Canvey Island

by James Runcie

  I leant down and kissed her on the lips. ‘I won’t,’ I said, and headed out into the night, the streetlights stretching away before me, the last drinkers silhouetted against car headlamps.

  Claire

  We were charged with trespass, resisting arrest and breaching the peace. We gave false names, the levellers and suffragettes who had gone before us, women hidden from history: Elizabeth Lilburne, Mary Overton, Katherine Chidley and Milly Fawcett. I was Emily Davidson.

  When the police took statements and asked for our professions we didn’t say we were schoolteachers or nurses or homemakers but that we were restorers of free speech, recoverers of liberty, servants of the people. We asked to be considered political prisoners but were refused.

  ‘You have broken the law.’

  ‘These are not laws we recognise.’

  We spent the night crammed into the cells. We had a lawyer who gave her work for free, and she phoned home and tried to reach Martin. I didn’t want him to read it in the papers. Joyce had got a message to me to say that Lucy was fine and she was looking after her.

  Then the lawyer came back and told me that there was no one at our house. Perhaps Martin was working away from home?

  I gave her the office number but they said he had taken some leave and they didn’t know where he was, and so, out of desperation, I told her that she should ring Martin’s father. He was always good about phoning his dad.

  I began to worry that something was wrong. I thought of all the terrible things that could have happened: illness, accident or a freak event. I realised how much Martin had done for me and how badly I was missing him.

  Martin

  ‘Here,’ she said. ‘I want to give you this.’ It was a pebble, with the sea at night on one side and dawn on the other. Underneath Linda had written the date when we had made love again in tiny white numerals. ‘You’re supposed to guess what it means.’

  ‘Dawn and dusk?’

  ‘Night and day …’

  She told me she had once taken a job on local radio to earn a bit of money. One of her first ‘how to be a DJ’ lessons had been what to do in the event of a nuclear attack, and behind the turntable was a fading copy of Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits. As soon as she heard the three-minute warning, she was supposed to slap it on and head under the nearest table.

  ‘From then on, any time I heard Frankie on the radio I began to panic: have we only got three minutes left or are they having a laugh? His music always makes me think of the end of the world.’

  We drove up the coast and stayed in a country-house hotel with a spa and twenty-four-hour room service. The receptionist looked disapprovingly at Linda’s ripped jeans and scuffed shoes, but said nothing. She didn’t even remark when we asked for a bottle of champagne for the room, but I could see the smirk at the corner of her mouth that said: ‘I bet you’re not married.’

  We went upstairs. ‘Happy?’ I asked.

  ‘Of course I am. You?’

  ‘I can’t believe we’re doing this.’

  ‘Well, we are,’ she said. ‘You see how happy you can be if you just let go.’

  ‘I didn’t think it was possible to feel like this again.’

  ‘Let’s stay here for ever,’ she said, ‘or at least until the money runs out. Have you got enough?’

  ‘Of course,’ I lied.

  ‘Then you’re richer than I thought.’

  We ordered late breakfasts, had a swim before lunch, and made love in the afternoons. ‘Our honeymoon,’ said Linda.

  I tried not to think of Claire but on the second night it rained hard and it reminded me of university where the girl in the next room had a tape of ‘natural sounds’ and rewound to the thunderstorm whenever she was about to have sex. Claire and I always remembered it as our little joke whenever there was thunder.

  Linda was in a dreamy mood, drinking champagne, reciting bits of poetry and falling asleep:

  A book of verses underneath the Bough

  A jug of wine, a Loaf of Bread – and Thou

  Beside me singing in the Wilderness –

  Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

  ‘I had forgotten you could recite poetry,’ I said.

  ‘Well, I like to impress you from time to time; keep a bit of mystery going.’

  ‘What was it?’

  ‘Edward Fitzgerald. The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. He’s buried down the road. There’s a rose from Persia on his grave. Do you want to go?’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Whenever you like. We can do anything we want, remember? Once you take away the fear of responsibility you can do anything.’

  Her hand closed slowly into a fist in front of my face. ‘Look, here’s your old life, scrunched up in my hand, and lo,’ she blew and unfurled her fingers, ‘abracadabra, I make it disappear …’

  We drove to the village of Boulge and found a squat church with a sixteenth-century tower and a Victorian nave. We parked by the side of the main road and approached through early autumn fields. It must have been the darkest interior in Suffolk, the only light coming through small windows of thick coloured glass: Faith and St Nicholas, the Annunciation, the Baptism of Christ.

  As we walked up the aisle Linda said, ‘Just think: we could have got married here. I could have been Mrs Martin Turner after all.’ She took my arm. ‘Here comes the bride …’

  ‘Don’t.’

  ‘It might have happened.’

  ‘Stop it, Linda.’

  ‘And it still could, of course. It just takes a bit of courage. In two years’ time we could be here again like it was supposed to be. I could even wear scarlet. That would get people talking …’

  ‘Don’t …’

  ‘We could have our child baptised in the font. Look, black marble. Why not?’

  ‘Linda, we should go. I don’t want anyone seeing us here.’

  ‘Who’s going to see us? It’s the middle of nowhere.’

  ‘Someone might come …’

  ‘I’m going to sign the visitors’ book.’

  ‘Don’t,’ I said. ‘Please don’t.’

  ‘Why not? Martin and Linda Turner. What’s wrong with that?’

  ‘You know what’s wrong with it. Why are you being like this?’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Not yourself. A bit hysterical.’

  ‘Well, why do you think? Nothing about any of this is normal.’

  ‘What do you want then?’

  ‘I want you to accept me and for us to be together in public like normal couples.’

  ‘But we’re not a normal couple, are we?’

  ‘I hope you’re not ashamed of me all over again.’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘Of course I’m not.’

  ‘I don’t want you starting to have doubts.’

  ‘Let’s go outside. I’m sorry. Look, it will be all right. I find it a bit difficult.’

  ‘And you think I find it easy?’

  We looked at Fitzgerald’s grave, and it began to rain. The rose from Persia looked withered. Linda grabbed my arm and stood up on the railing round the stone. She lifted up her face and shouted to the sky:

  Some for the Glories of This world; and some

  Sigh for the Prophet’s Paradise to come;

  Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go,

  Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!

  ‘Sometimes I think you’re a bit mad,’ I said.

  ‘Of course I am,’ she replied. ‘That’s why you love me.’

  When we got back to Canvey Linda told me that she wanted me to stay at her flat rather than my father’s. We didn’t even need to tell him we were there. I could pretend I was going home but then stay on secretly. It would be the start of my double life.

  I took another week off work, knowing that if I didn’t start explaining myself soon I could run the risk of losing my job. I was aware that I could not go on much longer and my head began to fill with fear: of discovery, of Claire, and the choices I had made.

&nbs
p; Two days later, we were woken at six-thirty in the morning. It was Masood from the newsagent’s below.

  ‘Miss Walker, there’s a phone call for the man staying with you.’

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘His father. It’s urgent.’

  I pulled on yesterday’s clothes, unable to think what could be wrong. Perhaps Dad had been burgled or something had happened to Vi. In the shop, Masood was writing the addresses on newspapers and his son was sorting them ready for delivery. The boy looked about ten. I turned my back but could feel him staring at me as I picked up the phone.

  ‘Dad … How did you know I was here?’

  ‘I’m cleverer than you think, son.’

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Never mind me. Claire’s been arrested.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Some of the women are looking after Lucy, but you’ve got to get over there and pay the fine. Claire’s refusing to do it and said she’d rather go to prison but we can’t have her in the nick.’

  ‘I’ll get my things.’

  ‘And don’t tell anyone.’

  ‘It’ll be in the papers, Dad.’

  ‘I don’t mean about Claire, you idiot. I mean about Linda. Don’t tell anyone. Especially don’t tell your wife. Don’t go home and dump it all on her.’

  ‘I’m not that stupid.’

  ‘I’m serious, son, even if she asks; don’t make it worse by telling her. Keep it to yourself.’

  ‘I don’t need your advice, Dad.’

  ‘You’re getting it anyway. You’ve got to shut up about it unless you’re planning on doing something daft like leaving her altogether. She’s a good woman, is Claire. Don’t keep messing it up.’

  ‘I’m not messing it up.’

  ‘Then what are you doing?’

  I put the phone down. Masood and his son pretended they hadn’t been listening. I couldn’t work out how much they might have guessed from my end of the conversation.

  When I went back upstairs, Linda was still half-asleep. ‘Come back to bed,’ she said, ‘I want you.’

  Claire

  In the past, I’d always been frightened of police officers. They made me feel guilty, as if I’d forgotten that I’d murdered someone and they were coming round to remind me. And I’d never been in a courtroom in my life.

  But the magistrate looked nervous. Perhaps his only experience of women was a compliant wife and placid old ladies up for driving without due care and attention. He could tell he was in for a rough ride when Sasha refused to swear on the Bible.

  ‘You must give the oath, madam.’

  ‘I will not swear by Almighty God. That is a male construct.’

  ‘Then what will you swear by?’

  ‘I’ll swear by the goddess, but not by the god.’

  We had packed the court with supporters who, when asked not to speak, began to hum ‘We Shall Overcome’, swaying from side to side: Abby who had given up work as a therapist, Sue who wanted to start a Greenham newspaper, women from all over the country: Catherine, Mandy and Emma; Ali, Amy and Morwenna.

  When it came to my turn, and I was accused of invasion, assault and giving false evidence, the women stuck their fingers in their ears and started ululating so the charges could not be heard.

  ‘This is the law of the land,’ the magistrate announced.

  I told him that no person should have to live under laws to which she has not personally given her express consent.

  The women cheered.

  ‘I ask you to be silent or you will go down for contempt.’

  ‘We believe in the sovereignty of the people,’ I said.

  The judge replied, ‘I have one sovereign and I am grateful to say that it is not you. You are faced with three charges. How do you plead?’

  ‘I do not need to plead.’

  ‘I think you will find that you do. I repeat that I would rather not have to add the charge of contempt.’

  ‘I’m not going to beg. I have done nothing wrong.’

  ‘That is for the court to decide.’

  ‘I know in my heart that anything I have done I have done out of love for my fellow woman, and even, dare I say it, for my fellow man. Such is my love for humanity I have even done it for you.’

  The police gave evidence, told the magistrate that I had trespassed on to MOD land, obstructed vehicles, kicked a police officer and given a false name: Emily Wilding Davidson.

  ‘Wasn’t that the woman who threw herself under the king’s horse?’

  I was almost impressed that the judge knew. ‘I understand that you have been a teacher,’ he said, ‘and I imagine that one day you might like to return to your profession. I will therefore be lenient. We ask you to enter into recognisance and to keep the Queen’s peace for the next twelve months for the sum of twenty-five pounds. Are you willing to accept?’

  ‘What do you mean, “keep the peace”? That is what I have been doing.’

  ‘The law must be upheld,’ said the magistrate.

  ‘Surely, I am the one keeping the peace: not you.’

  My friends began to sing ‘Give Peace a Chance’.

  ‘I understand that to be a refusal.’

  ‘I’ll keep the peace but I will use my own definition.’

  I was on a roll, performing more to my friends than answering the questions put to me, and I believed I was invincible. But then I heard a voice interrupting me.

  ‘I will pay her fine, your honour.’

  ‘And who are you?’

  ‘Her husband.’

  ‘Then I pity you,’ said the magistrate.

  The women began booing.

  ‘He will not pay the fine,’ I said. ‘I will not let him. I’d rather be in prison.’ I turned to Martin. ‘If you pay then the money goes to the Ministry of Defence.’

  ‘I have already written the cheque.’

  ‘Shame,’ sang the women. ‘Shame on you, shame on you.’

  ‘I’ve collected Lucy and we’re taking you home,’ said Martin.

  ‘Shame,’ continued the women. ‘Shame on you, shame on you.’

  ‘I assume you still believe in a democracy. Even if you want to stay it’s two votes to one.’

  ‘Don’t do this to me, Martin. I thought you understood.’

  ‘I have to do this.’

  ‘We say no,’ shouted the women, ‘we say no.’

  But Martin was adamant. ‘We’re leaving. Our family. Together.’

  I was so tired.

  ‘Lucy’s already in the car.’

  I started to follow my husband.

  ‘Come back, Claire,’ Abby called out. ‘We love you. We need you.’

  Driving out of the car park, I could hear Kate singing:

  Show me the country where bombs had to fall,

  Show me the ruins of buildings once so tall,

  And I’ll show you a young land with so many reasons why

  There but for fortune, go you or go I …

  Linda

  As soon as Martin had gone, I couldn’t do anything. I smoked and drank and stared at the walls. Then I wrote down everything we had done in my notebook: where we had walked, what we had eaten, and how we had made love. I wondered if I could keep repeating those days in my head until Martin came back so that I would not have to live in the real world at all. I kept going over what he had said. When I stood up it was only to move across the room and sit down again. I had the record player on continual repeat so there was endless Billie Holiday.

  When I did manage to go out I found that all the music in the pubs and supermarkets on the island was aimed directly at me. It was always the Communards singing ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ or ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’. I kept thinking of the questions that needed answering. How could Martin have made love to me that morning already knowing that he had to leave? Perhaps that was why it was so tender. But in that case why did he need to go? Why couldn’t he stay? His wife had left him and got herself into this mess.

  If I co
uld at least have talked to him everything would have been easier to bear but I didn’t even know his address. I tried Directory Enquiries but his wife was a teacher and so they’d obviously gone ex-directory. Bitch.

  I couldn’t wander round Brighton hoping to bump into him. But that’s what he had done to me. All right, he had asked Ade, but he had staked me out like a private detective. If he needed me so much and he was happy when we were together, I didn’t see why he had to go at all. He could just have sent his wife some money.

  I tried to pretend that he hadn’t really gone, and he would be back at any minute. He would sort things out at home and return. How could he leave me twice? He couldn’t be that heartless.

  Claire

  When we got home, Martin bundled us out of the car and said that he would unpack everything. ‘You both need good long baths.’

  I could see that it was going to be difficult to be the three of us again. I could hear Martin being especially nice to Lucy, running her bath, leaving presents in her bedroom, and making sure it was warm. His blatant bribery made me even angrier.

  ‘Let me know,’ he called, ‘when you’d like to ask me about how I am, whether I still have a job, and how I’ve been coping without you. My life is as nothing compared to your great project, but it does, in its small insignificant way, have a bearing on how we decide to bring up our child.’

  ‘Oh fuck off, you pompous prig,’ I said. ‘Just fuck off.’

  ‘Don’t you tell me to fuck off. I saved you from prison. I’ve looked after you. And now I’m going to look after our daughter. Which is a damn sight more than you’ve been doing.’

  I had never seen him so irritable or aggressive. ‘She’s happy. She’s fulfilled. She’s alive. She has seen what matters in the world.’

  ‘She should be at school. I should have thought a teacher like you would have appreciated that.’

  ‘Of course I know that.’

  ‘Daddy!’ Lucy called. ‘I’m ready to get out now.’

  ‘Coming!’

  ‘I’ll do the supper then,’ I said.

  ‘I’ve left some things out. It’s ready.’