Shadows of Deceit

by Patrick Cotter

  “Minefields?”

  Tommy joined in,

  “We think a lot of the beaches across there have false minefield signs up but don’t take any chances, remember we will be meeting the boat at night.”

  “So there are pathways between these areas?” Harry asked.

  Steve turned to face Harry,

  “Yes, the locals still use the beaches themselves sometimes; you’ll find the mined areas are mainly in the dunes with clearly marked pathways down to the beaches. As Tommy said we believe most of the marked areas are decoys, we didn’t really expect Hitler to invade the west coast of Scotland for God’s sake!”

  Harry appeared not to be too reassured by that potentiality.

  “OK. I’ll watch out for them. My main aim is to find a road leading down to the strand where we can hide a getaway van under cover. Hopefully there’ll be some trees nearby or at least it might be sheltered from view by farm buildings”

  “That’s exactly what’s needed.” Tommy said, “Whilst you’re there make sure you get some tide times for the next month.”

  “Right.”

  Tommy opened his desk drawer again and handed an envelope to Harry,

  “Here take this, there’s enough cash for you to enjoy yourselves for a day or so. Just pretend you’ve been given a few days break from work, I’m sure you’ll find a pub that’ll be glad to take you in.”

  “I understand, I - we - won’t let you down.”

  “I’ll get the car out for you.”

  Tommy led the way to the back yard where the black Standard was parked.

  “Not in the best condition, but it’s fuelled up and shouldn’t cause you any problems. There’s a spare five gallon can in the boot. Now off you go and enjoy yourselves!”

  Harry sat in the driving seat and started the engine. But he quickly discovered that there was a rare technique needed for engaging first gear. After several ear splitting whines the gearbox finally accepted Harry’s selection and he slowly and bumpily moved forward. The noise attracted a grinning mechanic who emerged from the workshop to wave Harry off.

  Chapter 9

  Two days later Harry and Eileen set off for Kintyre in bright sunshine.

  Back in Glasgow Steve stopped at a newsagent early one morning on his way to work. He had to weave his way through the vegetable market stall holders who were beginning to set up their displays opposite the pawnbrokers. Inside the shop, whilst waiting to be served, his eyes scrutinised the scene outside through the window, ‘old Police habits seldom die’ he thought. He then noticed Andrew’s front door open and to his astonishment Darlath appeared from inside. Darlath looked up and down the street before stepping out. As he did so Steve watched him turn and wave to someone unseen at the top of the stairs. Steve grinned,

  ‘Gotcha at last!’

  Chapter 10

  The journey towards Kintyre was slow but without incident. Eileen had prepared a picnic lunch which they enjoyed sitting by the banks of Loch Lomond. From there they travelled west and then down towards the peninsula. Harry continually eyed up the coastal roads for any potential secluded beaches. But he knew from looking at maps the previous days that the most favoured area was likely to be further south near Glenbarr. As the afternoon wore on they decided to head back north to Inveraray to look for accommodation for the night.

  “We’ll come back down again tomorrow and do a slow search around the Glenbarr area. Now let’s find a bar and relax before dinner.”

  “That’s what I hoped you’d suggest; it’ll also be nice to have a bath and change of clothes. I really am enjoying this.”

  They found lodgings at the George & Dragon at Inveraray. Their accommodation on the first floor was reached by an impressive wooden stairway, and their bed was a large, high, four poster with Jacobean patterned curtaining. The room, like most of the pub downstairs, was decorated with very old dark wooden panelling around the walls.

  Harry hung his jacket and mac up in the wardrobe as Eileen kicked her shoes off,

  “Today was a good day, you know I can’t remember the last time I had a day’s holiday,”

  Eileen said as she tried unsuccessfully to climb onto the bed.

  “Here I’ll lift you up.”

  They both laughed as Harry hauled Eileen up onto the bed and then he followed and lay down beside her. He turned to face her,

  “Let’s rest here for an hour before going down to dinner, is that OK?”

  “Yes, it’s getting cold now anyway, so why don’t we climb into the bed?”

  “Race you.”

  Harry said as he immediately stripped off his clothes and settled under the blankets. Eileen quickly followed and within a minute they were lying together, warm, content and very much at ease with each other.

  The late afternoon sun had now disappeared and a fresh westerly wind rattled the sash window frames and threw columns of leaves spiralling skywards into the cold air outside. They slept deeply after making love and awoke to the sound of knocking at their bedroom door.

  “I’ll be there in a sec.”

  Harry said trying desperately to find his clothes in the dark.

  “It’s OK you don’t have to open the door.”

  The soft Scottish accent of the landlord’s wife came from the passageway. She continued,

  “It’s just to say we will be serving dinner in about twenty minutes.”

  Eileen responded,

  “Thank you, yes we will be there soon, thanks.”

  Within half an hour they were downstairs enjoying dinner. Afterwards they made their way into the bar and were acknowledged by some other guests and a few locals. Harry bought drinks and they sat together on a large settle near the fireplace that faced the bar. They had started chatting about the plans for the following day when they were distracted by the entrance of an old ginger haired, well-built man dressed in a faded green tweed jacket and plus fours. His voice boomed around the room as he greeted some of the locals,

  “Good evening one and all. Ah! The host of this hostelry, where is he dear friends when one most needs his services?”

  The barman appeared,

  “Good evening Crispin, your usual?”

  Crispin’s voice echoed around the room as he responded,

  “Your finest ale dear sir.”

  As the barman prepared the drink Crispin looked around the room and addressed the strangers,

  “Dear guests pray accept me as you find me. Welcome to this beautiful inn. The very best in Scotland I would wager and I am sadly not on the payroll. But my daily attendance at the bar here provides generous turnover for the establishment each fiscal year.”

  “Your drink Crispin.”

  The man pulled a handful of coins from his pocket and assembled them into piles on the counter,

  “When this is gone then I must away home to my dear spouse who at this very juncture is preparing victuals for me.”

  The barman took some of the coins away and put them into the till.

  “Now to my crossword.”

  Crispin turned and faced Harry and Eileen who happened to be nearest to him. Again the voice boomed out,

  “I’m having great difficulty today, one clue is ‘emitting light from heat’ which I’d guessed as incandescent?”

  Harry smiled across at him,

  “Yes, I think that sounds right, so where is your problem?”

  “Well dear boy if ‘incandescent’ is correct then it’s ‘A’ is the beginning of a four letter word for a London suburb, any ideas, you see I don’t frequent the city so much as I used to?”

  Harry and Eileen thought for a moment but couldn’t determine what the answer could be. They continued drinking and chatting to each other. About five minutes later Harry had a flash of inspiration. He called across to Crispin,

  “What about ‘Acne’
does that fit?”

  The room erupted with laughter and Crispin’s face went bright red just seconds before he too joined in heartily. His laughter and spluttering lasted a full minute before he was able to calm down again,

  “Acne, did you hear that barman, acne?”

  Crispin broke into further laughter that became infectious as everyone followed him.

  “Sorry, but it just seemed to fit.”

  Harry said slightly embarrassed that his suggestion caused such noisy amusement. Crispin then scrutinised his newspaper again and occasionally wiped tears of laughter from his cheeks with a large brown handkerchief.

  “Oh stupid buffoon I am, look!”

  He held the newspaper up for all to see.

  “I’ve been trying to answer in the wrong space. If incandescent is correct then the London suburb, four letters, comes down from the bloody ‘S’ not the ‘A’. So Soho is correct. Then ‘relating to aircraft’ the ‘A’ down is ‘aero’. Brilliant it all fits thank you my dears, one and all.”

  The room then calmed down as couples began to talk with each other again without being disturbed by him.

  “Shall we have another drink?” Harry said to Eileen.

  “Yes please, but let’s go and stand at the bar.”

  They walked over and stood alongside Crispin. Harry ordered his drinks.

  “Can I get you one, sir?”

  Crispin turned towards Harry and raised the back of his hand to his mouth, his eyes looking up at the ceiling whilst carefully weighing up the offer,

  “I should not dear fellow.” A slight pause ensued, “But, just perhaps a small tincture.”

  “Your usual then?”

  The barman asked knowing such generosity had never been refused in the past.

  “Such pleasures help to stimulate one’s mind; thank you yes.”

  Crispin turned towards Eileen,

  “Dear Madam let me introduce myself, I am Crispin Montrose, Actor, writer, producer and artistic director.”

  “Oh, pleased to meet you. I’m Eileen and this is Harry. We’re staying a few days and travelling around the area. A bit of a holiday really.”

  “Utterly charmed to meet you both.” The drinks arrived, “And thank you again.”

  “Have you worked in London theatres in the past?”

  Harry enquired, not able to recall his name on billboards.

  “Many years ago now dear boy. The west end and of course Soho. I remember Soho so well, the perversions and excursions of youth. Now age has prevented me taking such parts as Romeo or other young bloodied characters. Make up does not restore the bloom of youth on ones furrows and arthritic joints, so I’m content to teach the young here in these parts.” He looked wistfully into the middle distance for a moment and then remembered he had a fresh drink waiting.

  “And you dear souls, where are you sightseeing?”

  Harry answered,

  “We thought we would take a look at the peninsula, we’ve never been there before.”

  Crispin’s eyes lightened up,

  “Ah! a place of lonesome beauty. Do you know I’m distantly related to the owners of Glenbarr Abbey, the clan MacAlister. You’ll see the old place as you drive south.”

  “You say lonesome, is it very isolated?” Harry asked knowing this would be exactly the territory he was looking for.

  “Bleak is the word my dears. Irish and Atlantic breakers pounding the coastline, with strong westerly winds. So it’s not very hospitable for large communities. Desolation and despair have fallen on many old homesteads there in the past. You see - and not many people are aware of this - we all know about the Irish potato famine in the nineteenth century but here in Scotland it occurred a century before and those inhabitants that didn’t perish left the area for good and their descendants have never returned.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Eileen said, “But for us it’ll be a restful break, it’s the scenery we want to take in.”

  “Well you won’t be disappointed Eileen. You can see the islands of Gigha, Islay and Jura. And if the weather is kind then the Erin coast will also be visible.”

  “Thank you Crispin that’s really useful information. Tell me where do you teach around here?”

  Crispin responded to Harry,

  “I’m often engaged at local schools, you see with all the evacuees in the district my time is even more pressured nowadays. On some occasions I also assist in taking nature study classes out into this beautiful countryside.”

  “Well I guess that must be quite a novelty for the kids brought up in the cities?” Harry said.

  “Generally yes, but there are always some that fail to appreciate what can be seen.” Crispin sipped his drink.

  “Go on.”

  “Well I assisted with a group of evacuees last winter. We travelled to the coast and decided to let the dear children roam around the fields to discover and record the birds they had seen. This information was written up by them in a book that would later be displayed in the school. The first eight pages contained beautiful detailed descriptions of gulls, various hawks and other sightings. Sadly on page nine one dear pupil had simply scrawled,

  ‘Birds bore me shitless!’ But at least he spelt it correctly!

  Suffice to say teaching Shakespeare or Milton to the lice ridden illiterates from the tenements is not what my years of treading the boards were meant for. But the pay is reasonable and occasionally, just occasionally one comes across one or two redeeming children.

  So this is my lot for the time being. Remember, ‘Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.’ Proverbs twenty-six, verses four and five.”

  Harry and Eileen both smiled, this was a character that would remain in their memories for many years. Crispin looked around the room and counted his coins before carefully sliding them back into his pocket,

  “’Tis time I was away, thank you for the drink. I must away to my dear wife who will be awaiting with my sustenance, the cat and a trowel.”

  “A trowel?”

  “Yes, a trowel. Poor Traquair is too old to dig so my dear spouse requests me to carry out the task for her twice daily! Luckily our other felines are self sufficient in that respect - so farewell my good friends perchance we shall meet again on the morrow?”

  With that he was gone.

  The following morning the couple left for the peninsula. The morning was bright and sunny but with a cold westerly wind blowing towards them as they headed for the coast and their journey south. Once they were nearing Glenbarr they did indeed see the islands that Crispin was describing together with the Abbey owned by his distant relatives.

  “On the other side of Glenbarr we should find some rocky coves. We can pull in there and take a walk perhaps to have a closer look around.”

  “It is beautiful and rugged Harry, just as Crispin said.”

  “Yep. Just look at those trees, the persistent winds have forced them to grow towards the hillside. He was also right about the sea; the coast is constantly battered by waves. We’ll have to check with Darlath that the boat we’re using can cope?”

  They drove on to an area known on the map as ‘Port Nam Marbh.’ Harry had noticed that just as the only road south swung east towards Campbletown there was a small track that branched off and turned towards the beach. This was just after crossing over the ‘Tangy Burn’. They soon reached the area.

  “It’s here off to the right Eileen. Look, remember there’s a milestone there and as the main road continues south, we turn sharp right onto this cinder track.”

  Eileen peered ahead with binoculars,

  “There’s a couple of cottages further down, but I think they appear to be abandoned?”

  Harry pulled the Standard over and stopped by one of the dwellings.r />
  “They’re both boarded up.” Said Eileen.

  “Good.” They left the car to survey the immediate area,

  “There’s also plenty of tree cover to hide a van from the road. So this could be the place Eileen. Shall we go and explore?”

  They pulled on extra pullovers and walked further down the lane towards the sea. The noise of the breakers was almost overwhelming them as they climbed a slight ridge that gave them a clear view of a long deserted sandy beach to the south and the small rocky cove ahead of them. They could both taste the salt in the air brought in by the strong wind. Their pathway became much narrower and deeper as it twisted through the dunes. Just as they negotiated the final bend they both stopped and were shocked to find fresh blood and flesh scattered in front of them.

  “Harry what is it? God this is horrible!”

  “Wait there.”

  Harry walked forward carefully avoiding treading in the mess spread before him. As he turned onto the beach he discovered a large recently killed sheep that had been effectively savaged and partly eaten. He retraced his steps.

  “It’s OK Eileen, just a dead sheep. It must have been a stray that was attacked here and then dragged forward onto the beach.”

  “It’s still pretty horrible. I thought somebody had been killed?”

  “No, could be a wolf if there are any around or a fox maybe, or a pack that may have attacked it?”

  He gave Eileen a hug and then held her hand as he guided her forward,

  “With all those pine forests behind on the hills they could be living up there. I did notice some sheep further back so I guess this one must have escaped recently?”

  “I don’t want to look, poor thing.”

  Carefully avoiding the carcass they made their way through lower, flatter dunes and onto a small shingle foreshore with rocky outcrops that provided shelter to the cove.

  “You’re shivering.”

  “No I’m alright, just the shock of what might have been.”