by John Kerr
Nine hours later the end was near. It was raining again but he ignored it and pressed on. He had covered almost 190 kilometres in the last three days and nights but he knew he could have kept it up for a few days yet. Walking along the riverbank, with the rain hitting him from behind, soaking his back and legs, it still felt like a normal day out. The kilometres just kept coming and going. Soon he was over the crest of Snake Fell, but he couldn’t see home for the low cloud and fading light. His heart sank a little as he could usually see home and the church spire with the top half missing…that missing piece of structure could always lift his spirits. It always meant she was close by. Never mind, he thought, one last big effort and you’re there, mate. A big hot cup of tea and some home cooking. You couldn’t buy it. He couldn’t wait to soak in a steaming hot bath. Christ, he would probably fall asleep and drown.
Jake started down off the hillside and could see the lights of home. He often wondered about the people in their little houses, going about their lives, with their own troubles to worry about. Did they ever realise that they had people like him, whose job it had been to protect them and everything that they stood for? The western way of life. Protect them from anyone who wanted to come in and change it all, whether they were religious nuts or political oddballs. Jake had always been there to do whatever the government of the day had asked of him. It almost always meant someone would lose his life. It had been a very tough job and a tough way of life. He didn’t pick his targets; he didn’t even usually know what they had done. All he was told was the bare minimum… they had to be taken out. How it was carried out was always left up to Jake. He was always given whatever he asked for and he carried out his duty to the letter, no questions asked. How many had he killed? Too many. Had he enjoyed his job? No. But he had been convinced that it had had to be done. Bad people would be removed to uphold the right of good people to go about their normal lives without the fear of a terrorist from a far-away land coming here and killing or maiming them. No more and no less. But now… it was over. He had been retired for two years and he didn’t want to go back. He had done his duty; it was time for someone else to take over. Jake had been the best, the very best, but it would have destroyed him had he continued for much longer. So Jake had left the Army and the killing behind, and he was now a happy man with no worries and a very contented life. The bridge meant home was only 500 metres ahead of him. It was now 2 a.m. and night had followed day. Jake’s shoulders ached and the backs of his legs hurt like hell, but he soon forgot the pain as the clouds parted and let the light from the half-moon break through. Suddenly it was almost like daylight. He looked up into the night sky at the shining stars and recognised a few old friends. The night had always been his friend: for him, it was the best part of being out. Night-time is only daytime with the lights off. It was a saying he had used many times before, and it made him smile as he got to the gate at the bottom of the path which led up to the small two bedroomed house he rented with Vicky. He turned round and looked up towards the hills he had just left, standing motionless for a few minutes. Jake closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He took a deep breath and forced as much of the night air into his lungs as he could. It was as if he was trying to take the night inside with him. It would see him through till next time. Jake turned, walked up the path and stepped inside. After a quick shower, he slipped into bed beside his lover. He was as quiet as a mouse but as his head rested on the pillow he heard her whisper in the softest of voices.
‘You okay, babe?’
Jake closed his eyes and let out a long sigh as the sound of her voice floated around inside his head.
‘Yeah, I’m okay. You go back to sleep,’ he answered.
‘Night,’ she replied, before drifting back to sleep. Jake was completely drained, but as always he went over how it had gone and had a last look out of the window up at King’s Point. He was on a high every time he finished a walk and could never go straight to sleep. His brain was working overtime and his thoughts turned to the men in the old disused crofters’ cottage. The van had been parked at the back. Had it been put there so it was out of sight? Why would they want to put it out of sight? Who would they want to hide it from? Were they just out for a drive in the country or were they up to no good? Tomorrow, he thought, think about it tomorrow.
He kissed Vicky softly on the cheek and closed his eyes. The last thing he heard was her giving out the smallest of moans.
TWENTY
Driving into town during the day was always a chore. There was too much traffic and the hustle and bustle of shopping was never a favourite pastime of Jake’s. It was early Saturday afternoon, only six weeks till Christmas and the world seemed to be in a great rush to get somewhere right now. There was a light covering of snow all around. Although it wasn’t too cold, Jake and Vicky were well wrapped up, just in case. Vicky loved to shop… when they entered the biggest store in town, her eyes would light up. She had a list as long as her arm, and she was on a mission. She could also do without Jake getting in her way, so when he offered to leave her to it and meet her later in the pub she agreed, and he was off. Jake made his way through the crowded streets, past the town hall and down towards the market square which lay at the bottom of Blackie Street. He pulled his collar up round his neck as an icy blast of wind bit into his face. He was glad when he stepped into the square and his eyes fell on the Guinness sign above the pub door at the opposite side of the market. It was very busy but his place of sanctuary was now only 300 metres away.
‘What do you think,’ he asked himself, ‘round it or through it?’ Jake looked at the crowded market square and its hundreds of Christmas shoppers, all hungry for a bargain. Fuck it, Jake thought, let’s go round it; no need to antagonise some old granny by trying to push passed her when she’s looking to find wee George a nice Christmas present. Five minutes later he walked past the bank and into the pub. It was almost full, the T.V. was on and showing a programme no one was watching about the Masi Mara in Africa. The usual suspects propped up the bar and he found his place beneath the T.V. Jake didn’t say a word but a few minutes later a fresh pint of Guinness was placed before him. Jake looked up and into the face of the barman, who stood before him.
‘Winston you’re a life saver… Cheers mate,’ Jake said, as he picked up the glass and put it to his lips.
‘You look as though you could do with that,’ Winston said.
‘Been out shopping with Vicky then?’
‘Nightmare!…Absolute nightmare. I tried to follow her, but I only lasted a few minutes. She’s too fast for me and I couldn’t keep up,’ Jake said. A couple of locals standing close by nodded and laughed knowingly, and for the next couple of hours the drink flowed and the conversation was good. Jake liked good conversation, he always had, and in the pub everyone had a different opinion about everything: they usually got round to talking about it all… eventually. The pub was nice and cosy, thanks to the open fire burning in the fireplace. At this time of year Winston always made sure the pub stayed warm and would keep the bucket beside the fire filled with coal. Even the regulars would re-fill it if Winston found himself too busy. Vicky came through the front door and made straight for the source of the heat.
‘Cold, baby?’ asked Jake, rubbing the tops of her arms.
‘That’s not the word for it,’ she replied.
‘Drink?’
‘Small glass of red wine, please,’ answered Vicky. Jake looked towards Winston who handed Jake her drink. The conversation started again and sometime later the subject of the vast open plains of Africa came up. Bert, standing at the corner of the bar, turned to Jake and asked about the Masi Mara.
‘Have you not been there, Jake, when you were in the army?’
‘Yeah, I’ve been there a few times… It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s a massive place with literally thousands of different tribes, and possibly a few that haven’t even been discovered yet.’
‘I think there are a few of those tribes around
here,’ big Davie, the builder, chipped in. Everyone laughed. Jake turned to Vicky.
‘Right, sweetheart, you ready to go?’ he asked, as she emptied her glass and stretched out her hand.
‘Keys…I’ve only had a small glass of wine,’ she said.
‘You’re a better driver than me anyway,’ said Jake, dropping the car keys into her open palm. Jake turned to the crowded bar.
‘Before we go, I’ll give you a piece of information about the Masi Mara you can tell your grandchildren.’ He paused and looked at the expectant faces around him.
‘Once when I was in Africa we were helping the local indigenous population sink some new fresh-water wells. We had been in the area for about six months when we came across the Bushmen of the Masi Mara. They are one of the proudest races of people you could ever meet. Their customs and religious beliefs stretch back millennia. They are one of life’s true warrior tribes, but also so gentle and with a true feeling for the land and their surroundings that they would put even the most fanatical members of “Friends of the Earth” to shame.
‘Anyway, I came across one of their quirkiest customs one day when we had a visit from a tribesman from another village. He was on his own and had walked over 160 kilometres in three-and-a-half days. He had come to arrange a wedding between one of his tribe and one from the village. He stayed for approximately an hour-and-a-half and then without ceremony he left.’ Jake looked at his friends, just to make sure he still had their full attention and, after draining the last of his Guinness, he continued,
‘The warrior set out back across the Masi Mara on his long walk home. Although the villagers never lost sight of him for many kilometres into the distance, he never once turned and looked back…not once.’ Jake looked at his audience. Silence fell on those assembled. Winston, completely enthralled behind the bar, stopped drying the glass in his hand momentarily.
‘Why… why do they never look back?’
‘They consider it to be extremely bad luck; they had already said all there was to say, and then, because it was time to leave… it was time to leave. There was nothing more to be said,’ Jake said, before adding,
‘Time to go, I think.’
‘Yes, but the real question, Jake, is…’ said Winston.
‘Will you look back?’ All around erupted in loud laughter.
TWENTY-ONE
Vicky and Jake made their way to the door and out into the market square. It was getting dark and the snow had started to fall gently as Jake took Vicky’s shopping bag in one hand and threw his free arm around her shoulder. She snuggled into his warm, tight, tender grip. It was cold, but she could feel the heat coming from Jake’s body and into hers. The town was now winding down. The people who were not heading to the local pubs were on their way home, like Vicky and Jake. Loaded down with Christmas toys and goodies to be placed under a thousand Christmas trees. To be touched, lifted and shaken a hundred times before Christmas morning by small girls and boys, eager to tear them open to get at all the wonderful, and always, in their eyes, well-deserved, toys. Halfway up Blackie Street and coming towards them was a young woman about Vicky’s age. She was pushing a pram and glancing in the shop windows on her way home. As she passed, Jake found he could not keep his eyes from the pram. The small baby, about one-year-old, was so well wrapped up with a woolly hat and scarf that all that could be seen was its eyes and the top of its nose. As they passed the woman and her baby, Vicky and Jake looked at each other, and without a word being spoken both knew what each other was thinking…one day.
It was by now quite dark and the cold began to bite into exposed faces. Jake looked up into the night sky and the stars looked back at him. It was going to get a lot colder tonight, he thought, as they slowly made their way towards the car.
‘What are you thinking?’ asked Vicky, as she caught Jake as he peered up towards the heavens.
‘There’ll be no more snow tonight, that’s for sure,’ Jake replied.
‘Good, we can do without it,’ she said. As they approached the car there was a sudden and loud noise in the small alley at the side of the cinema. The cracking noise alerted Jake and in a split second he was staring into the black space at the far end of the alley. There was a scream and soon the sound of raised voices came out of the darkness. A large silver refuse bin rolled out and came to a stop only two metres from their feet. Jake tightened his grip on Vicky and quickened his pace. She followed automatically. The sound of fighting drifted out from the back of the alley and soon it was obvious there were a number of people involved. Breaking glass, a body thrown against an unmoving door, screaming and cursing. As they came level with the alley, Jake saw the unmistakable sight of a flashing blade in the darkness.
‘Knives,’ Jake said in a whisper that Vicky missed and he felt her tense as he picked up his pace again. Once again she followed and within seconds they had passed into the safety of the car park, beyond the noise and trouble. Jake turned his head side-on to listen for any following footsteps… he heard none.
Once inside the car and on their way home a relieved Vicky sighed.
‘This place is getting worse every day. You can’t walk anywhere now without getting involved in some sort of trouble.’ Jake turned and looked at her.
‘Boys will be boys,’ he said.
‘Yes, and then there’s bad boys,’ said Vicky. Jake turned his head and looked out the side window. He mouthed the words silently and without a sound…
‘Bad boys.’ The rest of the journey home was uneventful and they had a quiet evening in the house. Looking out the Christmas decorations and deciding what should go where and getting the tree ready for the lights. Later, putting their feet up in front of the T.V. with a cold beer was the order of the day, and it was a much-loved pastime for them both. Jake was standing at the window; the curtains were open and the blinds were up. He liked to look out into the night when there was a full moon. Everything seemed so bright when the stars twinkled in the darkness. Vicky moved towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She was slightly smaller than he was, but Jake wasn’t big, only five feet ten inches. She stared at Jake staring into the night. She wondered what he was thinking; she so much wanted to get inside his head but knew that he always kept something back. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew it was there… Jake moved Vicky and positioned her so that they were both looking out of the window. He put both arms round her shoulders and she felt safe. There was nothing to say; just being there was all they wanted… all they needed. The minutes passed and Vicky finally said,
‘You want to be out there, don’t you?’ Jake turned her slowly to face him and looked into her dark brown eyes. He flicked his eyes left and right and looked even deeper into the loveliest pair of eyes he had ever seen. After only a moment he closed his eyes, and very slowly shook his head. Jake opened his eyes and again looked into hers. He leaned forward and their lips touched… it was a slow, loving kiss… a kiss that he would never tire of and would always look forward to. She was complete perfection and he loved her with all his heart and soul.
Sunday lunchtime, there was frost on the ground and icicles hung from the guttering outside the bedroom window. The birds scratched on the ledge in search of some food and woke Jake from his sleep. He looked towards Vicky. She wasn’t there… It always pissed him off when he woke alone. Suddenly she walked into the room naked. She started doing the things that women do as soon as they get out of bed. Fuck knows what that was, he thought to himself, but it was an idiosyncrasy that intrigued him greatly. Jake watched her intently; he loved watching her when she didn’t know it. She looked so natural, and to him she was beauty itself. She glanced in the mirror and caught Jake looking at her as she was putting on her make-up. Not too much, just perfect, and it always took her all of five minutes.
‘What?’ she asked. Jake just shook his head and said nothing, as he looked at her looking at him. He felt a very sudden tenseness in the pit of his stomach… If he ever lost her…Was ever someh
ow without her…...Shit! He didn’t know what he would do. An almost overpowering feeling of foreboding flooded over him, and for the briefest of moments Jake felt so very much alone. After breakfast, halfway through the afternoon, found Vicky and Jake back in town. They stopped off at the garden centre. It was a dull day, not too cold. Jake’s friend Dominic ran the local flower shop and loved his garden, so it came as no surprise that he was there searching for a bargain in Jessop’s Garden Emporium at the back end of Blair Road Park. Jake was not an all-round gardener but he liked to tinker. It was good to have a friend like Dominic who was always there to provide advice. Someone who would keep him right about when to plant, what to plant and how to look after it all. The conversation eventually drifted to the finer points of horticulture, and Dominic asked if Jake was looking for anything in particular.
‘Not really, just passing the time, but I’ll tell you what I have been thinking about getting. Some of those small bonsai trees. I quite fancy a few in the garage. What do you think?’
‘They don’t have any here, but I can probably locate some for you, and I promise I won’t charge you too much,’ Dominic said with a wry smile.
‘That’ll be a first! I’ll come in and see you during the week, okay?’ Jake answered.
‘Alright, mate, see you then,’ Dominic said as he turned and made his way out. Jake’s eyes followed him for a few minutes but suddenly his attention was broken by the sound of wheels spinning on the loose gravel. Outside the greenhouse a van slid to a halt and its wheels locked, barely missing the front façade. The two men who climbed from the front of the vehicle were unknown to Jake, but the tall gangly young man who clambered out the back had a face he did know. He had seen him before but where…? He couldn’t place him and it pissed him off. The front passenger was smartly dressed in a suit and overcoat, with an expensive scarf round his neck. He looked to be in charge and led the other two into the building. They scurried in behind him, looking somehow out of place. They went straight to the counter and spoke to the young girl at the till. Jake watched with growing interest. She pointed to the store behind the shed at the rear and they were soon spraying stones everywhere as they drove their van round the back.
