A Rough Kind of Magic

by Louise James

  He went on ‘I live towards Hay and I’ve seen it mild as milk, all the daffodils out, we thought spring had come, and then it turned quick as a flash to three feet or more and bitter cold. Remember eighty- three Albert?’

  ‘Yes I do. We were here in the village but we never saw you for nigh on three weeks or more.’

  ‘I know I got the tractor down to Hay for bread and stuff ten days atter the first fall. We was very near starved out, then a weak later the council came up with a snowplough and grit and some grub, seems some people in hay where we deal was worried about us but blow me next night we ’ad another blizzard and that as the end of that. Always keep a stock of supplies by us ’as yer knows Albert? But that lot nearly finished us.’

  ‘Sure did.’ Albert pushed back his greasy cap scratching his bald head; in contrast to Dave he was round and rosy with apple cheeks and dark snapping eyes but seemed to have no eyebrows which gave him a startled look, grey fuzz covered his chin.

  ‘It must get lonely when you’re cut off for so long.’ Olwen remarked. ‘Although Granny enjoys it (so she says) she can’t go anywhere so she shuts the door, catches up on her reading and writing.’

  ‘I wouldn’t like to live where she does.’ Albert rearranged his cap. ‘Our place is over spooky but hers is haunted for sure.’ They all sat forward in a piece. Ray laughed.

  ‘What does he mean?’ Greg turned to Olwen. ‘Do you know about this?’

  ‘Well- she began with a smile–

  ‘I heard of this before but never taken notice.’ Megan interrupted eagerly. ‘Tell us Olwen.’

  ‘You’ll have heard of the white lady then, Megan?’ Dave tapped his pipe into the hearth. At this point Fred Barnes came through and waved at them. ‘Do ee all have a drink with me?’ Glasses refilled, Fred pulled up a chair. Megan turned back to Olwen.

  ‘Go on what were you going to tell us about the white lady.?

  ‘Ah! That one.’ Fred smacked his lips over his pint and took out his pipe.

  ‘Is it true?’ Ray asked nervously.

  ‘Yes, it’s true alright.’ Dave leaned back in his chair. ‘But only on Midsummer’s Eve, Lady day and such like and only on a full moon,’ Megan’s eyes were wide. ‘What does she do?’

  ‘Stands on our landing and can be seen from the road outside the house.’ Olwen put in.

  ‘Not really?’ Ray was leant forward his elbows on the table. ‘Have you or your Gran seen her?’

  ‘Well its funny but yes in a way.’ Megan’s eyes grew rounder.

  ‘You see if you are coming up the road towards the house on a full moon, you can certainly see a white shape in the window but can’t quite make it out but as soon as you come into the house, of course there is nothing there. Granny laughs and say’s that whoever she is she must be friendly because the cats don’t mind her and neither does Samuel Peeps, although to be sure…..she lowered her voice and looked thoughtful. ….Tis strange the cats never stay on the landing though there’s a comfortable chair there, anywhere else in the house but never on the landing.’ There was a silence.

  ‘Have yer seen the black dog yet?’ Fred took a pull at his pint.

  ‘What black dog?’ they all spoke in unison.

  ‘The one that walks the lanes on a wild night, great black thing with red eyes, wild as the weather, slinks along the roadsides and through the hedges.’

  ‘Come off it, I don’t believe that.’ Greg pulled himself together.

  ‘Tis true.’ Dave and Albert nodded agreement. ‘We’ve all sin im over the years. Never knows when or why e appears, just does.’ Megan moved closer to Ray, Greg smiled somewhat dubiously.

  ‘Mind, that were a strange thing what happened when me and the missus was coming back from Hay rather late after dark a few years back.’ Albert pulled off his cap stretching it over his knees. ‘We’d been to see the daughter and left a bit later than usual, we’d come over the hill and round the double bends, missus saw it fust. ‘What’s that Albert?’ she says. ‘I never see anything like that afore. Look.’ So I slows up and there on the bank above us is a pair of devil’s eyes if ever I saw ’em sort of greeny yellow like a cats slanted at the corners and big big as oranges glowing sort of almond shaped.’

  ‘That u’ll be a horse, Albert.’ Fred struck a match. ‘They as eyes like that at night.’

  ‘No. It were too low down on the bank, horse could never stand that low. We went back next morning ter take a look and the ground were damp but no hoof marks or any other marks only broken fern. Mind we scuttled from there sharpish I can tell yer. Missus won’t let me come that way after dark since. Gotta go all way around the main road if it’s anyways near dusk, can’t say I’m too keen myself.’

  ‘Some say there is a big cat out on the hill escaped from somewhere.’ Dave remarked. ‘Never saw signs myself.’ The old men puffed thoughtfully. Ray grabbed Megan’s hand under the table. Olwen moved up to Greg and pulled his arm around her. Presently Dave spoke.

  ‘Tell you a story about old Bill Shanklin a few years back, lives over Kington way now but then he lived the other end of Graigwen where the old church is now a house.’ The others nodded. Olwen clutched Greg’s arm tightly. ‘Well Bill was coming down to the pub one windy night and always took the short cut past the churchyard. Yer knows it Albert?’ Albert nodded agreement. ‘We allus cut down by church if we was coming from Bill’s or Stacy’s farm.’

  ‘Well! Bill comes flying into the pub this night, we was all there. Dashes up to the bar and demands a double brandy, now Bill was always a cider man, so we all looks up (playing cards we was)

  Jeff Thomas as was landlord then looks at Bill.’ Are you alright Bill? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost?’

  ‘Ghost be damned.’ Bill downed his brandy in one gulp and held out his glass fer another.’ Then he said.’ Yer won’t believe what I just eard. God and the Devil are up in the churchyard sorting out the dead.’ Well some laughed some jumped up and came over to ’im. ‘How’s this Bill?’ What did yer see?’

  ‘Didn’t see nothing’. By now e was a shaking and a shiverin. ‘But ’eard all right, where that old yew tree hangs over the wall I hear this voice very low and whispery. ‘One fer you, and one fer me, two fer you and two fer me. ’I tell yer I ain’t goin up that lane no more.’ ‘Course away went the youngsters to see fer themselves. Bill begged them not to go but off they went while Bill downed another brandy. Just now came a roar of laughter as they all come trooping back. One of ’em Jake Newton as I recall come followed by the others, slapped Bill on the back and told ’im to hold ’is hand out. Bill all of a tremble olds out ’is hand and Jake drops two apples in it. ‘There you are Bill not God and the Devil but young Trevor and Li Thomas been scrumming apples and went in the churchyard to share them out.’ Everyone burst out laughing but Bill drew himself up and turned to go, as ’e reached the door ’e turned back and said. ‘I don’t care what yer found, I know what I ’eard and away ’e went cause everyone laughed’. Dave paused and leant forward. ‘But I’ll tell yer this old Bill never came that way agin day or night and never touched a drop of cider or an apple until the day ’e died two year ago. So it was a fair fright ’e got and everyone else allus wondered what else ’e saw or ’eard’. Megan shuddered.

  ‘Oh! Oh! I have often come down that lane. The yew tree is still there although the church is now a house and all the gravestones have gone into another field but I won’t go that way again ever.’

  ‘No you won’t’. Ray drew her close. They all laughed.

  ‘I mind my grandfather when I was a lad.’ Fred tended his pipe carefully while Ray went to refill their glasses, when he was seated again Fred continued.

  ‘There was eight of us at home and we lived near an old mansion at Cwm du. We lived in the gatehouse. There were a lot of old parklands witth a high wall all around. The only ones left of the family that owned it and lived in days of
splender, was two old ladies, sisters, always went about together but not a lot, kept themselves to themselves. When they ad some little problem like a leak in the roof or windows wouldn’t shut or a fuss with a tradesman, they would call by and ask grandfather’s advice and ’e always got it sorted for them. Well both came by one morning, very agitated they was. Mr Barnes they called to ’im. I was in the garden with ’im at the time, this is ’ow I come to ’ear it. ‘Mr Barnes, we have a worrying problem and we are very frightened.

  ‘What is it Miss Hadley?’ Grandfather touched ’is cap.

  ‘We don’t know what to do’ They says. ‘There’s a ghost in our grounds. We have never believed ’til now but both my sister and I ’ave seen it three nights in a row. First we thought it was a white horse or such seen through the trees. Second night we weren’t so sure just something white on the edge of the lawn white and swaying about. Last night it came right under our windows floating about the lawn and moaning that it ’ad lost its grave over and over. Mr Barnes, Can you please do something. We are very frightened and didn’t sleep a wink.’

  Well grandfather frowned, e didn’t believe in ghosts and ’ated tricks of any kind so ’e agreed to go up the following night. A few neighbours ’ad got to ’ear about it and when grandfather went up the night a few bold ones went up as far as the shrubbery and all waited. Grandfather unlocks the gate and slips through. Sure enough about an hour later ’ere comes this white thing floating back and fore through the trees moaning to itself ‘I lost my grave–––- I lost my grave’. Someone outside the gate called to Grandfather.

  ‘Speak to it in the Lord’s name, Will, speak to it in the Lords name.’

  ‘I’ll speak to it alright.’ Was his response and being spry for his age ’e takes off after it. It ran from ’im still calling it ’ad lost its grave. Grandfather catches ‘old of the end of the sheet; for that’s all it were, gave the bloke under it a good kick up the arse and said ‘You’ve no business out of it this time of night.’ Some bloke it were wanting ter frighten old ladies into selling the place.’ There were no troubles after that.’

  By that time everyone was laughing. Ray so much that he choked on his drink and Megan had to bang him on the back.

  ‘That’s the sort of ghost story worth telling.’ Greg tried to control his laughter as it made him wheeze. ‘How come there are so many around here?’

  Dave cleared his throat. ‘Would you believe there are ninety stories of hauntings in this area between Graigwen and Hay –on-Wye. But why I don’t know.’

  ‘I do.’ Fred put down his pipe. ‘Yer see, we are on what they call Ley Lines, right across this valley, same ones run across the country from Stonehenge and links all the abbeys, castles and churches. All churches are built on ’em and it’s a kind of build of power. Old folks never built an important building unless it were in a special place.’ He turned to Olwen. ‘You ask your granny about lay lines. She wrote an article once in our local paper about the effect of Lay lines on people’s health and temper. I’m no reader but I read that one and it were good.’

  ‘We’ll do that.’ Greg made a move for his coat. ‘Now we had better make a move. Thank you all for the drinks and great company. It’s throwing out time by the sound of that bell. We look forward to seeing you all again.’

  ‘Just a minute’ Ray leant across the table. ‘Tell me why is this pub called The Copper Beech, seems a strange name for a Welsh border pub?’

  The three old men looked at each other. Albert chuckled, his round red cheeks glowing in the firelight. ’Are yer sure yer want’s ter know?’

  ‘Of course.’ Olwen and Greg spoke together while a muffled ‘No’ came from Megan. Albert glanced at Fred. ‘Many years ago, about sixteen something or other, where Graig-y-dorth is now, there was only a little old cottage where lived a witch.’ Here Ray spluttered into his beer and Olwen’s hand stole to her mouth. Greg’s eyes sparkled very green and a smile stole over his carefully held together lips. Albert went on. ‘Her was very beautiful and her name was Bethany. She was a very good witch, cured animals and folk too when they were sick, made love potions too’ Ray choked again and Megan removed his glass mopping up the table, her lips twitching.

  ‘Down ’ere where this pub stands was an old ’ostelry fer travellers of the mountains. It was called then Dial Cerrig or in English’ the Revenge Stone’ No one knows why it was called that but in it lived an evil man called Harold Blackstone; of course ’e got called Black Harry and black hearted ’e was too. Many a traveller ’ad ’is beer watered and ’is food poisoned and ’is money pinched. ’Arry would fight with any who offended ’im and rumour is that some customers never left ’ere alive.’ The girls shuddered, moved closer to the men, glancing at the dark shadows around the room.

  ‘Well! It seems Black ’arry fell deep in love with Bethany who naturally enough would have nothing to do with ’im. Every day ’e would ride up on ‘(is big horse all shinny and black as coal) with a ’andsome face and a rotten heart. ’e kept proposing and she kept refusing, each time ’e became more and more evil. He stole farmers stock for the pubs kitchens and if they complained e would do something bad agin ’em. ‘A bit like Luke. ’Megan whispered.

  ‘Aye that ’e was, ’e seduced every woman ’e laid eyes on willing or not until the very name of Dial Cerrig made everyone cross themselves against the evil eye. It was said if a maid gave birth to a babe with black eyes it was ’is fer sure. Men ’ated ’im, wimmin feared ’im and they went to Bethany begging fer ’elp ter put a spell on ’im. She said she couldn’t that she weren’t that sort of witch only a ‘herb woman. After a lot of persuasion she tried some spells but they didn’t work. So she went up into the black mountains ter pray an ask fer guidance. When she came back she went ter bed and ’ad a dream, woke up knowing what ter do. Going inter the woods she dug up three little beech trees and in the dead of night come ter Dial Cerrig. All alone she planted them at the back of the building. She tried ter be quiet but ’e came out and caught ’er asking what she was at. She showed no fear but stood tall and looked ’im in the eye. ‘Harold Blackstone’ she said. If these three trees live fer three years and yer black ’eart becomes as gold as their leaves. I will wed yer but if they shrivels and dies in three years so will ye.’ And back she went ter Graig-y-dorth. Well! Black ’Arry must ’ave loved ‘’er for e was a changed person after that. E cleaned up the inn, banned gaming and gambling, paid the farmers for the meat ’e wanted. The trees grew and flourished, ’e guarded them like gold. When the three years was up Bethany married ’im with great celebrations. She moved in, changes the name of the inn and Black ’Arry ter a changed man. They ’ad fifteen childer and all lived and it’s said they earned a family crest with a beech tree on it and every one was teetotal.’

  ‘That’s a great story, I love that one.’ Olwen smiled at Albert. ‘I’ve never heard it before and always wondered.’

  ‘Is it really true?’ asked Ray who had now recovered. ‘How do you know?’

  ‘Well! Albert’s eyes twinkled. ‘ain’t yer noticed the three great Copper Beeches at the back of this pub, very old they are and never shows it and isn’t it a bit strange there are four families of Blackstone’s living in the district?’

  ‘Oh!’ Megan clapped her hands together. ‘Of course there are, I know some of them. I wonder if they know/’

  ‘Come on you lot, Pub’s shut.’ Greg got stiffly to his feet. ‘Thanks everyone for a smashing evening.’ They all called goodnights as they moved out of the door.

  ‘Hey! It’s snowing hard out here’. came a shout from someone outside. ‘Better get a move on, we’re in for a heavy fall.’

  True enough, outside all tracks had vanished and the air was thick with driving snow hissing gently as it filled the hedges. After many shouts of ‘Take care, good night.’ The company were all lost to sight in the swirling mists of white.

  Chapter 38

  Th
e snow lasted two weeks and the wind blew chill over the hills, swirling it around in drifts, as fast as Ray and Megan dug it from the paths, clearing a way to the sheds and the chickens, so next day it had to be done all over again. Ray managed to get to town one day to step up supplies, taking Bronwyn with him, he also managed to get down to Fred Barnes’ to make sure he and his wife was alright as the cold intensified. They were snug in their tiny farmhouse with only two horses and some poultry to take care of. Reassuring them about Greg and warning Fred not to come up until the snow cleared, Ray promised to look after everything and to let them know if there was any news. Fred prophesised that the weather would break in a week and he proved right, almost to the day the wind changed and it began to rain.

  As it became warmer and wetter so the stream became swollen breaking its banks flooding the fields below the farm and bringing the ford over the road to the depth of two feet which still kept them home. The mountain road remained icy and treacherous. Olwen phoned her grandmother to be told she was fine, busy with her book and didn’t need anything or anyone. At last the rain stopped, the water subsided, almost overnight the sun came out and a warm breeze blew down the hill bringing the whole valley suddenly into spring. Birds made a mad dash to continue nesting but not forgetting their dawn chorus which Greg made everyone get up one morning to hear. Daffodils and Narcissi made a great splash of colour almost running late into bluebells, between birds, flowers and sun it was like a new world emerging as everything fought to get born at once. Lambs called from the hill, great flocks of little birds squabbled in the trees over nesting rights and fat buds began to form in the orchard. Everyone felt a new surge of hope and renewal. Ray had been cleaning the chickens and horses as Fred’s grandson hadn’t been able to come but half term saw him back so Ray was able to work on opening clogged ditches in fields now bright with dandelions, cowslips and new grass. He also made pens for the rabbits which arrived safe and sound to the girls delight. His next job; with Fred giving a hand, was building shelters for the goats in the rough ground which ran along at the back of the farm. These were barely finished when the goats arrived one evening in a van. The Trogenberg was already in milk although also in kid and Megan had a new job night and morning, which she enjoyed, talking about the cheese and butter she would make when both goats had kidded down. A week after they arrived so did Bronwyn, eager to see the new arrivals. They walked over to the corner of the field where they were tethered. The goats stared back out of yellow devil’s eyes.