Chapter Twenty-Three
‘What are we going to do Annie – if they find us!’
They were in the semi-darkness of the living room again. Wren spoke with his head between his knees, gulping ominously, his breathing laboured. Rhyllann wanted to shake him – demand to know more about these thugs – and just what was so important about the box Wren had risked both their lives for. It sat on the coffee table in front of them. An innocuous rectangle barely four inches at the longest. Strips of ivory protected the edges, coloured wood veneers made a funky abstract pattern: Light oak, reddish teak, ebony, with inlaid mother of pearl and tortoiseshell and yellow metal. It cried out to be stroked and handled. Rhyllann picked it up, its weight snuggled comfortably in his hands. He flipped the lid open with his thumbs to peer inside, hoping for a huge egg sized diamond. Yet again he was disappointed, and he frowned, almost but not quite recognising the slim golden object. Rhyllann fished it out for a closer examination: The yellow metal rod was about an inch long with a ring at the top. A fringe of metal jutted from the bottom half of the ring. Protruding from the other end were two flatter pieces of metal with small indentations. Rhyllann’s brow wrinkled as he replaced it.
‘Is this some sort of key?’ He asked. Wren took the box from him,
‘Yes it’s a key Annie. The Key. Don’t worry – I’ll get you your treasure yet.’ With that Wren's eyes fluttered closed and his breathing became even shallower.
Sighing, Rhyllann went to search the house once more for food. The master bedroom had an ensuite bathroom. Candles of all shapes sizes and colours surrounded the side of the bath. Rhyllann tried the taps, astonished but pleased when hot water gushed. Lighting the candles with matches he’d found in a beside cabinet, he tipped bubble bath under the running water.
‘A good hot bath. He’ll feel much better.’ Rhyllann crooned, the steam and scented candles making him feel light headed and dizzy. ‘Then I’ll get something to eat. I’ll get us something to eat.’
‘C’mon brawd, Annie’s run you a lovely hot – oh hell!’ A surge of anger rose, this wasn’t fair. No matter how hard he tried, Wren kept messing things up. Rhyllann closed his eyes, shutting out the terrifying sight on the sofa, immediately the room filled with the horrific gurgling of water logged lungs struggling to take in oxygen.
Rhyllann took a step forward, before he could rest a hand against the skull like head he felt heat radiating through Wren’s sodden clothes. Cursing himself for not acting sooner Rhyllann stripped him of the damp clothes, then found a duvet to wrap him in, all the time crooning and whispering encouragement. All the time Wren’s life force visibly dwindled, breath by breath. A calm voice spoke. “He needs a hospital. You’ve gotta get him to a hospital, come hell or high water.” Rhyllann nodded agreement, repeating obediently ‘Hell-or-high-water.’
His glance fell on the mysterious wooden box. “Give it to them.” The voice urged. Rhyllann nodded. He would barter the wooden box for his cousin’s life. He dropped down through the window clutching the box. The voice spoke again. “Fool. Get one of them to drive Wren to the hospital first.” Rhyllann trembled at the mistake he had almost made. He crouched, unwilling to climb back through the window unless he had to, looking for suitable hiding place in the garden. An idea struck him and he smiled. He’d hide the box right under their noses, in the jeep! With a swagger, he set off towards their drive, the voice issuing yet more instructions.
“Describe the box to them. Explain it’s an enigma only Wren can decipher.” Enigma? Decipher? Whose bloody voice was this anyway?
Rhyllann stepped over the dividing wall and tracked across the neighbouring lawn, and had just reached the paved drive when the front door swung open. He crouched behind the jeep thinking Shee-it. I’ll find somewhere else to hide the box.
The voice kept quiet as three men emerged, one hurried on to open the jeep’s rear while the other two followed slowly, weighed down by the trunk they carried. With his heart pounding violently, certain he’d be caught, Rhyllann crawled under the jeep, and splayed out, hugging the ground. Great timing Jones! He thought, closing his eyes and praying he didn't get detected. Then he stiffened, as a voice called back to the house, complaining loudly.
‘Don’t forget - you owe us! This is wrong.’
The jeep's doors opened, and its frame juddered as two men climbed in, and Rhyllann hugged the ground tighter, trying to bury himself into the sodden gravel.
The doors slammed in temper, inches above Rhyllann's head, the engine churned into life, and the jeep reversed out the drive, leaving Rhyllann horribly exposed. Clutching the box to his chest he rolled from the gravelled drive onto a strip of grass bordered by a hedge The door to the house slammed in reply as Wren’s last hope rumbled away. Still sprawling full length, feeling mud oozing and sliding, Rhyllann slithered forwards. The door had bounced open, the other two were now in the kitchen, arguing.
‘Crombie ain’t gonna like this. I don’t like it. This isn't what the Brotherhood is about. Not now. You know what Crombie says.’
‘Crombie isn’t here. If you keep your mouth shut he won’t know.’
‘It isn't right. They aren't gonna grass. They know what’s at stake.’
‘Yeah? Those blabbermouths have already given names – when the deal’s struck, they’ll start giving locations. This way we’ve got rid of those traitors and tied up the emergency services. Then we can concentrate on getting hold of those kids. When we do – I’ve got scores to settle. Thieving Welsh scum. Don’t forget – I’ve lost my dad. He’d still be alive if it weren’t for that little runt!’
‘Mikey, you’ve got the word of a bent copper – I’d swear on my life...’ They moved out of earshot.
Rhyllann, still hugging the box shivered. Crombie! Crombie had sold them out – probably tired of driving a salvage scheme reject.
‘What now?’ he whispered. But the voice remained silent. Through the pouring rain Rhyllann looked across towards the broken window and began trudging back to Wren.