‘By that strange young man in a duffel coat.’ Gwen pointed in the direction of some small conifers. As Albert and Sam turned to look, Duffel tried hard to look harmless and innocent, ‘I can explain –‘ he started forward, ‘I’ve come to –‘ but not giving Duffel a chance to explain anything, he was unexpectedly pounced on from behind and losing his footing fell over.
Mary Parker stood triumphantly over Duffel pleased her hiding place in the bushes had paid off. ‘He’s trespassing!’ she announced to Albert and Gwen, ‘and, ‘ sparing a thought for poor CPO Makepiece, ‘the police have been informed.’
Duffel lay there and wondered if he could summon up any initiative now. With Sam in his sights – for it had to be Sam over there with the Caretaker and that woman, and time running out – what to do? It must have been the morning for dilemmas and decisions. With both Albert fixed to the spot and unable to get to grips with this situation, and Duffel likewise incapable, it was Sam who made the first move. This was the very change he’d been sensing and sniffing all morning. Leaving Albert and Gwen he ran over to the duffel-coated young man on the ground and went straight for the pockets. Mary, who thought she saw bared teeth stepped away smartly. ‘I knew he looked suspicious – that dog certainly thinks so!’
‘Why Sam wouldn’t hurt anything or anyone,’ Albert spoke up angrily. Whoever this woman was she had no right on the School premises, any more than this unfortunate young man did. Taking charge now of the situation, (much to Gwen’s admiration) Albert walked over to the patch of grass where Duffel now sitting up, was making friends with the dog. Sam was jumping up and down, chasing himself round in circles and making small yelping noises – as soon as he had sniffed the hankie in Duffel’s pocket he knew he was going home. The hankie and the lead. Duffel stood up, clipped the lead onto Sam’s collar, and regaining the power of speech, made his own announcement.
‘I’ve come to take Sam home – and thank you!’ He looked at the Caretaker. ‘He’ll be quite safe – going back to his real owner you see.’ Sam strained at the lead, anxious to go and Duffel had to break into a run to keep up. They had just over 15 minutes left.
Albert examined the hankie, fluttering on the ground where Sam had left it. There was something familiar about it but for the moment he could only stare at the disappearing view of Sam and this stranger. ‘Wait!’ he shouted after them, and decided to follow, ‘You didn’t tell me your name, where you’re from – or where you’re taking Sam!’
They were running down the track now, Sam guiding Duffel and barking with excitement. The wind seemed to be on their side, fairly pushing them along and although passing people with umbrellas fighting to walk upright and soaking wet, they were both dry. Taking a swift look back, Duffel recognised Albert and Gwen and that awful old granny woman. They seemed to be gaining and Duffel knew they couldn’t afford anymore hold ups. Mr Watkins would be waiting to bring them back.
CPO Makepiece finally struggled into a sitting position. No one had passed in the full hour and a half he’d laid there. His faith in humankind not to mention the community was seriously dented. The call on his mobile had turned out to be his mother asking what he wanted for his tea. ‘Lamb chops or stew dear?’ He had been too dejected to choose and rung off quickly. ‘Yes. Of course I’m all right!.’ Now his Mother would sit and worry for CPO Makepiece never snapped and normally loved her lamb chops. Makepiece rubbed his eyes for surely that couldn’t be the young man in the duffel coat speeding towards him. With a dog now. Watching out for his back, he carefully manoeuvred himself upright. Ready to apprehend and caution.
Recognising the policeman from earlier on Duffel called to Sam to be ‘on your guard boy!’ Sam went into the menacing dog routine, snarling at Makepiece in a convincing show of strength. For the second time that day, the policeman fell over, sliding gracefully over a patch of wet leaves to land, yet again, on the now sodden ground of the track. It was Mary Parker who found him, and thinking to be kind, moved him. This finally wrenched his back and would result in two months off sick. And so he never did see what happened next and had to rely on Mary’s account. To be quite honest this beggared belief for any community-minded officer.
‘And there goes PC Plod!’ Duffel laughed as they sped past. Turning into the street where he had arrived earlier on, Duffel headed for the same place in the road. Wishing he had marked it with more care, Duffel hoped for the best and stood in what he thought was the same place of arrival. Sam by his side. A phone rang making them both start. It seemed to be ringing nearby, and reaching into the pockets of his duffel coat, Duffel found a ringing mobile phone and answered it.
‘You on standby Duffel? A reassuringly calm Mr Watkins was at the other end and issued a further command. ‘Just press the star button at the count of ten for your return – Sam’s owner is waiting. A successful quest then – knew you could pull it off!’ then the phone went dead. Duffel started the slow count to ten aware that a delay of any kind would have them both earthbound.
Albert and Gwen hurried up the street, soaking wet and tired of fighting the wind. Albert clutched the hankie and had a determined look on his face. Thinking what a pillar of strength Gwen was, and glad of her company, he looked up the street to where Sam was. Next to the young man in the middle of the road. In the very same place where he’d rescued him last year. ‘He seems to be counting,’ Gwen turned to Albert, ‘I thought he said nine…..’
‘Ten!’ And Duffel and Sam left the street. Disappeared. Gone. Mary Parker said it was dark forces and was sure a big black cloud had engulfed both of them. Albert, who thought she was a can short of a six pack (this made Gwen laugh), had his own ideas. Much later he had examined the hankie again and realised what it was that was so familiar. In the corner of the hankie, just above the green border, was an insignia of seven stars. Just like the stars on Sam’s disc. Perhaps Gregory had a point after all.
Wonka jumped down off the side, satisfied that the story for Easter all about being lost and found, strange other worlds and sightings, revelations and such had hit the spot. I always loved Duffel, and for a short time had been a child again sitting with my brother probably one either side of my Dad listening to him telling us a story. ‘I think he would have liked my Duffel story’ I said to Wonka, ‘especially reviving Sam’. We had all loved Sam, and there was a small wooden carving of him up on the mantelpiece. I stroked it now, still in a dream of childhood and then the early years of my marriage when Sam came to us, free to a good home.
‘I’m starving!’ Wonka scraped at the row of boxes knocking a few pouches over and I carefully read the contents of his latest favourites. ‘You love this one, it’s the sardine…’ He sniffed it and ran off. I did wonder if I should break open one of the eggs, surely it wouldn’t harm.
‘and lay off the chocolate!’ shouted Wonka from the depths of the living room.
‘Right you are!’ I shouted back, popping some in my mouth.
Happy Easter everyone!
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