Legacy of Greyladies (23 page)

To his shock, someone grabbed him as he was passing the crypt and before he could do more than let out one yell, he found himself on the ground, with one arm twisted behind his back.

He heard Major Latimer’s voice and sagged in relief.

‘I’m going to let you get up, but if you try to run away, I’ll really hurt you.’

Mr Pocock heaved himself to his feet, one hand to his chest. ‘You’ve got the wrong end of the stick. I was coming to see Mrs Latimer, to warn her.’

The major’s expression was grim. ‘About what?’

‘We’ve heard Hatterson and his cronies are gathering at his house today. We think they’re going to stage a big attack tonight, perhaps try to capture the big house. There’s someone at his house already, and one of my customers saw a stranger in their street.’

‘How do you know this?’

‘Mrs Hatterson fainted in the shop today and my wife told her if she left her husband we’d help her, or Mrs Latimer would. Well, he’s been beating the poor little thing
for years, as well as making her do all the work. She can’t be more than five foot high and she’s as thin as a lath. My wife doesn’t think she’s even eating properly.’

‘Go on.’

‘Mrs Hatterson came back to see us later, riding her bicycle, which he’d taken off her but he’s given it her back so that she can go and visit her cousin, who lives on a farm outside the village. Mrs Hatterson was told to stay the night there.’

‘That’s ominous.’

‘She said she couldn’t stand it any longer and she’s decided to leave him. She told us he was expecting some of his friends, and he’d got
that look
to him.’

‘What look is that?’

‘Wild-eyed. I know what she means. I’ve seen him in a rage a couple of times. She thinks he’s gone mad and is planning to do something terrible, but she doesn’t know what.’

The silence seemed to go on for ever, then the major spoke in a normal, friendly tone and Mr Pocock sagged in relief.

‘You’d better come to the house and talk to my wife about it. We’re making plans to protect ourselves, which is why I was checking the crypt. But if we get an attack by a mob, there may too few of us to defend Greyladies properly. Most of the internees are too old and feeble to help. Look. You know everyone in the village. You’ll know who we can rely on, who’s strong and ready to fight for his country.’

‘I do indeed. And I don’t believe in mob rule, sir.’

‘Good. To set the record straight, our Germans are helping the British government with information about all
sorts of things. They’re making a significant contribution to the war effort on our side.’

‘We’d heard rumours about that.’

‘Had you? By Jove! It’s not supposed to be known.’

Mr Pocock shrugged. ‘It’s a small village. You know how things get talked about.’

‘If everyone knows about it, why is that fellow trying to stir up trouble?’

‘He’s an incomer, and what’s more he isn’t liked. No one would tell him anything. There are a few others who don’t join in much, as well, and we don’t discuss it with them, either. Two or three of them have been seen going into Hatterson’s house lately or leaving the village after dark. There have been motor cars stopping nearby during the night, too. Hatterson’s uncle must be spinning in his grave about what’s being done with his old home.’

‘Yes. Funny how things turn out sometimes. I didn’t realise I was coming home today to lead an unofficial battle against hoodlums, but that’s what it’ll amount to. There isn’t time to get more soldiers here and in place before nightfall, and anyway, we have no real proof of what’s being planned, so I’d have trouble getting any sent.’

But he was going to phone the nearest unit and set up certain arrangements with them.

‘Well, as I said, I’m ready to help out, because it’s
my
village, and I can name a few others who’ll help as well. I hope you get Hatterson locked up in prison for the rest of his life, then he won’t be able to beat up that poor woman … or betray his country.’

He was looking forward to helping sort this out, had been itching to get hold of Hatterson and give him some of
his own medicine. He couldn’t be doing with people who beat up their wives and caused trouble in the village.

As for traitors who attacked British houses and soldiers, he’d stand the sods up against a wall and shoot them himself, by hell he would.

In some amusement, Corin watched Gilbert Pocock, in his sixties and distinctly plump, stride beside him into the house with an attempt at a military bearing.

People like him and Joe were the salt of the earth, were what had made Britain the great nation she was.

Joe had been set to keep watch on Hatterson’s house, with strict instructions not to show himself or do anything except watch.

He carried out his instructions to the letter, but when two burly men grabbed him from behind, he had no time to do anything except yelp in shock before a gag was shoved into his mouth and he was bound tightly.

Laughing and joking, they carried him towards Hatterson’s cottage, dumping him in the coalhouse.

He lay in the muck, bitterly aware that he had failed Major Latimer, failed everyone. Tears of shame leaked from his eyes, though he tried hard not to give in to despair.

He dreaded to think what those men would do to Greyladies.

The door opened again and a light was shone on him. He blinked and turned his head away.

‘Yes, it is him. Think you’re clever, don’t you, you little sod,’ Hatterson said, and aimed a kick at him, laughing as it connected with his ribs.

A gurgle of pain escaped Joe, but he managed not to make a noise when the second blow slammed into him.

‘Aw, come on, Hatty. He’s not worth it. Just lock him up till we’ve carried out our plan, then we’ll let him go.’

One more kick came Joe’s way, then the shadow looming over him fluttered backwards and the door was slammed shut. This time he heard a padlock click shut on the outside.

There was no way he was going to get out of here, even if he got free of his bonds.

He lay in the darkness, waiting for the pain to ebb. His ribs hurt, but his pride hurt far more.

He had failed, failed all those people depending on him. More tears fell.

Men filtered into the village and it wasn’t possible now to keep their arrival secret. They gathered at prearranged points and no one came out of any of the houses to challenge them.

They laughed as they waited, boasted about what they would do to the Huns, and to the cowards guarding them if they resisted at all.

People who overheard them from the nearby houses grew angry, but they had their instructions: they were to do nothing until the signal was given unless their very lives were threatened.

And for that signal, they depended on Joe.

Miss Bowers sat in the darkness of her unlit house, watching the back lane and listening through a half-open window to the men passing along it, going into and out of Hatterson’s house. She shivered in the cold air that was coming in, but huddled her shawl more closely round her neck and continued to keep watch.

But it was no use sitting there. She could only catch
snatches of the various conversations and it was hard to make sense of anything. The invaders, as she thought of them, were too confident and there were more of them than had been expected.

Perhaps she could hear something useful if she went outside, not right into the back lane, but staying in her own garden. She opened the door cautiously, listened, then tiptoed out and stationed herself near the gate in the middle of the high back wall of her garden. From here she would be able to hear a lot more.

But to her disappointment the men all seemed to have gone past. She was about to open the gate to peep out and check that when she heard another gate bang shut close by. She froze.

More footsteps approached and she recognised one voice immediately: Hatterson. He was boasting about what he’d do to the lad they’d got locked in the coalhouse after they got back. It was obvious from what he was saying that it was Joe they’d caught.

When they’d gone she waited a bit longer, but no one else came. Taking a deep breath, she opened her back gate and peered out, ready to duck back and lock the gate. No sign of anyone else and the footsteps were fading into the distance.

The next gate opened and old Mr Diggan peered out from his house between hers and Hatterson’s. She hurried along to him.

‘They’ve captured Joe and have him locked up. We have to rescue him.’

‘I thought he was too good at surveillance to be caught.’

‘No one is perfect. I think they’ve got him locked in the coalhouse. Come on. We have to hurry.’

‘That Hatterson has a padlock on the coalhouse door. He doesn’t even trust his neighbours not to pinch his coal. He’s a sick soul, that one is. Let me get something to break the lock with.’

He came back hefting a sledgehammer.

‘Are you able to swing it hard enough?’

He let out a dry cackle of laughter. ‘You start it swinging and its own weight carries it down. And if I damage the door because I miss the lock a time or two, who’ll care by the time this night is over? You look after that. If they’ve tied him up we’ll need it.’

He thrust a knife handle into her hand and she jumped in shock as she took it from him. He grabbed her other arm and then kept hold of it as they went into Hatterson’s back garden.

From the coalhouse they heard the sound of agonised, muffled sobbing.

‘He’s just a lad,’ whispered Miss Bowers. ‘They forgot that. He’s such a clever boy.’

‘We’ll back off a bit and come along making a noise,’ Thad said. ‘He won’t want us to hear him crying.’

When they got to the door for a second time, he called out. ‘Is someone in there?’

‘Who’s that?’

‘Thad Diggan and Miss Bowers.’

‘Can you get me out? I have to go to Greyladies. I have to tell them what I heard. I got the gag out of my mouth, but I can’t untie myself.’

‘Aye. I’ve brought my sledgehammer.’

It took four blows to break the wood around the padlock and another two to knock the hasp of the padlocked bar
from the door frame. ‘I’d ha’ done that in one when I was younger,’ Diggan muttered as he tugged the door open.

The moonlight showed the lad on the floor, propped up on a heap of coal.

Miss Bowers didn’t need telling to cut the ropes binding Joe. ‘Can you move about all right? Good. Then get going and spread the word. But take more care how you go this time.’

‘They must have been expecting me, lying in wait, but they won’t catch me again.’ And he was off, hurrying along the back lane to the street, then slowing down to move along the verge from shadow to shadow, stopping to tap on the windows of some of the houses he passed.

The two old people followed him to the end of the lane to make sure he got away.

‘We can’t do any more,’ Thad said.

‘Oh yes we can. He’s rousing the men who can fight. You and I are going to rouse the whole village. Those attackers are about to find out they’re not only facing soldiers; they’re facing the loyal people of Britain: men
and
women. They’re going to know we’re ashamed of their wickedness.’

‘How many do you think will come with us?’

‘Except for the traitors, everyone who can walk or hasn’t got small children to look after. You’ll see. You go that way, Thad, and I’ll go this. Knock on every single door. Call people out. Tell them we must
all
go to Greyladies to stand up for what’s right. See how those – those
fiends
like that!’

One of the soldiers Corin had set to keep watch on the perimeter of the grounds grunted as he was hit from behind. He fell to the ground and the man who’d hit him laughed.

‘Tie him up and gag him, you fool!’ Hatterson said in a low voice. ‘Do you want him to make a noise and give warning?’

‘What about his rifle?’

‘Leave it where it fell. We’re not thieves.’

‘But it might come in useful.’

‘We – are – not –
stealing
, and especially not from our fellow soldiers.’

They walked slowly and carefully across the soft grass of the abbey ruins, moving in ones and twos and gathering near the crypt.

‘Not yet,’ Hatterson muttered. ‘Spread the word not to start till we’re all here. Nev is going to send a message round when they’re all in place at the other side.’

Corin marshalled his men, making sure they were all armed.

Ethel came to join them. ‘You don’t need to leave anyone inside the kitchen, Major, because I have your gun and I know how to use it. I’ll not let anyone come in that way.’

‘I thought I’d given it to my wife.’

‘I’m a much better shot than she is and she hates even touching it.’

Cook came to stand beside her. ‘I’ll be there too, sir. With this.’ She brandished a wicked-looking meat mallet.

‘Good. Go and take your places.’

When he went back into the new house, a group of the more able internees met him.

‘We want to help as well, Major.’

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that.’ He hesitated. ‘Though if they get through and try to hurt you, I’d be more than happy to see you defend yourselves with whatever you can find.’

Since Phoebe refused point-blank to leave the old house, he stationed the doctor with her and her two visitors inside the old hall.

‘I’m worried about my wife’s condition,’ he whispered to the doctor.

‘I’ll keep an eye on her. But she doesn’t seem the sort to panic.’

‘No. But I’m worried because she’s more vulnerable at the moment and who knows what they will do to her if they get inside? I can’t spare any more men, but you have a gun. Be prepared to use it.’

‘I have a gun too,’ Alex said.

Corin studied him, then looked at the weapon, which was well cared for. Seaton seemed a sensible fellow and very fond of Olivia.
She
wasn’t the sort of woman who panicked and screamed either. At least, he didn’t think she was. Well, if she was going to be the next chatelaine, she’d have to be a strong, steady sort of person.

But even though he’d placed his forces carefully, the ones who could actually fight were few on the ground for defending such a big house. If a big mob came in from the surrounding area, they’d be overcome eventually, and who knew what a mob might do then?

When he’d done everything he could, it was a question of waiting.

To his relief, four of the younger men from the village turned up a short time later, one armed with an old shotgun.

‘I can only pepper them with bird pellets, sir,’ its owner said. ‘But that’s not pleasant and it ought to slow them down, at least.’

‘
If
we’re attacked,’ Corin reminded them. ‘Don’t fire unless they attack.’

‘They’ll attack, and soon. They’re gathering in the village now,’ another man said. ‘I heard a car drive round to the other side of the abbey grounds too, so they must be gathering there as well. There have been people passing through the village for the past hour or more, trying not to make any noise. Ha! Proper townies, they are! You could hear most of them a mile off.’

‘They didn’t see you leaving?’

‘No, sir. We were careful.’

There was a tap on the door of the kitchen in the new part of the house and the army cook peered out of the window. ‘It’s the lad. I can’t see anyone else.’

He opened the door and shut it quickly once Joe was inside. After making sure the door was bolted behind him, he said sharply. ‘Stand still, you, until we tell you it’s all right to move. What are you doing here?’

‘I need to see the major. I’ve come from the village and I’ve got information for him.’

‘What the hell happened to you? You’re filthy.’

‘The troublemakers caught me and locked me in the coalhouse. Miss Bowers got me out.’

‘Shall I take him to the major?’ his assistant whispered.

‘Yes.’

Corin wanted to know more details and Joe tried not to wince as he stood there, but his arm hurt every time he moved it. ‘I’ve warned the men waiting in the village that it’s nearly time.’

‘Good. How did you get hurt?’

‘After Hatterson tied me up, he gave me a kicking.’

‘Damned coward! Better let the doctor look at that arm. Someone fetch him.’

‘I’ll go for him, Major. That at least I can do for you.’ Mr Stein, who had been standing nearby listening, set off before anyone could stop him.

Corin continued questioning Joe about what he had seen and who he’d recognised, becoming grimmer when he heard that most of the men gathering in the village were outsiders.

‘What the hell are they doing here, then?’

‘There’ll be some who’re only interested in looting,’ the commandant said. ‘There always are. And some who enjoy violence and destruction. But there will be others going after our internees.’

‘Unfortunately, yes. And there sound to be more of them than we’d expected. There have been some shocking incidents with mobs attacking Germans and other aliens living in Britain. And since we incarcerated them here at Greyladies, it’s our bounden duty to protect them.’

He decided to stick to his original plan. ‘We’ll wait for them to start it. If they’re anything like other hotheads, they’ll not be able to hold back for long.’ He looked at the commandant. ‘You know what to do when I give the signal?’

Captain Turner nodded.

Then they all went back to waiting.

When told what had happened, the doctor frowned. ‘If he’s been badly beaten, I’d better have a look at that lad and check him for broken ribs or fractures. It’d make things worse if they bound up broken ribs.’

‘I’ll stay here in case I can be of use,’ Mr Stein said. ‘I may be too old to fight, but I can take messages or tell the major if they break in.’

‘Good man. Find yourself somewhere out of sight near
the connecting door, because if they do break in, you’ll want to leave before they have a chance to stop you. And it’d be better if they didn’t see you go.’

The doctor left, and after examining Joe, he decided the boy didn’t have any broken bones, though he was badly bruised, especially on the arm. He saw the tracks of tears on the boy’s face and touched Joe’s cheek lightly. ‘Is the pain bad somewhere I haven’t examined? If so, get the rest of your clothes off and show me.’

‘No, sir. It’s not that. I was … upset at myself for getting caught.’

‘Well, you’ve wiped that mistake out now, because you got here without getting caught a second time and you alerted the people who’re going to come up on our attackers from behind. Anyone can make a mistake. The thing is to learn from it. All in all, you’ve done very well indeed.’