Elemental: The First

by Alexandra May

  As I turned back around, Morgan raised an eyebrow at me. I gave him a one sided smile before looking away.

  When Jez turned to walk upstairs it was the first time I noticed his emo punkishness. His hair was dyed black and very spiky, and his trousers had buckles and chains attached and the black T shirt was of a rock band that I had never heard of. He wasn’t what I expected at all. I had imagined a geekish bookworm with thick rimmed glasses. It was funny how wrong I could be in the perception of people.

  At the back of the house we walked into his room which again looked comfortable and tidy. His desk was an array of books, charts and papers much like his walls which were full of book shelves and posters of more rock groups I had never heard of.

  Hannah and I sat on his bed, while Morgan sat opposite next to the desk.

  “So are you ready?” Jez said with cheer.

  “What do you know?” Morgan said looking at a stack of books piled on the floor near his feet. “What happened?”

  Jez didn’t answer Morgan’s question.

  “Firstly, Rose, do you know anything about Imber?” he asked me.

  “Um, not really, only that it was a village in the middle of Salisbury Plain and it’s now derelict. The army use it for training practice,” I was glad I had done my research before my arrival here. Apart from that, I had little else to offer. “Oh, Daisy used to live there when she was a girl.”

  “Really? I didn’t know that,” Morgan said, giving me an amused smirk.

  Jez glowered at him mockingly before continuing. “Imber is a village directly in the centre of Salisbury Plain, as you know,” Jez raised his eyes at Hannah and Morgan, grinning. “The Plain is a huge expanse of chalk plateau which largely takes over 300 miles of Wiltshire’s area. Another site on ‘Jez’s magical mystery tour’ is, of course, Stonehenge otherwise called ‘the Druid’s timepiece’. Let’s not forget our next door neighbour the Westbury White Horse, which is in Bratton and not Westbury.”

  He had my full attention now, even Morgan was waiting for Jez to continue.

  “But Imber’s story ended after the Second World War began. During 1943 the citizens of the village were given forty seven days notice to leave their homes for the war effort. Given false promises of a return the people left their homes to do their bit. Shortly after the US army moved in and used the area for close combat and live firing practice, getting ready for their war in Europe. Once the war ended, the War Ministry wouldn’t allow a single person to move back to the village. The people of Imber were allowed to visit on certain days of the year, either to visit graves, or attend a yearly church service at the Church of St Giles but nothing else, that was it. Their family histories and all landmarks are now gone. The houses are now crumbling ruins and wouldn’t be fit to live in anyway.”

  “So, why do you want us to research it?” Hannah said.

  Jez breathed slowly before he continued. “The church, St Giles, is 13th century and the 15th century wall paintings are priceless, it’s one of the oldest in the county. The walls and ceiling are slowly crumbling and it’s suffering from subsidence.” At that moment he looked down into his hands. “My dad was investigating an image found on one of the walls. Rumours have it that it was ‘out of place’ to a 15th century painting.

  “What kind of image?” Hannah said.

  “Well, I don’t know, hence the research. My dad was always on some quest, Rose, busy researching this and that. I couldn’t keep track of all his projects.”

  “So, you think someone kidnapped him, because of something he found in the church?” I said. I thought it was an obvious question.

  “My dad went missing three days ago and no one has seen him since.” Jez said, sorrow running across his furrowed brow. “Few people knew of his research, but somebody wanted him silenced.”

  Morgan and Hannah bounced glances off each other. For some reason I wasn’t getting the full story, I could tell but I let it go for now. If it was a trust issue with Jez, I knew I had to earn it.

  “Have the police anything to go on at all,” Hannah asked, avoiding my gaze so I couldn’t throw any quizzical glances.

  “He was on the top of Arn Hill and then, I don’t know, just vanished,” Jez said mournfully. His whole manner had changed since our welcome. His posture was now slouched, almost dispirited.

  “Isn’t that the same hill that Agatha Millard was found on? What was he doing there?” I said.

  “Yes, it is. He was checking for Ley Lines from the hilltop. There’s a clear view to Cley Hill and beyond. I don’t know whether it’s true, I’ve never checked. But he was on to something and I think that’s why they’ve taken him,” he answered, but I was beginning to get lost with the information. I must have looked puzzled so he continued.

  “Ley Lines were discovered long ago and are natural lines linking old buildings, circle stones, prominent hills, forts and sometime churches and cathedrals. It is said that the straight lines hold some kind of energy, possibly a beacon and they often finish at pagan ritual sites, in Wiltshire particularly. They’ve often been linked to UFO’s which, of course, Warminster is famed for.”

  Their faces showed knowing expressions, but mine was filled with amazement. I had never heard of these lines, but Jez was for a moment lost in his own thoughts, and Hannah stared at me although I couldn’t tell why.

  “Jez, who do you think has taken him? You must have some ideas,” I said.

  “I do, but I don’t want to involve anyone else with my assumptions,” he gave me a wry grin. “No offence, Rose but I just want to find my dad and this research will help.”

  “Okay,” I said, feeling vexed. “All of you can keep the cryptic going for as long as you want. But if you don’t tell me what you know, I’m out of here,” I stood up and walked to the door.

  “Rose, just wait, please,” Morgan held his hands up. “It’s not about you. We’re just being careful.”

  “Ever since I arrived I’ve heard the strangest of stories. If you can’t tell me, then why did you even bother calling for my help,” I pleaded. “If I’m going to help, you have to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I know, Rose,” Hannah said softly. “It’s just—”

  “Just what?” I answered quickly.

  “We don’t want this to get back to Daisy,” Jez finished Hannah’s words.

  “Daisy? You think she’s involved? No way,” I said too quickly, though in truth I really wouldn’t know if she was or not.

  “We don’t think she’s involved,” Hannah said, her voice still soft. “She’s asked Jez to stop interfering. To leave it for her to deal with, get some answers, quiz the police more and hopefully find him with her own sources. Her friend Maggie’s husband, Percy Dunbar is missing too.”

  “And I can’t just sit back because she says so. I’m sorry Rose, I know she’s your grandmother but this is my dad we’re talking about. Wouldn’t you do the same for yours?” Jez said.

  “Okay, Daisy told you to leave it alone and she’ll deal with it. Why would she do that?” I said puzzled.

  “She’s well connected with the Police, she’s worked with New Scotland Yard before, and other authorities,” Morgan replied.

  “But you don’t think that her sources are going to find your dad?” I said to Jez, who shook his head.

  “Because?”

  “Because of who’s involved, who we think is behind the disappearances,” Hannah said.

  “Sorry, now I’m even more confused,” I said. I was no clearer at their meaning than before. “Going back to Daisy, okay? She told you to leave it but, you think or you know, that she won’t find out any more information. How am I doing?”

  I saw three nods.

  “And you think Daisy is telling you to leave it because she knows who is really behind it?”

  They all nodded again.

  “And whoever is behind it is meticulous in leaving no traces or evidence so there would be no proof for the police to find anyway?”

  As they
nodded again in response, I continued. “For God’s sake, don’t you see? Daisy’s protecting you. If you find out the same thing as Jez’s father, you’re in danger of the same fate too?”

  “We know. But my dad went out one day and never returned. Daisy was the first person I called. If anyone would know where he might be, she would. Daisy and my father go way back. She spoke to the police and they’re keeping her informed with the ongoing inquiry. But it was Daisy that told me the police wouldn’t find anything,” Jez said.

  “So, you think that Daisy not only knows who is behind it all, but may be protecting him?”

  “No, she’s not protecting him, but she knows how dangerous he is,” Jez held up a book. “I need to figure it out from the start, and I will not let my dad down. If I don’t try, I might lose him. He’s all I’ve got.”

  “So, who do you think is behind this? And don’t tell me to stay out of it. I’m here now and I can help, especially with Daisy,” I said convincingly.

  “We hoped you’d say that,” Hannah beamed at Jez; while Morgan shook his head and stared at me.

  “What are friends for?” I answered. “So, come on. Tell me please!”

  “Rumour has it that Ben Deverill has been doing some shady deals for a while now. He’s the Governor of the Local Council for the area. He gives the impression of only doing well for the town. There’s been a new school, converted town buildings, repairing the old theatre, new old people’s homes, we even have a new hospital although it’s only in planning stage at the moment,” Morgan started.

  “It sounds like he’s doing well, and what growing town wouldn’t want those things?” Hannah said.

  “But what isn’t widely known is that he’s buying large areas of land around the outskirts of the town, all in the councils name, all above board,” Jez continued.

  “And, what’s wrong with that?” I said, feeling the confusion coming on again.

  “We think some of the land is old War Ministry land, what is now the Ministry of Defence. You see, the army’s getting smaller and they don’t need so much space any more. But we also think that Ben is buying up the old premises belonging to the missing persons. You know about Agatha Millard? Well, I bet anything that Ben bought the house from Daisy using the Council as a front.” Jez’s face was deadly serious; this wasn’t a game or history project anymore.

  “Have you found any proof?” I said. “There’s got to be signed papers or copies of the land registry in the town Library. Usually those documents have to be available for the public to view.”

  I was met with blank stares.

  I explained. “My dad taught me a few house moves ago about legal documents, we’ve moved a lot.”

  It was true; my dad thought it would be useful to learn in case something terrible happened to them. He’d started with House Deeds and gone from there.

  So, you think that Ben Deverill is behind your dad going missing?” I summed up.

  “I do, but Daisy has officially tied my hands,” Jez said in a soft voice. “Although unofficially ”

  He was tough, I’d give him that much. Jez’s exterior was rock solid, which he probably encouraged with the use of his image - his jet black hair and black gothic appearance, but he was kind, and seemed to care very deeply for his father.

  I had no idea about Daisy, though. She must surely be able to find something out if she had contacts such as Scotland Yard; even her mutually amicable relationship with Mark Pemberton proved that she was a trusted ally. I realised that I still knew very little about her, we hadn’t really spent much time together for me to get a bearing on her life. I didn’t know who her friends were, having never met them, or where she went when she popped out. All I knew was that I’d have to be more vigilant from now on.

  “Right, then,” I said. “Let’s start at beginning. Why does Ben Deverill want land, and old houses? Have the disappearances been linked specifically?”

  “What do you mean?” Morgan said

  “Well, have you marked on a map the houses or land that’s been bought by Mr Deverill?” I looked for a map around the room but couldn’t see one. “There’s got to be a clue here somewhere, I mean, is it particular areas or buildings that he’s interested in? Is he looking for something? Are there mines or underground shelters? We need to chart this down, have you got a town map, Jez?”

  He knelt to reach for something under the bed, pulling a long tube.

  “This is a new Ordinance Survey map,” he said pulling the roll of paper from inside the cardboard tube. “My dad was checking it out for recently discovered burial mounds. I kept it hidden from the police in case they took it.”

  “So let’s have a look then, open it up.”

  We all sat on the floor around the newly unrolled map. Jez started to mark with pencil various points pertaining to woods, areas void of houses, and the outskirts of town. Soon we were staring at a very different picture although it still didn’t yield any clues for me.

  “I don’t see anything particular,” I pointed out. The crosses circled the outer perimeter of the town with a few exceptions but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

  “I don’t either,” Hannah said.

  “We’re missing something. We need to go back further in time. Before Agatha Millard’s death,” Morgan said.

  “How long has Ben Deverill been Governor?” I asked out of curiosity.

  “Eight years,” Morgan said with certainty.

  “I think I need to check the locations again and the histories. Just to see if I’ve missed anything,” Jez said thoughtfully. A new spark had ignited in him; his approach was more hurried now as if he had purpose again.

  “Okay, Jez, you start on that, but tell me,” I said. “What exactly was your father researching? It might be the key to all this,” I said and pointed to the map that he was now pinning to a pin board.

  Jez handed me a book.

  “Well, this is what I started with. You can read through the passages and see if you can see or find anything useful,” I opened the cover and flicked through the first pages. The book was dated 1947 and was simply called “Imber - A history.”

  “What an original title,” I looked at the book and laughed.

  “Look for anything in it about St Giles Church, the Parish or the wall paintings,” Jez said handing me some sheets of paper and different coloured pens.

  “For different references you think might be appropriate,” he said at my quizzical expression.

  “Ah, okay,” I answered. “Blue Peter style.”

  “You’ve got it,” Jez turned and handed a pile to Hannah who had been sitting quietly. She wasn’t always a giver in conversation but when she had her mind made up and had reached some verdict, she would give her opinion and she was normally right. It was one of her most endearing qualities.

  While Hannah and I were reading Jez and Morgan popped downstairs. I could hear them in full discussion but I didn’t listen closely. They arrived a little while later with a plate of sandwiches and cans of drink. We had missed lunch, having been so preoccupied with our search. We all ate and drank in silence, lost in our own endeavours.

  I started reading through the fragile pages, and nibbled on my last sandwich. Much of the book was written in such complex text, it was difficult to extract exact mentions of the church as most related to the parish in general. There were a few vague references, one mentioned the church font which was apparently priceless, and another couple mentioned murals on the walls.

  “Were the murals in the church any good?” I asked.

  “Yes, they were quite innovative apparently. Way ahead of their time. The artists are, of course, unknown. Here’s another book, with pictures,” Jez said, opening another book and handing it over.

  “Ah, I like pictures,” I grinned at him.

  The pictures were crude pen and ink copies of the murals made before the walls of the church had been destroyed. The usual churchlike images of Mary, Jesus, God and Angels were all included. I flic
ked through a couple but they were all similar in artistic style.

  The last picture was of something I hadn’t seen before. It was a mural depicting a scene of a house, possibly a farmhouse. On the wall of the house was a circle with three stars like points of an equilateral triangle. It seemed out of place in a church, that much was clear.

  “Have you ever seen this before?” I asked, holding the page open for them all to see.

  “Maybe it’s a symbol for the three wise men?” Hannah said putting her book down.

  “But on the side of a house, in a mural?”

  Morgan rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Does it give any information about the house? Has the mural got a name?”

  “There’s nothing,” I said as I searched again. “I’ll look through some others, see what I can find.”

  I started flicking through an old history of Wiltshire and had a thought. “I wonder if we’re looking in the wrong place. I mean, these are history books. What about an art book? We need something from local artists back through the ages?”

  “I don’t know. I think I’ve seen the house before, and the symbol but I can’t think where,” Jez said thoughtfully. He turned and started flicking through other books.

  “Here. What about this?” He showed a page from a newer paperback. The picture was of a shield used in old warfare. The three stars made up an emblem in the centre of the wooden circle. This time the stars were clearly shown, they each had five sides much like a pentagram, one was white, one red and the other was blue.

  “That’s got to be it but isn’t it too much of a coincidence? There must be lots of three-starred icons around,” I said, not wanting to dash any hopes.

  “Where’s this shield from?” Hannah asked.

  “It was used by King Alfred during his battle at Edington,” Jez said reading the description quickly. “It says ‘he had in his employ a soothsayer who implored him to use the shield for it would save his life’. He also had an alchemist in his camp who tried to find an elixir for long life,” Jez looked up at us.