I held back a little, not wanting to be seen, and waited to see if they came back out and while I was waiting, I studied the building, a coaching inn door, painted bright black, and beyond the door, off to the right, some sort of yard. This was the place Alice had mentioned in the reversals. The place that Tom had told her about, and Cressida had seen, although by that time, the paintwork was faded and had mostly peeled off. I wished then I’d brought my phone with me, what a mistake to leave it behind. I could have used it to take a photo. Would the photo have come out, I wondered? It was all academic. Here I was in the depths of time, and Daniel hadn’t even been born. I tried to shake such thoughts from my head.
Alice had mentioned the coaching inn door and a woman outside the pub called Miranda. Maybe the woman with Alice was Miranda. I’d seen the pub, the Keepsake Arms, a typical, lively, working class place but I still wasn’t sure if the girl was Alice. I’d have to go into the building after them. It didn’t look like they were coming out. The building looked like a funeral parlour, as well as a workshop. A funeral parlour next to a church? A building with a tunnel to Curdizan Church? Was that why Alice and the girl had gone there? The girl, Miranda, was showing her the tunnel. Hell and damnation.
Then a shadow caught my eye and the grip of an arm came round my neck, an arm and a body which was fuelled by drink. I could breathe the very strength of it. Then, suddenly, I was flung against the wall.
The next few minutes were slightly fuzzy. The man was broad and very well built, he had curly hair and enormous dark eyes. The hair didn’t fit with his threatening look, he had meant to knock me flat to the ground. I tried to fight back.
I finally managed to free myself and stood my ground, thinking I’d given as good as I got. But the man seemed fine, protected by drink and a burly constitution, while I was feeling rather fragile. I held up my hand.
‘I’m a stranger here, I mean you no harm.’
‘You were following them, that kid and Miranda, I watched you mate, I reckon you’re a pervert.’
‘No,’ I insisted, thinking fast, ‘Miranda’s mum is a friend of mine and I wanted to ask her where she was.’ I prayed to God as I said the words that Miranda’s mum was still alive, not lying in a coffin, or living in Australia. The man snorted.
‘Well, if that’s the case, and I’m not sure, seeing as how I reckon you look mighty shifty, you ought to be going to the pub to see her, not following girls in the dark like that.’
‘I’ll be on my way to the pub right now,’ I told him, mildly.
‘You said you’re a stranger, and that’s the truth, you talk very different, you’re not like us. Perhaps you’re a toff or maybe you’re one of those loony types, they’ve let out from the workhouse. I’ve never heard of a ma being a mum.’
‘My people live up by Curdizan Abbey, you know, where all the Irish are.’ I held my breath and waited to see what the man would say. He still looked doubtful.
‘You don’t sound Irish, that’s for sure. But you look the part, I’ll give you that.’
By which he meant my hair was black and long for a bloke. I also had the grey-green eyes, but I wasn’t going to let him get close to see.
‘Happen I’ll take you to the pub. I’m going that way myself,’ he said. My heart sank, I needed to get away from the man. Not to mention, inside the house.
‘Look, mate…’
‘Scotty,’ he said.
‘Look, Scotty, I’ll have to level with you. The girl with Miranda, she’s my kid and she’s always running away from home. I couldn’t let her see I was following her, she’d only have vanished and her ma’s worried sick. You can imagine.’
Scotty nodded but said nothing. I could almost hear the words in his head. If she’d have been mine, I’d have given her a slap. I held my breath.
‘I guess I’ll have to trust you mate, you can get off now and find your girl. But I’ll see you in the Keepsake Arms later, after it’s sorted, I reckon you’ll want to buy me a pint.’ He looked me coolly in the eye. ‘I know some folk who live in the High, it’s best they know you and I are mates.’
I didn’t dare speak, I knew what he meant, if I’d lied to him, he’d find me out. And I had, of course, and he probably knew it. I smiled at Scotty, a very thin smile, which wasn’t returned, but he did turn around and wander off, back towards Croston.
I slumped against the nearest wall, my heart thumping, ten to the dozen. When I’d said, earlier, that the place was a hazard, I hadn’t known then how true that was. Still, at least I’d managed some sort of reprieve. Now to find Alice.
I emerged from the shadows and hurried towards the coaching inn door, but before I could get there, a woman went in, she was dressed rather smartly, with her hair tucked under a rather trim hat. Despite her appearance, I was certain, convinced she was up to no good. As soon as she’d vanished, I rushed to the door, the time for stealth and silence had passed. My hand had barely touched the door frame, when I heard a clunk and felt a jar, I knew what it was.
Sure enough when I tugged on the handle, turned it even, nothing happened, the gap had vanished and the door was closed. That woman I’d seen had closed it behind her, and she was in there with Miranda and Alice, while I was outside.
I swore, loudly.
Chapter 69
Then – Thomas
When I walked up the stairs at school, I noticed at once the skull had vanished. It was always there, at the top of the landing, on the shelf, but not today. What a surprise!
Nothing was safe from a bunch of lads, I knew that now. I might have stolen the thing myself, just for a laugh, playing a prank, but since Carson had used it as a football, it had a huge crack and was too well known. But someone must have stolen the thing. I blinked, tired.
When I’d got to the pub last night I’d found it in chaos, Miranda was missing and so was her ma. Reg was holding the fort by himself, it was Steve’s night off and Cath was out somewhere, God knows where. I’d spent the evening serving ale, as well as washing the glasses like normal, and had to use Miranda’s crate, the one she’d used when she was small, and couldn’t reach the bar by herself. I didn’t say much but I was worried. Miranda can flounce and she has a temper, but she never misses her evening shift.
There wasn’t a lot I could do right then so I carried on serving and tried to look chipper, then Ben turned up and told me he’d had a row with Miranda, something and nothing, but that was probably why she was missing. But all the same, it didn’t feel right.
I gave him a pint, then a few more after, and the night rolled on, then Ben went home.
Minutes later, Ben was back, cursing and swearing, as bad as I’ve heard. ‘My damn door’s locked and I can’t get in.’
‘At least you know it wasn’t a thief,’ said Reg, grinning. He wouldn’t have bothered to have locked the door. He softened Ben up with a few more pints and offered the man a space on the couch and Ben being more than pleasantly drunk was happy to accept, and wait for the morning to call the locksmith, rather than break the door down now. Thank God for that, I thought, relieved.
When I got home, my da was dead to the world on our couch, snoring like hell and well past drunk, and filling the room with a terrible noise. Ma was, no doubt, trying to sleep. The factory hooter would wake us up early. I crept outside and slept in the yard, it wasn’t as bad as you’d think it would be, I made up a bed with some crates and some straw, with cushions for a pillow and my jacket as a sheet. I didn’t risk bringing a blanket outside, I’d have had to climb over my da to get that and I didn’t dare risk disturbing the man. I slept in my vest with a shirt on top, I’d done it before.
So when, the next morning, I climbed the school stairs and noticed the skull had been stolen again, it felt like that was the final straw. Then I saw Eisen.
Eisen rarely came upstairs, he hardly ever left the joinery workshop, except when he went outside for a fag. Upstairs was safe, or so I believed, but not today. I stared at Eisen, slowly climbing the stairs towards
me.
‘Just the lad I’m looking for, Islip. I’d like a word with you, now, please.’
‘Yes, Mr Eisen, sir,’ I said. I wasn’t looking for trouble today.
‘Did you give Ben Tencell that message I asked you to? The one about the church disturbance?’
Hell, no, I hadn’t, I’d forgotten to, hadn’t I, what with Carson, then Ben and Miranda. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I’m really sorry.’ Never mind sorry, I’m for it now.
‘Forget about that,’ said Eisen dismissive, waving a hand, to my surprise. ‘It’s a lot more serious now, I’m afraid. Go and tell Ben, there’s been a break in. Someone has stolen some things from the church.’
‘I didn’t think there was anything to steal, apart from a few old candlesticks.’ Thank God we didn’t put the trunks in there. Eisen gave me a very strange look.
‘Just do as I’ve said, and do it now. Right this minute, there’s no time to waste.’
‘But I’m supposed to be in class,’ I said.
‘I expect Ben’s told you I’m not to be crossed. Forget about school and do as you’re told.’
‘Yes, Mr Eisen, sir,’ I said. And hated myself for being a creep. I hurried on past him as fast as I could.
I wasn’t happy at leaving school. I knew I wouldn’t go back that day, which meant I’d miss my school dinner. I’d already missed the morning porridge and sometimes those meals were all I had. If I went home, there was always a risk my da would be there, would’ve skipped off work and would give me grief. And I was worried about Miranda. My stomach was in knots.
I hurried outside and round the corner, and then I saw Alice. I stopped, surprised.
I didn’t know much about Alice’s life but I wasn’t expecting to see her then, at this time of day. She didn’t look like the Alice I knew. She looked tired and grubby and much more like us. And, for once she wasn’t holding her iPad. Despite Eisen’s words, I had to stop.
‘Are you alright?’ I said, anxious, walking up to the wall, where she sat.
‘Yeah, I suppose,’ she said, vaguely, twisting her hair around one finger. She wasn’t her usual confident self. I didn’t know what to say to her.
‘We could go and see the horse, today,’ I said, smiling. ‘I’ve got to go over to Ben Tencell’s.’ She shrank back a little.
‘No, it’s alright, I’ve already been down that way, recently. And I met your friend, the girl, Miranda. Miranda and I went down the tunnel. Yesterday evening.’
‘You what?’ I shouted, glaring at Alice. So that was why the door had been closed. I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned the tunnel. I cursed, silently.
‘You shouldn’t have asked Miranda to take you. We were going to go together.’
‘No we weren’t,’ she told me, sharply. ‘I’d already said I wanted to go, but you put me off, you know you did. Miranda was happy to take me instead. It was horrible, down there.’
‘How far did you go along the tunnel’ A nagging thought was bothering me.
‘As far as the passage that leads to the cellar. I mean, to where they hold the soup kitchen.’
‘You didn’t go up to Curdizan Church?’
‘I’ve been wandering around the graveyard, this morning, reading the slabs, because I was bored.’
‘I meant last night, from within the tunnel. There’s a way to the crypt of the church from the tunnel, it’s very easy.’
‘Yes, I remember, you told me once, and no we didn’t, Miranda refused to go that way. What is this?’
‘Nothing,’ I said, ‘forget it, Alice, it really isn’t anything important. Are you sure you don’t want to come and see Norah?’
Alice paused. ‘Well, yes, alright, I didn’t have time to see Norah last night. We were too busy going down the tunnel.’
‘I’ll bet you were,’ I said, slowly. I couldn’t help grinning, in spite of myself. I sauntered along and Alice followed. I wasn’t sure I liked the new Alice. But I hoped she had the knowledge I needed.
‘When you’d finally left the tunnel, where did Miranda go after that?’
‘Home to the pub, I suppose,’ said Alice. ‘She said she’d been at work all day. In the sweet factory.’
‘And what about you?’ I asked her, puzzled. ‘Did you go home?’ Alice looked shifty.
‘Of course I did. But then, this morning, the school bus was late, so I decided to skip school and come here instead. It’s much more fun.’
‘So how come you haven’t got your iPad with you? And, what’s a bus?’
‘Too many questions,’ said Alice, sharply. She was starting to get that look again. The one that told me she was the boss.
‘What do you mean, too many questions?’
‘It’s what we say to each other at school, if we don’t want to answer questions.’
‘I bet your ma doesn’t like it much, when you say that to her,’ I said.
‘My mum would be glad if I talked at all. And no, don’t ask, I’m not going to say.’
Fine, so I wouldn’t. I’d have to remember that phrase for school, practise saying it to people in the pub, I could just see their faces when I did. I grinned, suddenly.
We were fast approaching the alley to the Low. Alice looked hesitant and I smiled broadly. ‘There’s no need to worry,’ I said confidently, ‘I’ll keep you safe.’ She must have heard of the alley’s reputation.
‘I’m not,’ she said and followed me in. We walked its length, to Convent Court. Then Alice stopped and looked behind.
‘I’m sorry, Tom, I’ll have to go back, I think I dropped my iPod before. You go ahead, I’ll catch you up.’
‘Fine,’ I replied, and carried on walking, thinking about the words she’d said. What was an iPod, was it like an iPad? Then I remembered an obvious point, Alice was all alone back there, it wasn’t a good place for girls to be. I hurried back, as fast as I could. I’d never get Eisen’s message to Ben, the way I was going.
I couldn’t find Alice in the alley, she’d obviously walked a lot faster than me. I peered out onto Scriveners Road and saw the back of my school in the distance. I spotted some people walking towards me, all of them wearing very strange clothes. I had this disturbing, uneasy feeling as I looked around at my surroundings, the weather was the same, and so was the paving beneath my feet, but the church and Alice had vanished completely.
Chapter 70
Then – Aleph
I hadn’t meant to fall asleep. I’d rattled at the door, and shouted a little, but not too loudly, I didn’t want Scotty coming back. But the door stayed closed and the woman I’d seen hadn’t reappeared, and I hadn’t a clue where Alice was. If it was Alice. But I guessed the tunnel must start from here, and lead to the church, Curdizan Church, and here, in this time, the church still existed, so if I was quick I could make it back, get into the church and so find Alice.
I rubbed my head where Scotty had bashed it against the wall, I knew I could be chasing a dream, I wasn’t sure where the tunnel came out. Was it inside the church, I thought, or even outside? Or if inside, the church might be locked. But I had to try, and time was short. I ran like hell.
I turned onto Croston, passing the pub on Dogleg Lane, but I didn’t look back and after a while, I turned off right onto Pasenheuse Road and before very long I was back at the alley. I hurried on through it and out to the church. I stopped, intrigued. I’d never seen this church before, only in pictures. It wasn’t that special, just plain grey stone with some stained glass windows and a tired old rose that trailed up the walls, but the churchyard was pleasant, I liked it much better than our current courtyard. The grass went up to the back of my house, the Old Schoolhouse, fading out to a worn patch of gravel in front of the door. I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t even known there was a door. Thinking back then to my own kitchen, all I could recall were the three scruffy windows. Later, I thought, and focused on Alice. I tried the church door but I couldn’t get in.
I walked around the church’s perimeter, looking in vain for anothe
r entrance or maybe even an open window, but, of course, I found neither. There was nothing to do but sit and wait, and hope that Alice and Miranda would emerge. After almost two hours of sitting in the dark, I had to face it, they weren’t coming. They’d probably gone back the very same way, through the tunnel and out of the door. I couldn’t be in two places at once. I decided to go back.
Despite it being late, I could still hear people laughing and talking and drinking, probably, enjoying themselves. I wandered out onto Scriveners Road and turned the corner, looked at my house, the Old Schoolhouse. It looked just the same, if smarter and newer, well it was newer, but it wasn’t that different from when I knew it. If only I could go inside and see it. Then I had a terrible thought.
I’d been through the alley and round the corner, back to my house on Old School Lane, but it wasn’t my house and it wasn’t my time, I was still in the past, Thomas’s past. A past I didn’t much like the look of. Oh God, I thought. I’ll never get out. I nearly lost it there and then.
It was like when I killed the boy, Daniel, once I’d realised what I’d done. I’d felt like there was no escape, no way I could get out from it all, and of course I couldn’t, then and now. I was living a life I hadn’t chosen, in a terrible place, I couldn’t move on from. All I could do was keep on going, so I headed back down to Blackberry Close. And then I reached the coaching inn door.
The door was still shut, still just as silent, as if it was guarding the people inside. Alice and Miranda, but also the female stranger in a hat, she seemed significant. I felt out of place, and then I saw Scotty, or I thought I did, he was staggering up the road towards me. I couldn’t face that man again. I backed away and ended up in the yard next door, a grim place with a horse in a shed and a tap nearby. The tap was dripping.
The horse didn’t mind, he lapped from the puddle on the ground at his feet and watched me lazily, barely blinking.
‘Hello, Norah,’ I said, softly. The horse said nothing.
I felt dizzy, my head was hurting so I sat down, quickly, on a patch of straw and leant against the wall with the tap. It was dark in the yard, much darker than the street, but softer somehow, a horse and the straw and something else, not quite so pleasant. I drifted off. When I woke up, morning had come.
Shadows of the Lost Child Page 21