Northern Spirit (21 page)

11

FLIGHT OF THE WILD GEESE

He walked on the soft grass and his footsteps made no sound. The
strands of grass blew frantically in the wind and looked like the waves of the
sea, and then they were flattened to the earth by the force of the wind. David
stumbled over the rocks but couldn’t find the path. He shouted but no one
heard, as no sound came from his mouth. The rocks ahead jutted from the ground
like the white and savage teeth on a dead jawbone. The people following him
were all silent. When he called out to them, they ignored him. He began to run
down the hill to safety, but there was none, only grass and rocks – endless,
grass and rocks.

‘David . . .  David. . . . Are you decent?’ The voice from the
door was female, and when David woke up he saw the form of a woman standing in
front of him.

‘Joanne . . . ! What do you want?’

‘It’s not Joanne you fool. It’s me.’

David sat up in bed and saw Linzi.

‘I’m sorry, Davey. Did I waken you?’ She wasn’t sorry at all.

David peered through half opened eyes. ‘I must have been dreaming. I
was well away then.’

‘I’ll say you were!’

Linzi walked over to his bookcase and started to fiddle with a few of
David’s things, sorting through his record collection, some of which were
strewn about on the shelf and she put them back in their respective wrappers.
Then picking up his snow scene globe of Blackpool Tower, Linzi shook it and
watched the tinsel flakes falling to the beach, and wondered why he thought she
was Joanne.

David sat on the side of his bed and rubbed his fingers through his
tangled hair, pushing it back off his face. He was still dressed in his walking
clothes. ‘Stop messing around, Linzi! What do you want?’ and he shook his head
to waken himself.

‘Can you lend me twenty pounds? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.’

‘Twenty quid . . . ! What on earth do you want it for? You still owe me
ten from when you were over at Christmas!’

‘Oh . . . ! Don’t ask stupid questions. . . . It’s just for this and
that.’

‘Twenty pounds is more than “this and that.”’

‘I’ve just got behind with things, that’s all.’

‘So you’d rather owe me than anyone else, eh?’

‘Oh, don’t be so mean! I’ve no one else to help me have I? I daren’t
ask Mum, and I just can’t manage on my grant. Anyway, I’m starting a new
waitressing job when I get back, so I’ll soon catch up again.’

She came across and flopped on the bed beside him.

‘Look Linzi, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to keep lending you
money, and I’m not exactly flush myself.’

‘Oh, come off it. . . . You can’t be broke. . . . You never spend
anything!’

‘Now don’t start getting at me or you’ll not get a penny. I’ll lend you
ten quid, and that’s all I can spare, but you’ll have to pay me back as soon as
you can, or there’ll be no more.’

David reluctantly got up from his bed and rummaged through his trouser
pockets to find his wallet. He turned away from her and carefully pulled out
two five-pound notes and threw them down on the bed beside her. Linzi snatched
at them and flung her arms around him, then started to mock kiss him on his
neck and on his cheek.

‘Okay . . . okay . . . go away now. I’m tired!’ And with that, he fell
back on the bed.

‘Don’t forget we’re going out tonight, Davey?’

‘I haven’t forgotten.’

Linzi started to leave, and then looked back at him and said, ‘Oh. . .
. Will you pick Hannah up then?’ and she left without waiting for a reply.

When Linzi returned downstairs she found her mother alone in the
kitchen, busy at the sink, preparing the vegetables for tea. Shutting the
stairway door behind her, Linzi moved up closer to Kathy and checked over her
shoulder that they were alone. ‘Is there something going on between David and
Joanne?’

Kathy stopped what she was doing, putting the peeled carrots down into
the dirty water. ‘And what makes you think that?’

Linzi’s interest was fuelled by the look of concern on her mother’s
face. ‘Oh, something he’s just said . . . something really strange.’

‘What thing?’

‘There is something isn’t there?’

Kathy lifted a warm towel from the Aga to dry her hands and looked
towards the stairs. ‘I think David and Joanne must be seeing each other. But
neither of them seem to be happy about it. I hope to God I’m wrong, though.’

‘Oh Mum!’ Linzi raised her voice, ‘What can be so wrong with David
dating Joanne?’

‘I’m sorry, love. I don’t want to sound prejudiced, but not the Milton
girl, she’s turning out to be kind of - odd!’

‘Well, I’m sorry, but you are being prejudiced.’ Linzi was whispering again.
‘Joanne’s a lovely girl and, anyway, David’s not been acting what you might
call, rationally, himself has he? Who’s going to want him? Who’s going to want
to marry into this family?’

‘Why do you have to be so blunt, Linzi? I just want things to be better
for David that’s all.’ Kathy picked up a kitchen knife and started to peel the
vegetables again.

‘Better than what? Better than you and Dad you mean?’

‘Let’s leave it now, please, and don’t you dare say a word to him.’

*       
*        *

David continued to laze on his bed and close his eyes, still feeling
tired despite his nap; his dream hadn’t helped. He guessed his body had relaxed
itself too much after the walk. Sleep wasn’t necessary, yet his eyes kept
closing. He didn’t really want to get up, yet he felt grubby. He knew he must
wash and change, but was reluctant to do so. Glancing down, David saw the
muddied trousers he was still wearing, his woollen walking socks hanging
loosely on his feet; he hadn’t even brushed his hair. He knew he was procrastinating,
so with a surge of energy, jumped up off the bed to rouse himself and went to
run a hot bath.

He didn’t spend much time in deciding what he should wear; he never
did, and with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still
wet, he reached for his blue, checked lumberjack shirt from the wardrobe. But
something made him hesitate, and instead he took out a cream-coloured cotton
shirt with dark brown buttons. He carefully examined it to check it was clean
then slipped it on his bare chest. He then rooted through his chest-of-drawers
and took out a pair of dark, pressed, cord trousers.

When he finally walked into the kitchen with clean dry hair, and more
smartly dressed than was usual for him, Kathy cast a worried glance towards
Linzi. David took the shoe polish from the sink cupboard and vigorously
polished his best brown boots; that was even more worrying.

*       
*        *

Linzi had arranged with Hannah that someone would pick her up at 7:30
pm. But she didn’t say who that someone would be.

Hannah, like David, felt she just wanted a quiet evening in as she’d
had a hectic day in the surgery. As she prepared for the evening, she had
bathed and was undecided in what to wear. She was always more comfortable in
jeans and pullovers and, not really knowing Linzi that well, didn’t know how to
dress. Linzi had given her no clues in her appearance at their first meeting on
the bus and Hannah recalled Linzi had been unwell and had just dressed for
warmth.

Hannah decided on a black, crushed velvet mini-dress, with a modest
neckline. And, as a token for the cold weather, wore a pair of black, knee-high
boots and a grey, fun-fur coat.

When she heard a car swiftly pull into the gravel driveway, she peered
through the window down into the yard. She could see through the street light
that it was the red-coloured Rover of the Keldas family. She strained herself
further, to see who the driver was, but the interior of the car was in
darkness.

Hannah hoped it would be Kathy and she wasn’t certain whether Linzi
could drive or not. So, feeling hesitant, she grabbed her shoulder bag, ran
down the stairs and outside into the cool, windy night and jumped in the
waiting car.

Through the momentary illumination of the interior light, Hannah saw
her driver was David. But as they sat in darkness together, she had no
indication of his appearance.

She briefly thanked him for calling, and he appeared to ignore her, but
he hadn’t; he’d just nodded politely and his gesture was unseen. All the
bravado was gone and David was nervous.

Hannah felt awkward and the muscles in her throat tightened. She hoped
she wouldn’t have to talk much, at least not until she’d settled. But as David
drove speedily through Windermere and then on to Ambleside, Hannah realised she
needn’t be concerned as it was obvious David wasn’t going to speak to her at
all.

Hannah was angry, yet she should have expected this rudeness from him.
But the silence became uncomfortable and, as David recklessly negotiated each
bend, Hannah was glad he was driving quickly as their journey would end the
sooner.

In the darkness and the silence, Hannah’s other senses were acute. She
heard him clear his throat as if he was going to speak, but he didn’t. She
could smell a manly odour coming from him. Not a bad one, or an unclean one,
but perhaps David’s after-shave. Glancing at his arm, she saw he was wearing a
suede jacket and she could smell the soft, mellow, scent of leather.

Hannah was surprised when out of the silence, David finally spoke.
‘Have you had a good day, Hannah?’ His voice was husky.

‘Oh . . . yes. . . . Very busy.’ She stumbled over her words.

‘Have you been chasing cattle around?’ A little clearer now.

‘Oh, not today. . . . Just a few emergencies at the surgery. We had to
operate on a spaniel that’d been knocked down and a few small animals to
treat.’ She coughed to clear her throat.

That was the end of the conversation. That had been enough for David.
He couldn’t think of anything else to say and he wished he’d brought Sarah with
him. But then again, it excited him to be alone with her.

He couldn’t make out Hannah’s appearance through the darkness and
didn’t want to look at her. But he could smell the soft, womanly scent of
perfume. He could also see her knees close to his hand looking tanned with the
stockings she wore. He held on firmly to the gear lever with each change of
speed, as he drove the twisty road through Rydal and on to Grasmere and Keld
Head. He tried not to let go as he didn’t want to move his hand any further
away from her.

*       
*        *

It was unusual for David to be the first in the pub. He was usually
held up checking over the cattle or messing around with some unfinished work,
or even just lacking motivation. But tonight he was the first. He’d put his
head down as he walked down the lane, thrust his hands in his pockets and
walked well ahead of the two girls. Linzi clung on to Hannah’s arm, as they
huddled together, walking through the cold night to the village pub.

David had easily managed to keep several paces in front of them. This
suited Linzi, as the last words her mother said to her was: “
Watch over him
like a hawk tonight
!”

David bought the first round of drinks and Linzi was quick to embarrass
him and said he’d only bought them now because it was cheaper, before everyone
else arrived. But David didn’t find it particularly cheap, buying his sister a
brandy and Babycham and Hannah a Bacardi and Coke.

The two girls removed their coats and flung them on the chair backs,
and sat together in the corner. David stood at the bar, and for the first time
Hannah saw him in a clear light. She noticed straight away how clean and
well-groomed he looked, despite his dark hair curling over his collar. The
wound above his lip was still discernible and left a scar that would stay with
him for the rest of his life. He appeared taller than she remembered; perhaps
it was just the cut of his trousers or maybe just his good posture.

Hannah felt comfortable from her vantage point, nestled safely in the
corner. She and Linzi had picked up their conversation immediately from where
they’d left off.

David brought the drinks across to the girls and went straight back to
the bar. He rested his boot on the brass footplate, leant on the bar and
chatted to the landlord.

Hannah, still suspicious of David, eyed him cautiously, wanting to
learn more of his character. She was helped when another couple joined him, a
young man with pale skin, freckles and long, red, curly hair. The girl with him
was small and also pale, but she had the most beautiful red hair. It was brushed
back off her face and tumbled over her shoulders and back.

‘That’s Joanne Milton. She’s one of my friends. And that’s her brother,
Tony.’ Linzi whispered in Hannah’s ear. ‘She’s lovely, but he’s a complete
idiot and, not surprisingly, is our Davey’s best friend!’

Hannah wondered why the girl didn’t come across to speak to Linzi; she
hadn’t even acknowledged her.

Linzi continued to talk non-stop about life at college, but Hannah was
distracted, half- listening to her and half- trying to hear what the young people
at the bar were saying.

She watched the girl with the beautiful hair, standing close to David,
but making no contact with him. She was listening to the two men talking, one
much louder and more excitedly than the other.

David turned and stood with his back to the bar. He glanced across and
saw Hannah looking at him. She was embarrassed when they made eye contact and
she looked away. And several times throughout the evening, Hannah felt he was
also watching her, but each time she looked at him, he purposely smiled and
kept the eye contact.

Hannah also saw Tony Milton watching Linzi and guessed he liked her.
Linzi did look attractive, more so than the poorly girl she’d met two days
earlier on the coach. Linzi’s dark hair was neatly cut into a bob and, for the
first time, Hannah noticed the shape of her eyebrows. Linzi had beautiful,
blue, deep-set eyes, much like David’s.