by Benson, Tom
Imogen said, “The larger boats with cabins, and obviously, any boats requiring outboard motors would need fuel, so that removes them from our choice. I’d agree with Emma—there are several others.”
“I like fishing,” Jay-Dee said, “but I’ve never really been a boat person.”
“Nor me, mate,” Bill said, “so I think we’ll bow to the experience of these young ladies.”
“Look,” Emma said, “along to the left there—a couple of rowboats.”
The small team walked along the towpath to a mooring point were four boats were tied off.
“This one is about fourteen or fifteen feet,” Imogen said, “and unbelievably, oars are lying inside. The whole thing including the oars would need to be cleaned, but it’s a GRP hull and looks serviceable.”
“GRP?” Jay-Dee said.
“Glass-reinforced plastic,” Imogen said, pointing to a small metal plate. “That is, as opposed to fibreglass, which is fibre-reinforced plastic.”
Jay-Dee turned to Bill and raised his eyebrows in a humorous, ‘none-the-wiser’ expression.
Bill said, “There are several in mid-stream which look okay from here.”
“One or two of them might be serviceable,” Emma said, “but we’d have to pull them in and give them a detailed inspection.”
Imogen said, “Have you never tried sailing, Bill?”
“No, my main experience with small boats was inflatables with an outboard motor and kayaks. Any craft I used was to carry the equipment needed for a mission. My boat time was in the military.”
“How strange,” Emma said. “We can wander along a bit farther if you like and see what else is around or we can head back, now that we know there are possibilities.”
Bill said, “If you guys are happy to come back here sometime and have a look around that would be great.”
Imogen nodded. “Both Amber and Josh were sailing enthusiasts too back in our old life so we’ll tell them about what we’ve found and we’ll take it from there.”
Bill nodded his agreement. He was able to see a considerable distance in both directions along the river but knew if the suspicious rowing boat were in the vicinity, it would be well-hidden.
7. Homeward Bound
Thursday 11th August
Following an early breakfast, the team bound for Auchcarn packed their bergens and attached a few extras that they’d be taking back. The team was also able to carry slightly more because Helen was joining them for the return trip.
Among the extra equipment were thermal sleeping pouches, a lightweight igloo-style tent, two fishing rods with accessories, clothing, socks, and several pairs of hiking boots in different sizes for the benefit of others back at Auchcarn.
“I’ll be back in about three weeks,” Helen said, addressing her farmhouse family of ex-students and the three small children. As toddlers do, they took the parting and the promise in their stride.
Quincy winked and held Helen close. “We’ll be fine, and we’re looking forward to hearing about your adventures.”
“I feel as if I’m deserting you—”
“Get out of here,” Amber said, holding up one of the two laser rifles. “We’re not going to be in danger.”
Cherry said, “Remember, Josh, don’t be afraid of the sub-station, but respect the power.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Josh held up a sheet of paper. “We’ve got two copies of the Morse Code, so I’ll leave one down there when we next visit the place. We’ll be checking up on you guys in a few days, and we’ll work out a schedule for keeping in touch.”
Helen said, “I’ll get one of the team to help me send a message.”
“Bill,” Emma said, “take this woman away from here before the children see any of us crying.” She laughed and hugged her ex-teacher. “Enjoy the trip, Helen, make new friends, and make copious notes.” Copious notes were a suggestion that Helen had always advocated while teaching.
Each of the young farmhouse group hugged Helen and the members of the Auchcarn team.
Bill took point with Jay-Dee acting as Tail-end Charlie. Victoria, Cherry and Helen walked inline between the two men.
A brief stop was made a couple of miles away at the sub-station.
Cherry went inside to contact Auchcarn. She tripped-out the appropriate fuse three times to alert the duty person in the Control Room. In response, she received long and short flashes on the alarm light which told her Tracey was on shift.
Cherry sent, ‘OLH. LEAVING NOW. OLH’ Once again she used Operation Long Haul as her signature at the beginning and end of the message.
The response was: ‘TRACEY. LEAVING NOW. TRACEY’
A few minutes later, the group were on the way southwest in a reversal of the journey they’d made to reach Aviemore.
Victoria said, “We ought to make good time on this first leg of the trip since you guys are not carrying me in a makeshift stretcher this time.”
Jay-Dee laughed. “Maybe one of us should take your pack when we reach the river crossing tomorrow.”
“How wide was the crossing where you fell?” Helen said.
“It was only a few metres,” Victoria said, “but it was mainly my pride that was hurt because it was a simple loss of concentration.”
“And footing,” Jay-Dee quipped.
“Okay, okay.” Victoria laughed. “Just make sure it’s not you next time.”
They continued at a steady pace because they were on the A9, the once busy and popular tourist route north and south in the region. The tarmac wasn’t too overgrown on the main road, which made the early session pleasant for the hikers.
“Oh my,” Helen said, “over there on the left there’s a long section of railway track underwater.”
“I measured it on the map on the way up here,” Bill said. “It looks like about two miles. As we said a few days ago, it’s good to see so much land and forestry have survived, but the waterways have completely changed.”
“Talking of waterways—which loch is that up ahead on the left?”
“You wouldn’t recognise it now because it’s probably three times the size it used to be—Loch Alvie.”
“I can see it must have been swollen by the River Spey which has been nearby all the way from Aviemore.”
“The river is now like a main artery connecting several lochs, none of which at one time might have been too big.”
Helen had once been well-acquainted with the region’s layout. In the time that she’d been isolated with her students, the lie of the land had altered dramatically.
Two and half hours had passed when Victoria said, “Time to pause at our lay-by for a hot drink.”
Helen laughed. “I take it this is one of the places you stopped on the way north?”
“Yes,” Cherry said, dropping off her bergen to produce the camping kettle she’d salvaged from the outdoor shop. “This little gem will be easier than using mess tins.”
Jay-Dee and Victoria both handed over water bottles to fill the kettle while Bill and Helen dropped off their bergens and strolled forward a few paces.
Bill handed over his binoculars. “We’re on a reasonable ridge here for you to have a look around.”
“Thank you.” Helen teased the focus wheel as she gazed through the lenses and panned left to right. “I would have expected to see Kingussie by this time.”
Bill sighed. “Prepare yourself, Helen—look about three hundred metres out to your right.”
“That’s where I thought it ought to be, but it’s just—”
“Water,” Bill said. “Look across the surface of that water.”
“Oh … oh, Bill, is that the tip of a church spire?”
“Yes. They’re popular with the birds. Every town or village we’ve seen submerged has stood out because a bird is sitting quite still above the water surface.” He paused. “It’s sobering, isn’t it?”
“It is when I think of the number of times I drove up this way and stopped at one of the small villages for
a break.”
“Brew is ready,” Jay-Dee called, “and cheese sandwiches. This is even better than last time.”
Bill glanced over his shoulder and nodded. “Come on, Helen, let’s join the others. I know that what we see out here will be tough for you, but you’re like us—a survivor.”
The group marched on, refreshed after the short break and the welcome snack. Victoria took the lead. Bill and Helen were together again slightly farther back from the others, which was Bill’s intention.
“You don’t have to go into detail, Helen, but did you ever see anyone with what you referred to as the sickness?”
She hesitated. “In the early days, when we were living in the basement, I came upstairs alone into the house to check how things looked outside.” For a few steps, she stared ahead silently. “I saw two almost naked men … their skin was mainly a deep red— as if it had been scalded and there were large yellow blisters all over—”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to—”
“I do, Bill, I’ve never described it aloud.” She inhaled deeply. “They came through the wheat field, and it looked at first as if they were together but then they started fighting and every time they touched each other the … the blisters burst … and their screams were inhuman.” For ten minutes while they were out of hearing range of the others, Helen kept her voice low. She described how first one of the men fell, bleeding badly, and when he got up, he was chased by dogs and then it all became surreal. “The other man got halfway along the driveway, and he too was attacked, but he killed one dog and started to bite into its body. When the other animals attacked him, he didn’t seem to notice at first. I was horrified, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from what was going on.”
“Believe it or not, that’s a natural reaction to some things.”
“When the dogs began a feeding frenzy, and the screaming got louder, I remember I opened the front door. I didn’t know what I was going to do with no more than two shots from a shotgun. The screaming had stopped, but when one of the dogs looked back at me with a lump of something in its bloody jaws, I vomited over the front steps.”
“Those companions of yours downstairs would only have been sixteen—did you tell them anything?”
“I told them that there were a couple of very sick men outside fighting and that feral dogs were snarling and trying to attack them. I hoped some of the signs of the whole thing would be gone by the time my pupils came upstairs and looked outside.”
“Did they ever see anything?”
“No.” Helen was quiet for a moment. “When we all eventually came upstairs days later, I looked outside first, and there was no sign of any of the horror. It was almost like I’d had a waking nightmare. There were no bloodstains, no bones—nothing.”
“Thank you for telling me, and now, for your own peace of mind, I’d suggest that you don’t discuss it with anyone. Only talk about it again if you really feel the need, and may I suggest, do it with Sandy, Flint or me.”
“Thank you, Bill.”
They walked on in silence for a while longer, and Helen relaxed sufficiently to start taking in the scenery again. It was as they arrived on another high point in the road that Helen was to get another shock, but she was slightly better prepared.
Bill turned to Helen, who was walking along close to him. “Newtonmore,” he said, nodding towards a similar scene to Kingussie earlier.
She nodded acknowledgement and only gazed at the subterranean village for a moment before facing her front. “What will be our next checkpoint?”
“The A86 to Fort William will be seen on the right in a short while. From there it’s about two hours to Dalwhinnie.”
“Didn’t you guys stay in the railway station for two nights?”
“Yes, we wanted Victoria’s injured ankle to be ready for a full day walking, and the extra rest she had, worked well. It also allowed us to get out and have a good look around the village.”
“When I was chatting to Victoria and Cherry a couple of days ago they said that there were a lot of houses still in a good state of repair.”
“There are plenty, and we put it down to the local stone that had been used for building.”
“Will I have the opportunity to take a look around before we move on?”
“Of course.” He nodded. “One of us will be happy to go out with you this evening after we’ve eaten. It will still be light, so all you’ll have to worry about are the lions and the crocodiles.”
“Lions and—” She punched his arm, amidst laughter from Cherry and Victoria.
As they came over the crest of a hill while still on the main road, Bill paused and handed his binoculars to Helen. “Here, take a look ahead, along the railway track.”
“It doesn’t look waterlogged anywhere—there’s a big obstruction across the rails … and it looks like rocks or something.”
“Just opposite that point is where we cross over the embankment and head towards those rocks—it’s one of our markers. From there it ought to be about thirty or forty minutes along the railway track to Dalwhinnie Station.”
There was a spring in everybody’s step when the marker on the railway was clearly identified. They arrived at a small pile of rocks they’d left at the roadside to remind them where to climb over the embankment to reach the tracks. Half an hour passed before they were within sight of the station building, and a short while later, they were walking along the central platform.
“This is so strange,” Helen said as she walked beside Bill to the entrance.
Long padded seats were claimed as sleeping areas for later. The heavy bergens and other items were all laid on tables in the cafeteria.
Jay-Dee assumed the role of duty cook and unpacked enough food to produce four meals and hot drinks.
Bill was pleased to escort Cherry along the road to the sub-station compound so that she could send a brief Morse message to Auchcarn.
Helen pulled out the radio handset she’d brought along and switched it on. “Here’s hoping, eh?”
“Hello, Aviemore, this is Helen, over.”
“Helen, Imogen here … over.”
“That was quick,” Helen said. “We’ve arrived at Dalwhinnie. You’re loud and clear—how me, over.”
“There’s a bit of crackling, but you’re clear enough. Will you call again tomorrow, over.”
“Yes, I’ll switch off shortly to conserve power for tomorrow. I’ll call when we’re leaving and then each hour or so to see when we lose touch, over.”
“Okay, got that—best regards to the other guys, and keep safe … out.”
“Well,” Victoria said, “it looks like you’ve both mastered the simple voice procedure.”
Helen nodded. “The over and out used at the end of a statement makes sense. I’d never considered it before yesterday.” She switched off the handset and left it on her bergen.
“I’m going to sit outside for a while if you want to join me.”
“I will.”
The two women went out of the front doors and sat on a wooden bench which faced a small public garden in the middle of Perth Road; the approach to the station.
“Apart from being overgrown,” Helen said,” it all looks so normal here, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” Victoria said. “I think it unsettled us at first when we saw this place. It’s quaint and peaceful.”
Helen said, “If it wasn’t for the unkempt gardens, you might expect someone to walk out of one of the houses and say hello.”
The two women were silent for a few minutes, watching and listening to the birds, many of which had been exotic pets.
Victoria said, “When we were sitting around enjoying a meal one day back at your farmhouse, it occurred to me that a couple of our people might like to set up home here.”
Helen laughed. “I know what you mean—it’s so tranquil, and it’s a ready-made settlement.”
Victoria looked around. “If we were able to establish one of those relay things here I think
it would be nice for two or three couples to adopt houses and stay.”
“Bill mentioned that to me as we were walking along the tracks earlier.”
“Really—what did he say?”
“He said that now we had settlements at Auchcarn and Aviemore, it might be a good idea to have another here. It could only happen if there were a few people interested.”
“I wonder what brought that to mind for Bill.”
“The relaying equipment,” Helen said. “We were talking about re-siting it somewhere, and he said the only problem we might have would be the maintenance, or if there were an issue with the signal.” She smiled. “Two minutes later he was talking about bringing his partner to live here—is it Fiona?”
“Yes, Fiona is a lovely woman—for a dentist.”
Helen laughed. “When I found out that you were a botanist, Cherry was an engineer, and Jay-Dee was a nurse, it got me wondering how it must be in Auchcarn. All of you thrown together by fate and ending up as you have.”
“Hey,” Victoria said, “don’t forget, you and the guys back at the Eagle’s Nest are part of the story now.”
They chatted happily, watching the vast numbers of colourful birds which had once been at home in cages within the local houses. Budgies, parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and other species had survived the great outdoors and were thriving.
Bill and Cherry arrived back.
“All good,” Cherry said. “Message sent and a response sent back. We’ll send a brief reminder in the morning when we leave here.”
“Grub’s up, guys!” Jay-Dee called from the station entrance.
As they all sat around one large table enjoying their evening meal, Helen brought up the subject of people settling in Dalwhinnie. It proved to be a popular topic of conversation, and apart from Cherry and Bill, Jay-Dee expressed interest in the idea.
“I don’t know if Archie would be up for it,” Jay-Dee said, “but if he knew he’d be occupied helping others I’m sure he’d be happy enough.”
“What’s Archie’s profession?” Helen said, keen to learn about all of the Auchcarn inhabitants.
