Fred's voice came from
the rocks by the sea as they both looked towards the cliffs. “Come on Si let's
look.”
“I'm not going in
there”, a nervous Si replied. “It looks far too dangerous”. Both of them looked at the cliffs. Silence!
“Oh, come on Si, it’ll be fun!”
“Fun?”
“Yes fun!”
“You know I don't like
dark spaces.” Si almost ran away.
“Well, stay behind me.
I'll go in first.” Fred stood and looked hopefully at Si to follow.
Si hesitated, unsure.
He looked at the cave convincing himself it was going to be ok.
“Come on Si.” Fred
wanted to go inside; to go into the unknown. He'd wanted to go inside this cave
for yonks. He was too excited.
Both of them scrambled
over the large rocks. Si put his foot on one and it rolled away nearly taking
him away as he went flat down. Fred turned
and was able to quickly stretch his left arm downward for Si to grab and steady
himself.
“Easy Si, you had me
worried,” called down Fred, “you were lucky.”
Si, conscious of not
looking down, breathed a sigh of relief and continued. Heights weren’t his
thing either.
The ever looming cave
was in front of them. They stood side by side looking into the dark space.
“Go on then,” called
out Si, “you said you would go first.”
Fred lifted up his
right foot and stepped cautiously out, followed by his left. Inside he was
quite scared, but he wasn’t going to show it. Si was terrified, wrapping his
grey jacket tightly around him.
“Hellooooo,” called out Fred and
the word echoed.
Fred said it again and
it replied once more.
“Come on then. There's
nothing in here. Let's look.” Fred took out a torch from his back right jeans
pocket and switched it on. A white beam showed the way on the stone floor.
Loose chippings scattered. He kept the torch in front of him as Si followed.
Neither of them taking their eyes off the floor as the exit hole got smaller behind
them.
“So what do you think
is down there,” asked Si.
“I don’t know really.
Have you ever heard the noises at night?”
“No!”
“It's said there's a
harrowing woman's voice repeating “set me free”, and it continues for hours,”
said Fred.
“Don't be daft, you've
made that up,” said Si.
“No, I haven’t. You
ask Old Tom down the Docks and he’ll tell you. He's been banging on about this
cave for ages. He says it's an old mine shaft and they brought in a woman to
help the lads. The mine tumbled and she got stuck. The men returned, but she
did not. No-one knows who she is. Tom reckons it’s a witch wanting to get the
gold.”
“A witch! Don't be
stupid. Now, you’re having me on.” Si poked Fred in the back.
“I'm telling you the
truth. Old Tom told me,” Fred said matter of factly.
Si rolled his eyes.
“No, seriously, it
true! Old Tom tells really good tales.”
“Yes, tales. That’s what
they are: tales!”
Their footsteps moved
the dust and they were frequently wiping their faces so they could follow the
light.
“Hellooooo,” and the echoed
repeated.
“Whah!”
“What was that?” whispered
Si. “Was that you Fred?”
“No,” Fred turned
around and shone the light into Si’s eyes. Si shielded himself. “Oi, put that
away, you muppet!”
“Sorry Si,” said Fred.
“Seriously what was that noise?”
“Well, I don’t know,”
shrugged Si.
Both of them stood
still, listening for the noise, but none came. Silence!
“You're having me on,”
kidded Si.
“Seriously I’m not!
I'm scared,” admitted Fred.
“Scared? You? Why, you
love being in these places, doing stuff like this.”
“Yes, well, it isn't
funny anymore,” quivered Fred, “maybe we should turn back.”
“Absolutely no way,”
said Si “I’m not coming this far to turn around. You brought me here, so we’re
doing it. All of it.” Si was cross now. How dare Fred do this to him? It wasn't
funny and he wasn't going to turn round.
“May be we could go
on,” thought Fred out loud.
Both of them turned
and continued. Silently they tread forwards not really knowing what was down here.
It was the silence that was painful. More so than the blackness! How could
blackness harm you? And, how was it so silent down here? More questions they
asked themselves, but probably wouldn’t get answered. It was more to aide their
heads. The tread of their trainers made a slight whoosh noise on the floor. The
torch still guiding them. By now they were holding hands. Blimey, if someone could
see them now, they would hurl all kinds of abuse. They felt connected; they
felt safe.
“Whah!”
There was that sound
again. Further they continued. Every step taken tentatively. The silence was
incredibly deafening. Their breathing was slow as they kept the dust away from
their eyes. They wanted to speak, but were too scared. They gripped each
other’s hand tighter. Why on earth were they doing this? Even Fred now
understood Si’s reluctance. It did seem a great idea at the time. Now, with
only a torch showing them the way it seemed all the more ludicrous. Fred
stopped caught his breath and turned around to Si, “whatever happens tell mum I
love her.”
“Don't be daft Fred.
We’ll be fine. Come on, which way do we go now?” as they approached a T-junction.
“Well according to Old
Tom, he says left goes to land side and the right goes out to sea. Well, at
least I think that’s what he said.” Fred stood and thought about it. “Yes,
that’s right. Left goes into the cliff and right goes out to sea.”
“So,” shrugged Si,
“which way?”
“I don’t know. Old Tom
never got that far. He just told me the tale of the witch. He didn’t say which
way.”
“You idiot! You
brought me down here for nothing,” as Si whacked him around the head.
“OW! That hurt!”
“So it should, you
fool. You brought me here and didn’t know which way to go. I’m off. I’m out of
here.” With that Si turned.
“No, don’t go. Let’s
go left,” Fred protested as he grabbed Si’s right arm to stop him from walking
away.
They both faced each
other waiting for each other to speak.
“Come on Si, do this
with me?” Pleaded Fred as the question hung in the warm air. “We’ve been
friends all our lives. Let’s have some fun. If we don’t get out at least we’re
together. When have I let you down?”
“OK. But, no more, OK? Let’s go left and
see where it takes us.”
“Thanks Si.” They hugged , dusted
themselves down, and set off.
“WHAH!”
“I’m getting sick of this now,” said Si.
“Sounds so pathetic. I reckon it’s someone playing a joke.” Si wiped his hand
through his greasy ginger hair. It was getting very hot and sweaty as they
continued deeper.
“No, it’s no joke. Old Tom says so. The
witch has been down here for years. Never returned.”
“The witch would be dead now. When was the
collapse? 1935? That’s 80 years ago.”
“It was before then; 24th April
1933 to be exact. They closed the gate too hard and it caused the tunnel to
give in. All the men managed to get free. She was on the wrong side. Apparently
pushed, so Old Tom says.”
“You and blooming Old Tom. I wondered where
you’d gone all those times I came looking to go out. Left me to go with the
Hobson’s Gang. Not much fun I can tell you.”
“Yeah sorry Si. When we get out we’ll be
together more.”
“If we get out,” said Si doubtfully.
The floor was dusty and they were covered
in soot. It was quite a small hole, they nearly touched the ceiling; just over
six foot. They grew up as twins. They walked as the torch guided them over and
around large rocks. It was getting warmer and warmer; they huffed breathlessly
as they continued.
“What else did Old Tom say?” Si asked
mainly out of boredom.
“He told his tales. There’s many in these
parts. Old Tom’s 84 and been around here for years; knows everyone and
everything. He lost his only son in these mines. The one further up the road.
He wife died ten or so years ago, and he’s been on his own ever since. He hangs
around with the fishermen when they go out to sea and waits for their return.”
Si listened as they walked. “There has been a tonne of storms, lots of village
scandal, and his tales; they’re just so great to hear.”
“Well, thanks for deserting me. Hudson and
his gang are numpties. I had to spend most of my time revising, but this makes
a welcome change from all the revision and hanging around with them.”
“Yeah sorry Si. I don’t know what I was
thinking. I just got so absorbed with him, I forgot everything else. What with
mum being busy doing two jobs I didn’t want to stay at home on my own,
revising! Oh shit, I have so much to do. You were always brainier than me, Si.”
“That’s cos I don’t have my head up in the
clouds, Fred. Come down occasionally, it’s not that bad. What are you going to
do after our exams?”
“Dunno,” said Fred solemnly. “Haven’t
thought. Probably stay here with Old Tom. You’ll be off to do you’re A Levels
or something!”
“Yes, probably. Just want to pass really.
Look! Did you see that?”
“No. What?”
“That shadow. Yeah, I know it’s black down
here, but I’m sure I saw something move.”
“WHAH!” It was clearer now; more distinct.
“I’m sure I saw something,” said Si, as
they stopped to look. Fred moved the torch slowly around and they strained
their eyes. Something did move. As quick as a flash a black figure with bright
eyes snarled at them, “what do you want?” came a raspy voice.
“Arrrgh!” both Fred and Si screamed, turned
and legged it as fast as they could out of the tunnel. They ran and turning
right down the tunnel they had come down, and headed towards the entrance. All
four feet pounding the floor, arms by their sides, their screams continuing as
they headed towards the light of the outside. Out they came, breathing hard.
Faster they ran until they were well clear of the tunnel entrance.
“What the hell was that?” panted Si.
“I don’t know. She looked ghastly. Did you
see those eyes?” Fred bent over to get his breath back.
“That gentleman was Lady Victoria. The
witch of local Tinsdale Farm. Banished she was. Many a year ago…for casting a
spell on the Hudson family. Legend has it Farmer Hudson stole her heart to
marry Mary Winston, and as revenge made them infertile in both human and land.
Farmer Hudson never recovered and killed himself shortly after they married.
Mary dug deep and found out that it was Lady Victoria’s spell, and campaigned
her to be hanged. The guard spared Lady Victoria and banished her. Rumour has
it she’s never left Farmer Hudson and has remained here ever since. She’s been
hanging around his grave and doesn’t like to be disturbed”
Both boys stood there stunned. Fred spoke,
eventually, “What?”
Old Tom chuckled, staggered himself up off
the rock with this wooden stick and edged towards the pair.
“How do you think she’s still alive all
this time, eh?” he shuffled towards the cave entrance.
A moment or two later a boney hand appeared
and took the bag from his fingers, “thanks Tom,” a female voice pleasantly.
Tom smiled and they parted. The dark hold
covered her up completely and all they could hear were her feet disappearing.
Both boys were too still too stunned to
speak. They had just witnessed and great mythical tale in real life.
“So…so…so…is it true?” stuttered Fred.
“Oh yes its true my boy. You promise me
never to go in that cave again?” he said sternly.
Both boys nodded furiously.
“Come on lads, let’s get you home. I
followed you and waited. I knew you were headed here. Now, go home, study and
get out of this place. It’s no place for studious boys.” Both of them listened
thoughtfully and nodded. “Never go there again!”
