“Completely ludicrous!” snorted Rogers, a broad smile crossing his face. “I am in!”
***
The ludicrous sight of me strapped to a large wooden cross dressed as a scarecrow proved problematic in two very distinct respects. First there were the clothes. A scarecrow dressed in Eton blues would tend to stand out, as would the top hat assuredly. There was also the issue of transporting me from the college to the area of Miss Solomon’s house. In the first instance Rogers proved to be a rather resourceful thief, and under the cover of darkness the existing clothes covering the scarecrow that overlooked Elizabeth’s house were removed and brought back to the college.
In the next instance McGee managed to procure from heavens only knows where a horse driven cart from just outside the village. He was extremely close lipped about where he had got it from and both Rogers and I knew better than to ask any questions. After darkness fell Rogers and I carried the clothes, stakes and ropes beyond the college grounds and out to the road. We were well concealed by the hedgerows here, into which we vanished until we saw a small horse and cart proceeding towards us from the direction of the village, bobbing erratically about the road as it approached. The horse was a large black cart horse of equally dark temper and it stood snorting at us as we loaded up the cart and moved further along the road.
“Bad tempered nag!” scolded McGee as we drove along the road in the dark. It was just as well that it was a cumbersome beast as the moon was obscured by clouds at this point and moving at more than a walking pace could prove to be problematic. I did notice however that both McGee and Rogers were more than just a little worse for drink and the cart and horse veered wildly from time to time across the road. Not all of this was to do with the temper of the horse I was certain.
Eventually we arrived at the outskirts of the Solomon estate and McGee drew the cart to one side and tied the nag to the nearest tree. Next all three of us carried the wooden stakes and put them on the ground. I dressed myself into the clothes taken from the scarecrow along with various pieces of hay sticking from my sleeves in an attempt to enhance the effect. The clothing covered me completely though McGee had at least had the sense to fashion a black cloth hood that went over my head with just small holes for me to see through.
“Careful chaps!” I squealed as my two co-conspirators began to tie me to the stakes. It was important that the wooden stakes would hold me up and so I would need to be securely tied. Rogers had come up with a series of belts and buckles for my arms and wrists and the two of them worked at securing me to the posts in the moonlight that had now broken through the clouds. That both of my friends were neither sober but also in somewhat of a rush made them more than a trifle over enthusiastic with the straps and bindings, making me squeal with pain more than once as they firmly attached me to the wooden posts. Once done the stakes were raised and I grunted as they adjusted my position left and right. This assured that my gaze from inside the hood fell fair and square on the cottage in which the delightful Elizabeth Solomon currently slept.
I was satisfied that I was near enough to her cottage to be able to see exactly who it was that visited her door whilst at the same time being far enough away from the cottage to be of no particular interest. The position was perfect!
Next Rogers secured my head against the stake with more buckles so my head would not move or nod if I drifted off to sleep and the mask was now fastened into place. It was tight enough to hold my mouth closed and my head immobile. The initial feeling was that of panic but I swallowed and accustomed myself to the position as McGee finally placed the hat upon my head and the two of them stood back to admire their work.
“A jolly fine scarecrow you make, Farrer!” sniggered Rogers and McGee clapped him on the back. It was quite unusual for I could not move at all, so fast were the bindings holding me. I made to reply and realised that I could not move my mouth either, so tightly was I bound. Two small holes were placed over my nose for me to breathe through, for I could not move my mouth either because of the straps that bound me.I began to panic at this point but I fought against it, forcing myself to count to ten in my head.
“Come on then Rogers!” shouted McGee as he moved out of sight behind me. “I need to get this cart back before it is missed.” I heard as Rogers stood grinning at me. He must have seen some form of panic in the little he could see of my eyes however for he patted me on my outstretched arm.
“Back tomorrow night for you, old man.” he whispered. “Good hunting.” He moved behind me and I was alone. Again a feeling of panic overtook me but I counted to ten again and forced it down. I tested my bindings and found my two friends had done well for I could not move at all. The clothes we had taken off the original scarecrow were damp and musty smelling but I was not cold. It was a relatively warm summers night and there was no breeze to speak of at all. I took to watching the clouds scudding across the moon and the sound of owls hooting from somewhere nearby. I felt my eyes glazing and my weight leaning on my bindings and the wooden stakes, but it held me perfectly still. After a short while I managed to fall asleep whilst being pinned upright.
***
I am not sure how long I dozed for but when I awoke there was but a brief moment of disorientation, for not only could I not move of course but I was upright and looking out over a vista upon which I would not normally gaze when I first awoke! I attempted to thrash against the straps, ropes and buckles that held me tightly to the wooden post but McGee and Rogers had done an excellent job for I could not move at all. Even my head was completely immobile, though I could avert my glance by moving my eyes to a different angle. It was already beginning to become light as dawn broke and the birds began to sing around me. It looked as if it was going to be a glorious day. I concentrated all my attention now on the house before me which was sufficiently distant for me not to be too close, but was equally near for me to observe the comings and goings from the building.
After an hour or so I observed the door open to the house and servants began to appear bustling around, one brushing the front path and so forth. I smiled to myself at the thought of my lonely vigil and what an excellent plan of action it was!
Some more time passed though I cannot be sure of exactly how long of course because by now the path of the sun was out of my immediate view and I could not turn my head to follow it. Back at the house at one point two man servants carried a small table from around the side of the building and placed it on a small terrace that adjoined the field on the other side of which I stood in my disguise. Two chairs were then brought out and then the servants departed.
My heart sang some minutes later as Elizabeth herself appeared from the house and with her parasol made her way to the table and sat herself down. She was dressed in a long white dress and looked like the perfect picture of an angel to me. I smiled beneath the mask but my mouth could hardly move, and yet still I felt elated. She was so beautiful! I stood gazing on her and as always a dark thought entered my mind. Why were there two chairs? Was I about to be cuckolded by the nefarious presence of the infernal Grace? I felt my heart beat quicker at the very thought, and my thoughts filled with rage and despair.
I was more than pleased therefore when her father appeared from the house and sitting down at the table, looking as if he had called for tea. I had seen her father on my one and only visit, and he had seemed a fine gentleman, but he had only nodded at me briefly, gazing upon me as if I were some strange kind of oddity or exotic beast. It was without a doubt him though, for he wore his reverend’s collar about his neck. I strained to watch them and was greatly surprised when the wind carried his voice across the field to me.
“So sad…” I heard him say, though there were words before and words after but I could not make them out. I wondered what he was referring to, but I could hear no more. Yet it did not matter. I revelled in Elizabeth’s appearance, though I must admit that I was being selfish for I revelled more in the fact that her companion so far was but her father. After an hour or so they b
oth went back indoors. I considered by now that it must be approaching noon.
I felt only vaguely hungry for my excitement that my plan was proceeding well overcame my thoughts of food and drink. My only discomfort was the onset of cramp in my legs for a brief time but I could not move to restore my circulation and so I gritted my teeth beneath the scarecrow’s hood and waited for the pain to abate, which after some time it did. Apart from this all proceeded well and I felt a vague air of satisfaction at the ongoing success of my plan.
As what was more than likely the afternoon proceeded my heart continued to rise in spirits for still there was no sign of Grace. Today was the day I had been told he would always visit, and usually around lunchtime. Now however he was nowhere to be seen! There had been callers to the house of course, but all had been tradesman or deliveries, and had after entering the grounds made their way to the tradesman’s entrance at the rear of the building. The front door remained resolutely shut and unbothered by Grace or indeed anyone else at all. Sometime later servants took the table and chairs from the terrace and disappeared inside with them.
Slowly the colour of the light began to change. I thought it was my imagination at first, or that I had been dozing, but after a little while it became apparent to myself that evening was falling. The temperature, which in the garb of a scarecrow and all the attendant straps, ties and buckles had been quite fierce, began to recede. Still no sign of Grace. I was to say the least, overjoyed. As every hour of darkness began to pass I felt even more elated. The lights in the house began to be lit just after dusk and I fear that I would have danced had I been able to move. Finally, I saw moonlight fall upon the house and owls began to hoot again. Later on the lights were extinguished and all that was left was the moonlight, the scarecrow and I.
Sometime later I began to become impatient for the arrival of McGee and Rogers to retrieve me. Now my mission was complete and I would be able to safely call upon Elizabeth secure in the knowledge that Grace did not seem to be on the scene any more. It was now completely dark and therefore the ideal time for them to cut me down and for me to make my escape. In truth I felt they were somewhat late for them but no doubt they would arrive shortly.
A little later cramp raged in my left leg for a while, a state of affairs that I was powerless to change and so as it eased I think I dozed, dreams taking me far away.
***
When I awoke it was light. As per the morning before I was confused when I first awoke and therefore I railed against my bindings but could not move. I gazed over the field and saw Elizabeth sitting at the table on the terrace once again. I was gratified to see that not only was she alone but that there was only one chair placed at the table today. I rallied my thoughts however, for although this was gratifying news it was not the most important matter. I tried to shake my head to clear my thoughts, as a new panic overtook me.
Where the hell were McGee and Rogers?
They were meant to return last night to retrieve me from this damned post I was strapped to but obviously they had failed to do so. I stifled another wave of panic from overtaking me as they were the only people who knew I was in this field dressed as a scarecrow and strapped to a post! I concentrated instead on the fact that it was obviously a jape or a prank that they were playing on me. I could not wait until I got my hands on the ruddy pair of them! I’d make them squeal, for sure!
No doubt they would return for me tonight.
So on wore the day, and my impatience grew as I waited for the night to fall and my eventual rescue by two no doubt giggling rogues whose ears I could not wait to box. As per the night before the house lights began to be lit and night fell and later on they were extinguished again. I took small comfort in the fact that as it came to pass the day before Grace had not shown his face but now all my thoughts were concentrated upon my eventual release from the predicament in which I currently found myself.
Cramps assailed me more regularly now, and I had a fierce thirst. My stomach rumbled ominously desperate for food and I found myself daydreaming about mutton pie and potatoes. Owls began to hoot around me and nearby I could hear but not see some night-time creature moving around in the dark. Eventually my head began to swim as dawn began to break. I put all of my strength into at least loosening my bonds in an attempt to escape but to no avail.
Slowly it grew light.
They still had not come.
***
I spent several minutes fighting against my bonds when I awoke in what I thought may have been mid-morning. The sky was bright but clouds appeared at the corner of my vision, looking as if they may have threatened rain. My calves ached, my back too, my mouth was dry and my stomach empty. To my disgust my leg was wet and even through the scarecrow hood I could smell piss. I tried shouting but the hoods binding prevented me. Panic took me again and I thrashed at my confinement but with no result. I was stuck!
Looking across the field I could see the table on the terrace again, this time with two chairs but Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen. I found this to be odd for I could see a teapot on the table even from this distance, possibly two sets of cups too. The thought of tea made my mind wander and I think I may have fainted for voices drifted to me from nearby. I was unsure whether I had imagined them or not. To my surprise however the voice definitely belonged to Elizabeth, for how could I mistake it?
“A terrible tragedy.” I heard her say and was surprised as the sight of both her and her father passed my vision at the top end of the field. It appeared that they were taking a stroll. She was twirling a parasol across her shoulder against the heat of the sun, and her father, the vicar was examining the ground in what can only be described as a solemn manner. I tugged at my ropes and buckles but could not move them even in the slightest.
“Indeed.” said her father though they had moved out of my field of vision now, their voices drifting across the field in the eerily still air. “The horse must have bolted. Though heaven only knows what they were doing driving a horse and cart at that time of night.” A sick feeling spread into my chest as he continued. “Drunk too by all accounts.” I heard Elizabeth sigh. “The horse ran wild and trampled one of them to death. The other had his brains dashed out on the road it is said.”
“Oh father!” I heard the object of my affection and now immolation gasp. “So graphic!” He tutted at her mock outrage as I tried to wail but the hood would not allow me. “Their names?” I heard her ask finally and I felt the world stop.
Across the field I saw a leaf tumble in the increasingly purple tinted light, blowing across the grass before it came to rest against a tree. On the field blades of tall grass swayed and nodded caught in an increasing breeze. I felt my heart race and then stop almost altogether.
“Misters McGee and Rogers I believe.” I heard him say and I tried to scream but my bindings prevented me from doing so. “It looks like a storm is blowing in. I suggest we retire indoors. Luckily the funerals will be held tomorrow I am told. Good luck that they were not held today what with the impending weather and all.”
I felt my mind reel again and once more I tried to scream.
Nothing.
I believe I may have swooned again for the next thing I knew rain was battering at my eyes and I could hear thunder rattling overhead. McGee and Rogers were dead! Some terrible accident had befallen them no doubt due to that stupid nag! Nobody was coming to save me! My throat tightened, blood pounding in my ears as I felt the rain begin to soak into the scarecrow clothes. I had to do something! I tried to lick at the rain on the hood but the cloth and bindings held it firm and so I resolved to chew my way through the leather strap that secured my head. That way at least I could sip at the rain to relieve my thirst. For some time, I chewed at the strap but made little progress, though I think that I may just possibly have swallowed a small few pieces of leather. Eventually again I slept.
***
Still the rain continues though it is morning again. I have made small inroads into chewing my way through the belt bu
t there is still a long way to go and I am beginning to wonder whether I am equal to the task. Nobody knows I am here! Surely the college will have commenced a search for me by now? When I first awoke I could not contain and found myself sobbing about the grisly fate of poor old Rogers and McGee. I could not get them out of my mind. Yet I could not afford to let my attention wander. It was only a matter of time before my body began to fail through lack of nourishment or water. I must concentrate on chewing my way through the strap so I can call for help. Late into the night I hear rustling in the grass near to hand again but I continue chewing… chewing…
***
I nearly choked on a piece of the leather strap I am chewing through. The rain continued to fall when I came to in the morning and pains run up from my left foot. I cannot move my feet but when I flexed my toes my foot felt sore and wet as if it has been cut by something. I feel weak now and tired but I must continue for I can almost feel the strap about my mouth loosening a little. Perhaps though it is my imagination?
I dozed a little and when I came too again I was surprised to find myself giggling though at what I am not sure. Although the rain seems to have stopped I find that my head swims now and I feel as if I am slowly fading. I broke a piece of the strap today and through a small hole I tried to shout for help but my throat is sore and dry and all I could manage was a low croaking noise. I shall await it to rain to wet my throat and try again. Not that I have much choice in the matter of course. Last night I dreamed I was an owl and I thought I saw a mouse scuttle across my face.
***
Elizabeth sits on the bright sunlit terrace as I stand across the field from her in my scarecrow suit. Something was tugging at my foot last night, pulling hard; tearing. I do not know what it was, for I cannot move my head still, but I could hear a high pitched squeaking sound. Not one creature though. Possibly many. Dreaming I was an owl swooping down on them and exacting vengeance I fainted again. There is a weight on my arm too as if something is standing on it. I cannot see and as I try to shout through the hole in the strap covering my mouth I hear a sudden loud screech and something flies away from me, making cawing noises as it goes. Across the field I see crows fly across the little of the fields that I can actually see.
The Waiting Room Page 6