by A D Evans
‘Well Steff the word on the street in Possil is that nobody at all has seen him. We have tried everywhere. We had watched his sister’s house for about four weeks. Her and the man went on holiday to Blackpool for a weekend. We honestly thought, well if Lynch is alive this is where they will meet up. Not a sighting was reported. We had people following their every move. The only people they met were an old friend and his wife from Maryhill’
‘Well Peely my boy, we will have to keep our eyes peeled,’ laughed Steff Hamilton.
‘Aye, very funny Steff’.
‘The sister has a holiday home somewhere in the wilds. Do you think we should try to find out where? Wont do any harm to cover all the bases’
‘Aye, ok Steff. I will see what I can find out. I don’t think we will find him there though, cause they haven’t been away anywhere for a few weeks. How would he survive up there without support?’
‘Aye, that’s true but I would feel safer if we could check it out’
‘We will leave it until I come back my own holidays mate. I’m away next week to Florida’
‘Ok Peely, no sweat to check it. I doubt very much if he would be anywhere as remote as that cottage appears to be’
‘He never did like the wide open spaces I’m told’
‘That’s true Peely, he hated the countryside. He was always saying it smelled like shit’
‘Aye, it does too, Steff,’ He laughed.
SEVENTYTHREE
Davie had been parked outside Luton airport for about thirty minutes. He looked closely at everyone who left the terminal building. About five minutes ago, he had taken a call on the mobile phone that Paul had Anne-Marie purchase. The call had been from a voice he did not know, but the code word had been exactly as had planned. He was standing at the main door when a man came rushing out. In a cultured English accent, he asked Davie if he could give him a light. He apologised and said that he did not have a light.
‘Well can I get a run home to Glesga then pal?’
He nearly jumped out of his skin.
‘Paul, is that you?’
‘Aye it is pal. We better get to fuck out of here, before people begin staring at your gapping mouth,’ He laughed
‘You look so different Paul. I would never have known you’
‘Really Davie, would you not have realised who I was?’
‘Nope, not at all’
‘Ok mate, but I must tell you to call me Stuart from now on. My new name will be Stuart Seymour. Ok?’
‘Yeah, no problem Paul. Ehh-Sorry Stuart’
The two men left Luton and took the M1 motorway north. As they drove towards Scotland, he filled in Stuart on all the happenings of the past four months. Stuart told him of how he acquired his new look, and where he had gone for the surgery. How he had gone to classes to learn to speak differently. He could still revert to his Glasgow accent if he chose.
Davie told him that they were heading straight to the cottage at Balquidder. Anne-Marie had gone up there a few days ago to get the place ready. The two men had a long drive in front of them, and they stopped several times for refreshments. Stuart talked to Davie about some spiritual experiences he had since the last time they had talked. He was very interested in what was being said, and the journey flew past. The two men talked and asked questions of each other. At last, they came to the outskirts of Glasgow. He explained that they would not have to go through the city. They would be cutting off and taking the M80 Stirling road. He was actually relieved to here that they could by-pass the city. He realised that there was still a great amount of fear in his life.
He knew that his criminal days were over, and he would never be part of another criminal empire The things that had happened to him since his fall in the river Clyde had totally changed his thinking. He did not want to do wrong. He wanted to help people in any way he could. He laughed to himself as he thought about it and then said to Davie.
‘You want to know something mate?’
‘What, Pa..Ahh… Stuart?’
‘I’m now the person I swore I would never become’
The two men roared with laughter. There was a bond developing with the brother-in-laws that could not have been possible a short while back. They were comfortable with each other and enjoyed the same things.
Stuart fell asleep as the car headed out towards Stirling. Davie drove slowly towards the cottage at Loch Doine. It was getting dark when he woke. He could see a hotel at the roadside, but they were passing it and going under a bridge. The car was driving along a single-track road. Davie told him it was Loch Voile on their left hand side. The road seemed to go on for miles. He was a bit apprehensive, as he did not feel comfortable in the countryside. He was a city boy born and bred, but realised he would have to adapt to this life style as he intended staying here for the near future. They eventually stopped at a small well-lit cottage. The night sky was pitch black now but Anne-Marie stood on the doorstep, as if afraid to come forward.
He opened the car door, and ran to her side. His sister was crying and sobbing, and he was also crying.
Davie picked up the bags from the car and left the brother and sister to their reunion.
Inside the cottage was warm and cosy. It was not a very large front room, about five metre by four metre maximum he thought. Three bright lamps positioned in corners lighted it to a nice welcoming glow. As you walked through the small front door there was a bedroom to your left. Looking towards the rear of the room, he could see a curtained off area with a sink and cooker in evidence.
There was a delicious smell of pastry baking, and cooking meat coming from the small kitchenette.
‘My God, is that steak pie your cooking sis?’
‘Aye it is Stuart, and less of the sis. We have to change all that’ as she spoke, she started crying again.
‘I know it’s hard to except the changes hen. However, we have to keep up appearances’
‘Aye, but as you say it is so hard to do. I hope I can keep doing this for you sake Stuart. I so want to call you Paul’ More tears followed.
They had a wonderful meal of steak pie, potatoes and peas.
‘If you were not my sister, I would marry you just for the steak pie,’ they all laughed at this.
After dinner, they sat in the small room and relaxed. They spoke of what had been happening. They discussed their plans, and before they knew it, midnight was upon them.
There was a hallway at the rear of the house, which took you to an upstairs bedroom. This was to be his room. When he turned back the sheets to go to bed, he smiled to himself. His sister had given him a hot water bottle. It was the first time in about thirty years he had one in his bed.
He knew that his life had changed forever, and he would have to sink or swim.
The morning was bright and cold. After breakfast, he decided to take a walk on his own, and headed for a high hill to the rear of the cottage. He began climbing steadily, and looking all about himself really enjoying the view from his high vantage point.
He came upon a small un-seen valley. It appeared from nowhere, and could not be seen from the loch side. It was his first moment of panic, as he was walking through the valley with sheep and cattle scattered all around. He suddenly became aware that he was out here on his own in this empty country. Panic set in and immediately he wanted to run for the sanctity of the cottage. He tried to fight the feelings and was succeeding, beginning to calm down slightly. Then an inquisitive cow walked in his direction. The animal was looking at him, and he took off in a straight line for the bottom off the hill. He had run about a hundred yards when he realised how stupid he was behaving. He slowed down and thought about things logically. His problem was his city upbringing, and the fact he had never been in huge open spaces on his own. Never in his life had he experienced anything like the loneliness that had come over him.
He spotted a small stream and headed towards it for a drink. The water was clear and wonderfully sweet tasting. Not like the water, he was used to in the big city. He sat on an
old stone bridge trying to get his bearings, because a mist was coming down and he did not have a clue where he was.
He was thinking about his predicament, when he became aware of someone watching him. There was a man sitting not ten metres from him. The person was perched on the top of a large rock. ‘Hello’, he cried out.
‘Can you tell me how to get to Alba cottage on the loch side?’ For a few seconds the person did not answer. With a swirl of his kilt, he jumped down from the rock.
‘You must be the new owner of Mrs. Campbell’s old cottage?’
‘Yes, that’s right,’ he said.
‘I’m Duncan McGregor, Your next door neighbour’
‘Pleased to meet you Duncan. I am Stuart Seymour. I’m a bit lost at the moment’
‘Ach, never fear, you wont be long in learning the place’
‘You gave me quite a fright, sitting there like that’
‘I had been up the hill looking for a wee something for the pot, when I seen you running like a mad man I thought I better keep an eye on you’
‘Glad you did Duncan. I took a bit of fright, you know with being on my own and the hills all around?’
‘I remember feeling like that one time I went to Edinburgh, ach they are terrible places them cities. Give me the country and the safety of the Highland line any day. A man can walk free in these hills, and plans can be made and changed in an instant. When I am out walking, I just let horizons form the plan. Aye Stuart this is a different world from what you are used to, but a much better kind of life. I hope you begin to enjoy it here. If you give it a chance I think you will love the highland life’
‘I’m sure I will Duncan. How would you like to escort me back to the cottage for a wee dram?’
‘Now there you go my new friend, you are getting more Highland by the minute,’ both men laughed and a friendship was developing which would last a lifetime.
In no time, at all they were back at the cottage. He was about to introduce Duncan to his family, but o his surprise, they all knew each other.
‘Ach, I have known them for a few years now. Anne-Marie was just telling me yesterday that you had bought a share in the cottage. She said that you were a writer and looking for peace and quiet. Well you picked the right place for that except in the summer when we have a few tourists and the local youngsters try to turn the loch side into a love zone’ They all laughed at his infectious humour.
‘Would you fancy a wee bit of poached salmon tomorrow?’
‘Yes, I love poached salmon’
‘Ok, the only drawback is we have to poach it from the loch first’ Stuart was laughing his head off.
‘You are some man Duncan McGregor, but you have made me laugh for the first time in ages. Have another wee dram.’ ‘If I keep making you laugh, will you keep pouring the drams?’
‘My friend you can drink till you drop, but I aren’t taking you home to face your wife’
They all laughed and began planning their outing for the following day.
SEVENTYFOUR
The snooker hall itself was dimly lit, and as you came through the doors all you could see were rectangles of bright florescent light. The hall was a huge place consisting of twenty-five full size snooker tables, and off to the left another hall with twelve pool tables. The place was very busy as Friday night is a popular night for snooker and pool in Glasgow.
Billy Peel and Steff Hamilton were sitting at a pool table. The balls were scattered about but they were not attempting to play the game. The two men were sitting talking quietly as this was a favourite place for them to meet. There was so much noise and talk; it was perfect for a meeting. When you were on a table in this corner, you could not be overheard or spied on from anywhere in the club.
Peel took a drink from his pint of lager, and Steff sat looking about the large room.
‘Well, what do you think? Should we go and check this place out?’
‘Aye, mate but what’s the rush? Nobody has heard a peep from Lynch or his pals’
‘I will sleep easier at night if I find out for myself, once and for all that that bastard is dead’
‘Ok, we will go to this Balquidder, but not till next week-end. Okay?’
‘Ok mate then I can relax, but remember to keep this between you and me. I don’t want anybody thinking were running scared of Lynch or his fuckin ghost’
‘I know how to keep my mouth shut you know’
‘Ok mate no insult intended’
The two men ordered another drink, and then planned their mission to Balquidder for the following week.
Peel went to the toilet. Steff looked after him with murder in his eyes. He prayed that word would come through from K.C. to do away with him as planned. He was a liability, had too big a mouth, and no fuckin class.
He had a wee dream about how he would kill him. It would be slowly, very, very, slowly.
He would make him suffer. He blamed him for the situation with the gangsters missing body. He had told him to bring a shotgun and blast him in the legs. That way they could have been more certain of a kill, but as usual him and his daft pal Bambi had turned up with a couple of peashooters. Bambi would be a real pleasure to kill too.
A brace of scum in one go. It was almost like doing community service. Smiled the cold-hearted Mr Hamilton.
SEVENTYFIVE
Stuart was awake by six o’clock in the morning. He made some breakfast then called Anne-Marie and Davie.
The couple were going back home today, and he was going poaching salmon for the first time in his life.
The trio were sitting at breakfast when they heard a vehicle pull up outside. He went to the door expecting to see Duncan coming out of a car, but to his surprise, he noticed it was a police van. His heart started pounding, and began wondering if someone had recognised him? He saw the passenger door open, and Duncan emerged from the van. He was shouting to the driver.
‘Ok Erchie; see you tonight with a nice wee dinner pal’
The van drove away.
‘Good-morning, Stuart. How are you this fine day? What’s up with yea man? You look as if you seen a ghost’
‘No sorry Duncan, it was just a surprise seeing the police van’
‘Are you on the run from the polis?’ laughed Duncan
‘Yes, did you not hear? I done a stick up at the bank of Balquidder’
‘Aye lad, well it could only have been the riverbank, because that’s the only one about here’
‘Come away in and get a coffee before we go. I need to say good-bye to my cousins too’
The four people spent a pleasant half-hour eating toast and drinking tea or coffee.
The two men headed for the lochs deep in the hills. Anne-Marie and Davie headed for Glasgow and home.
Arrangements had been made that Davie would return next week, and his sister would come up the following week.
He found that he was enjoying the steep climb to the salmon river. His companion seemed to glide up the incline with the ease of a mountain goat, and when he voiced this opinion, Duncan pretended offence.
‘I like to think I’m more like a highland garron, than a goat’
The men eventually reached the river high in the hills. Golden eagles were circling one hundred feet above them searching for prey.
In no time at all Duncan had landed two beautiful silver salmon.
‘About twelve or fourteen pound each, I would say. What do you think?’
‘I can’t argue with you. Where did you learn to fish like that? Your skill is amazing’
‘No, my friend. It’s not amazing it is just a lot of practise and patience it is inborn to the highland gentleman’
They had a wonderful day on the hills. On the way, back they stopped and had a pre-packed lunch. It was washed down with a wee dram of the highland nectar.
He pointed out many places of interest that he might like to go and see on his own.
They approach the small loch side roadway. Duncan took him aside and pointed to a patch
of wet muddy ground in front of them, it was about 50 metres long and fifteen metres wide.
‘Whatever you do don’t go near that piece of ground. It is a quagmire and very dangerous. Last year old Henry Campbell had a cow stuck in there. He brought down his tractor to try to pull it out. The tractor slid into the bog and, only that his son was there with a rope he would be under there with his cow and tractor’
‘My god, it swallowed a tractor. I didn’t think that would be possible’
‘Aye, it’s possible alright. That ground has been killing the unwary for hundreds of years. We have asked the local authority to do something about it, but as usual they refused. They will not even fence it off, and if we do it we are then taking responsibility for it. It would make us liable if there was another accident’
They walked on down the road.
‘Is there any other places I should avoid?’
‘Aye, just at the bend in the road there is a retreat for homosexual monks. I would avoid that if I was you,’ He laughed loudly at his own joke
‘Aye, very funny but I think I could get used to your silly jokes’
‘I hope so pal, because I have loads of them’
‘Oh, no’ He groaned jokingly.
He was invited over to Duncan’s for dinner that evening, but he had no transport so the local police officer called to pick him up.
It is so different here than in the city. He thought.
Later that day he met Duncan’s wife Morag and Erchie the police officer with his wife Fiona.
After dinner, the talk turned to Stuart, and where he came from. He told them the pre-arranged story. He was from just outside Edinburgh. He was trying to become a writer, and had come here to get peace and quiet.
The other four people all asked him questions about his life. He was glad that he had anticipated this, and practised all his answers in advance.
Duncan was saying to the company.
‘Aye, you canny deny that accent. Even if you tried to ignore it you can still hear that horrible Edinburgh twang’
They all laughed including Stuart.
They enjoyed a great night. All the company had a few drinks and were very merry. He asked if he could phone a taxi to go home, and this caused great merriment.
