Promises Beyond The Veil Of Light ( Part 33 )

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Part Thirty Three

 

Darkness patrolled the land on an early Solstice morning. There wasn't any chattering of birds in December at such an untimely hour. A thick fog drenched the countryside leaving an ominous atmosphere of what felt like hidden secrets, it definitely didn't look good for celebrating a Winter Solstice.

 

Mina was the first to rise, stretching her arms up in the air and letting out a huge yawn as she unzipped her sleeping bag. Swinging her legs out she came to sitting on the edge of the haystack wondering what she should do. Is it too early to wake dad? She thought to herself!

 

Turning on her torch to see what she was doing, Mina put on her Dr Martins and tied the laces feeling relieved she'd not got undressed, though it was very chilly. The torch lay beside her on the hay, picking it up Mina came to standing, stretching again and gazing over at her dad.

 

Deciding he looked peaceful, she made up her mind to go exploring. Sauntering over to the stalls, the chickens came over flapping around making such a din in the torchlight she thought they'd wake her dad, but still he slept.

 

It seemed to Mina that they were saying; “good morning, look what we've produced.” She noticed at least twelve eggs on the nests and smiled at the two goats who appeared gazing over the stall to check out what was going on, along with two horses in two other stalls named Chestnut and Merlin, their names printed on plaques on the doors with carvings of a tree and a wizard, Mina was highly amused grinning to herself.

 

She hadn't felt this happy in a long time, but then gazing at Tammy the black family cat who had spent the night in the barn and was preening herself, the memory of last night came flooding back adding a somber feeling to her mood. Mina wished someone else had been able to see the talking cat, at least then she'd have an ally to confide in. Mina just didn't understand who it was she shouldn't trust, feeling altogether like maybe she'd fallen asleep and it was all just a strange dream and her imagination working overtime.

 

Sighing Mina knew there was no use in dwelling on the situation, so made her way over to the barn door and lifted the latch. Putting her hood up she shivered again, stepping out bewildered by a fog that was so thick she couldn't even see in front of her.

 

Mina shone the torchlight out across what now looked like an expanse of nothing but darkness and a veil of silent smog which made the atmosphere seem spooky, but Mina wasn't frightened she'd been in much worse situations.

 

Feeling for the coal in her pocket, it was cool much to Mina's relief. She began walking very slowly, peering carefully through the mantle of smog for danger, although nothing could be seen, it felt as if there were hidden secret figures surrounding the area. The ground felt soft beneath feet, Mina decided it must be mud because of the squelch her boots made as she carefully meandered on.

 

Out of the blue Mina became aware of a faint light in the distance and the sound of footsteps getting closer. Peering she was relieved to see the figure of Nick coming into view.

 

“You're up early,” he murmured through the shroud, “I was just about to come and wake you.” Turning around Mina followed Nick as they Made their way back to the barn, the light from two torches making it a lot easier to see as Mina's fears receded. Nick lifted the latch on the barn door, then turned to Mina. “I wouldn't go walking alone in this weather, you could easily get lost.”

 

Mina shone her torch around again, a disappointed expression on her face. “Looks like we won't be celebrating the Winter Solstice after all in this weather Nick.”

 

He smiled his usual cheeky grin. “Oh! Don't you worry about that fog, it won't take long to clear once the sun comes up.” He felt for the light switch on the wall beside the door.

 

“Dad's not awake yet,” uttered Mina relieved to know all was not lost and wondering why she'd not thought of turning on the light herself.

 

“Sleeping like a baby is he? Well there's work to be done before we celebrate. By the way I hope the smell wasn't too bad for you.”

 

Mina shifted from one foot to the other eager to help out. “Of course not, I don't mind the smell of animals. Is there anything I can do to help?”

 

“Well once we've got your dad up, the stalls are going to need a good wash down, you can help with that if you like. But first wake your dad and go over to the house, Sally's up, she'll make you some breakfast.”

 

Kendrick was already awoken by the light and chatting. Sitting up he noticed Nick climbing up on a hay stack and pulling some bales down. Mina stood over by the barn door waving him to get up.

 

“Okay, okay I'm on my way.” Kendrick wiped the sleep from his eyes, wondering what the time was and why he'd agreed to sleep in the barn.

 

That was when Nick turned round. “Sorry to wake you friend, but we've a lot to do before the sun comes up.”

 

“Oh! No, no that's fine.” Kendrick lied checking his watch, noticing it was the unearthly hour of 3.30am, he couldn't remember the last time he'd awoken at this time, though he did remember going to bed at that time after an all night party.

 

“I was just telling Mina, there's some breakfast for you both over at the house when you're ready.” Nick threw down a couple of bales just avoiding the cat who darted out the way pretty sharpish.

 

Kendrick gazed over at his daughter with an expression of, I'm not really that hungry, but thought it best if they made the effort to eat something.

 

“Come on dad, the time's getting on and I said I'd help out in the barn.” Mina on the other hand was famished but also needed the loo, which was becoming desperate by the second.

 

Kendrick unzipped his sleeping bag and quickly got dressed, then rolled the bag up. “Come on butterfly you'd better roll yours up too. We'll take them over to the house otherwise they'll get damp.”

 

Mina began folding hers into a large sausage shape and tied it up. “Can we go now dad? I'm dying for a pee.”

 

“Why didn't you say something to Nick?” Replied Kendrick shaking his head.

 

Nick heard his voice mentioned. “What was that guys?”

 

Kendrick looked up at Nick, “It's okay, Mina needs the toilet badly, I was just telling her she should have mentioned it to you.”

 

Nick was now up in the eves yelling down. “It's very foggy out there Kendrick, make sure you walk straight ahead and don't veer off.”

 

“I've got the torch dad,” declared Mina passing it to him.

 

“Okay, let's go butterfly.” Kendrick opened the door with a shiver, he'd never been here when the fog was this thick. “Hold my hand butterfly, you don't want to get lost.” They were like two fearless explorers reaching out into the unknown.

 

Mina took her dad's hand squeezing so tight, it was as if she thought he'd vanish into thin air if she didn't. Kendrick shone the torch straight ahead as they slowly put one foot in front of the other cautious of slipping in the mud.

 

Finally they made it to the house which stood like an oasis in this desert of fog. There was only one light on in the kitchen where Sally was busy at the table making bread for the family. She looked up from what she was doing to see the intrepid twosome looking unsure of whether they should be there. “Come in you two, have a seat, I'm just preparing breakfast and food for the Solstice.”

 

Mina crossed legs, her facial expression one of agony while wiping her muddy boots on the welcome mat. “Please can I use your toilet?”

 

Sally smiled. “Of course you can, you don't need to ask.”

 

Mina ran up the stairs so fast she was taking two at a time. “Thanks!” She called out in desperation.

 

“Could you get some logs from out the back for the fire Kendrick? It's nearly out and we don't want that.”

 

Kendrick needed the toilet as well, but thought he'd pee outside while getting the logs, it was too foggy for him to be seen by anyone. “Yeah okay,” he replied.

 

The hinges on the backdoor squeaked as he pushed it open. Shining the torch around he noticed the logs stacked up against the wall of the house. Well! At least I don't have to worry about walking too far! He thought. Checking that there were no eyes watching, he began to unzip and relieve himself, then zipping up Kendrick armed himself with four logs and made his way back into the kitchen, placing two on the fire and two in the bucket that sat in the grate. “You do all the baking Sally?”

 

“Of course, there's nothing like making bread to relieve tension...not that I have any of course, but well you know what I mean.” Sally joked when she saw the wet patch on Kendrick's trousers. “Looks like you've been pissing into the breeze.”

 

Kendrick looked down feeling embarrassed when he saw the patch, he'd not thought there was a breeze when he was out there, it was too foggy to see what he was doing. His lips pursed as he covered himself. “I'll just go out to the car and get myself a change of trousers if you don't mind.”

 

“Don't bother,” she smiled, “you're the same size as Nick, he won't mind you borrowing a pair of his.” Sally left what she was doing and went over to the sink to wash the bread doe off her hands.

 

“Are you sure he won't mind?” Questioned a worried Kendrick.

 

“Not at all. You can wash those in the sink and hang them over a chair by the fire, they shouldn't take long to dry.”

 

Mina heard the clamor of tiny feet running across the landing as she brushed her teeth with some toothpaste on her finger, wishing she'd not left her toothbrush in the car. At that moment Amber came bursting in clutching her two dolls Molly and Amelia.

 

“We need toilet,” she announced, talking as if her dolls were in need of a pee too.

 

“Okay I'm almost finished.” Mina was amused at the little girl's confidence as she sat on the toilet completely oblivious to anything. Mina decided Amber was very forward and not afraid to speak her mind. Must come from being in a big family! She thought walking out and leaving Amber to her chatting as she, shut the door behind her.

 

Mina could hear music coming from Kate's room, so presumed she was awake. Knocking on the door there wasn't a reply. “Kate, can I come in?” But still there was no answer. Opening the door slowly Mina peered in, what she discovered gave her cold shivers and left the girl in a panic.

 

To be continued...