My Friend Walter (7 page)

But it wasn't Walter. It was Will. He was sitting cross-legged on my bed and he was reading Walter's letter. Humph was on the bed beside him.

‘Well, little sister,' he said, waving it at me. ‘What have you been up to, then? And who is this W.R. who wrote this letter?' I'd forgotten to hide it away. What a
fool I'd been! What an idiot! He picked up the bottle and opened it. ‘Smells of mint,' he said. ‘And it's one of my bottles from my lab. So it
was
you messing about down there, wasn't it?' I said nothing because there was nothing I could say. ‘I thought so. But why, that's what I want to know? You've never showed any interest in chemistry before, have you? Something's going on here, Bessy, and you'd better tell me, else I'll take these downstairs and show them and I don't think you'd want that, would you?'

‘You've got no right to be in here,' I said. ‘It's my room. I don't come in your room, do I?'

‘I only came in to find out what Humph was up to,' he said. ‘I saw him whining and scratching at your door. Thought that was a bit funny. So I opened the door and let him in. He came straight to your table and started sniffing at this letter. Don't suppose I'd have noticed it otherwise. Now what's it all about? You can tell me. You can trust me. I promise I won't tell. Cross my heart I won't.'

‘You wouldn't believe me anyway,' I said. ‘You'd just think I was telling stories. You always think I'm telling stories.' I was playing for time. I had run out of ideas. I'd promised Walter I wouldn't tell anyone about
him. He'd kept his side of the bargain and I'd keep mine. He was my secret friend, and like he'd said they'd think I was mad if I told them about him – and it could finish Gran off for good if she ever found that there was a ghost living with us in the house.

Luckily, Humph chose this moment to take matters into his own hands (or paws, I suppose). He sprang off the bed and made for the open door and Gran's breakfast tray outside in the passage. He had his nose in the toast before I could stop him. I ran after him and shouted to him to get off, which he did, but so clumsily that he blundered all over the breakfast tray sending everything scattering and crashing in all directions; and as I lunged for him he fled, tail between his legs, with a piece of toast still in his mouth. He met Mother and Father coming up the stairs.

‘What the dickens is going on up there?' Mother said as the tea ran across the floorboards and began to trickle down the stairs towards her. As you can imagine I was in a very difficult position. To blame Will would have been like waving a red rag to a bull – he would have been bound to tell them everything there and then, just out of spite. So I blamed Humph instead.

‘It was Humph,' I said, starting to pick myself up.
‘He ran right into me. Knocked me over. I couldn't help it. Honest.' I peeled a piece of toast off my elbow.

‘You all right, dear?' said Mother running up the stairs with Father close behind. ‘I've said time and again that dog should be shut out the back.' She was helping me up. ‘It's dangerous for Gran. She's always tripping over him. And he licks Little Jim like he's a lollipop. It's not healthy, and he's always the wrong side of every door. He should stay outside.'

‘What's the matter?' It was Gran calling from her room. ‘What's going on out there?'

‘Nothing, dear,' said Mother. ‘A little accident that's all. No one's hurt. Don't you worry, we'll bring you your breakfast in a minute.' Will had said nothing so far, and I thought the danger was over. But then he saw his milk jug. It was the milk jug that made him do it – he told me as much later on. Miraculously it was the only thing that was broken, but unfortunately for me it was the milk jug Will made in pottery class at school and he'd given it to Mother for her birthday only a few weeks before. He was very, very proud of it.

There were tears in his eyes as he bent down and picked up the pieces. He looked up at me and I knew right away what he was going to do. ‘Got something to
show you, Father,' he said. ‘In Bessy's room. Come and look.' And he got up and went into my room. Mother and Father followed him. I couldn't stop him now. ‘Look,' I heard him say. ‘There's this letter and this . . .' I dared not go in. I didn't want to look.

‘What letter?' said Father. ‘What are you rabbiting on about?'

‘But it
was
here, Father,' said Will, a rising panic in his voice. ‘On the bed it was. Honest. And there was this little bottle too and it was full of green stuff.' My heart rose. I understood at once what had happened, and I knew instinctively who had come to my rescue.

‘What bottle?' I asked innocently as I went into my bedroom. Will was on all fours looking under the bed.

‘It
was
here! I know it was!'

‘Getting as bad as your sister, Will,' said Father looking around the room. ‘Lives in a world of her own, don't you Bessy? Always telling stories and making things up. Not like you to be fanciful, Will. Can't see any bottle, can you, dear?'

‘All I can see,' said Mother, ‘is that you haven't made your bed yet, Bess. You promised me you'd keep your room tidier. You know I haven't got time to clear up after you, not now, not with Little Jim to look after.
I'll tidy up that mess outside, if you tidy up in here.' And she went over to open the window. ‘Smells of Humph in here, and tobacco smoke,' she said sniffing the curtains. ‘You haven't been smoking, have you Bess?' I shook my head.

‘It's Will that has a fag on the sly from time to time,' said Father, ‘isn't it Will?' And he put his arm around Will's shoulder. Will opened his mouth to deny it but didn't even bother. No one would believe him and he knew it. ‘Still, no great harm in that,' Father went on. ‘We all have one or two when we're young just to try it. But best not to do it up here, Will. Not safe to smoke in bedrooms.'

‘Don't you go encouraging him,' said Mother. ‘It's not safe to smoke anywhere. It's a horrible habit and it kills you.' And then Little Jim began crying downstairs and she ran out. Will kept looking over his shoulder at me as he left the room. He was as much bewildered as angry I think, though I know he'd have cheerfully killed me at that moment given half a chance. They were gone at last and I was alone in my room.

I coughed loudly four times and my friend Walter appeared. He was leaning on the mantelpiece, the remains of a smile on his lips. He threw back his cloak.
The letter was tucked in his belt and he had the bottle in his hand. ‘One day that dog of yours will be the cause of our undoing, Bess,' he said with a laugh, and he puffed purposefully on his pipe. I put my finger to my lips for fear we would be overheard.

‘Where were you last night?' I whispered. ‘I called you and called you.'

‘Your grandmother is well again I trust?' he asked. I nodded. ‘I'm glad of it.' He held up the bottle. ‘The elixir I discovered whilst I was a prisoner in the Tower. It took years of work to perfect it. They allowed me to use a shed underneath the wall for my experiments. There is something to be said for imprisonment. It is a life without distraction and concentrates the mind most wonderfully. I administered this medicine to my friends and family, even to my jailors, and they were glad of it.'

‘Why didn't you come last night?' I asked. ‘I only wanted to say sorry. I didn't really mean all those things I said, and I wanted to thank you for saving Gran like you did.'

‘Sweet cousin,' he said, putting his hands on my shoulders and kissing me on the forehead. ‘I cannot in truth be thanked for restoring to health one whom I
myself brought so nearly to the point of death. You see before you a miserable fellow whose life was wasted in many fruitless schemes. They came to nothing and through mine own vanity too. In truth, I had hoped in my spirit life to improve myself, to mend my ways. But I see now my character is quite unredeemable. You were right indeed to scold me as you did, and you should not thank me now, cousin. I have repaired the damage I myself have caused, and even in so doing I have placed you again under threat of discovery. I had not thought to destroy the letter and the elixir. I had not thought they might be discovered nor even how you would explain it if they were. I am an old fool, cousin. I am a blundering, vain old fool, the same as I ever was. Blame not your brother, dear Bess, for he is much perplexed by what has passed. In truth I see in him something of myself as a boy – quick to temper and quick to tears, but he has a kind heart and will grow to a fine man.'

‘He's a pig,' I said. ‘Wasn't my fault his jug broke. It was Humph. And he goes and tells everyone like that. Serves him right.'

‘The dog again,' said Sir Walter. ‘That miserable cur follows me everywhere, even though I do not feed him
any more. I had not thought a spirit has enough scent about him for a dog to follow.'

‘Probably the tobacco,' I said. ‘I told you not to smoke in the house, and you said you wouldn't.'

‘Indeed I did, cousin, and truly I meant to keep my word.' Walter took the pipe out of his mouth and looked at it ruefully. ‘But I do it without thinking. 'Tis a habit of three hundred years or more, chick, and not easy to break. For certain it can no longer do me much harm.' And he chuckled.

‘Last night I thought you had gone for ever,' I said. ‘Where did you go?'

‘To the river, for I had much to think on and it is a fine place to do it,' he said; and then he looked at me long and hard. ‘I fear I must leave you, cousin. Whether it be the dog, the smell of tobacco or your brother Will, were I to stay here there can be little doubt that one day we will be discovered and that might prove grave indeed for your grandmother. I mean not to play on words, but it is apt enough. You know that I have come close to killing her once already. To stay would risk only a greater disaster. I shall meddle no more, sweet cousin. I had meant to stay and do you and your family some service if I
could, but I may not risk another day here. I must be gone from this place before it is too late.'

‘No!' I protested and too loudly.

Walter held his finger to his lips. ‘It must be so, chick. If I go now, our secret is safe and no harm is done. I have tasted again the sweet air of my youth and I have found such a friend in you, dear Bess, that I do not wish to leave your side nor ever to leave this place; but it needs must be. It is not safe to stay, and besides, I have matters at home that call me back.'

‘Home?' I said. ‘What home?'

‘Why, the Tower, cousin. I delude myself if I think otherwise. The Tower is my home. I have none other.'

‘Am I ever going to see you again?' I asked, fighting to hold back my tears.

‘You know where you can find me,' he said, ‘if ever you have need of me. You have but to come and I shall be there.' I turned away from him and wiped my eyes. ‘You should be brave. It is I that should weep for it is I that must go. You have much to rejoice in here – a fine father and a loving mother, and a brother who also loves you, but who knows not yet how to say it or to show it. Little Jim loves only his food, but I would wager you will be the apple of his eye as the years
pass.' He took my chin in his hand and lifted it. ‘But I warn you, dear cousin. There are storms ahead. You will have need of all your courage. So no more tears.'

‘Storms?' I asked. He was speaking in riddles as he often did. ‘What do you mean?'

‘I fear you will understand and that soon enough, but I can say no more. I shall meddle no more in your affairs. I will be with you but in spirit only. I would fain stay with you, cousin, and protect you from all that lies ahead of you, but I may not. I belong no more to your world. I had plans afoot to help you – indeed they were already much advanced, but I see now that I have always been the cause of more harm in this world than good, however noble my intentions – and I confess they were not always so. You may fare better without me, cousin, than with me; if you only remember that storms always pass by and give way to clear blue skies. Mark me well and remember these words. Only have faith that all will be well and it shall be so. Only believe a thing is and it is. Believe it is not and it is not. Count on it, sweet cousin, for it is true. We must bear all, and bravely too.' He stepped back from me and wiped the tears from my cheeks with his cloak. ‘I must be gone, back to London; but I do not think I should take the
horse again. It is commonly thought that ghosts can fly but they cannot, and so neither can I. How else then may I come to London?'

‘Father's going in to town in the car and I can take you on to the station,' I said. I did not try to change his mind because I could see it was already quite made up. It was no problem to find a good excuse to go with Father into Exeter that afternoon – I needed to change some library books.

It was a sombre journey. Father was very preoccupied, and hardly said a word to me all the way. He wasn't concentrating much on his driving either. More than once we nearly ran into the car in front, and he even lost his way in the city centre. I prattled on as best I could about Gran and Sally but I could tell that he wasn't really listening to me. Walter sat in the back seat all the way looking out of the window and when we got to town Father dropped us off outside the library. He had to go to the bank, he said, and he'd be back in an hour and a half. I was to wait on the steps of the library for him.

We walked in silence through the streets of Exeter, Walter and I, down towards the station. When we got there they said a train was due in a quarter of an hour.
No one ever looks at the tickets at the barrier – not that we needed one. When the train came in I opened the door of a first-class carriage. Sir Walter Raleigh ought at least to travel first-class, I thought. I looked over my shoulder before I spoke. There were only a few people on the platform and they were all busy. I could talk without fear of being overheard. ‘How will you know your way in London?' I asked.