Alexander (15)

15

He walked to a small junk shop close to the viaduct and paid ten pounds for a well-used three gear bicycle. Cycling to Brook Manor would take at least an hour and three quarters, maybe more, but Alexander was aware that he had to stay under the radar: no one should be aware of his destination.

He followed the route he and Luther had mapped from the rear of Terry's van. It was hard work cycling along country lanes while carrying a rucksack filled with tools, water, maps, and snacks, and the bike's second gear had a tendency to slip, which meant he had to remain in third gear most of the time out of fear that the chain would snap. Alexander cursed the man in the junk shop as well as himself for not carrying out a more thorough test drive.

At the half-way point the daylight began to fade. Both sides of the road were now enclosed by forest, the same forest in which Luther had prowled during that time they worked together in the manor’s gardens. He was close to his destination now and, heeding Luther’s written advice, negotiated the final stretch on foot. He walked the bike into the forest, lay it beside a tree, and covered it with leaves and branches. On an overhanging branch he tied a piece of material as a marker and did the same on another tree parallel to the road.

After depositing his bottle of water and biscuits beneath the hidden bike, Alexander was left with all the items necessary to help him enter the manor house: penknife, torch, rope, chisels, a screwdriver, as well as Luther's instructions. Alexander wasn't sure where Alicia was being held but Luther had indicated that a cellar led off from the kitchen. He decided to start there. Accessing the cellar would require him removing a lock from the rear door. Luther had written that the chances of doing so were "60-40".

He walked slowly through the forest, tying material to the trees every hundred paces. It took him forty-five minutes to reach the perimeter of the garden. He could see the faint outline of the ship through the trees. He negotiated a path leading towards the ramshackle garage, beyond which was the rear stairwell and its door to the cellar. Light illuminated the first floor of the house. There was no sound, other than branches moving in the wind.

Alexander ran to the stairwell. He took stock of the door – an ancient chancery door that had once belonged to the town’s church. Luther was right - it would take time to remove the lock. Not only was the lock new – replaced after Luther's initial attempted break-in – but, as he twisted the chisel in the soft aged wood, he guessed it had been strengthened by a thick strip of metal casing on the inside of the door.

After fifteen minutes or so Alexander heard the sound of a familiar diesel engine making its way along the trackway. Terry had arrived in his van. Alexander remained still as the van came to a halt at the front of the manor house. He heard the rear doors open and Terry speaking. Alexander raised his head above the ground level step of the stairwell and heard someone jump out of the rear of the van onto the gravel. He guessed they were girls - African girls invited over on an ‘educational scholarship.’ When he heard the front door close, Alexander abandoned his attempt to gain entry to the house from the cellar and made his way to the top of the stairwell. Removing the lock would take too long.

The second entrance point was through the window of the box-room situated in the east turret. Alexander ran to the garage and found the ladders that he had secured for Luther. Lighter and more flexible, he was better prepared for climbing and easily pulled himself up onto the ledge. Once he’d found his balance he prised open the smaller window with his knife, leaned in, and pressed down the latch of the larger window. He slipped a rope beneath the top rung of the ladder and looped it through both access points. Then he secured the ladder with a tight knot. Alexander knew that, if he found Alicia, descending the turret would be the most dangerous part of their escape.

The turret’s box room was in darkness. Alexander turned on his torch and discovered he was standing on lumps of soft fur. The carpet was strewn with material and clothes. In a corner, holding a carpet knife and with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, sat Alicia.

She was sitting cross legged and seemed to be in a trance, staring blankly at her hands. She was slicing through fur coats that had been hanging in the wardrobe. Mounds of fur were piled around her. Alexander sank to his knees, tried to make contact by clicking his fingers in front of her eyes.

‘Alicia...do you remember me ?’

The sound of her name seemed to ignite a form of recollection. She looked directly at him.

‘Master was angry’ she said. ‘He said if I caused trouble he'd kill the little baby.’

Alexander looked at her bulging stomach. Alicia dropped the carpet knife and took hold of his hand, pressing it against her, as if imploring him to confirm that a child was growing. ‘Are you scared to be here ?’ he asked and she nodded. ‘Alicia - is the father of your baby Edward Brook ?’ Her eyes gave him her answer. The child had not been what she wanted.

Alexander leaned over and gently took up the knife. ‘Alicia, do you want to come with me ? Do you want to leave this place ?’

She thought for a moment and then nodded. Alexander wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said: ‘Then we should go. But we have to remain quiet. Can you do that for me ?’

Alexander held Alicia's hands and gently raised her to standing. Descending the ladder was out of the question so he went to the door and opened it slightly, looked out onto the landing. He pulled her towards him and she followed, malleable, willing, her loose hand resting beneath the swell of her stomach. They walked across the first floor landing to the top of the grand staircase. Alexander heard voices from the second floor - the familiar voice of Lady Brook, as well as Terry and another voice that he assumed was Edward’s. Alexander wondered where the two African girls were. Had Terry imprisoned them in one of the rooms ? There was no time to search. He guided Alicia down the central staircase and out of the mansion through the front door.

But which way ? He hesitated for a moment, disorientated as a thousand questions coursed through his mind. They would have to walk through the garden to reach the point along the perimeter wall where Alexander had entered the grounds. Then it would be a simple task of following the markers he’d left on the trees.

But as they left the second section of garden Alicia froze as she realized where she was. She saw the outline of the ship bearing down before them. Despite Alexander's protestations she refused to walk any further.

Alexander said: ‘Alicia, we have to leave.’

He pulled her arm but she refused to budge. Alicia pointed at the ship. Alexander began to understand why she could not go near it. ‘Did Edward Brook hurt you in there ?’ Alicia nodded. He said: ‘There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you. But you've got to follow me. We have to go now, quickly.’

Alexander's warning had the desired effect because Alicia allowed him to guide her. It wasn’t easy - she winced as the enormity of it, the rotten vessel dwarfing the garden as they passed by. ‘Don't look’ Alexander said. ‘Stare straight ahead.’ Soon they reached the end of the third section of garden. He eased her over the low, crumbling stone wall into the woodland: finally they were free from the confines of the manor house.