CHAPTER 5
The White Lady
"'ere 'e is!" yelled Yatesy, Asaid I heard sommat didn't I!@ the dog was leaping up into the air barking madly at the boy above. Jake and Fleabag came running.
"Told yer it was 'im in the 'elmet!" shouted Jake. He pointed his air-pistol up at Davey and shouted, "Get down will ya!"
"What's happening? Where am I?" asked Davey in fright and confusion.
"'e wants to know where 'e is!" laughed Fleabag, the two other youths joined in laughing. He shouted back at Davey, "We're the Carnatic Click and this is our place, get down and we won't hurt yer."
The looks on their faces told Davey otherwise, fear cleared his mind, "Tell your dog to get away and I'll get down."
"LURCH! 'ere boy!" ordered Jake, the dog ignored him and kept leaping up snatching its teeth on empty air. Jake ran in and kicked it in the side, it yelped away, "Right you, get down 'ere NOW or I'll shoot," he yelled taking careful aim.
Davey jumped down and darted immediately to the carriage, a tree stump had been cut to provide a step to climb inside, the dog was almost upon him as he jumped on the stump grabbed a bumper and hauled himself up. He stood, staring in disbelief at the empty interior, unable to believe that the images he had seen had not been real.
"Gerrout of it!" came the yell as Jake started to climb after him. Davey sprinted through the length of the carriage and leapt out at the far end, he hit the ground running and tore through bushes and vines.
"GET 'IM," yelled the youths tearing after him. Davey had a head start but he knew that he could not hope to outrun the dog. He burst through the bushes into the field beyond and sprinted away.
By the time the youths reached the field he had put a good distance between himself and his pursuers and was running so swiftly they realised he would escape.
"LURCH! Get 'im," shouted Jake. The dog loped along out of kicking distance with its bottom jaw hanging low.
"GET 'IM LURCH or I'll boot the life out of yer," yelled Jake. The dog did not need a second bidding, it tore after Davey, he turned and saw it bearing down on him and ran faster. He ran so fast that the dog did not gain any ground, as he ran he wondered at the speed he moved. Over a low stone wall he jumped, behind it lay a shallow ditch with a trickle of muddy water in it, he cleared the ditch but the dog did not make it and landed in the water. Davey looked back and grinned as he saw the dog up to its knees in mud.
"Call Big Dave and the gang!" shouted Jake, Yatesy put his fingers into his mouth and blasted out a deafening whistle. From the trees on the far side of the field half-a-dozen more youths appeared and spread out. Davey slowed his pace and started to decide who he should head for but the dog had been given its chance, it leapt from the ground, thumping its paws into his back, the weight combined with its speed bowled him over. The animal stood above him its slavering jaws dripping onto his face.
"Tie 'im up, 'e's a slippery customer," said Jake panting as he ran up, "I told yer to just get down, now you've shown us you don't want to be friendly."
"I've got no string Jake," said Jacko.
Jake slapped him lightly across the face, "I've got no string," he mimicked, "use 'is bootlaces. God gerrout me way, I'll do it meself."
He pulled the laces out of Davey's boots.
"Right put yer 'ands together like this," he put the flats of his hands together, "keep 'em like that." Jake's sickly pale skin was covered in ginger-coloured freckles which seemed to glow red with his temper, Davey could feel the hatred within the youth as he knelt and tied one of the strings around his thumbs,
The rest of the gang members came up, "'e can't arf run," said a lanky youth whose whole face was covered in spots, "'e ran faster than yer dog Jake!" the gang laughed.
"Shut it Doggo, or you'll be getting a taste of this," Jake threatened with his fist, he turned to an even heavier built thug than himself, "what should we do with 'im Big Dave?" he asked.
Big Dave had just started shaving, the stubble grew in patches, in places it was nearly as long as his cropped hair, in a deep, dopey voice he said, "We'll roast 'is toes, give me his 'elmet."
Eager to please their leader several hands pulled the helmet from Davey's head, Big Dave stuck it proudly on his own, he droned, "I look like a Hun. Don't I Jake. Don't I Doggo. You'd berrer watch out cos I'm goin' to get you... Fleabag."
Fleabag screamed in pretend fear and ran into the woods, the gang followed, jostling their prisoner along. The chase took place around them as they walked.
"Leggo Dave, yer goin' to break it!" squealed Fleabag as Big Dave twisted his arm up his back. He had him pinned to the floor in the centre of a small clearing, one half of the clearing dipped sharply downwards so that it was lower than the other half. As Davey appeared Big Dave looked up at the fresh possibilities of torment and took hold of their prisoner, "See that rope tied up there," he pointed high into the branches of a massive oak, "that's our swing that is, get up there and get it down."
Jake untied the bootlace from Davey's thumbs, "Go on, do as 'e says, gerrup there!" A kick helped him on his way. Davey began to climb, the first fork was only twice his height, he soon reached it by means of deep cuts in the trunk which formed steps. Bark had long overgrown the cuts but they still gave a good foothold, higher he climbed. The steps were cut into a branch but they had been cut so long ago that as the tree had grown they had spaced themselves too far apart to make it easy for him, as the branch swayed in the breeze he started to feel unsafe. A slip, and minus its lace, one of his boots feel off, he clung on for dear life whilst underneath him Lurch seized the fallen gift.
"Keep goin' yer nearly there," the calls came from below but Davey had frozen, several stones winged their way towards him but nothing was going to make him climb any higher.
"Gerrout me way," shouted Big Dave. He leapt onto the trunk and climbed like a gorilla, "Shift yerself," he said tugging at Davey's heels. Davey knew he had to get out of the way. He moved to one side as Big Dave shot past him then he carefully began to descend.
"Me Tarzan the ape man!" shouted Big Dave as he took hold of the rope, one end of it was tied to the branch the other was tied to a stout, short length of stick, "'ere it comes!" He threw the stick clear of the branches. It arched downwards pulling the rope after it, and Big Dave. With a loud scream he toppled from the tree snapping off several small branches as he fell. He landed full force on his head.
"Jesus Christ 'e's dead!" said Fleabag.
"What 'appened?" said Big Dave sitting up.
"Jesus Christ 'e's alive!" said Fleabag.
"Take more than a fall to kill Big Dave," said Big Dave. He jumped to his feet and as if to prove his invincibility grabbed hold of the stick which dangled at the rope's end and ran hard, launching himself out over the lower half of the clearing. "Unga, bunga, king o' the junga," he chanted as he swept round in a big circle like a great ape. He returned to the platform and ran along it to increase his speed, this time as he swung out he lifted his knees up through his arms and hooked them over the stick, letting go he scratched his armpits with his hands as he hung upside down, "Unga, bunga, king o' the junga!"
In established pecking order the gang members each took their turns, sometimes to assert his position Big Dave barged in and took hold of the swing, "Fight yer for it!" he would challenge the gang member as they passed up their turn. Each youth had his own little ditty to chant which seemed to reflect their position, Fleabag, the lowest of the low waited until last then repeated, "Nice mice! Nice mice!" in a high-pitched squeaky voice.
Davey continually sought the opportunity to leg it but the gang had taken prisoners before, they weren't going to let him escape easily.
"'elp us with 'im, Jake," said Big Dave. They lifted Davey up by the elbows and sat him on the stick, "Thar she blows!" shouted Big Dave. They took hold of a foot each and ran, threw and spun him out, as he swung back in his head narrowly missed the trunk of the tree, another throw and he was sent out even further.
"AMMO!" yelled D
oggo picking up handfuls of acorns and cramming them into his pockets, others copied. Big Dave stood tall as toadies passed him his ammunition.
"Take aim, FIRE!" A thousand acorns flew through the air, Davey pressed his face down into his arms, beneath him, wild with excitement, Lurch leapt up and grazed his bootless foot with its teeth.
"Prepare for boarding!" called Jake who was perched in the fork of the oak tree. As Davey swung in Jake leapt for the rope and thumped himself onto Davey's shoulders. Others scrabbled into the tree, "Prepare for boarding!" they called as they dived on board, soon five bodies whirled and twirled above the clearing.
Fleabag tried to emulate the others, in his shrill voice he called, "Prepare for boarding," but as he flew through the air a well-placed foot was stuck in his way. He crumpled to the ground and lay moaning and crying as the swingers split their sides at his misfortune.
When the boarding party was completed Davey was ordered to collect wood.
"We're goin' to roast yer toes," said Big Dave, "then we're goin' to eat them."
Davey collected his boot which had been well chewed by the dog, "What yer doin'?" questioned Yatesy, "Oo said purrit back on?"
"I need it so I can get wood, Yatesy," said Davey, using the thug's name to try to appease him.
Yatesy grunted.
Other gang members were foraging for sweet horse-chestnuts to roast for dinner, soon a fire was going and chestnuts were popping. Davey stood to one side watching the youths tearing the shells from the hot nuts inside. Like a pack of wild dogs all attention seemed to be on the eating and getting their share as he drifted first to the edge of the clearing, then into the wood.
"'e's getting away!" squealed Fleabag.
"I'll 'ave 'im!" droned Big Dave.
"LURCH!" ordered Jake.
Davey dodged through trees and bushes, trying his best to shake off his chasers, Big Dave ran faster than he could cope with, he lost control and went smashing into a tree, the sight of him staggering around caused the gang to break into howls of laughter even Lurch cackled like a hyena. It gave Davey valuable seconds, he reached the overgrown gardens of the mansion and paused but the sounds of pursuit sent him hurdling up onto a low wall in front of the house, the wall surrounded a perfectly flat patch of long straggly grass. As he darted between wrought iron columns and under balconies the sounds of the chase grew, he twisted round the corner of the mansion hoping that he would not be seen.
"'e's 'ere!" yelled a pursuer spotting a boot disappearing.
Round the back of the house paving stones gave way to uneven cobbles, sandstone archways led him on to derelict stables. He ran into the stables hoping to find somewhere to hide but they were bare and empty with no possibility of concealment; then out through the back of the stables to where there stood a tall sandstone wall whose railing gate offered the only entrance, Lurch's bark was gaining, he opened the gate and stepped into a walled garden.
It was calm and peaceful in the garden, even the faint breeze was stilled by the walls which were three times his height, at one end towered the mansion; dull grey lead down-spouts contrasted against the dark red stones, they led up to stone gutters where crudely carved sandstone gargoyles glowered ready to belch rainwater, above them eagles and great cats stalked in statues of stone. The garden was overgrown with weeds, great thorn bushes strangled the life from Autumn flowers, shattered glass houses hid their contents with moss-covered panes.
The sounds of pursuit had died down but Davey knew they would not give up, he made his way to the house seeking a hiding-place. Parting the rusty red ivy which draped down the walls he saw the windows were boarded up with slats of wood stamped CEYLON TEA. Then came the sound he had been dreading, "'e's over 'ere!" followed by a piercing whistle.
Yatesy was on top of the garden wall.
He realised he was trapped, the bulk of Big Dave filled the gate, Yatesy hung down from the lip of the wall and dropped to the weeds below.
There was no other way out, he turned to the ivy and began climbing up its thick strands. More pursuers arrived to bellow abuse, he climbed higher, when he had reached first floor level a high-pitched shriek came from below, "Wouldn't go in there if I were you, the White Lady'll get yer."
"Shut it Fleabag, gerrup and gerrim," said Big Dave.
Fleabag shot back out of the garden squealing, AShe'll get >im, leave >im to her!@
Big Dave was unsure of what to do next, his dull brain sought for a possibility, Jake, always ready to undermine his leadership shouted to Davey, "Get down and we'll let yer go!@
Davey didn't answer, he was in a dangerous position, the spidery roots of the ivy were unable to penetrate the sandstone which had been tempered by weathering until it had become as hard as granite, as he put his weight upon it strips of the plant tore away, it was a grateful hand which took hold of a window-ledge.
Big Dave finally came up with a tactic of his own, "Brick 'im!" he bellowed. Hands scrabbled for stones in ancient flower beds.
The window had not been as securely boarded as those on ground-level. Davey jerked at a strip of wood, it gave way, he threw it down at the gang as stones clattered against the wall around him.
"I'll flippin' teach 'im," said Big Dave, and to Jake, "come on, we'll 'ave 'im!"
Jake muttered some form of protest but Big Dave just looked at him. They were half-way up the wall when a thick piece of wood struck Big Dave on the helmet it bounced off and caught Jake high on his cheek-bone, "I'll kill 'im," roared Jake climbing faster not caring about the danger. "You need one of these Jakey boy!" said Big Dave tapping his helmet and taking pleasure from Jake's injury. Davey disappeared in through the window.
"Spread out you lot in case 'e gets out," shouted down Jake. The gang dispersed to surround the building.
Inside it was perfectly still, Davey's feet echoed on the wooden floors, little light penetrated from the boarded up windows, filmy cobwebs floated across his face, he crossed the room to where light outlined a doorway, feeling round for the handle the door gave a loud creak as it opened. Light flooded in revealing a magnificent stairway which swept down to the floor below, above the stairway although obscured by layers of dust, a massive cut glass chandelier glittered. The chandelier hung from a central point in a huge circular domed window which was set into the roof above, the light streamed in through the window illuminating the house.
Davey was stunned by the magnificence; carved cherubs supported stuccowork, wrought iron balustrades topped with ornate brass lined both the stairway and landing, heavy doorways were surrounded with carved oak architraves.
"Come 'ere you!" yelled Jake as he reached the window.
Davey slammed the door shut and ran across the square of landing, in its centre hung the chandelier, light reflected from numerous cut-glass facets as he darted around it. On the far side a wide corridor led to five heavy doors, he tried each door, two were locked but the third admitted him, he ran into a room which had an open door at its far side, the room was totally bare. Behind him he heard the commotion as Big Dave and Jake piled in through the window, quickly he shut the door behind himself and ran through the doorway opposite.
"Come on out, we know where yer are!" shouted Big Dave.
The door led along a further narrow section of corridor then stopped dead. Davey sank to the floor, trapped. When the door to the room behind him creaked open he clenched his fists and stood up, determined to make a fight of it but then came Big Dave's deep voice, "Naw, try this one first Jake!"
A different door was opened and their footsteps disappeared, like a trapped animal Davey looked wildly around, his heart missed a beat when he saw a hatch set into the ceiling. Placing his feet against one side of the corridor and his back against the other he began climbing up the walls, the hatch opened easily and smoothly, with a quick movement he took hold of the lip of the opening and then pulled himself up. He found himself inside the attic, in places roof tiles were missing admitting light which suspended thick clouds of
dust in its midst and clogged against thick cobwebs. He brushed the webs aside with a sweep of his arm and began making his way forwards. Feeling the ceiling groaning under his weight he took care to place his feet on the joists which carried the heavy plasterwork of the ceilings below. A dull tinge to the floor on the far side of the attic indicated a break in a ceiling. All was still and silent as he crossed towards it hoping to find a place to re-enter the house, each careful footstep produced clouds of dust which threatened to make him sneeze.
A hole had been made in the ceiling, the way the plaster had been pushed downwards showed that it had been made from above, Davey lowered himself to the attic floor and looked down into the room below. The room was gloomy but his eyes did not need to readjust, he knew that what he saw before him was no trick of the light.
She sat, but the object she sat upon was no longer in evidence; she wore a long white flowing dress, bracelets and necklets adorned her; her hair, fastened with gold clasps hung like a raven's wing, she was beautiful. Slowly the white lady turned and looked up at him.
"Long have I waited for you, help me," she begged in so pitiful a voice that Davey felt no fear but only compassion.
AWhat...who..are you?@
Someone was listening outside the door it burst open, "Get 'im!" yelled Big Dave, Jake ran straight towards the white lady then stopped and screamed.
"Yer yellerbelly!" yelled Big Dave, "'e's up there!"
Jake backed slowly away crying and whimpering, Big Dave also let out an almighty scream as he saw the white lady rise and stand up. She flowed across the floor towards him, Jake turned and fled but the eyes of the white lady were fixed upon the helmet.
"..I..don't..wannit.." said Big Dave taking it off and holding it out towards her. She floated towards him, reached out her delicate hands and took it from his shaking hams.
Big Dave screamed out of the room then tore down the stairs to where Jake was vainly trying to batter down a door, without stopping he ploughed into the door smashing it and the boarding behind it into pieces. The rest of the gang converged on the spot but their leaders never stopped running, their minions chased after them with cries of, "Did you get 'im?" and, "'as 'e got away?" amid Fleabag's shrieks of, "It's the White Lady," which lent wings to their heels.
Davey listened in astonishment as the white lady spoke to him, APlease do not be afraid of me, I have waited for you, I have seen you before, the old man said you would come.@
He lowered himself into the room and dropped to the floor, the white lady placed the helmet upon his head. "The helmet is the key, the Shaman is near.@
"I'm David McCann," said Davey not knowing what else to say.
APlease help me, I cannot bear to be like this any longer, I only want to...@ she broke down.
Davey's head was spinning with what he was hearing, none of it made any sense to him but he knew that he must do something. AI'll stay with you,@ he said hesitantly, then asked, Ayou're not something to do with that man who was stabbed are you?@
The white lady looked at him through sorrowful eyes and slowly shook her head, AThere is much for you to learn before you will be able to do anything. I shall wait for you to return, I know you shall. Go now, quickly,@ she moved across to the boarded up window, Ait grows cold and dark, beware the powers of the night.@ She moved back into a sitting position then glided backwards through a panelled wall, another faint "help me" reached his ears then all was still and silent.