by A D Evans
Erchie said to him:
‘A taxi Stuart, Your not in the city now my friend, we don’t have a taxi service up here. Anyway I will be taking you home.’
‘Thanks Erchie, but you have been drinking too’
‘Aye, so what are you worried about, and it’s only about three miles to your house. Do I look ok to you for driving?’
‘Yes, but what about the police?’
‘Are you not forgetting something my friend?’ Laughed Erchie.
‘I am the police’
They all fell about laughing. What a night did all have. He went home to bed feeling wonderful.
Morning dawned as a beautiful May Day. The sun was just coming up between two mountains. It was an amazing sight to witness. He felt great, with no sign of a hangover from the previous night.
He decided to go for a walk towards the end of the Dionne. Packing some food and drink he set out at seven A.M. for his trek. Duncan had given him his pump action shotgun in case he spotted anything for the table. When he had asked about a licence, Erchie had granted him one verbally, with a smile. He told him that as long as he did not go shooting at people, he would be ok.
‘Remember Stuart, you’re pally with the polis’ They all laughed again at his daft joke.
SEVENTYSIX
He followed the road for a couple of miles until he came near the lochs end. Cutting down over a steep ravine brought him to the side of the loch. What a great view from here, he thought. The sun had risen higher as he walked, and looking back to the east he could see the Doine change into the Voile. Further back magnificent mountains rose on either side of the lochs. This must be like heaven were the thoughts in his mind. He heard the sound of rushing water, and decided to investigate. He walked towards the source of the noise, and unexpectedly came across some ruins. At first he thought they were the remains of a house, but that was not the case. The ruins were an old graveyard, and inside were about five or six gravestones. The whole place was badly overgrown and to try to enter would have been folly. He made a mental note that he would come back here prepared to clean this site up. After all, it may be his relative’s graves.
He continued on his way looking for the source of the water noise. He noticed that there was now definite sign of habitation in this area. He walked a little further and came on an old house, but there was little left of the walls and only one or two heavy beams from the roof remaining.
He edged a little closer to the house, and the sun was shining over it make it look like a scene from a film. He sat on one of the heavy beams and decided to have his lunch; he sat down with a grateful sigh, but was soon back on his feet as something had jagged his backside. He investigated and saw a piece of material sticking from the ancient beam. Out of curiosity he took a knife from his backpack and began prising the offending object from the wood. At last it came out and he identified it as a sharp tipped piece of metal. At first he thought it was an arrowhead, but then decided it was something else entirely. He went to sit down again on the log when his head began spinning. He felt that he was being pushed back, pushed back in time. His vision cleared from cloudy to crystal in a fraction off a second. He could see the house as it had once looked, and realised he was looking at a crofter’s house. Three men stood at the door arguing with the obvious tenant of the house. They were shouting that he had twenty-four hours to pay them or they would remove him from the house. Another figure appeared from round the side of the house. He was a tall Highlander with bright red hair, and wore a single eagle feather in his bonnet. He was asking the three men what there business was. The oldest and best dressed off the three began to pull his sword from the scabbard at his side. As the sword cleared and started to rise, the tall Highlander grabbed it from him, and plunged the swords tip deep into the timber of the roof. Then he snapped it off where the blade met the wood. Throwing the ruined weapon aside he told the factors men to be gone. He told them that as he had broken the blade so would he break their backs if he ever saw them again. They were warned never to set foot in McGregor country uninvited again. The three men realised who they were facing and at once started to withdraw from the house. Without a backward glance they headed down the glen, and out of Balquidder.
The tenant turned to his rescuer and said:
‘Thanks Rob, but they will be back. They grow bolder on a daily basis’
‘Aye, that’s true Hamish, but we shall never surrender the highlands to the likes of them’
He became aware that he was again changing dimension, and was now back in the present, but much shaken by his experience.
What he had experienced he did not know? He kept the pointed metal as a reminder of this day. He had been reading of a thing called psychometry, and wondered if that could explain his crazy day. He would speak to Davie about it this weekend.
Duncan paid a few visits over the next few days. Erchie called in with some cooked venison, most likely poached from the local laird.
Friday morning found him again high in the hills. He seemed to have overcome his fear of open spaces and now felt quite at ease on his own in the hills. It was strange day weather wise as it started of brilliantly sunny, then a few small showers of rain. It was now damp and gloomy. In addition, a mist started descending from the hilltops. In no time at all he was hopelessly lost, and had no sense of what direction to take to get home. The mist was so thick that he could only see a few yards. At first he did not panic as he knew to do that could kill him. Should he sit tight he wondered. No, he would freeze up here at night even at this time of year. He decided to move slowly in one direction and see what happened. He had come to the edge of a cliff, and was about to descend when he heard the voice behind him.
‘I would not go that way if I were you Paul’
At the mention of his former name he froze.
‘Who are you?’
‘My name is Colin Campbell’
He noticed the man's attire as being very old and ancient looking. The kilt was not of the modern style seen so often on the city streets and at weddings. It was what they called a great kilt, and the entire garment wrapped round the body. He wore a dirk and a basket hilted broadsword at his side. Stuart stared in amazement at this figure.
‘If you go that way Paul, you will die. There is a sheer drop of over one hundred feet just yards from where you stand. Turn back with me and I will lead you to safety’
He had no option but to take this strange persons advice. He slowly retraced his steps following the large figure of the man.
They continued down hill in a way that he would never have expected. He had actually mistaken west for east, and if the man had not stopped him would have walked straight off the mountainside. Within ten minutes they were on the loch side road. He climbed the dyke on to the road, but when he turned to thank his rescuer there was no sign of him anywhere. He heard a voice calling his name.
‘Stuart, Stuart, are you up here?’
It was Duncan’s voice, and he was never so glad to see anyone in his life.
‘Hi Stuart, You ok?’
‘Aye, I’m fine now thanks. I got a bit lost up there. A guy called Colin Campbell showed me the road down’
‘What was he like, this guy Campbell?’
‘He was tall, dressed very old fashioned and had a sword and dirk on too’ he smiled
‘Cant say I know him at all. Did he say he came from here?’
‘No, he didn’t say much, except to inform me I would die if I didn’t follow him’
‘Strange place this friend, a very strange place at times. Still your okay that is the main thing. How about a wee dram at Erchie's, then dinner at my house?’
‘Sounds like a grand idea to me Duncan. Lead on Mc Duff’.
SEVENTYSEVEN
‘Billy for fuck sake slow down. Do you want to fuckin kill us up here in fuckin sheep shagging land?’
‘I like these roads at night. You can see for miles so fuckin calm down Steff’
‘Ok, star-trekker Peel. Wh
ere the fuck are we?’
‘We are coming into Strathyre in a few minutes, and we can stay there tonight. There must be a hotel or something’
‘As long as it’s not a double room I don’t really care Billy. I’m not sharing a room with you because you snore like a randy elephant’
They reached the town and managed to get two rooms for the night.
‘Will my Mercedes jeep be safe parked out front like that? Do you have private parking?’
‘This isny the Ritz mister it’s a wee hotel in the middle of nowhere. Who do you think would steal your car?’
‘Just asking’ he said
The two men headed for the bar, where the ordered a couple of drinks.
‘Hi gorgeous. You are having a wee day off from the modelling assignments?’ Steff asked the young barmaid.
‘Aye, that’s correct sir,’ she answered with a smile.
‘Maybe you could help us out? What’s your name hen?’
‘Jenna’ the girl replied.
‘Lovely name that Jenna, I like it. Now could you help us? Were looking for an old pal of ours and we think he moved up here recently. His name is Paul. We were wondering if you know of anyone new moving into the area.’
‘Sorry, not that I can think of. Did he not give you an address?’
‘No, it was his granny left him a cottage but we forgot to get the address’
‘Oh, wait a minute. There is a new person staying up at Alba cottage. Someone told me just the other day so maybe that’s him?’
‘Aye, maybe it is Jenna. Thanks very much. Now can we get you a drink?’
‘How far away is this Alba cottage?’
‘Not far at all. About three and a half miles maybe’
‘Great, we can get an early start up there tomorrow. Ok with you mate?’
‘Aye, no problem with me pal’
He awaited the coming day with anticipation. If Lynch is there fine. Kill him and be done with it. He was really looking forward to shooting Billy Peel in the legs, tying his hands and leaving him in some wee handy gorge. When he reached Glasgow, he would call Bambi fisher to a secret meeting and put a nice wee bullet in his head. Yes, tomorrow could be a very interesting day.
SEVENTYEIGHT
Davie arrived at four o’clock on the Friday, and the two men spent a few hours catching up on each other’s weeks. Stuart related what had happened to him, his brother-in-law said they would speak more about it later. They got ready to go to Erchie’s for their dinner. They went in Davies car, and the journey only took about ten minutes.
The friends all settled down to enjoy their dinner, and there was much laughter and a good bit of drinking. Everyone was in good spirits. About ten-fifteen a car pulled up outside Erchie’s door. It was his niece Jenna delivering another bottle of whisky as he was running low. He had phoned her earlier when he realised how low his stock had become.
‘Jenna, this is my two good friends Davie and Stuart’ They all shook hands
‘Well I better get home now everyone’
‘Thanks hen for bringing the booze’ Grinned her uncle.
‘Hey I nearly forgot. I was talking to two men tonight in the bar, and they said they were looking for a friend of theirs called Paul. I didn’t know your names so I gave them directions to Alba cottage. They said they would try it in the morning. Oh well they will have a wasted journey. Unless anyone with you is called Paul?’
‘No sorry, can’t think of a Paul. Can you Stuart?’
‘No, sorry. Did the guys give you any names?’
‘Yea, one was Steff and the other Billy. Both seemed like Glasgow types, and I got nasty feelings from them both’
‘Well it is nobody we know Davie. Is it?’
‘No. I don’t think so Stuart’
About an hour later, the two men left for Alba cottage.
They drove for a few seconds in silence then Davie said.
‘You know who it is Paul?’
‘Aye, it’s the Maryhill Muppet show’
‘What are we going to do?’
‘We could lie low, and hope they go away. I don’t think they will hang about too long’
‘You know they won’t go till they get what they want’
‘Davie, stop calling me Paul’
‘Ok, I’m upset and afraid’
‘Do you think we should tell Erchie?’
‘What and maybe get him killed. No, we must think of a way to get rid off them for good’
‘Do you realise what you’re saying mate? Get rid of them for good means killing them’
‘I know that Stuart, I know’
‘Let’s see what arms we have. We have to presume that they are tooled up with pistols. We have the pump action of Duncan’s and the single bore that you brought with you. Not a lot against two head cases’
‘We have one thing in our favour’
‘What?’
‘Surprise, they don’t know that we know they are here’
‘That’s true Davie. Shall we try to ambush them?’
‘Aye, that’s the only way we can win’
The two men decided to try to get some sleep, before the morning was upon them.
They did not sleep very well, but were aware that they had to be alert in the morning.
SEVENTYNINE
Billy and Steff were up about eight o’clock. They had a leisurely breakfast and left the hotel at nine thirty.
They drove slowly and quietly to their destination.
Davie was above the cottage in the hills, and was looking towards the main road through a pair of binoculars. He saw the car approaching from miles away. Identified Peel driving, and headed down to tell Stuart.
Both men went back up the hill. Stuart was armed with the pump action, and Davie had the single bore gun.
The car was coming ever closer to the cottage. About one hundred metres from the last bend the car stopped. Steff got out, and headed for the hill at the side of the road. Billy Peel drove on until he had rounded the bend. He then stopped and took binoculars from his glove compartment. He began scanning the surrounding hills. They would never spot Davie or Stuart. They had used Duncan’s tactics and blended well with the background.
‘Steff is the one we have to watch most Davie. He is a cold-blooded killer. Peel is just an arsehole from Possil who thinks he’s a hard man’ Davie nodded his agreement
‘Keep Peel covered, I’m going looking for Steff Hamilton’
‘Ok Stuart, but be careful. If anything happens to you, your sister will kill me’ Both men had a wee grin.
He disappeared into the foliage and was gone.
He thought he heard the sound of someone moving to his right and froze. A rabbit scurried past running quicker when it spotted him.
There was definite movement from his right, and suddenly he saw Steff Hamilton come into view. There was no fear, just a cold calculated determination to end all this. He stepped in front of the oncoming man with his shotgun pointing straight at his midriff.
‘Hi Steff, it’s been a while’
Steff Hamilton stood rigidly still, when he saw the gun in the man’s hand he did not recognise the face, but the person was undoubtedly Paul Lynch.
‘Hi Paul, You know I just never believed that you were dead, and now I’m proved right. You’re like a cat with nine lives’
‘You can’t talk your way out of this one. Today you die. You know that. There is no other way’
‘Yeah, well I would be the same in your shoes’
‘Drop the gun I can see it in your belt, very carefully take it out and drop it over near me’
He did as he was told. He moved very slowly to do Paul’s bidding.
‘Where do we go from here old pal? You know we could get rid off Peel and you could disappear forever. What do you think mate?’
Before he could answer, Steff Hamilton leapt forward, and knocked the shotgun from his hand. The two men rolled about in the dirt, and Hamilton jumped to his feet with his own pistol
in his hand.
‘Now Lynch the tables are turned’
His gun lay inches from his feet cocked and ready to fire.
‘Go for it please; I would really enjoy shooting you as you made a desperate attempt for your gun’
The voice startled both men
‘Hello, what’s going on here?’
Paul could not believe his eyes. It was Colin Campbell in all his ancient glory.
Steff spun round quickly and let off a trio of shots from his silenced pistol. The man did not move a fraction. He tried head and body shots nothing worked; he kept firing until his gun was empty.
Meanwhile Paul had regained his shotgun. As Hamilton turned to face him he squeezed the trigger. The traitorous gangster was thrown back about eight feet when the shotgun blast had hit him square in the chest. Paul walked over and committed the last foul act of his life. Steff was still conscious and looking at him with imploring eyes. He was trying to talk. Hel put the gun in his mouth and squeezed off another cartridge, and the man’s head exploded into pieces. He left him where he was and headed for the cottage.
He had just come round the edge of a copse of trees when he heard the single shot. There was no doubt in his mind that it was the sound of a shotgun. He cautiously approached the cottage, and there in the back garden lay Billy Peel. He had no face. The shotgun had removed his facial features and the top off his head. It was not a pretty sight, and his brother-in-law stood crying holding the shotgun loosely in his left hand.
‘He left me no choice, he went for his gun. I just pulled on the trigger and, now he’s dead’
‘He was scum Davie. You have done the world a favour killing him, but you know we have to get rid of these two and their car’
‘Where can we do that?’
‘I know just the place mate. Trust me’
The two dead men were placed in their car and then driven to the bog at the top of the glen. Stuart prepared the vehicle by jamming a brick heavily on the accelerator; he then placed it in gear and let out the clutch, before quickly jumping clear of the vehicle. It took off down the steep hill gathering speed as it progressed, it then hit a small-elevated piece of ground and landed slap bang in the middle of the quagmire. The car sank quickly at first, and then seemed to stick in the thick mud. For a few agonising moments it looked like their plan was doomed. Suddenly with a loud squelching noise the car was pulled totally under the clinging mud. The men watched as it sank deeper into the bog eventually disappearing from sight. They walked away feeling strange but relieved that the nightmare was hopefully over. They made a pact never to discuss the events of today not even to tell Anne-Marie or anyone else.
