The Secret Catamite Bk 1, The Book of Daniel

by Patrick C Notchtree

  "That's John Riley, the troop leader. I'm going to be troop leader one day, just you wait. Watch me, won't you?" said Daniel as he left.

  "Bearers, over here?" called the Troop Leader. Most of the scouts were getting into lines, each patrol together but Daniel and another boy went over to the Troop Leader and were given leather straps to wear over their shoulders with a little pocket hanging in front. Then the two flags were brought out, a large green flag with the scout badge and the name and number of the scout troop on it, and a large Union Flag. Daniel took the latter and raised it into the air and dropped the end of the pole into the leather pocket, the strap taking the weight. Daniel and the other flag bearer took up position in front of the whole scout troop. Simon, along with a crowd that had now gathered, watched bewitched by the sight of the boys all lined up, silent now, disciplined and waiting for instructions. Simon wished he were eleven already. The only sound was the fluttering of the two flags in the breeze, until they were startled by the church bells pealing out. But the boys all held ranks and then listened as final instructions were given out by one of the scoutmasters. The scouts all came to attention, then stood at ease again.

  "Hello, Simon, shall we go in?" It was Mrs Gray, Mr Gray with her. Simon nodded and they went into the church. They found a seat a few rows back and waited. Simon was given a hymn book.

  Then everybody stood and the cross entered followed by the choir and the vicar. But then came the Scouts, led by the two flag bearers, holding their flags up at matching angles as they moved between the pews. Daniel was looking straight ahead, head held high. He looked glorious. The flags were placed at the altar as the scouts filed into the pews reserved for them, and Daniel took his seat at the front. Only then did he permit himself to look round for his parents and Simon. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other, then Daniel turned back.

  The service didn't mean a lot to Simon, the hymns weren't ones he knew from school, but he followed it, overawed by the sense of occasion and the majesty of the ceremony in this ancient building. There was a moment of embarrassment for Simon as the collection plate was passed round and he had no money, but Mrs Gray said it was all right.

  There was a pause, and then the choir came out and knelt along the altar rail. The Vicar gave each one something, and Simon was close enough to hear the words. "The body of Christ keep you in eternal life". Another person followed with a silver cup, from which each one drank to the words, "The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life." It seemed magical to Simon. Then Daniel was on his feet and with the other flag bearer, leading the scouts to kneel at the altar rail. Simon strained to watch and listen. Daniel was not offered the bread or wine, but bowed his head. The vicar placed his hand on Daniel's dark hair, saying, "Daniel, The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

  Simon heard Daniel say "Amen." The vicar knew Daniel's name! Daniel stood up and turned. He looked so serious, thought Simon. And so special. Simon looked at Mrs Gray next to him. She was smiling with pleasure and when she saw Simon looking at her, she smiled again. "He's done well, hasn't he?" she whispered. Simon just nodded, not trusting himself further.

  But now the scouts were leaving the rail, one or two receiving the bread and wine, most having received a blessing, although few by name like Daniel. The organ was now playing and the rest of the people were now going out and it was their row's turn.

  "Are you coming out with me, Simon?" said Mrs Gray. Simon's first reaction was to stay where he was, but something made him say yes. "Just keep your hands by your side when the priest gets to you," she advised.

  They knelt at the altar rail, Simon next to Mrs Gray, Mr Gray beyond her. The priest came along the line, placing the wafer on the hands of each person, with the same words, "The body of Christ keep you in eternal life". It was Mrs Gray's turn and Simon tried to watch without turning his head, but also aware of Daniel sitting back in his front pew, not far behind him. He knew Daniel would be watching him and didn't want to let him down.

  The vicar stood before Simon, hesitated slightly but Simon, copying Daniel, kept his head bowed and his hands by his side. He felt the vicar's hand on his head, as it had been on Daniel's.

  "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace," said the vicar, then raising his hand moved on. Simon felt a delicious tingle of warmth spread from his head down his body. He stayed still, drinking in the strange feeling of contentment that this had given him.

  "The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life." Mrs Gray was sipping from the cup, so Simon kept his head bowed and the person passed by to the grown up next to him on the other side. After a moment, Mrs Gray gently nudged him, and they stood up to go back to their pew. There was Daniel, smiling at them. Simon smiled back, pleased.

  After a further hymn, one Simon did know and which he sang out loud feeling happy inside, it was the end of the service. Solemnly, Daniel and the other flag bearer approached the altar and the flags were placed in their holders. The two scouts turned to face the congregation, and marched back through the church, the scouts falling in behind them as they passed the end of each scout filled pew. Then the choir and the vicar left and the people started going out, Simon among them. The scouts were outside in their silent ordered ranks, the two flag bearers in front. The Troop Leader shouted commands and the Scouts all turned left. Then they set off marching now two abreast round the church yard, led by the flags.

  "Left. Left. Left right left," called John Riley rhythmically every so often to keep the whole troop in step. Simon watched, his eyes fixed on Daniel, the breeze whipping the flags out straight. The Scout flag bearer had a slight problem with the wind, but Daniel managed to keep the Union Flag rock steady, although Simon could see his right arm tensed with the effort. The troop moved away round the other side of the church.

  "Where are they going?" he asked Mrs Gray.

  "They always take the flags right round the church," she said. Simon didn't question why, ritual was a part of the whole occasion. He ran round the church the other way to meet them. There was the troop, marching in disciplined order towards him along the gravel path, the two flags at the head. Daniel looked very serious again, immersed in his duty to carry the Union Flag as best he could. Simon kept pace, along with some other kids, as the troop marched back to the starting point.

  "Troop ….. Halt!" called the Troop Leader. All the scouts stopped, almost as one.

  "Troop …..Right turn!" All the scouts turned right so that instead of being in two long columns, they were now in two rows, facing John Riley and the Scoutmasters.

  "Troop, stand at …ease!" ordered the Troop Leader. The scouts stood legs astride, hands behind their backs, except Daniel and the other boy who had to keep hold of their flags. The scoutmaster spoke to them, saying how well they had done and that they were a credit to the troop, to scouting and to the country. After that he nodded to John Riley.

  "Troop atten … SHUN!" The scouts came to attention.

  "Troop, Dismiss!" The scouts turned right, paused and then scattered, each looking for his own family or friend. The two flag bearers took out the flags, furling them carefully and removed the leather belt. The scoutmaster took the flags and put them in the back of his estate car.

  "Well done, you two," he said. "Very good, especially you Daniel, your first time."

  "Thanks Skip," said Daniel. He then turned to his parents and Simon.

  "Glad that went OK," he said. "I was scared stiff of dropping it or going the wrong way."

  "Well, it didn't show," said Simon. He wanted to say more, but was aware of Daniel's parents.

  "Well done Daniel, you really looked the part, I'm proud of you" said Mr Gray.

  "Thanks Dad," said Daniel warmly.

  They walked back home, but the two boys hung back to talk.

  "Wh
at did you think, Simon?" asked Daniel. It occurred to Simon that it really mattered to Daniel what he thought. He need not worry.

  "You were super. The best there. And I am going to join as soon as I can."

  "Thanks, Simon," said Daniel with as much warmth as he had thanked his Dad a few minutes before. "And when you join, I'll promise to get Skip to put you in the same patrol as me."

  Fourteen months later, Daniel kept that promise.

  1956/8 One way train ride

  Simon ran round the corner to Daniel's. He was later than usual, so he had an idea. He had brought all his pocket money with him and a bar of chocolate.

  "I'm sorry, Simon," said Mrs Gray at the back door, "Daniel's out. Some boys came for him about half an hour ago."

  "Oh," said a crestfallen Simon. "Do you know where they've gone?"

  "I don't, I'm afraid. They may have gone to the swimming baths, but I'll tell him you called."

  "Thank you, Mrs Gray," said Simon politely. He turned away disconsolately. He had no desire to follow Daniel to the swimming baths. Daniel was a brilliant swimmer and won races and that, but Simon knew his own limitations. He walked slowly out onto the pavement again, wondering what to do now. He felt cross he had been late, really just through not getting a move on. And now Daniel had gone off with some other friends. Well, decided Simon, that would not stop him. He was going anyway. Simon was interested in trains and the latest thing was diesel trains. The new two carriage, DMUs, or Diesel Multiple Units were now running on local lines and Simon had wanted he and Daniel to try one out. He had even bought a new Ian Allan Railway book. So, Daniel would have to miss it.

  With renewed determination, he set off down the hill to the main road. He crossed the road carefully to the bus stop. It was not long before a bus came and naturally he ran to get an upstairs seat. He often wondered why, with so many people upstairs, especially in the mornings going to school, and so few downstairs, the bus didn't topple over. Automatically he paid the conductor and stuffed the little square ticket into his pocket. He let the school bus stop pass and the bus carried on to the city centre. At the Railway station he got off.

  The station was big and busy, but not strange to Simon. He wandered along the platforms, looking for a DMU train that would leaving soon. Coulton-in-the-Bottom. What a funny name for a place. It must be very strange to live in Coulton-in-the-Bottom. He imagined a conversation:

  "And where to you live?"

  "Coulton-in-the-Bottom."

  "Oh dear, that must be very uncomfortable."

  Simon was curious about Coulton-in-the-Bottom and there seemed to be a train leaving soon that would call there. He ran to the ticket office and asked how much it was to Coulton-in-the-Bottom. Luckily he just had enough. Clutching the precious little card in his hand, he went back to the platform and ran towards the waiting DMU.

  "Hold on there, son!" Simon realised that meant him. He turned to where the ticket inspector was standing by the gate he had just run through. "Have you got a platform ticket? You need one to be train spotting."

  "No," said Simon, pleased, "I've got a proper ticket." He held out the little piece of stiff card that was the valued ticket. The inspector took it and punched a funny shaped hole in it.

  "Mind how you go, son," said the inspector, mollified.

  Simon ran to the train, keen to get a seat up front. There were few people on the train. Perhaps nobody wanted to go to Coulton-in-the-Bottom thought Simon. But he got a seat right at the front and sat to the right. The driver would be sitting to the left in his cab in front, but Simon would have a clear view through the windows. He waited impatiently.

  At last the driver came in and seemed to Simon to take an age to get ready. But then he started the engines. Simon could feel the power somewhere beneath his feet. With a hoot from its siren, the train started to move. Simon was thrilled. He could see everything the driver could see, the track ahead, the points and signals as the train navigated its way out of the station and on to its chosen track. Through the city it went. Simon wondered why cities always looked so ugly from the railway lines. They took care to make the roads into the city look nice, why not the view from the train?

  Then out of the city and into the countryside, the train hurrying along, under bridges, the occasional level crossing, mostly with nobody waiting, but at one there was a long queue of cars and lorries. Simon felt exalted as he whisked past, they all waiting for his train. Simon watched fascinated as a station came into view and the train slowed. He had never seen a train coming into a station from the driver's view before. Suddenly there was the platform alongside and the train stopped. It was a village station and a few people got on, one or two got off. Then the stationmaster's whistle and they were off again, the green fields and woods rushing past. The village stop was repeated a couple of times before the train started to come into a larger town. This, Simon knew, was Coulton-in-the-Bottom. He watched as the train came into the station, waiting as long as he could before leaving his seat, so as not to get caught on the train when it continued its journey.

  "On your own, son?" asked the ticket inspector at the barrier.

  "Yes," said Simon, showing his ticket. Then he went out to experience the strangeness of Coulton-in-the-Bottom.

  The thrill of anticipation waned as Simon walked around the town. It all seemed so ordinary. Ordinary buildings. Ordinary people doing ordinary things. A bit disappointed that Coulton-in-the-Bottom was not rather less ordinary, Simon sat on a seat in the Market Square that seemed to be the centre of Coulton-in-the-Bottom and ate his chocolate bar. He had intended to share it with Daniel, but as he wasn't there, he ate the whole bar himself.

  At last, Simon had to admit to himself that Coulton-in-the-Bottom had lost whatever aura of mystery it may once have held. Time to go home.

  At this, a sudden fear gripped Simon. He didn't have enough money! In his rush to get to Coulton-in-the-Bottom and delve into its secrets, he had completely overlooked the need to have enough fare for both ways. Panic started to set in and he felt lost and alone. What to do? He sat for a moment and then an idea came to him. Mummy always said that the policeman was his friend, that if ever he was in trouble, to find a policeman. Simon had a great respect for policemen, although the only one he knew personally was Daniel's Daddy. And that could be useful now, thought Simon.

  He looked around. Not a policeman in sight. A lady walking a dog came past his seat.

  "Excuse me," chimed Simon, "Please can you tell me where the police station is?"

  "You see the church over there? Well, the police station is just round the corner. Are you all right, little boy?" said the lady. Simon resented the 'little boy' part, but remembered to be polite.

  "I'm fine, thank you, and thank you for telling me the way." With renewed confidence, Simon set off in the direction indicated. Sure enough, there was the police station, a red brick building with stone steps and the usual blue lamp outside. He marched in.

  Once at the counter inside, with a large policeman looking down at him, Simon's confidence started to ebb.

  "Excuse me, but I haven't got enough money to get home." Under questioning from the sergeant, the story came out. The sergeant started laughing, and two other policemen came to join in, once they had been told the story.

  "Well now, young lad," we'll have to see what to do with you."

  "A night in the cells for being silly, do you think, Sarge?" said one of the policeman. Simon gulped, but then realised this was a tease. He plucked up courage to play his ace.

  "I know a policeman at home," he said. "He's a high up one." Simon struggled to remember the rank. "He's a Chief something," he ended lamely.

  "Chief Constable no doubt," said the sergeant, not very impressed with Simon's failed name dropping.

  "Chief Super, maybe?" guessed the other policeman.

  "Yes, that's it."

  "And who might that be then?" asked the sergeant. It dawned on Simon he didn't know Daniel's Daddy's first name.


  "Mr Gray," he said.

  "Ah, Chief Superintendent Gray, city division," said the sergeant. Simon was satisfied that the connection had been made. "Come on then, young lad, I expect you're hungry." He lifted up part of the counter and took Simon through. "Better let your mother know where you are. You say you're on the phone at home?"

  Simon nodded and gave the number. Ponderously, the sergeant dialled the operator and then asked for the city number that was Simon's. He heard Mummy's voice and felt really stupid while the sergeant explained what had happened. He was handed the phone.

  "Simon? Are you all right?"

  "Yes, Mummy. I'm at the police station but I've not been locked up or anything, but you always said if I was in trouble to go to the police so I did – "

  "It's all right darling," Mummy said, "Now that I know you're safe."

  "OK, Mummy. Here's the sergeant again." He gave the receiver back to the sergeant.

  "Mrs Scott? … yes of course … We've a car coming to the city shortly, so it's no trouble … Good bye."

  Simon was given a sandwich and a drink of orange squash. Soon it was time to go. A policeman he had not met yet, wearing a cap, not a helmet, gave him a box of papers to carry.

  "Follow me, Simon," he said cheerily. "We're going for a ride." They went out of the back of the police station to a yard where a couple of police cars were parked. Simon put the box of papers on the back seat of one, as instructed, and the policeman put several more there. Then, Simon in the front next to the policeman, they set off.

  "Can we make the bells ring?" asked Simon

  "Only if we have to chase some robbers," said the policeman, so Simon started to look for robbers, until it occurred to him the policeman was joking. They chatted a bit as the car drove back to the city. Simon thought being in a police car was great fun. One or two people looked. Simon felt important.