Shadows of Deceit (12 page)

“Have you worked in London theatres in the past?”

Harry enquired, not able to recall his name on billboards.

“Many years ago now dear boy. The west end and of course Soho. I remember Soho so well, the perversions and excursions of youth. Now age has prevented me taking such parts as Romeo or other young bloodied characters. Make up does not restore the bloom of youth on ones furrows and arthritic joints, so I’m content to teach the young here in these parts.” He looked wistfully into the middle distance for a moment and then remembered he had a fresh drink waiting.

“And you dear souls, where are you sightseeing?”

Harry answered,

“We thought we would take a look at the peninsula, we’ve never been there before.”

Crispin’s eyes lightened up,

“Ah! a place of lonesome beauty. Do you know I’m distantly related to the owners of Glenbarr Abbey, the clan MacAlister. You’ll see the old place as you drive south.”

“You say lonesome, is it very isolated?” Harry asked knowing this would be exactly the territory he was looking for.

“Bleak is the word my dears. Irish and Atlantic breakers pounding the coastline, with strong westerly winds. So it’s not very hospitable for large communities. Desolation and despair have fallen on many old homesteads there in the past. You see - and not many people are aware of this - we all know about the Irish potato famine in the nineteenth century but here in Scotland it occurred a century before and those inhabitants that didn’t perish left the area for good and their descendants have never returned.”

“I didn’t know that.” Eileen said, “But for us it’ll be a restful break, it’s the scenery we want to take in.”
“Well you won’t be disappointed Eileen. You can see the islands of Gigha, Islay and Jura. And if the weather is kind then the Erin coast will also be visible.”

“Thank you Crispin that’s really useful information. Tell me where do you teach around here?”

Crispin responded to Harry,

“I’m often engaged at local schools, you see with all the evacuees in the district my time is even more pressured nowadays. On some occasions I also assist in taking nature study classes out into this beautiful countryside.”

“Well I guess that must be quite a novelty for the kids brought up in the cities?” Harry said.

“Generally yes, but there are always some that fail to appreciate what can be seen.” Crispin sipped his drink.

“Go on.”

“Well I assisted with a group of evacuees last winter. We travelled to the coast and decided to let the dear children roam around the fields to discover and record the birds they had seen. This information was written up by them in a book that would later be displayed in the school. The first eight pages contained beautiful detailed descriptions of gulls, various hawks and other sightings. Sadly on page nine one dear pupil had simply scrawled,

‘Birds bore me shitless!’ But at least he spelt it correctly!

Suffice to say teaching Shakespeare or Milton to the lice ridden illiterates from the tenements is not what my years of treading the boards were meant for. But the pay is reasonable and occasionally, just occasionally one comes across one or two redeeming children.

So this is my lot for the time being. Remember, ‘Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.’ Proverbs twenty-six, verses four and five.”

Harry and Eileen both smiled, this was a character that would remain in their memories for many years. Crispin looked around the room and counted his coins before carefully sliding them back into his pocket,

“’Tis time I was away, thank you for the drink. I must away to my dear wife who will be awaiting with my sustenance, the cat and a trowel.”
“A trowel?”

“Yes, a trowel. Poor Traquair is too old to dig so my dear spouse requests me to carry out the task for her twice daily! Luckily our other felines are self sufficient in that respect - so farewell my good friends perchance we shall meet again on the morrow?”

With that he was gone.

The following morning the couple left for the peninsula. The morning was bright and sunny but with a cold westerly wind blowing towards them as they headed for the coast and their journey south. Once they were nearing Glenbarr they did indeed see the islands that Crispin was describing together with the Abbey owned by his distant relatives.

“On the other side of Glenbarr we should find some rocky coves. We can pull in there and take a walk perhaps to have a closer look around.”

“It is beautiful and rugged Harry, just as Crispin said.”

“Yep. Just look at those trees, the persistent winds have forced them to grow towards the hillside. He was also right about the sea; the coast is constantly battered by waves. We’ll have to check with Darlath that the boat we’re using can cope?”

They drove on to an area known on the map as ‘Port Nam Marbh.’ Harry had noticed that just as the only road south swung east towards Campbletown there was a small track that branched off and turned towards the beach. This was just after crossing over the ‘Tangy Burn’. They soon reached the area.

“It’s here off to the right Eileen. Look, remember there’s a milestone there and as the main road continues south, we turn sharp right onto this cinder track.”

Eileen peered ahead with binoculars,

“There’s a couple of cottages further down, but I think they appear to be abandoned?”

Harry pulled the Standard over and stopped by one of the dwellings.

“They’re both boarded up.” Said Eileen.

“Good.” They left the car to survey the immediate area,

“There’s also plenty of tree cover to hide a van from the road. So this could be the place Eileen. Shall we go and explore?”

They pulled on extra pullovers and walked further down the lane towards the sea. The noise of the breakers was almost overwhelming them as they climbed a slight ridge that gave them a clear view of a long deserted sandy beach to the south and the small rocky cove ahead of them. They could both taste the salt in the air brought in by the strong wind. Their pathway became much narrower and deeper as it twisted through the dunes. Just as they negotiated the final bend they both stopped and were shocked to find fresh blood and flesh scattered in front of them.

“Harry what is it? God this is horrible!”

“Wait there.”

Harry walked forward carefully avoiding treading in the mess spread before him. As he turned onto the beach he discovered a large recently killed sheep that had been effectively savaged and partly eaten. He retraced his steps.

“It’s OK Eileen, just a dead sheep. It must have been a stray that was attacked here and then dragged forward onto the beach.”

“It’s still pretty horrible. I thought somebody had been killed?”

“No, could be a wolf if there are any around or a fox maybe, or a pack that may have attacked it?”

He gave Eileen a hug and then held her hand as he guided her forward,

“With all those pine forests behind on the hills they could be living up there. I did notice some sheep further back so I guess this one must have escaped recently?”

“I don’t want to look, poor thing.”

Carefully avoiding the carcass they made their way through lower, flatter dunes and onto a small shingle foreshore with rocky outcrops that provided shelter to the cove.

“You’re shivering.”

“No I’m alright, just the shock of what might have been.”

Eileen was grateful for Harry’s arm to support her. Once reassured, Harry scrutinised the area and smiled,

“Well I’m pleased to see that the inlet here is protected from all the bigger waves. And even better there’s no sign of any minefields. I think this is the place Eileen.”

“Well it’s certainly remote and nothing can be seen from the road. Are you happy with it?”

“Absolutely, this is it, excellent. The dunes by the cottages were probably wind blown sand from the beaches either side. This is certainly isolated and well hidden.”

They walked around to each tip of the rocky outcrops on the sides of the small bay. To the north in the far distance was Glenbarr and to the south a sandy beach. Straight across but unseen that day was the coast of Ireland about twelve miles away. They sat for a while, protected from the wind by the rocks, and looked out to sea.

“It’s hard to imagine there’s a war raging whilst we’re sitting here, it’s so peaceful?”

“It’s all madness Eileen, complete madness.”

Harry put his arm around her and they lay back and listened to the waves and the lonely haunting calls of distant seabirds.

Later they walked slowly back to the car hand in hand.

Harry carefully marked the location on the maps before setting off for the return journey to Inveraray and their refuge at the George. As they approached the town Harry became anxious on seeing so many military vehicles and service personnel around.

“Let’s hope we’re not stopped Harry.”

“I can’t recall seeing any service people in town yesterday, and there were none at the pub last night. We’ll just keep driving slowly and see what happens.”

At a crossroad they were waved down by two Army guards and signalled to wait whilst a convoy of Military Police vehicles passed by.

“Jesus Eileen, they’re M.P.s, they could all be from the barracks at Chichester.”

“Your regiment?”

“The Royal Sussex yes.”

Harry began to sweat, firstly under his arms then around his collar.

“Pray for them not to ask for our papers Eileen.”

The final vehicle in the convoy cleared the crossroads. At that moment the nearest Guard pivoted towards them and peered through the windscreen. Suddenly Eileen opened her door and stepped out.

“I know you’ve got your job to do but I desperately need the lavvy.”

She searched into her handbag and produced her identity card that she waved in front of them.

“Will this do you, come on its urgent please!”

She smiled at both Guards,

“The toilets are over there I can see it!”

She pointed across the road to the square beyond.

“Please?”

The two young guards waved her through and she ran into the square towards the public toilet. Harry raised his upturned hands and shrugged his shoulders smiling at the guards. He too was then allowed to follow Eileen through.

Soon they were safely back in the bar of the hotel eager to down a few stiff drinks. The Landlady was serving.

“Have you had a good day?”

Eileen responded first,

“Yes really good, such beautiful scenery and the weather was kind to us as well.”

“Unfortunately we have to leave tomorrow, but with all these service people around the town I guess you’ll be busy anyway?” Harry said.

“I’ll make up your bill later; I’ve assumed you’ll be in for dinner this evening?”

“Yes, about eight if that’s OK.” Harry said, still keen to find out about the service personnel.

“Tell me, what are the Army doing here?”

The Landlady finished preparing the drinks,

“Here you go, and I’ll put this on your bill. Now, yes the military, it’s some training unit I think. They come and go in waves. There’s a small permanent contingent in the town but others join them from time to time.”

She turned and called towards an inner passageway,

“Robert?” The barman came into view,

“Ah, there you are, I keep forgetting, what’s the role of the Army in town?”

A muffled response was heard. The landlady turned back towards Harry,

“That’s it, the ‘combined operations training centre’ apparently. Everyone knows they’re here, except I keep forgetting their purpose. Must be my age!”

After dinner they returned to the bar expecting to meet up with Crispin but when the barman appeared he had some rather unexpected news of their new friend,

“I’m afraid he’s sprained his ankle today. Apparently he slipped over when trying to teach a class of ten years olds the correct way to perform a sword dance.”

“Enough said, I think, we’ll retain that memory of him for some time to come.”

Harry ordered more drinks and took them back to the settle where Eileen was waiting.

“You were a star earlier.” He said.

She smiled, “The thing is I really did want to use the toilet.”

“Well your desperate need certainly eased the moment; I really didn’t want to test my new identity card on the Military police!”

They both sipped their drinks.

“Eileen, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“How did you get involved with this gang, I understand your earlier friendship with Dermot, but for a girl to become part of such a group is a bit unusual?”

“Well yes, I suppose it is a bit different. You’ve got to understand that I had been struggling just to make ends meet for some time. Then I was introduced to these men and everything appeared to be more glamorous, more exciting. I was shown into a world that to me only existed in American films. I knew that as long as I kept my mouth shut I would be accepted and invited to all their parties and dinners. It was exciting and also somehow dangerous. It was appealing, fascinating and life for me became more secure. They were protecting me, and that made me feel much more wanted. Just think of it, a group of men that actually cared for me. That was important. Dermot of course introduced me to Steve, Andrew and Tommy at the Royal Stuart and because Tommy and Steve were both in the Police then, I trusted them. Everything they said and did I thought was above board. I suppose I was a bit naive at first but when they left the Force I then became more aware of their activities. Their ‘shadow projects’ they called them. It was exhilarating and really good fun to be in their company. I’ve not been directly active until now; you know this trip with you. So this is a first.”