by S G Read
‘Are all these Will’s Bill?’
‘No we went out and collected a load more, we have a tool for every occasion and a few spares. If they break one we go out and get another one as long as we can find one. We have a few out on loan to other settlements; in exchange we have some of their tools here.’
‘Sounds good to me, is this place big enough?’
‘Not really.’
‘Now that the hospital is finished we could build a new place especially for your tools after Christmas, talk to Jethro about it.’
‘The first Christmas since the plague but should we call it Christmas?’ Bill asked.
‘Oh yes, for the children! They have been through a lot and they will need Christmas.’
‘I used to dress up as Father Christmas back in our village so that they had somewhere to post their letters, do you want me to do the same here?’ Bill offered.
‘I think that is a marvellous idea, did you bring your suit?’
‘I knew I had forgotten something!’
‘Go out with a few people to make sure you make it back in one piece and find yourself a nice looking suit from a fancy dress shop.’
‘I suppose I could do the rounds.’
‘You could but I will have to ask around about it when Ralphy is asleep.’
‘Does he still believe in Father Christmas?’ Bill asked.
‘It appears so, or he was pulling my chain really well.’ Ray answered.
‘Hush hush then!’ Bill replied, putting his finger to his lips.
Ray drove back into the main part of the settlement and saw a car coming toward him. He pulled up next to it.
‘Hello Bradley, how are things?’
‘Fine now that I have healed up. Gareth wants to know if we can come and stay over Christmas.’
‘Of course, stay as long as you like. I there a problem?’
‘We are finding hard to settle in one place. Will said he would give us electricity when we did but all we do is argue about where we should stay.’
‘And Gareth listens?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well that is a good sign but it is up to him to choose a place where it is easy to run power to and to get oil there if it is needed. I chose this place because of the wall round it so maybe you should look for somewhere like this.’
‘We are.’
‘Well if you can’t find a suitable one with a wall round it, choose another place and let us know; we know a thing or two about building walls! Tell him we can talk about it when you come for Christmas, have you heard about the party yet?’
‘No our radio died.’
‘Take another one from the stores, they probable looted it from somewhere where you would have taken it from.’
Bradley drove on and two motorbikes came through the front gates. Ray drove up and recognised the two young men on the bikes.
‘You chose to return then?’ He asked.
‘Yes it is a bit dead on the west coast and the Geiger counter started to creep up.’
‘Well the clan are no more so you are welcome as long as you don’t cause any trouble!’ Ray warned.
‘Thanks, where can we get some food?’
Ray pointed behind him to the canteen. ‘That is our new canteen, get some food and come and see me later in the main house.’ He pointed to the main house so that they knew where he meant.
They rode past him as far as the canteen and he turned round to cut round the back of the canteen to go back to the main house. As he turned, he saw Will drive up from the direction of the house he was rewiring but he seemed engrossed and headed for the new hospital. Ray drove on and parked in his parking space by the garages. No one rushed out to see him, which was a good sign and he settled in the library to read while he contemplated what to do with the two ex clan men. With Bill ready to embark on a tour as Santa they might prove useful as elves on motorcycles. He pictured them in green on the back of the Harleys and smiled, if they are up for that they might well prove a valuable asset to the settlement. He carried on reading, off and on until they walked into the library.
‘I have a job for you two.’ Ray announced and saw them smile.
Would they still be smiling when they knew what it entailed?
‘Bill from Mayfield has agreed to dress up as Santa and go round any settlement which wants him to, mainly to cheer up the children and collect the letters to Santa. I want you to go with him – dressed as elves!’
One looked at the other and was obviously trying to imagine him dressed as an elf.
‘I’ll do it just to see him dressed as an elf.’ He announced.
‘Do we have to wear green tights all the time?’ The other man asked.
‘Only when you are visiting the children.’ Ray answered.
‘Oh okay, just to see him in green tights!’
‘See Bill in the shop in the village.’ He pointed in the general direction. ‘He will tell you what he wants you to do.’
They were laughing as they walked out, not clannish at all. Ray had to wait for Ralphy to finally call it a day and go to bed, then with the television room door closed he contacted each British settlement, the idea of flying Santa to America or Australia seemed a bit over the top. He offered Bill’s services and there were no refusals, they all wanted him to turn up. They were going to install a post box for Santa’s mail in the middle of the settlement for the elves to collect. Santa would make a personal appearance while they were collecting the post. The only settlement he did not ask was Gareth’s as they would be there for Christmas and they had no children. Ray decided it would be a good thing to make a special vehicle for Santa to arrive in; he decided to talk to the others, but in the morning, as it was late now. Now it was time for bed. He crept up to their room and snuggled in next to Rebecca who stirred but did not wake.
In the morning he drove down to Bill’s shop and found him talking to Byron and Charles. Byron had a book and he was pointing to picture of elves in it.
‘No one minds how tall you are lad!’ Bill declared. ‘As long as you are dressed right.’
‘But elves are little people.’ Charles argued.
‘In the old days maybe but now they are tall, about as tall as you are.’ Bill answered.
‘Have you found them any kit yet?’ Ray asked.
‘I have but they have yet to try it on.’ Bill answered.
Ray just looked at the two young men who capitulated and disappeared to put the costumes on.
‘A timely arrival.’ Bill declared.
‘I thought a slight push might be needed.’ Ray replied.
They waited for the two men to appear, vowing not to laugh in anyway. It was hard work though and Ray soon left them to it, waiting until he was out of sight before he started laughing.
The arrangements for Bills outings ate into Ray’s beauty sleep but he felt it was worth it, he made notes in a separate diary to keep his bookings secret from Ralphy; just in case. He wrote out a list by hand for Bill and took it to him personally.
‘Looks like your services are wanted by all.’ Ray declared as he gave him the list.
Bill looked down the list. ‘Long way to Scotland!’
‘I’ll arrange a lift but you will have to take your Santa sled and your elves will need their Harleys so I hope Justine can fly something bigger than normal?’
‘I get to fly? Getting better all the time!’ Bill cried.
Later that day he left with his elves all dressed for the part. Bill was dressed as Santa’s postman and had hastily built post-boxes to install in each settlement; he hoped that they were big enough to take all the letters for the children in the settlement, if there were any.
Justine took time to get used to the new larger plane which would take their car driven into it up a ramp at the rear, they were purloining it from an RAF airport and she made sure she was happy before she took of and she had two pupils with her in case of trouble. They were excellent pilots now. She flew back to the airport nearby and then too
k them to each venue and landed near enough for the modified car to get there quick enough to do them all in one day. When the boxes had been installed in each settlement, including their own Bill sought out Ray.
‘What do I use to pull my sleigh?’ He asked.
‘Have you got a sleigh?’ Ray asked in return.
‘No but Byron and Charles have stayed at the airport to make one in the empty hanger. They took their bikes so I don’t know how they are going to do it but they insisted they could.’
‘In that case we have to scare up some reindeers.’ Ray declared.
‘Where from?’ Bill asked.
‘Worst case scenario is Lapland but what about animals in the zoo which have been let out? Ask Jeremy and his brother they might know of some.’
Bill did just that and they all converged on Ray.
‘We reckon it needs to be Lapland to get healthy reindeer.’ Jeremy announced.
‘Well if a car went into the new plane will four reindeers?’ Ray asked.
‘I spoke to Justine and she said she might have to land anywhere so she will have to take a large helicopter to do it.’ Bill answered.
‘Does she think she can cope? I don’t want her to crash it, not just for authenticity!’
‘She is willing to try and Barry said he would go with her in case there was trouble.’ Bill answered.
‘I will go with her and see what she thinks before she test flies the helicopter, if it is big enough it will take the sleigh to the settlements as well.’
‘Is that wise?’ Jeremy asked. ‘You are our leader.’
‘I will never let someone do anything I wouldn’t do Jeremy, I just don’t think it is right. Send Brian in please.’
They left and Brian arrived.
‘It seems we are going to Lapland to get some reindeer for authenticity so can you plan the route, it will be a helicopter; hopefully.’
‘Consider it done Ray, if Justine is willing to try, I am willing to go along.’
‘It will be as soon as we can do it.’ Ray explained to make sure he started immediately.
‘I’m right on it.’ Brian replied.
They drove to the airport and Justine flew them to the same RAF airport that she had taken the other plane from. She took the jet and refuelled it as soon as they arrived to be ready to fly back again. Justine sat in the helicopter reading the instructions from a manual for an hour before she even started the engine. For the next hour she lifted off the ground a little way, manoeuvred and settled back down again. She used all the controls to see just what they did and sometimes they landed on the ground with a jolt.
Finally she lifted off and soared into the air; once up she tried the controls again, until she was sure of herself then she landed again.
Now the jet took of with number three pupil flying it while Justine took off with number two pupil in the co pilot seat. She flew it back to their airport and landed without any trouble.
‘A lot easier than a jet anytime.’ She declared as she stepped out onto the tarmac. ‘Fill her up and we’ll shoot off to Lapland in our winter woollies.’
Brian directed them, using maps and compasses and after a long journey they were flying over Lapland. Below they saw Reindeer and Justine hovered above the ground as close as she could to the reindeers.
Jeremy and his brother Jake jumped out as soon as it landed and ended up deep in snow. They were pulled out by those still in the helicopter and hauled back inside.
‘Why are they still up in deep snow I thought they went where the grass was still available?’ Jake complained.
‘Can you chase them out of the deep snow with the helicopter?’ Jeremy asked turning to Justine.
‘I think so.’ Justine answered.
She gained a little height and herded them to lower ground but as soon as they were near the visible grass dogs appeared.
‘Put it down.’ Barry cried. ‘We will have to sort them out.’
Justine landed and the men started firing at the dogs while the reindeer returned to deeper snow. Several dogs fell dead or wounded before the others fled.
‘They must be hungry to go after reindeer.’ Jake declared. ‘Leave me here with Barry and we will wipe those perishers out.’
‘I’ll stay as well.’ Ray added and picked up a rifle and pistol from the selection of weapons.
All three jumped out and Justine took off again.
‘Do I herd them back straight away?’ She asked without looking round at Jeremy.
‘No best wait until the shooting stops before we send them back, with no dogs there they should start grazing. We haven’t seen any one here have we?’
‘No.’ Brian answered. ‘I was wondering if the plague had got this far and was as lethal but it looks like they were all wiped out.’
‘Not used to germs I reckon.’ Jericho said from the back.
‘Could be it.’ Brian agreed. ‘It also means the plague does not worry about it being cold!’
‘Whoever made it did a good job!’ Jericho answered.
While Justine hovered some way away the three on the ground were moving forward and shooting every dog they came across. It took an hour and Justine landed to save fuel while they did it.
Finally they came back and climbed on board.
‘Can’t see anymore live dogs about now, we must have killed seventy of them.’ Barry declared.
‘Are you going to wait for us to drive them down to you, brother?’ Jeremy asked.
‘Yes. Should be okay now.’ Jake answered.
Ray and Barry stayed with him just in case and Justine herded the reindeer back down to the grass. They did not want to go and were very wary once they were there but with no dogs running out to harry them they soon started to graze.
Jake walked amongst them without a care in the world, looking each reindeer over until he had chosen the four he wanted. Then one by one he put a rope on them and led them to the parked helicopter. They had to be blindfolded to get them on board but they had food waiting and the reindeers were soon on board eating food.
‘How is the fuel?’ Brian asked.
‘Probably have to stop on the way back.’ Justine answered.
‘I’ll change the route then.’
They flew back via an airfield and filled the helicopter up with fuel before continuing to the airfield where the sleigh was being built. The reindeers were put into a hanger, with plenty of food and with straw bedding to sleep on if they wanted too, no one really knew what reindeers did or liked.
Bill tried each one with a titbit to try to make friends with each one. One liked apples, two liked carrots and one liked sugar cubes. Once he knew what they liked, he made friends. He wanted a good rapport with them if they were going to pull his sleigh.
Soon after the trip they collected the mail from Santa’s post-boxes and sorted through them. If what the child wanted was findable the elves went out to get it, then they were wrapped and labelled at the airfield ready for loading into the sleigh or the helicopter. They were going to drop the sleigh off as near as possible to the settlements and the presents carried in on the sleigh inside the sack for distributing on Christmas day. All the children were to come and get their presents from the main meeting area in their settlement.
The day of the opening ceremony arrived and so did a lot of visitors. They arrived in campers, caravans and mini busses in the morning. A few more letters for Santa arrived as well which were secretly removed from the post-box late at night. Bill took them home and left them for after the party. It was as grand as they could make it when the opening ceremony started and all the leaders made speeches, including Gareth. He thanked Ralph for saving Bradley’s life and helped the other leaders smash the bottle of champagne on the side wall near the entrance.
After that they partied until there was no one left sober or awake. The music played on to no one but it did not matter. The first person out in the morning was Clare Baker; she turned the music off when she went in to start cooking breakfast,
she had a lot to cook for. She was joined later by Hetty and Laura so that things would be ready for anyone who wanted breakfast. They came if they were hungry but nothing much happened that day. Some left that day to go home, others left the next day.
Ray woke and left Rebecca sleeping. He walked out to his buggy and drove down to see bill but found him in the back room, crying.
‘They are tears of joy, I hope.’ He said carefully.
‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ Bill declared. ‘It was never so upfront and personal.’
‘What’s the problem?’
‘I have managed to sort out all the presents and got them wrapped and then I get these two.’ Bill answered and held them out for Ray to take.
Ray read the first one. A little girl was taken from her house with her mother and had to leave her doll behind, for Christmas she wanted her old worn out dolly. He read the second letter. Another little girl wanted her father back for Christmas.
‘It is Christmas day tomorrow, we are delivering the presents today.’ Bill complained.
‘The first one is possible.’
‘It is?’ Bill asked.
‘Yes, send one of your elves to’- He looked at the address on the letter. ‘The Eden Project under cover and find out where she used to live, he can go on to the address and try to find it. For the other one you need to contact all the settlements and find out if they know a’- again he checked the letter. ‘Harry Andrews.’
‘I tried that.’
‘In that case concentrate on the other one.’
‘It still hurts.’
‘So it should. He might well be dead and buried; the clan were not ones to mark their graves, except with the odd ode about not being fast enough or strong enough. You are Santa this year by your choice, next year you might decide not to do it but this year you are stuck with it!’
‘Who do I take as number two elf?’
‘Jericho is the same size and rides a Harley!’ Ray called back as he walked out.
He left him there to sort it out but sent Byron in to him; ten minutes later Byron drove off in a car heading for the Eden Project. Ray watched him go and silently wished him good luck he needed it.
Later Bill and his two elves left to deliver the presents, for the two girls he put in an envelope with ‘Santa owes you one present.’ Written on it.