Wee Renee looked up from her quilt at him. He stared at her. He held the gun tighter, swallowing hard. The only good thing was that they were so far away. She picked up her machete. They continued to fixate on each other until well after the howls stopped. The two of them didn’t really sleep much for the rest of the night.
Pat and Wee Renee were on the last watch and woke the others at about 7.30am. It was still not light, but would be soon. Pat peeped out of the tarpaulin to see what the weather was holding for them and announced it was still lightly snowing. After a quick breakfast of sandwiches, they pulled their belongings back into their backpacks and sledges. Took down the tarpaulins and ropes, packing them carefully, before carrying all the paraphenalia out of the clearing. By this time it was light. They were warm and refreshed, but by the time they were over the stone wall and onto the path it was certainly colder.
They chattered as they ambled back down the public footpath. No need to be quiet in the daylight. At the bottom of the track, where it joined the road, Liz got back on the sledge. This was proving to be less of a hindrance, more of a necessity. It was very useful knowing she could constantly watch out from the rear of them.
They stood for a moment, admiring the snowy hills that they could see for miles either way. An ocean of white. The air was cool and tingly. Like sucking a mint.
‘Shall we get off then?’ asked Wee Renee. Without a word, the plodding began. After about ten minutes of walking in silence, Wee Renee said that they should sing Christmas Carols to keep their spirits up and pass the time. As all of them were music lovers or musicians they decided they would. Some of them were even putting some of the harmonies in.
Yesterday, they had done the majority of the walk upwards and now they were walking across the top of the Pennines. It was mainly flat over these ridges and soon they would actually be dropping down, and so most of the hard work was done. Andy was a little worried that when they were facing downwards that they would actually have to hold the sledges in front of them to stop them careering off down the bank. But they would have to cross that bridge when they came to it.
It was incredibly beautiful up here and peaceful, as if the rest of the world was perfect and there was nothing to worry about. They stopped for a small breather. As the snow was very light they looked down and behind them, over to the village of Friarmere, which was slightly behind them now and wondered when they would see it again. What kind of condition would it be in for them to go back to anyway? It was a sobering thought, that they were its last hope. The band was not going to let down the people who remained in Friarmere.
Gary thought that, if they kept their pace up, that they might be in Melden before dark. Freddie said that they could all go to Our Doris's house where Brenda was. Wherever anyone else decided to go, he was going there to find Brenda. He knew they would all be welcome there too. Laura's uncle was Chairman of Melden Band and she knew where he kept his key. If they needed somewhere to go in desperation she knew that they could get in there, at least. But Melden bandroom had nowhere near the comfort that Friarmere bandroom had. Plus, even their bandroom did not offer beds, a bathroom and a full kitchen, like Our Doris’s house would. Not to mention a television, telephone and other methods of communication.
They walked on until Midday. The snow stopped again and they had a very good view. They sat on a wall and shared out the last of their food. Wee Renee took none as she said she knew she would get a stitch in her ribs, if she did.
‘We could almost be in the Swiss Alps, couldn’t we?’ She said.
‘It’s very picturesque. I’ve never been this far up here in the snow.’ Freddie stated.
‘The Swiss Alps?’ Liz said thoughtfully. ‘I wonder if that is what attracted him to this area?’
‘Maybe,’ Freddie replied, ‘or our isolation.’
‘Or perhaps it was all the hot babes in Friarmere Band. I mean, he is still after Me and Rene.’ Pat chuckled.
‘I reckon he’s a bit kinky then?’ Freddie giggled, winking at Pat. She burst out laughing, whacking him on the back.
‘I’ll give you that one, Freddie, you bugger.’
The stone county marker was set into the wall, carved over a hundred years ago. A line dividing the red and the white rose counties. Bob sat above the marker, one foot either side, happily eating the last of the braun sandwiches. He looked to the right over to Lancashire and Friarmere and then left into Yorkshire and Melden. The future.
Gary only allowed fifteen minutes break. It would be dark in less than four hours. They gathered themselves together, took their positions and set off. After about half an hour they started to drop down. Every step was much easier and they could tell that, at this pace, they were going to make it before dark. They had escaped. Norman Morgan couldn’t touch them again. They were home free.
What a strange bunch they looked. Dressed up for the weather with the three sledges being held at the front of them now, so they didn’t do what sledges were actually designed for. Liz had gotten off hers, so they only had the diminished provisions and blankets on there.
Tony was wearing his cowboy hat. Freddie wore his tweed cap, with a red scarf tied over it, to keep his ears warm. Gary had his omnipresent baseball cap on, but with a pair of ear warmers that Sue had offered him, over the top. They were fluffy and pink, with the legend, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun embroidered on the band. He kept telling himself, he must remember to take them off as soon as they got to Melden. Sue herself, was wearing her sequined beret, which she loved. Laura had on a purple fleece snood. Danny had the plainest black hat woolen hat over his head.
Pat was the tallest, as she was wearing snow boots with very thick soles and a large Russian fur hat. Beside Pat, there was someone quite small, walking with a pink flowery continental quilt wrapped around her. Just the blue bobble from her hat could be seen popping out the top. She was singing Deck The Halls in an unbelievably loud, shrill voice.
They started seeing the odd house from a distance. They were getting closer. In the daytime, this place was eerie, bleak and beautiful. But it was still dangerous. There were miles of moorland, with nothing, no markers so they could easily get lost. There were sheer drops, underground pools and caves. They were very lucky to have each other. One or two people on their own up here would be very vulnerable.
They had another quick stop. They were getting tired now. Three of them were over sixty years old and not made for wild camp outs, hikes and adventures in the snow. As soon as they stopped, everyone started to get cold again. Liz was getting exhausted and Andy said she had to get back on the sledge. Wee Renee had some pear drops and they all had a couple and set off.
Liz got under about three quilts. Between herself and the sledge, was a sleeping bag. She was getting colder. Knowing that she was generating hardly any heat for the quilts to keep in, she had a decision to make. Should she, exhausted, get up and walk. Or stay and try and keep warm. The violent shivers and teeth chattering decided for her. She had been on there around her about half an hour. She said she was rested now, she got off and walked for a while to get warm. But she was far from it. After five minutes she was exhausted again, so had to sit back on the sledge. She would carry on this vicious circle for the rest of the journey. Liz wanted a hot drink to put heat inside her to help her generate it herself. She knew what she actually needed, what her body was screaming for, was meat. That was never going to happen.
They started to drop down further. It was just after two. Now, they thought that they might just make it after dark. It was further than they thought or they were taking longer than they had estimated. Tiredness was really setting in. Laura wondered how many calories she had burned over the last couple of days. The mood was getting more serious. They didn’t sing anymore, or speak. Saving their breath and strength. They were thirsty and had finished all their sandwiches at the last stop. Fear looked at them from afar, it was in the distance but inched closer every minute as the day clicked on towards its close. They had to get ther
e soon. Surely, now that they were well away from Friarmere, there was no danger.
The Master woke at three. An hour before everyone else. Again he sat in the dark. He had been trying to smell the group. He wanted, no needed to smell them, even faintly. To know that they were still in this village, hiding out, thinking that they could conquer him. He had made sure the roads were blocked off. The Master did not want outside interference with this battle at the moment. This war could be won quite easily and he did not want the odds stacked against him at the moment. The time would come when he was ready for the outside world but it wasn’t yet.
When it was nearly dark he woke some of the others. Ones that would each have a group of less experienced vampires with them. He did not have to say what the primary objective was. They had tried several residences until just before daylight. He had stressed that he would not be giving up until he found them. Opening his front door, he sensed the first threads of night with his tongue. It took about five minutes for him to do this. Turning this way and that. The others waited, watching him.
‘I cannot sense them. They must have done a really good job of hiding themselves. Go into every house in this village, if they are not there use your judgement on which to turn and which I would like to eat. They can be brought back here, I can hold them as I have made preparations. I also have a couple of other facilities elsewhere.’
When all the other vampires were awake he told them that they could not feed until the band were found. He put them in groups of ten, each had a leader, which they must obey as if it was The Master. He kept some of them to go with him. Some were with him in an advisory capacity.
The Master’s group would be going to the houses of all the band that they had not already checked. Then the pub again and the bandroom just in case they had doubled back on them. Next, any other public buildings that the vampires could think of. The Master had not spoken to Michael since last night. Now he turned to him, his eyes bored right through him.
‘What do you think they have done? You say you know them better than anyone.’
‘I would say bandroom or pub again,’ Michael shrugged, ‘They are creatures of habit our Friarmere Band. All they like doing is banding and drinking and that is all they have in their life. If they have been going somewhere else, well, I have never heard of it.’
‘Have you ever thought that maybe they didn't invite you because they didn't like you.’
‘No, I have never thought of that, and I don’t think it’s a possibility. I do well in this village, I am well respected.’
‘Hmmmmm….’ interjected The Master. Michael could see what was starting to run through his mind and didn’t like it. Michael was becoming a liability and was no longer useful to him. His palms were dripping with sweat. Michael thought fast.
‘I know all the buildings, where public could gather. There is the garden centre, a couple of Churches, two schools and The Museum. I don't know of anywhere else, only a couple of other pubs and they never go in those ones, they don’t like the beer. There’s a few ideas for you Master. They have got to be in the village, somewhere haven't they. You can depend on me Master.’
The Master looked unconvinced but went with the plan anyway. He didn’t have any better ideas.
‘Right. I have another job for you later. Where you will be useful to me and my children.’
Michael let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. He would live another day. At least.
The vampire pack travelled as a whole from The Grange until they got to the main street. The Master signalled them to split into their groups and search Friarmere. They trickled outwards from this central point, spreading death and fear. Down the streets, they went, sniffing, tasting, looking for tracks. They covered the park, the canal, the public footpath, until it went onto the farmers land. They had never been here and the vampires could smell that.
The scourge went into each property, occasionally finding the odd person that was in a public building with some of their family. Sorting them. Again the pub was shut and locked and so was the bandroom. They could just about see their own tracks from last night and nothing else.
The Master had a fresh idea that they might be hiding out with someone who was supposed to be a spy for him, and that person was Maurice. There was only Maurice and Mark that had not joined his throng out of all the vampires.
The Master thought Maurice was a lonely old man that regretted his turning. He had a strong will to keep himself partly human and he was achieving this. The Master had to admit, he was impressive in his efforts.
As for Mark, he was just a maverick and seemed to like doing his own thing. A lone-hunter. He had made children before that acted like this, so he was not the first. Whereas The Master wasn't quite bothered about this, he also thought that Mark did not have his protection in the group. So for Mark’s safety, the safety of one of his new children, it would be better if Mark ran with the pack, so to speak.
Needless to say, he would visit Maurice’s and Mark’s house, to check for the group. They came to Mark’s first, who was not at home. He must be out on the hunt. The group had not been at Mark’s. He suspected Mark might have been quite a loner before, as this house only smelled of Mark. The Master could only smell Wayne here on the entrance.
Maurice however, was at home quite clearly as the television was on loudly and the lights were on.
Maurice was watching a television documentary about whales. The Master walked up his path and with one swift movement on Maurice’s door lock, opened his door. Maurice jumped up out of his chair, startled as to who it was, and became even more worried when he saw it was The Master. I am in for it, he thought.
‘Have you seen them?’ The Master asked sternly.
‘Who?’
‘Your friends. Your musical friends.’
‘I haven't seen any of the others for a few days now. Have you lost them?’ Maurice asked bemused.
‘I seem to have done,’ The Master replied sarcastically. Maurice looked down at his carpet for a few seconds. He didn’t really know how to help.
‘I am watching this documentary about whales. It's very good, but I had to dangle out of the window and knock the snow off my aerial with a yard brush,' he laughed. The Master didn’t find it funny.
‘Hmmmm…very interesting, Maurice. Enjoy it.’ Maurice grinned at him, thinking he had successfully changed the subject. The Master moved from the door and stood in between Maurice and the television. He glowered hotly at Maurice. His nostrils flared and he bared his teeth. Maurice sunk lower in his armchair. He wished his good vision hadn’t come back as he didn’t want to see this. It wasn’t the first time either in the last couple of days that he wished he was deaf too.
‘Do not even think of harbouring one of them. I can smell there is no one here but this does not mean there won't be in the future. You know what will happen if you do.’
‘I think I probably do,’ said Maurice quietly, trying to focus on the carpet again, ‘Do you want to stop for a drink or anything?’
‘No, I have to find them tonight, and as I can’t depend on you for any help, I can’t waste time.’
‘Right, okay I'll see you out then.’ He smiled like The Master was his best friend in the world and walked him to the door, then shut it behind him.
He slumped against the back of the door. That had been terribly tense and had taken a lot out of him. One thing he knew for certain was that vampires could still feel fear. He hoped that they had got away. Please let them be safe. Deep in thought, he wandered back to his chair and sat down. That could have gone a lot worse, he thought, and carried on watching the documentary about whales. He was not worried at all about having to resist human flesh for the foreseeable future. Over the last few weeks he had emptied his freezer of everything else and it was full to the top with liver. He would manage all winter, if that is what it took.
The snow started to get thicker. The Master could no longer smell them, whatsoever and there were no footp
rints to follow. He did not know where they were and could not guess. He had a tiny niggling thought that his plan might come unstuck.
The Master would find them, and he could outlast them in their mortal bodies. Him and his children would be out looking again every night until he found them. They had got to surface at some point. He was furious.
To make him feel better tonight, he wanted to take his anger out on someone and unfortunately that someone was going to be Michael Thompson. It annoyed Norman that Michael was quite nonplussed about it all and thought losing them didn't matter because there are so many other souls in Friarmere. He beckoned him over and Michael strolled towards him, a cheerful smile on his face.
‘You are no further help to me really, are you Michael?’
‘At this stage, I have to be honest and say, I have no idea where they are. I cannot think of anywhere else and aren’t prepared to bullshit you.’ Norman was quite shocked at Michael’s honesty. It diffused some of his anger. Micheal was so honest because he had been drinking whisky most of the night, out of his hip flask. He was trying to numb everything away and had done a pretty good job.
‘What else can you do, Michael?’ Norman looked down his nose at Michael who rubbed his chin and chuckled. He thought he would go for it.
‘I thought it was about time that I become the same as you. I have been a good servant and served my time. Other people have been turned straightaway, whether they like it or not and I know I will like it. So, can we get on with it?’
The Master laughed loudly. It was not a good laugh.
‘Turn you? I will never turn you. You will stay here in this mortal body and die tortured. You will grow old and see us stay young. Enjoy watching all this fun, when you can’t take part. I can stop you being with Kate or anyone else.’
‘Master, I have served my time. I have done everything for you. I have put myself in danger for you. I need you to do this,' Michael pleaded.
‘To be honest Michael, you aren't any use to me as a human or a vampire. I would keep your mouth shut or else you will end up neither one, very quickly. For the moment I will keep you as a human. I do not have one of those to walk in the daytime at the moment. Whilst you still can do that, you are of the smallest use to me.’
Sticky Valves: Book 1 of the Saddleworth Vampire Series Page 27
