by RR Haywood
The long road sweeps through green, manicured grounds of lush grass dotted with ancient oaks and willow trees. Benches rest under the shade offered by the hanging branches but there is no sign of life here. Everything feels empty and void.
‘Look at that Billy,’ Vince points forward with one paltry last ditch attempt to impress the boy. Billy feels he is being instructed rather than requested so sits up to look forward. The big house coming into view is impressive, grand and old fashioned, like something from a movie. Chapsworth House is one of the best known stately homes in the south and unlike many others it was privately owned and still used as a domestic residence.
‘Got fish in there,’ Vince points to the water fountain in the middle of the circular parking area, a big stone feature that pumps water from tiny spouts to trickle down into the wide, lily covered bowl. The fact that the fish are soon to be dead from the lack of oxygenated water now the pump has been switched off is not imparted to Billy.
With the van stopped, Vince pauses as he stares at the big double doors, a final chance to think of what to say. The consternation is clear on his features as he opens the door, motioning with his head for Billy to come out. The passenger door had been locked shortly after driving off, no way was he going to risk losing both of them.
‘Vince! You’re back,’ a man calls out. He has a deep hard voice tinged with a cockney accent, ‘and who have we got here then?’ The new man grins at the sight of Billy.
‘This is Billy,’ Vince calls out.
‘Hello Billy! Would you like a lollipop?’ The man crouches and draws a wrapped lolly from a pocket, slowly stretching his hand out while giving Billy an enormous grin, ‘my name is Larson…well that’s not my first name, it’s my surname, but everyone calls me Larson and I don’t mind,’ Larson speaks quick and soft, ‘you must be tired from all that driving, come inside and have something nice to drink yeah? Come on Billy,’ Larson stands up while holding his hand out for Billy to take, a smooth motion and now well practised.
Billy stares at the lollipop he is now holding. He didn’t want to take the lollipop but it was like he didn’t have a choice and he had to take the lollipop. Lilly always said he had to remember his manners. ‘Thank you for the lollipop,’ he says in a small voice.
‘Hey! Billy has wonderful manners,’ Larson grins at Vince, ‘I am very impressed. Now you come with me young Billy because we have a lovely man you need to meet.’
Larson gently steps in to grasp Billy’s hand, not a hard grip but with just enough force to prompt Billy into walking with him. ‘You coming Vince?’
‘Nah, I was gonna get the van unloaded.’
‘Best come in Vince,’ Larson says in a light tone but the order is clearly understood, ‘the gate guard said you were alone.’
‘Yeah er…’
‘Not now Vince, that can wait,’ Larson says grinning down at Billy. ‘This is called Chapsworth House Billy, some very rich people lived here but they don’t anymore so we use it now. It’s got tons of rooms and loads of really cool things inside. Did Vince tell you about the swimming pool?’
‘I did,’ Vince replies quickly. Walking behind them he can feel the nerves starting to build and entering the confines of the house only adds to the worry.
‘I was asking Billy, wasn’t I Billy?’ Larson grins down. Behind them, Vince winces slightly at the rebuke. They’re not happy. Suddenly, the idea he had of just driving off somewhere very far away doesn't seem such a bad one.
‘Well Billy, this is what we call the main hall. Big isn’t it?’ Larson chatters on, pointing certain bits out while Billy stares in wonder at the size of the rooms. A grand staircase sweeps up to the first floor. The floors are carpeted with thick, patterned rugs everywhere and the walls are panelled in dark wood but with lots of brightly coloured paintings hanging. Children laughing from somewhere unseen floats through the air.
‘Oohh got another one, have we?’ A large built woman waddles from a room, wearing a white apron over an old fashioned floral dress. She beams at Billy, her face ruddy and smiling with naturally smiling eyes.
‘We have,’ Larson replies happily, ‘this is Billy and he’s got wonderful manners.’
‘Has he now,’ the woman grins like this news is the best she has ever heard, ‘we like manners here.’
‘Billy, this is Meryl. Meryl makes all our delicious food and she makes scrummy puddings too.’
‘Oh get off,’ Meryl laughs at the compliment, ‘He just wants seconds,’ she says to Billy, ‘but you look like a boy with a good appetite and I bet you’re hungry aren’t you my love?’
Billy smiles shyly for the first time since being taken, and feels a sudden urge to rush in and hug the big woman.
‘OOOHHH,’ Meryl cries with a laugh, ‘we got a smile then Larson.’
‘Did we?’ Larson looks down, ‘well look at that.’
Vince stands back, feeling very excluded from the goings on. He glances round like he’s looking for an escape route.
‘Well, we’ll come back to see Meryl in a little while,’ Larson says with a quick look at Vince.
‘I’ll have something nice to eat all ready for you,’ Meryl grins, ‘and some clean clothes too,’ she remarks at the state of the young lad.
Moving away, the man leads Billy down a long hallway, pointing out portraits and funny paintings hanging on the walls. The chatter is constant and done with the same friendly, light tone.
Billy stares down behind to see where the nice big lady went. He doesn't want to go up here with this man but Lilly said he has to do as he is told. Mummy and Daddy also said he shouldn’t talk to strangers, but that’s confusing now because these people are strangers but he doesn't know anyone so does that mean they are still strangers?
The shock of the previous evening, of seeing his father and Norman killed, has been buried deep. His young mind is unable to process the understanding of what he saw, and in the frontal parts of Billy’s mind he still considers his father and Lilly to be coming here to take him back.
‘You’ll like it here Billy,’ Larson says with a friendly tone, ‘we’ve got a very special person for you to meet now. He is the man that has got all of this arranged just so we can look after all the children that got lost.’
Billy thinks he wasn’t lost. He was lost once when he went to the big shopping centre with Mummy. It was a Saturday and all the shops were full of people. He only let go of Mummy’s hand for a few minutes as he wanted to look at the toys. When he couldn’t see her there was a funny feeling in his tummy, like he was very scared and didn’t know what to do. All the people were strangers and they ignored him, they were all talking to each other and walking about. He did what he was told and found somebody in a uniform to tell, then waited until his mummy came. She was crying when she got there, like she was really upset about something and kept telling Billy off for walking away but giving him hugs and kisses at the same time.
He wasn’t lost last night. He was with his daddy and Lilly. Maybe the man thinks he was lost.
‘…and here we are,’ Larson says, coming to a stop in front of a set of double doors. He grins down and knocks on the door, light taps that are done in quick succession. ‘Doc, I’ve got young Billy here to meet you,’ he calls out.
Billy waits with his hand still being held by Larson. The house is clean and the big windows let lots of light inside. He stares round with wide eyes which snap back to the door at hearing the heavy footsteps on the other side.
Larson grins again with clear delight in his eyes but Billy doesn't like him, he keeps smiling too much.
Slowly the door swings inwards, hinges creaking noisily into the quietness of the hallway. Billy feels the hand of Larson twitch and grip just that little bit harder.
‘Hello young man,’ a deep voice rolls from the room into the hallway as Billy looks up at the face of the Doc staring down.
Thirty Three
Turns out the Gorilla enclosure isn’t that easy to break out from. High f
ences strong enough to withstand the strongest primates in the world prove to be quite difficult for us too.
There was a choice of course; going back the way we came involved meeting the lions again, which on reflection didn’t appear to the best move.
As close as our species are to Gorillas, the one thing we have is tool use and equipped with axes we manage to get the big gates open by snapping through the locks and chains. That means the lion and gorilla enclosures are now breached but is that such a bad thing? The animals stand a better chance of survival if they can get out to find food.
The path leads us down to what we thought was a service road. But then we saw the repeated signs telling people to stay within their vehicles and keep the windows closed. So we’re on a road that leads through another part of the park and one that has animals within it. The only problem is, we don’t know what kind of animals yet.
The very recent sight of the fight between the Gorilla and the Lion have left us quiet and withdrawn. We’re all used to seeing death and have given it out many times, but this was different. It was the futility of it, the valiant struggle between two opposing species that just wanted to survive.
‘Shit…shit…shit,’ Milly sings, clearly not bothered by the gruesome sight we just witnessed.
‘Milly,’ Lani warns in a low voice, ‘don’t say rude words.’
‘But you all say rude words,’ Milly protests, ‘and Mr Howie doesn't tell anyone off.’
‘Right listen in,’ I say with a firm voice, ‘there is to be no more swearing is that understood? Anyone who swears will be given a very bad punishment, got it?’
‘Yes Mr Howie,’ Blowers replies seriously.
‘Got it Sir,’ Cookey nods.
‘See,’ Lani says, ‘Mr Howie has told everyone off.’
‘Will we see hefalamps?’ Milly switches topic swiftly again.
‘Hefalamps? Er…oh elephants!’ Cookey works it out a few seconds behind the rest of us.
‘We have to find a way out,’ Lani explains.
‘I like hefelamps, they eat bananas…I like bananas…do you like bananas Lani?’
‘Yes Milly, I like them very much.’
‘Do you like bananas Cookey?’
‘I love bananas!’ Cookey says and so it goes, each of us being asked if we like bananas, which we all do.
‘…and I like apples,’ Milly announces, ‘do you apples Lani?’
‘We all love apples, all of us…we all really like them,’ Blowers tries cutting her off.
‘Lani do you like apples?’ Blower’s strategy fails dismally, so while stalking through a new section of the safari park and keeping a very close eye out, we have to go through every fruit that Milly can think off, which is pretty much limited to bananas, apples and oranges.
‘What about pears?’ Cookey asks mischievously to some muted groans.
‘I don’t like pears,’ Milly replies then lapses into a very rare silence.
‘Oh,’ Cookey seems deflated as Blowers sniggers next to him.
‘You really need a wash young lady,’ Clarence exhales, carrying Milly along in one arm.
‘Lani will wash me,’ Milly tells us all, ‘cos you are men and men shouldn’t wash girls,’ she says in a very serious voice. ‘So Lani can wash me and she can wash my hair and wash my face and brush my hair and we can wear dresses.’
‘Now that I’d love to see,’ I snort at the thought of Lani in a summer dress.
‘And what’s wrong with that?’ Lani asks with a pointed stare.
‘Nothing,’ I reply quickly, ‘er…no er…be lovely to see you in a dress just er…you know er…doesn't fit the current er…image.’
‘Well recovered,’ Clarence mutters.
‘Thanks mate.’
‘I’m right here,’ Lani protests, ‘I can hear you both and I look nice in a summer dress.’
‘Oh I’m sure,’ I try harder at the recovery.
‘I can’t exactly run round the country killing zombies in a frock can I?’ She insists.
‘No, look I didn’t mean you…’
‘Just because I wear trousers and boots doesn't mean I can’t wear a dress.’
‘Yes I know I was…look forget it okay? Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh.’
‘Yes well,’ she huffs, ‘maybe Milly and I will put some nice dresses on then.’
‘That would be awesome,’ Cookey laughs, ‘but where would you put the meat cleaver?’
‘And the pistol?’ Blowers adds.
‘Handbag?’ Lani suggests to a round of snorts.
‘Don’t worry,’ Dave cuts in with his telling off voice, ‘I’ll keep watch for the animals behind us shall I?’
‘Cheers Dave,’ I say happily, turning round to see a shit load of small monkeys running after us.
‘What are they?’ I ask.
‘Monkeys,’ Dave replies.
‘Really?’ I ask.
‘Yes Mr Howie,’ he nods seriously.
‘Those are the naughty ones that run over the cars,’ Cookey says.
‘Naughty ones?’ Blowers laughs, ‘they naughty are they? Mr Howie, you’ll have to tell the naughty monkeys off.’
‘Piss off,’ Cookey sighs.
‘Cookey,’ I warn, ‘what did I say about swearing?’
‘Sorry Mr Howie,’ he apologies quickly, ‘sorry Milly.’
‘Can we stroke the monkeys?’ Milly asks.
‘I don’t think so,’ Lani replies.
‘Lani?’ Milly starts and we all wait for the question, all of us watching the little girl and grinning when it finally comes out, ‘do you like monkeys?’
‘Yes Milly,’ Lani laughs, ‘I like monkeys. We each wait our turn again as she goes from person to person asking the question.
‘Milly, how old are you?’ I realise none of us have asked.
‘I am six,’ she says proudly. Holding up one hand with the fingers extended, she seems to think for a second before holding up one more finger from her other hand.
‘Rhesus monkeys,’ Dave, as ever, brings our attention back to the current situation. The little monkeys suddenly don’t look quite so little as they run and scamper closer towards us. Ranging in size and weight, there are well over seventy of them, just a sea of bobbing, jumping, brown bodies.
‘Dave!’ I call out at seeing him draw his pistol.
‘What?’ He turns to look at me.
‘You can’t shoot them.’
‘I was going to scare them,’ he explains.
‘Why? They won’t hurt us,’ I reply firmly, ‘come on, keep going.’
‘Er…you sure Mr Howie?’ Cookey asks warily, ‘they ain’t slowing down.’
‘What? Get off! We just met lions and gorillas, what are little monkeys going to do? Trip us up?’
Walking on, we keep glancing round as they bound over. Then they’re with us. Running and skipping between us while making little monkey chattering noises. Tons of them all over the place. Running alongside of us, then in front and within a few seconds they’re getting in amongst us. We all grin and laugh at the sight, fascinated at being so close to so many apparently happy animals.
Apart from Meredith, who trots along with a look that suggests she might try for one any second.
‘Monkeys!’ Milly laughs with delight, ‘that one is doing a poo! Can I touch one? Please Clarence, can I touch one?’
‘They might bite,’ Clarence explains and I’ve noticed he is holding Milly a little bit higher and a little bit closer. Even the lads have moved in closer to form a barrier between her and the monkeys.
We keep walking while the monkeys seem content to run alongside and amongst us. Then they start getting braver and no doubt spurred on by the same hunger the lions have, they start jumping onto legs to grab at pockets.
‘OI!’ Cookey is the first to get attacked, well not attacked but more of an attempt at sticky fingered pilfering. Shooing the animal off, it scurries away jabbering noisily but the precedent has been set. The brave explorer monk
ey got onto the leg and off again without being injured. The sight is seen by many other monkeys who all now want to get onto legs and check pockets.
‘FUCK OFF!’ Blowers shouts as he gets one on each leg. Clarence hoists Milly onto his shoulders, the little girl laughing as she clutches his big bald head with her tiny arms. With one hand now free, he gets ready to swat them away as they launch in.
Funny thing is they don’t go anywhere near the dog, only us. Meredith seems to understand the lack of threat and just walks along watching everything with interest.
Dave doesn't seem bothered by it all, but calmly flicks each one away as it pounces. For a second, I thought he might be cutting little monkey throats behind me. Lani clearly isn’t impressed and for the first time since we met, she shows her feminine side by yelping and giving little screams every time they touch her.
Recognising a chance to make up for my faux-pas and also seeing an opportunity to be heroic and brave, I step in and try to keep them away from her. She clings to my side panicking and shaking whenever they jump up.
With so many, and more of them joining in every second, it’s all we can do to just keep moving and try and stop them all clinging on. One gets on my back and stays there, quite happily gripping hold of my hair while I try and prise another from Lani’s leg. Another jumps to my shoulder, then another on my leg. Clarence gets swarmed, the big man having much more body for them clamber over and Milly loves the sight, laughing until tears are falling down her face.
‘Run!’ I yell out, we try jogging but get hampered by the bouncy little shits running in front of us. They are so nimble and accurate that there is very little chance of actually kicking one by mistake, it’s just completely disconcerting to be running amongst so many moving objects.
Running does nothing other than make us hotter. The monkeys certainly don’t mind us running and for a few minutes it looks like we might be stuck with them until we find a way out. Then a mistake is made. A line is crossed which changes everything in a split second. One of the monkeys, possibly a Cookey type monkey that is always trying to push the boundaries, gets brave and tries to jump on Meredith.