Yeovil Literary Prize
2008

Final Judging - Short Story Category
Title: Night Visit
Reference: 11/EC03264/C002164/Z017
Decision:

  
  
Comments:

 

      

  Someone was in danger!  The conditions were right, he knew it instinctively, and someone may be badly hurt, or worse!
  He thought of Jane and instantly she appeared in the doorway of his small, cosy cottage.  She looked at him.  She was more beautiful than ever and he loved her as never before.  Her hazel eyes reached out to him with more love than he had ever seen.  She urged him on.
  We need to go.  Itђs urgent, he heard her implore.
  They donned their leathers and boots, and grabbed crash helmets and gloves, all the usual gear.  Her helmet had always amused him, with its teddy bear ears.
  ґThose same ridiculous ears! he thought, smiling to himself.  ґYou could have taken them off by now!
  She read his thought.  Her eyes flashed with amusement, but briefly.  Then her face became serious again.
  ґLets go.Ғ
  Dan was waiting outside to give them their instructions, as they had agreed many years ago.  The bike stood propped up on its stand beside him, exactly as Johnny remembered it, its sleek lines exciting his anticipation.  It had always been so good to ride.  He remembered the feel of the wind whistling around his visor, tugging at his leathers, and the joy of the open road.
  'Slightly different situation this time, Johnny and Jane.  Its not some young lad driving too fast today.Ғ  Dan outlined what they had to do.
  So, no chance of getting through to the driver?ђ asked Jane.
  No, heђs doing nothing wrong.  Hes driving sensibly, but heҒs in a hurry to make this delivery, which is why hes out in the middle of the night.  He just doesnҒt know how bad the road conditions are up in the hills.
  ґAnd theyll wake up?Ғ
  Sheђs not asleep.  She knows something isnt right.Ғ
  Helmet and gloves on, Johnny mounted the bike.  Jane hopped on lightly behind him and they were away.  He enjoyed the feel of her arms around his waist again.  Like old times.
  The crossing was smooth and quick.  He envisaged it as a ferry ride across a river, the small floating platform towed across the water by a tug and skilfully manoeuvred up to the slipway.  The grating of metal upon tarmac, water slapping at the sides of the craft, the clang as they drove down the ramp, and then they were on the other side, on the open road.
  He suddenly felt heavy.  His leathers added to the weight of his body, pulling him and the bike downwards towards the black road.  He felt Janes arms sink down heavily, before she shifted them higher to relieve the pressure on his hips.  She always knew what he needed.
  He had forgotten the bitter coldness of the dark, icy night, the looming hills and gaunt outlines of bare trees, the brightness of the moon and stars shining down on this lonely night-time scene.  The motorbike engine roared, the body of the machine vibrating beneath them like a huge buzzing insect.  Faster than an angry wasp, he had always joked.
  The scene shifted and became familiar.  They approached the top of a mountain pass in the Lake District, and he slowed down, knowing how icy the road would be just over the ridge.  Taken at the right speed, it was passable.  On the other side, the road wound its way steeply down to the bridge across the river at the bottom of the valley.  That bridge.  The water would be crashing over the rocks with an echoing roar, like last time.  They passed the small cottage on the right where Jane had grown up.  Her parents were now dead and the property had been sold.  No lights showed, all appeared to be still there, yet he knew that they had been spotted.  She was awake.
  They reached the bottom of the valley and approached the bridge.  Narrow, with a high arch, it glistened menacingly in the moonlight.  A nervous tingling grabbed at his stomach, which lurched involuntarily.  He slowed down again, but, as was inevitable, not enough.  
  As he started to lean left to take the bend after the bridge, the back end of the bike slewed round sharply to the right.  As he corrected the steering, the rear wheel gained traction again suddenly, throwing both of them off the bike.  Jane screamed.  As if in slow motion, they were thrown sideways onto the rocks at the side of the road.  The impact knocked the breath out of him.  His visor had come open and a piece of the rock was sticking into his cheek.  He lay still, unable to move for a few minutes.
  An urgent feeling that he had something important to do roused him.  He stood up slowly.  Despite his injuries, there was no pain, yet blood ran down from the wound on his right cheek.  He brushed it away roughly with his glove.
  He checked Jane, but she had gone.  She was dead.
  He left JaneҒs body and the bike where they had landed, pulled off his crash helmet, crossed the bridge and ran as fast as he could back up the hill to the cottage.  It was surprisingly easy.
  He dashed through the gate and up the path to the familiar porch, and began to hammer on the front door.  After a few moments, a light came on in the front bedroom.  He eased off.  Yet no one came down, and he sensed that the couple in the bedroom were beginning to hope he had stopped, so he started again, louder this time, pounding the brass lion door knocker against the door.
  Stairs creaked and the door opened a crack.  A mans face peered through, eyes bleary with sleep, hair dishevelled.
  ґYes?  The voice was a croak.  ґOh my God, come in.  
  The door opened.  The man was dressed, Johnny noticed.
  ґPlease help us!  JohnnyҒs voice quivered.  We skidded on ice as we went over the bridge.  My girlfriendђs badly injured.
  ґRight, Ill call an ambulance.  Then weҒll come down and lend a hand until help arrives.  The man was now wide awake, his voice crisp and authoritative.  He turned and headed towards the door into the kitchen.
  ґDont worry, help is already on its way,Ғ replied Johnny quickly.  He didnt want them to waste any time.  Every minute was going to count now.  ґI just need you to come and see to my girlfriend.  Its not far.Ғ
  OK, Iђll go and start the car.  The man grabbed a coat and disappeared.
  ґAnd Ill get my first aid kit and a blanket,Ғ declared the woman.  Wait here.ђ
  Youђre a nurse, arent you?Ғ asked Johnny to her back.  She didnt hear.
  She arrived back in the hall just before her husband and peered at Johnny, the concern clearly visible in her light blue eyes.
  ґDo you want me to look after that cut on your face before we go? she asked softly.
  ґNo, theres no time.  We have to leave.Ғ  He was becoming desperate now.  This had taken longer than he had expected.  A sudden thought occurred to him, a question that had not been answered earlier.  Thereђs no one else in the house, is there?  Any children?  Judging from the fine lines around the womanҒs gentle eyes, her children may not be here, but grandchildren maybe?
  No, theyђve left home. 
  'Any pets?Ғ
  He saw a flash of suspicion cross her face.  He was glad when her husband suddenly rushed back into the hall.  
  'Sorry, the cars iced up and IҒve run out of de-icer.  It will be a while.
  ґWed better leave on foot.Ғ  Johnny turned abruptly and headed out of the door.  He had to get them out of the house!  Please follow me quickly.ђ
  He hurried down the hill, the ice no longer bothering him.  Turning to check that they had followed him, he pressed on.  He had woken them up just after four oclock on a bitterly cold night in the depths of winter.  They had responded quite well to the rather violent interruption, all things considered, and had chosen to trust what he told them, despite the wifeҒs misgivings.  
  As long as they followed him as far as the river, he would have done what he had set out to do.
  He felt a mixture of emotions towards these people.  Feelings of sorrow, because of the trauma they were about to go through, mingled with relief, because he also knew the woman was a good person with a kind heart.  He knew her name was Jenny.  She had been very concerned about him.  The man was more practical, in that typically male way, but also kindly.  It was a shame that they would not get to work tomorrow.  They would have other things to sort out.
  A bend in the road gave him a clear view over the river and Jane lying on the ground, the bike beside her.  He quickened his pace as he approached the final bend before the river and saw the bridge, standing out clearly in the silvery moonlight.  The couple from the cottage were just rounding the bend above him, holding onto each other for support, and would soon arrive at the bridge.  He saw them glancing down on the scene of the accident before hurrying grimly on.  He was acutely aware of them shivering with the cold and with their feelings of apprehension.  An owl hooted eerily somewhere close.
  Mist began to gather around him, thickening fast into a dense cloud, as the feeling of heaviness lifted abruptly from his body.  He felt light again, no longer weighed down by a physical body, no longer aware of the coldness of the air.
  The ferry across the river materialised in front of him, where Jane awaited him with the motorbike.  He jumped onto the platform and ran up to Jane.
  'Are you OK?
  ґOf course!  Did you get them out of the cottage?
  ґYes, theyre nearly down to the river.Ғ
  Then theyђll be safe now.  Well done Johnny.  Jane hugged him.
  ґMission accomplished, he laughed.  ґIt wasnt too traumatic this time, was it?Ғ
  No, it was fine, and it was worth it.  Iђm glad theyre safe.Ғ
  Dan was waiting for them at the cottage.
  Well done,ђ he beamed.  Come inside and Iђll show you what happened next.
  They all sat down, as an image appeared on the wall in front of them.  They saw the couple from the cottage frantically searching the site around the bridge for Johnny, Jane, the bike, anything to convince them that they werenҒt going mad.  They registered their feelings of despair, incredulity and bewilderment, then resignation, as they gave up the search and set out again back up the hill towards their home, trudging silently and wearily along.  
  Then, when the couple were within sight of the cottage, they watched the tanker come over the hill, skidding wildly on the black ice and the driver losing control of the huge vehicle.  They saw it jack-knifing, crashing into the cottage and exploding into flames, just after the driver managed to jump clear.  They heard the roar of the explosion and saw the orange flames leaping high into the air, lighting the sky.  Then they watched the blue lights of the fire engines and ambulance arriving.
  How did you call the emergency services, Dan?ђ asked Jane.
  Same way as you played your part.  I crossed over into their world and did what I had to do.  Then I came back.  Easy!ђ
  The image was starting to fade, but, very softly, they heard a whispered Thank youђ drifting towards them.  Jenny was sitting wrapped in a blanket in the ambulance, looking up to the sky.
  Now she understands what the lad in the pub the other day was talking about!ђ murmured Johnny.  
  Yes, our own misfortune all those years ago has made us a local legend,ђ laughed Jane.  Those phantom bikers strike again!ђ