Callum stared at the creatures a lot. He found a strange sort of comfort watching them, and he often lost track of time doing it.
Callum knew he would have to feed them proper food soon. River water wouldn’t sustain them forever, but today this was what they were going to get. He reasoned that it was all they would have had if he had left them there.
He spoke to a couple of the others, who had got their eggs yesterday, so now had their own hatchlings. There was a general consensus that fish food was the best thing to give them. Bob said that they could try a bit of his Koi Carp fish food, as his parents had a Pond in their back garden. This outdoor fish food would probably be more suitable than food for indoor fish, which was available from the Pet Shop.
Bob said that they would only need about two flakes each, as their massive fish just had a pinch of it once a day. When everyone had gathered their eggs, they all trailed up to Bob’s house. The whole gang waited on Bob’s drive for him to return. He brought out a large tub of Koi Carp flake and gave them all a few flakes of the food.
Callum put this in straightaway as his were the biggest and the hungriest. The two mini squids seemed to ignore it. Callum thought they might eat it later when he wasn’t swishing the bottle about as he walked. The other boys who had taken their hatched squids out today put theirs in too. There was a marked size difference in Callum’s squids and theirs. The only difference was one day’s growth. The smaller ones ignored their meal too. Maybe fish food wasn’t the answer. Time would tell.
10 Pong
The Fellus, a strange Demon-like creature that was once human and had big ambitions, was meeting with Michael Thompson. Michael was a human with big ambitions which often got him into trouble. The bright side was that he was blessed with the ability to wriggle out of any kind of mischief he had made, scot-free.
Michael had helped The Fellus out on his last job and now expected the granting of those wishes as payment. Michael needed two, and The Fellus had eight.
The first of the wishes he had swapped for the finger bone of the Vampire Master. He had all the rest of the Vampire’s bones hidden away, and The Fellus wouldn’t be getting any more. A bone was a bone, although The Fellus had seemed disappointed. Michael needed the rest of Norman Morgan’s bones for the future.
The second wish was earnt as a payment for helping the Fellus kill a magical creature on the Moors.
The Fellus had come to meet Michael in the old house that he was now living in. Living in was the phrase that Michael would use, but everyone else would call it squatting.
He had moved into a damp abandoned old house on the Moors. At the back were outbuildings and a greenhouse. It was ramshackle and leaking, but some of the rooms weren’t too bad. Michael found it quite adequate for his purposes especially as it was free. What was even better was that the electricity was still on and Michael hoped that this house was far down the list of disconnections.
The Fellus wanted to meet him Michael at his home and as Michael didn’t know where The Fellus lived and The Fellus wasn’t about to tell him, it was probably the best idea. Michael imagined that visiting The Fellus would be rather like entering a lion’s den, but it was also very tempting.
The Fellus’s lair was protected by enchantments as it was where it stored all its magic and secrets. It knew that if Michael could get his hands on the rest of the wishes, he would no longer need The Fellus. There were probably lots of other powerful and rare items in there that Michael would love to get his hands on. With The Fellus being out on the hunt a lot of the time, it was worried, quite correctly, that Michael could spy his chance and take his power away from him. The Fellus would never reveal where he lived to Michael.
Michael decided he would take the initiative this evening and started off the conversation as the Fellus didn’t seem like he was going to.
’So, when am I going to get my wishes?’ Michael asked. ‘I’ve earned them fair and square.’
‘One of them I will let you have in the next few days if you like,’ The Fellus advised him. ‘But the second one, well I want you to do a bit more snooping around before I give you that one. I know what you want, which will distract you once you have it. I know you better than you know yourself.’
Michael rubbed his chin and thought about what he had said. The Fellus was not hard to miss. He glowed a greenish light at night, and his face had changed too much. The chin and ears were unusually pointed. He could not pass amongst regular people. Even if he put make-up on to cover the glow, his face was … kind of hideous. Like a green devil. Michael’s mission must involve going among the general population. The Fellus was right as well as once he had his wishes granted, he would be busy.
‘What did you need? And why?’ Michael asked him simply.
’There’s something wrong in Friarmere. I feel it is something big. I want to see if that could be to either of our advantages,’ The Fellus said.
’You mean yours really but let’s continue. What is it? Another beast full of wishes?’ Michael asked. ‘I thought that was the last.’
’Yes, that was the last Berberer around here and from what I know of, in the North of England. No, this is about a significant evil going down in the valley. It’s rising. I feel it might be bigger than I want to be part of, but there may be some kind of profit to be had if you see what I mean. Even if that isn’t so, it doesn’t hurt to keep your finger on the pulse does it?’ The Fellus asked.
’A profit, I like the way you think. The problem is that I am trying to keep a low profile, and to be honest, you haven’t paid up what you owe from before. This interests me, but I am currently out of pocket on all this,’ Michael said.
’You’ve asked for two wishes. I have told you that you can have one very soon. If you help me, I will you will give you the other one the day after. I need you, Michael. That is the plain and honest truth for you,’ The Fellus said, quite honestly.
’I appreciate your frankness,’ Michael said. ‘Even though I would like to have both those wishes granted at the same time. I have had decided it would be better for me to pace myself.’
‘The focus of my two wishes are both my heart’s desire and handfuls at the same time. I think it would be easier dealing with one at a time. I also need a better house than this, especially once I have both’ Michael continued.
‘They appreciated the good things in life and even as Vampires they were quite precious. So, I will want to keep them happy when they turn up again. If this venture could be profitable someway, then I’m in. If it’s not, I want both wishes and a bit on the top, all right?’ Michael asked.
Before The Fellus could reply, Michael spoke again. ‘Because remember, it’s my neck on the line, and I don’t really want to be seen down there by certain people. You know who I mean. I’m not stupid mate,’ Michael touched the side of his nose.
’I agree to your terms,’ The Fellus said.
’Can you give me any more details about the opportunity?’ Michael asked.
‘Not that much. I feel it’s to do with water and a primordial force. A great evil. I would say to you, watch yourself too. This is a big matter and an opponent that I wouldn’t want to take on, even if I could walk amongst normal people, and investigate myself,’ The Fellus said.
‘Thanks,’ Michael said. ‘I’ll start nosing around. I know how to not be seen in and around the Village.’
Martyn and Ivy were on patrol again. The nights were getting cooler, and there was a hint of rain in the air. Friarmere smelled damp.
As the two Police Officers walked through the Park, checking that all was well, they picked up a new scent, apart from the mouldy wetness.
’Something pongs,’ Ivy said.
’Smells like rotten fish,’ Martyn agreed. ‘It must be coming from the river.’
They walked across the playground area of the Park and then the playing field. It was totally black. There was no lighting on the playing fields or on the river. The only illumination came from the lights on Jim’
s boat, over the other side of the river on the canal. It was faint, small and too far away to serve any useful purpose to them.
They walked to the edge of the river and shone their torches along the riverbank, and in the centre. The river was bubbling away merrily.
‘We are never going to see it in the dark,’ Ivy said. ‘Oh, it’s vile, that smell.’
Both Police Officers pinched their noses.
As Martyn passed his torch along the length of the river, there was a movement to the right side of him. A large, black shape.
‘Did you see that?’ He said to Ivy, pointing to the right of them.
‘No, I was looking the other way,’ Ivy said, now pointing her torch to the right.
‘Something moved,’ Martyn said.
’There’s nothing there now. I hate to say it, but it was probably a rat,’ Ivy said, sighing. ‘I can’t see anything in the water, can you?’
‘It was bigger than a rat. Lots bigger. It was probably a shadow,’ Martyn said.
‘The bushes are blowing, making shadows everywhere. Can you see what the smell is?’ Ivy asked.
‘No, but the smell is definitely coming from here. Poor Jim. Let’s just hope the wind doesn’t change direction and blow it over to him,’ Martyn commented.
‘He’s probably used to it. If we had him here, he would be more qualified than us to identify that smell,’ Ivy said.
‘You might be right,’ Martyn said.
‘Let’s go. We can’t see anything. We’ll have to have a look tomorrow in the light. I’ll bring the pegs for our noses,’ Ivy said.
In Moorston Graham had dropped off to sleep in his chair watching the TV. He had enjoyed a nice pie and chips for his tea washed down with a couple of beers. He had been sitting in the chair, flicking through the channels. Nothing was holding his attention, so he had nodded off wondering about what to wear for Miles and Tammy’s Wedding day.
He had been thinking about it off and on for weeks with no hint of an idea. It was starting to stress him out a bit. If Miles wasn’t such a good mate, he would have considered pulling out, just because he didn’t know what to wear. Graham had to face it, he would have to find something, and quick.
In his dream, he strode around the Moors, smelling the heather. Happy and at peace with the world. The air was warm, and he knew he was at work. Graham looked down at his unusual clothes and old-fashioned gun. Somehow, he knew he was a Gamekeeper.
He woke up with a start. What a strange dream. Graham then had the realisation, that his brain was giving him the answer. That’s what I’ll be - a Gamekeeper. I could probably put some sort of an outfit together from my own clothes and get a false gun from a toy shop. Graham now felt incredibly happy and content. That had taken a big weight off his mind. He went so far as to say out loud.
’Thank you, brain,’ Graham said. He chuckled to himself. Silly old bugger, talking back to his own head. He turned the television off, put his empty bottles in the bin and went to bed.
All over the Village of Friarmere, next to sleeping boy’s beds, a new batch of eggs began to hatch.
11 Rattlesnake
Early on Saturday afternoon, Michael was skulking around the back streets of Friarmere, when he heard the sound of a Brass Band. He knew from his years of being in it that it was Friarmere Band and that they would probably be playing at the opposite end of the Village to him, near St. Dominic’s Church. They wouldn’t see him, and he planned to use this opportunity to do as The Fellus had asked.
He would investigate the valley in Friarmere, especially the river – following the clues that The Fellus had told him. He called at the corner shop, all the time listening for the Band, knowing he was safe as long as he could hear their music. He bought himself a lunch of pork pies, scotch eggs and a can of Tizer.
The Fellus had said water, but there was a canal and a river. The canal was quiet, not even a fisherman.
Michael walked the long way around to the Park until he got to the river. He was surprised to see how many young people were there, all boys. Every one of them had a fizzy drink bottle and were filling them up with river water.
This is interesting, Michael thought. What’s in there? This has got to be part of it. He watched every movement. One thing was clear. He seemed to need a bottle, not a can.
After eating his small meal, Michael walked back to the shop and bought a large bottle of Tizer. He would sit and drink this and then have a closer look at what was so interesting about this part of the river, particularly what was interesting enough to want to take away.
He looked at the red liquid in his large bottle, glinting in the sunlight as he drained it. If they could fit whatever it was in there, inside those small bottles, Michael reckoned he could get about fifty times the amount in one of these bottles.
During the interval, the Band had twenty minutes to have a drink and a comfort break. The gig was at a club on the High Street that had a front lawn. They played on this grass, passers-by and people at the Coffee Shop could listen. It drew quite a crowd and happened every week in Summer with Bands coming from all over the area to take their yearly slot. This was probably one of the last outdoor gigs that the club would have, before starting again next Spring. The weather could be very unpredictable in Friarmere.
Martyn decided to use the interval to try and question people about what they were going to dress up as for the Wedding. There seemed to be a practice of not spoiling the surprise within the Band. A lot of people were very secretive.
‘What are you going as this weekend?’ Martyn asked Gary.
’A surprise,’ Gary answered.
’Right,’ Martyn laughed. ‘I think everyone else is going as that too. Well tell me this, are you going to a lot of effort? I’m asking for Ivy. She doesn’t know whether to go simple or big.’
‘Tell her to go in the middle,’ Gary said.
‘Is that what you are doing?’ Martyn asked.
‘In a way. My actual outfit is pretty simple. But my prop is big, and I’m not saying any more than that,’ Gary said.
‘Prop!’ Martyn exclaimed. His Rhett Butler outfit might not cut the mustard. Martyn looked at Terry. ‘Are you going to spill the beans?’
’I wish I knew the beans. Your guess is as good as mine,’ Terry said. ‘My daughters are going and they said that they are sorting it out for me. It seems to be very funny to the pair of them, I can’t imagine what I’ll end up as. I can’t be bothered about it. It’s not the sort of thing I’m into. I suppose I’ll find out on the morning of the Wedding.’ He shrugged his shoulders.
The next person Martyn decided to ask was Wee Renee. She was sure to be open about it all. He was wrong. Wee Renee wanted to surprise everyone too.
‘What are you going as to this Wedding, Wee Renee?’ Martyn asked.
’Aye, well it’s not what I wanted to be. I wanted to go in another direction, but I couldn’t find my stripy tights,’ Wee Renee said sadly.
’What are you going as?’ Martyn asked.
‘I’m not saying,’ she said. ’I will tell you one thing, that if I had found my tights, I would have gone as Pippi Longstocking.’
‘That’s a blast from the past,’ Maurice said. ‘Pippi Longstocking … that takes me back.’
’Aye, I was going to plait my hair and put wires in it and everything. Now all that’s sadly vanished into the ether unless I find them. I tell you what, I’ll give you a clue to my second choice,’ Wee Renee said happily.
’Go on,’ Martyn said.
’I’m going to spiral tongue my hair, I’ll just say that. And she’s famous and still alive. There, I’ve given you three clues. No more now,’ Wee Renee started smiling mysteriously.
’What are you going as or is it a secret?’ Martyn asked Pat.
’It’s a secret,’ Pat said. ‘Between me and the bathroom landing.’ Pat sniffed in punctuation.
’She’s going as what she always goes as, that’s what,’ Wee Renee said.
’I might no
t Rene,’ Pat said indignantly.
’You will Pat, and everyone knows you will,’ Wee Renee said.
’What does she always go as?’ Martyn asked. At least five voices piped up ‘Lady Diana.’
’She’s got the frilly blouse and pearl earrings and everything,’ Wee Renee said.
Jackie stood behind her sister nodding and winking, confirming to Martyn that Pat was indeed going as Lady Diana.
So now he knew one apart from his own. He could feed this bit of information back to Ivy. At least it was something.
Hell And High Water Page 5
