by John Kerr
Had it seen him? Jake didn’t think so.
Had it heard him? Jake was positive that it had not.
What, or who, was it?
In an instant, Jake moved twenty-five metres forward and dropped to the ground behind a small grassy mound that gave him perfect cover. The darkness made him feel more at ease as he peered into the gloom and made a snap decision. He knew he had to get to the dead ground 200 metres directly ahead. Even as the thought entered his head, he was on the move. Steadily, he made his way down towards the burn and moments later he was under cover. Whatever or whoever it was could no longer see him, but that also meant Jake had temporarily lost sight of his target - not a good idea. Just above him was a small copse that would afford him cover and he quietly moved round the side and out of the dead ground. The houses were now directly in front of him. He glanced left and right: less than 150 metres away there was a human shape, slightly hunched over. It looked a ghostly figure in the darkness, slightly unsteady on its feet as it staggered along the edge of the burn. Jake knew he could be there in thirty seconds, but he also knew that after last night’s heavy rain the burn would be in spate and he could never cross it without making a great deal of noise. It was something he could ill-afford, as surprise had always been his greatest weapon.
Jake didn’t hesitate. He turned slightly left; knowing the fallen tree behind old Derek’s house would give him the means of crossing quickly. He was almost there, constantly watching the figure whose back was now towards him. He could see now that it was a man. The stream, the tree, two large steps; he was over. Jake turned right and was now closing in fast. A few large steps later he was on him: he didn’t slow… CRASH! Jake hit the man hard and forced his hand over the man’s mouth. They both fell forward and hit the soggy ground with a muffled thud. The man gave a small groan but little noise escaped through Jake’s fingers. He knew how to stop someone from crying out. They lay motionless for a few seconds while Jake glanced frantically all around to make sure they were completely on their own. All was quiet. Jake took a few deep breaths and his heart rate immediately fell back to normal. He pressed his mouth hard against the man’s ear and whispered,
‘Quiet… Don’t say a word. We are both going to stand up very slowly and very quietly.’ Jake lifted himself and the man upright. Christ, he was heavy.
‘Now, why don’t you tell me what you are doing creeping about at such an unearthly hour?’ commanded Jake.
‘Well, you know me, Jake, if I’m creeping about then I must be at work,’ the man replied, in a voice from Jake’s past… A voice he knew and remembered well.
FOURTEEN
‘Bob, you old arse, what the hell are you doing in this neck of the woods?’ Jake said, turning his old friend round just as the dawn began to throw light onto the valley floor.
‘I thought you were a bloody housebreaker. We’ve had more and more up here over the past few months. Christ I could have broken your neck and you would have known nothing about it.’
‘You,’ said Bob, shaking his head and smiling, ‘you were good in your day, son, but you know you weren’t that good! Christ, I taught you all you know and you still know fuck all. Anyway, I heard you long before you even crossed the burn,’ said Bob, trying to wind Jake up.
‘Bullshit! You heard sod all. You know old man it’s the hearing that goes first when you’re as old as you are, and God you must be 100 if you’re a day!’
‘Get it right, son. 104 last birthday,’ replied Bob and they laughed together. They turned and followed the small burn as it flowed towards the bridge that carried the road out of the village. Daylight came fast and the sounds of day grew louder as the birds sang their morning songs from all around.
‘So tell me,’ Jake said. ‘How is life in Military Intelligence? You still going after the bad guys? How is the team getting on? Hope they are working well without me!’ Jake enquired.
‘There’s a lot of work out there and not enough bodies to go round… don’t suppose you fancy doing a little bit of moonlighting do you?’ said Bob jokingly.
‘No chance… I’m a postman now and my little life couldn’t get any better.’
‘I heard about your job. One day you’re delivering body bags and the next you’re delivering mailbags, good work if you can get it.’
‘Believe me when I say one is a lot less stressful than the other.’
‘Wouldn’t know I’ve never delivered mailbags.’
‘There’s nothing could get me to leave here now.’ returned Jake with the slightest hint of contentment in his voice.
‘I sense you’re hiding something from me, Silverman. Come on, spit it out.’
‘Wait till you meet her.
‘So there’s a little lady involved here is there?’
‘Sure is and she’s very special. In fact, do you want to come home and have some breakfast with us? It’s not far.’
‘No, I’ve a little task to perform this morning, and I need to get it done before everyone is up and about.’
‘You’re not working in this area are you?’
‘It’s not the target area but I’m checking something out.’
‘I wouldn’t have thought there would be anything happening up here.’
‘Well, that’s what I’m here to find out. Nothing concrete, but we’ve had some information and I’m going to do a little digging to see what I can turn up. You know this area is full of old abandoned dwellings and little nooks and crannies. And you know me if there is something and it needs to be found then I’ll sniff it out.’ said Bob.
‘Yeah well anyway watch yourself and keep your head down. And when you finished what you’re doing the Crown bar on the market square. We’re in there most nights so stick your head round the door and I’ll buy you a beer.’
‘Christ! Times have changed! Whoever she is, she must have made you a better man…you offering to buy a drink. The mind boggles!’ Bob said with a wry smile.
‘Told you, I’ve mellowed in my old age. I’m more laid-back and nothing gets me upset any more. Life is good and I’m having a great time.’
‘What a load of horse shit! I’ll have to meet the female who makes you spout such rubbish, she must be something special.’
‘Victoria and she’s an absolute beauty. She’s the one who keeps my feet firmly on the ground.’ They reached the bridge, climbed the small banking up onto the road where it crossed the burn, and swung left and out into the country.
‘Right, I go this way Bob. Now remember, we’ll see you soon, and yes, I will buy the drink - maybe even two.’
‘Yeah, right, mate. I’ll catch you guys soon.’ The two friends embraced, shook hands warmly and, as daylight broke fully, they parted. Jake watched as old Bob dropped over the other side of the road and out of sight. Now there goes a soldier and a half, Jake thought. Bob had been in the forces all his life and knew nothing else. He had seen and done things that would more than likely bring grown men to their knees.
FIFTEEN
Eight minutes later Jake was home. The house was now in full view and the light was on. It was a lovely place to live; he had lived there for eighteen months and felt completely at ease. Standing looking through the back window he could see the reason why, coming out through the kitchen and into the small lounge. There she was jet-black hair that always made him think of the night. Her skin was without blemish and she had a smile that lit up her whole face. Her eyes were the darkest brown he had ever seen.
That was the first thing that had struck him when they first met. How deep could brown eyes be? He couldn’t believe how lucky he was: she was all he needed, all he wanted and she was there for him, always. Vicky would worry about him constantly when he trekked about the hills on his own through the night… she told him often enough. Jake would hear her but he wouldn’t listen and she couldn’t figure out why. Jake removed the small silver heart from deep inside his pocket. How long he stared at it he didn’t know, but what he did know was that to Vicky it was his lucky c
harm. She had given it to him on their three-month anniversary and told him to keep it with him whenever he went out into the hills… just in case. She said it would always bring him back to her, always bring him home. What she didn’t know was that he kept it with him at all times. Jake knew she would never understand his history so he never told her. Sure, she knew he had been a soldier, she knew he had been in some sticky situations. Christ, she even knew he had killed people, but she didn’t know his real story, didn’t know what he had really done during his army career. And Jake wanted to make sure that she would never find out.
There she was, waiting for him to come home, as she always was, with his morning bath ready and breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Jake always got home at this time as she knew he would… his timing was as always perfect.
‘God, I love you so very much,’ Jake said quietly under his breath as he stood at the window, just watching her. He was transfixed and completely captivated by her beauty; she was his heartbeat, his soul and everything in-between. Jake never wanted to let her go, or be anywhere without her. He could achieve anything if she was at his side. There was nothing they couldn’t do as long they were together. He could hardly remember what life had been like without her. That was only two years ago, but it seemed like a lifetime; when all he had was his job with the post office as a postman, delivering letters in this village of Fenton. It seemed so calm and quiet after what he had been through. His life now was so different. Jake never thought he could be happy out of the forces. It had been all he had known all of his adult life. Then he met Victoria, a name he would soon shorten to Vicky. He always told her that it didn’t matter that he would never have the chance to win a Victoria Cross because she was his V.C. She gave Jake a new direction in life and took his mind from his dark past, a past that he tried very hard not to think about. It was something he could never tell her about… no matter what.
All she really knew about his past life was that he had been a soldier for eighteen years, had travelled the world and done some things that it was better that she knew little or nothing about. She had asked no questions and he had told her no lies. There had been times when he caught her looking at him as his mind had drifted back, but he couldn’t tell her. Christ, she hated violence and would always prefer to run rather than stand and fight. She was his little kitten, and he would protect her always. Jake couldn’t believe that anyone could mean so much to another human being, that someone could get under his skin and into his very soul. God, she took his very breath away. She could make him stagger simply by the way she would nibble her bottom lip…Fuck, it was the sexiest thing he had ever seen.
She was quite simply his whole life and she had promised that she would stay with him for at least the next thirty-five years. That would do… for a start. Jake watched her in silence as she prepared for him coming off the hill. Getting ready for her lover returning from a long and hard tab through the dark night, into her heart and into her arms where he always felt safe. Jake loved coming home. She kept the house perfect, she was almost overly house-proud. He couldn’t put an empty cup down before she had it washed, dried and put away as the last of the tea hit the bottom of his stomach. She fussed way too much, kept everything in order and had a routine for everything, a place for everything. Christ, she was better at admin than he was and he was ex-military! The village where they lived had been quite small although it had steadily spread eastward over the years to a few thousand people. They lived on the western edge, next to the countryside. It was easy for Jake to escape into his much-loved hills. To get away from it all overnight, and stretch his legs. He liked to keep his hand in, because you never knew when you might have to go back to work ………back to war.
Jake turned slowly and looked up towards King’s Point Mol, the first hill outside the village and the last one he almost always came down from. He always had the same sense of saying goodbye to an old friend whenever he finished a night’s walk, and even now he looked forward to next time he could escape to his hills. He let himself into the house, and the aroma of fresh food cooking hit him full in the face. Fuck! She can cook as well! Is there nothing my baby can’t do?
‘Is that you?’ she called.
‘No, it’s only me.’ He walked into the kitchen and took a long slow look at Victoria. She turned and looked straight into his eyes.
‘Honest question?’ he asked.
‘Honest answer,’ she said without a pause.
‘Love me?’
‘Always.’ Jake walked slowly towards her and pulled her to him. She came without resistance and they kissed as if it was their first…long and slow. It was the softest kiss he had ever had. Vicky was a good kisser…a very good kisser. That was why he would indulge himself whenever the opportunity presented itself. After a minute or so she pulled away and whispered softly into his ear.
‘You’re wet,’ she said, running her hands through his hair.
‘It was raining.’
‘Yes, but at least your skin is waterproof,’ she said, repeating what he had always told her.
‘Who told you that?’
‘An old soldier,’ she returned in a flash.
‘But they lie a lot.’
‘You don’t,’ Vicky replied.
‘Never,’ Jake said, with all the sincerity he could muster.
‘Was it bad up there?’ she asked.
‘It’s been worse,’ came the reply she knew was coming before he even said it.
‘Yeah, I knew you’d say that,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘Breakfast is almost ready. Go through and you can tell me all about it… how hard it was and how good you were.’ She gave a little smile and beckoned Jake to leave the kitchen and go into the sitting room. Entering the other room he started to remove his muddy boots.
‘Jake!’ she screamed, ‘not there!’
‘Sorry, forgot,’ he said in his best schoolboy voice. He quickly reversed and slipped out into the back yard to remove the offending boots. ‘You’re never going to believe this, but I came across an old army buddy coming off the hill. We had a little bit of a chat, and he’s going to meet us in the pub later. You’ll like him, he’s a good old guy.’ They sat down to breakfast and she said no more about his dirty boots. Got away with it, he thought.
‘Okay, what’s happening this afternoon? You got anything exciting planned for us or do I just stay in bed all day?’ said Jake.
‘Nothing special. We can go to the market and do a bit of shopping, if you like.’
‘Yeah, that sounds good to me,’ he said. After they finished breakfast and Jake had had a quick bath, she cleared everything away and gave him the morning paper with his tea. She started cleaning as always. Jake loved watching her when she didn’t realise he was doing it. Later he moved over and sat down at the upright piano and began to play a few notes one after the other. Gradually the music grew more complicated and louder and louder until he was eventually totally engrossed in his playing. The sounds of Chopin soon filled the whole room. Vicky stopped what she was doing and sat down and listened. She loved listening to Jake play the piano. He could play with the softest of touches or hard and aggressive and he could make the music flow up and down and seemed to be able to make the music float through the air. He was a most accomplished player and could play up to concert standard. Although he couldn’t read music, once he heard a piece he found it very easy to find the correct notes on the keyboard.
Jake found it easy to be here. Victoria was very easy to be around and he always felt at ease in her company. Best of all, though, was that she helped him through the night in the worst of weathers. No matter how hard it was, no matter how bad he felt, he always knew she would be there at the end of it all. She gave him what seemed like an unlimited urge to go further and faster. He was almost unstoppable out there, because she was always with him one way or another. Jake knew he could never lie down and die no matter how bad he felt. What would happen to his most treasured possession, his life’s blood, h
is passion, if he did that? Jake felt good about the two of them, and he was utterly content. She was beautiful, she was funny and she was the most loving person he had ever met. He felt like he had won the lottery without even buying a ticket and he felt sure it would last forever and never end.
SIXTEEN
Friday 3rd November, 7 a.m.: a long four-day trek was just about to begin, the darkness was almost gone and the freshness in the air gripped him. It was a special time for Jake, he was about to take to his beloved hills, and he inhaled as much of the fresh morning air as his lungs would hold. His goodbyes to Vicky were said like always… very fast. Jake didn’t like to hang about too long whenever he had to leave her. To dwell too long gave him a feeling in his belly he didn’t like one little bit. He started at an easy pace and watched the valley floor as it gradually fell away. Looking skyward, his experience told him there would be no rain this day and hopefully through the night. The gradient of the hill grew steadily steeper and Jake automatically leaned forward. ’Let’s get a sweat up,’ he said to himself, as he felt his lungs go into overdrive.
