OH MY, YOU ARE A SCRUFFY ONE!” said Gustos the giant gate. Neville hadn’t realised he had been spoken to. He looked back across the street at the patrols, only to realise he had forgotten the radio. The patrols were examining the car and they appeared to be urgently searching the area.
“OH, Y
OU WIAH THEM?” asked Gustos, unhooking his latch and propping himself on the bricks for a better look.
“Who are you?” replied Neville, afraid to look at Gustos.
“WOZA MADA, NEVER SEEN A GATE BEFORE” bounced Gustos, feeling insulted that he has never seen one of his kind before.
“Yeah, I see them all the time. Just not one that can talk!” jerked Neville in retaliation.
“HOW DARE YOU… YOU AVENT BIN LESTNEN PROPERLY…ALL THE SAME YOU KIND” snapped Gustos as he placed his soaking wet arms inwards and tapped his stomach panels impatiently.
“I need to enter the house” said Neville urgently scanning around the building, to his astonishment it was in good condition.
“HA, YOU CANNA DO THA MA FRIEND” added Gustos, shaking his head which resulted in tiny speckles of wood chippings going all over Neville’s clothes.
“AAH…SORI BOU THA, BIN APNIN RECEN’LY’ apologised Gustos, even though Neville didn’t show the slightest concern.
“I’ve need to see my Brother…Neville…is he in there?” asked Neville, as he showed him the family picture he kept in his back pocket.
“CANA JUS GO TELLIN WILLY NILLY NOW, WHO AR YOU?” spoke Gustos, raising his eyebrows with inquisition as he looked Neville up and down.
“I HAV TA SAY, YOU DONA LOOK LIKE FRIENDS OF THESE!” added Gustos as he examined the photo at close range.
“Look, I don’t have time for this! I and my brother are in danger, I need to see him at once, let me pass or I’ll…” demanded Neville, conscious of the patrols scowling behind him for any sign of his whereabouts.
“YOU’LL DO WA EXACTLY!” threw Gustos back at Neville, half smiling and feeling superior, after all he was the gate keeper; no one has ever outwitted him. Neville climbed up onto the bricks and leapt down onto the grass below.
“RIGHT THAT’S IT BOY!” said Gustos, full of rage. He cracked his knuckles together and cleared his throat. He looked in a tiny book wedged in his panel.
“STEALING GNOME…TRESPASS TORTURE…OBEY THE GATES OR SPEND LIFE IN GORTER” shouted Gustos, pointing his thin fingers at the grass and closing his eyes. Neville regained his balance for a moment but then he started to wobble as if he was dancing on bare foot on ice. The ground started to rumble as gnomes flew out from mud mounds in the grass, dressed in different costumes. Neville wasn’t at all put of by them, as he kicked one dressed as a ninja to one side. A gnome approached Neville wearing a cloak that draped across the grass.
“Please. We are highly trained in grass hopping. Obey Gustos’ decision and we will refrain from sending you to Gorter” spoke the gnome, waving his arms a lot.
“Yeah, and If you really think that a talking gate and bunch of gnome’s fit for a fancy dress party are going to stop me then you are very much mistaken” said Neville, demoralising them all. Gustos was observing back at the gate; one of his hinges completely rusted and unmoveable.
“Very well…your new life in the bowel movements of Gorter will be enjoyed I hope!” replied the hooded gnome laughing for an age.
Neville looked across the street and saw that the virtual representation of the house was fading. It wouldn’t be long before Neville would be spotted and caught; he was not ready for that yet. With all the courage built up inside him he dashed for the heavy chocolate door. Gnomes immerged by the dozen, attacking his legs and undoing his laces on his shoes. Tiny blades and teeth marks pinched Neville’s skin, weakening him. All of a sudden he felt cold, ice cold. The pain was unbearable; he could feel something rushing through him like a fish swimming downstream. His vision blurred and the voices sounded deep as if they were under water. He crashed to the floor, cutting his head on the doorstep; a speckle of blood trickled down the gems of stone and onto the path.
“EDWARD…EDWARD!!!” shouted Neville with his last surge of energy.
“Do you think he’s alright?” asked Francesca to Edward, as they both stood over Neville contemplating what to do with him.
“YOU KNOW THIS FELLA?!” asked Gustos, unimpressed.
“He’s with us. Leave him!” answered Edward before Francesca had time to answer.
“RIAH, PACK UP THEN” ordered Gustos to the gnomes. They retreated to their mud mounds looking gloomy. One of them reassuring another that they’ll get to attack again soon.
“Hear…help me lift him” said Edward; his voice as heavy as the weight he was lifting. Francesca grabbed his legs and they hurried him inside and placed him down on the floor, trying to be gentle but they could barely move him.
“If they come, tell them that we have headed north” shouted Edward as he closed the doors. The lights of the patrols could be seen in the distance not far away. Edward closed the door and locked it with the bolts that worked. Neville’s eyes opened casually and closed again.
“Who is he?” asked Francesca as Alexandra entered the room.
“I have no idea…He seems to know my name though!” concluded Edward.
“I leave you two alone for a second and you bring a stranger into the house” said Alexandra, looking outside at the flashing lights.
“I guess they are for him as well are they?” added Alexandra, sounding increasingly like a mother figure as the days passed by.
“He shouted Edward’s name outside the door” justified Francesca.
“So, anyone could have done that” argued Alexandra.
“Ed, what do you have to say on the matter?” questioned Alexandra, her arms folded as usual but to her surprise Edward wasn’t paying attention and was looking at a piece of paper.
“ED!” repeated Alexandra, steam coming out of her ears and her face warm enough to bathe in.
“I knew it, I knew he was alive!” replied Edward, smiling and shaking whilst looking at the photo of his family.
“This is what was in his pocket” said Edward, showing Francesca and Alexandra the family photo.
“Yes, that is very nice of you to be concerned Ed but I’m more concerned for our safety!” replied Alexandra, intolerant of their kind nature; it was something that really tormented her.
“This is my family photo!” said Edward in a happy gaze as he handed Alexandra the photo. Francesca was looking over at him and smiling. She came over to him and hugged him, which made Edward shed a few tears in the process. The photo fell from Edward’s hand and drifted to the dusty floorboards. There lay against all the dirt was a colourful family photo of Edward and Neville side by side.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A World Apart
“You can’t just bring anyone in here. It’s not some kind of play house you know!” spoke Agot, as he stood in the archway that led to the kitchen area of the sweet shop.
“Sorry Agot. We don’t think he is anyone after all” replied Francesca, looking inadvertently towards Edward.
“Well, get him up then! Show the man some manners!” added Agot, as he walked away to retrieve a bulb like glass from a cabinet. The group grabbed Neville by his shoes, legs and arms and carried him to a desk that was almost free of clutter.
“Here, this will help you….erm?” said Agot, approaching with a furry drink that bellowed with steam over the top. Alexandra gave a disgruntled look and was about to say something but was beaten.
“Neville. Our friend Edward’s brother” replied Francesca, noticing the words from here mouth flutter over his head as a blank look painted across his lime face.
“Ah. Well, anyway it’s bound to happen to anyone though isn’t it!” replied Agot as though Neville had contracted a deadly virus; confusing everyone, although no-one dared to correct him. Edward reached for the furry thick liquid and started to pour it into Neville’s partly open mouth. He spilt clumps of it, for his mouth was tightly held together in freight; moments before he collapsed. Neville’s facial muscles twitched as his brother poured the disgustingly smelly potion until it had all gone down his throat. Edward placed the glass down as everyone waited to see the results. After a few moments they doubted the potion and lo
oked at Agot disappointingly.
“I haven’t finished yet. God, these humans thinking they know it all, well if you asked me I’d sit them all down and give them all a clip around their ears. I don’t suppose you would know the potions of Ilan south would you!” muttered Agot sarcastically as he walked off to the kitchen again.
“Should we trust him?” asked Francesca to the group, looking scared at the thought of Neville not waking.
“He’s our only hope. I guess he is just a bit cranky from all those years writing riddles” replied Edward, chuckling. Agot stormed back into the room, raining on the laughter as he did.
“I think you’ll find that I am young for my age. I also enjoy riddling the like of you” replied Agot, hearing everything they had just said.
“You must hav-” said Francesca, as her lips trembled.
“Great hearin’ yeah you could say that!” replied Agot, angrily.
“Look can we stop arguing and just wake Neville up. We need to enter the secret door” spoke Alexandra, giving her orders that seemed to work for a moment or two. Agot was now carrying a bag as he placed it down on the wooden floors, sounding heavy as it crashed down. He bent down and picked out an item that took a while to find amongst all his things. To everyone’s surprise he withdrew a doll and a stone.
“Here, place that on his forehead!” said Agot, passing Francesca the stone that turned from white to green as he passed it to her.
“Oh, Capricorn I see!” added Agot, as he picked out another item that was a book the size of his hand.
“Yes, how did you know that!” replied Francesca, eagerly.
“Just the vibes I’m picking up off you I guess!” said Agot modestly. Alexandra didn’t look to elated by his sudden claims to be a magician. Francesca placed the stone in between Neville’s eyes as they all watched Agot. He hunted around in his pocket for a smaller stone and placed it on the centre of the doll. The group were staring intently, as Agot closed his eyes. He peeked out of the corner of his eye to see Alexandra watching him more closely than the others and frowning. He coughed as he touched the doll on its forehead.
