Angelique (33 page)

Cecil appears to be getting equally excited at the prospect of exploring the tunnels when he adds. “To tell you the truth I would welcome the chance to give them a thorough looking at.”

Toot suggests. “I suppose we could use the acetylene lamps off the Landau to light our way if we had Tom’s permission, he normally won’t let anyone near them. He has them polished up like spit in a jigger?” I laugh at the use of the expression I haven’t heard that used since my army days when we described our brasses. “So you intend coming with us then Toot?”

He nods agreement. I remark. “Good if there are any spooks down there I’ll be glad of your company. Remember those tunnels I found at the dressing station? I recall you never liked being down there, you reckoned it gave you claustrophobia.” Toot replies with a grin. “It wasn’t claustrophobia My Lord it was the smell of piss, shit, gangrene and ante sceptic I didn’t like.

It turned my stomach I don’t mind admitting now. The claustrophobia was just an excuse to keep away from them.” I in turn make an admission. “I don’t mind telling you Toot, when Billy and I went into them for the first time I was bloody shitting myself.”

Cecil tuts as I use a swear word and rebukes me. “Language! Adam.” Cecil immediately apologises. “Oh I’m sorry I am so used to telling the servants off for swearing I do apologise My Lord.”

“That’s alright Cecil you are right anyway I shouldn’t be swearing I am not in the army now.

We don’t want to offend the Ladies do we? Feel free to remind me if I get out of hand Cecil.”

Toot adds with a laugh and an eerie exclamation. “So we are going down into the depths. Talking about those tunnels at the dressing station I bet they are spooky now eh Scouse er my Lord considering how many poor souls suffered and died in them, I reckon they will be full of spirits eh?”

“Aye you are right there Toot. It’s a good job you weren’t there Cecil my friend, the swearing and cursing would have curled your hair, but that’s all over now thank goodness.”

I add thoughtfully. “Yes it’s time for us to move on and try and forget the bloody war.”

For the first time in a long time I am enjoying the company of my old army mate as we reminisce about the war days.

Tom arrives leading a hunter he spots us sitting around the stove.

“Now then you idle buggers, having a meeting are we?”

I turn around to face him. “Oh! I’m sorry my Lord I didn’t recognise you from the back.”

I invite him over. “Come and join us Tom you must be freezing, we are discussing the tunnels under the house you have arrived just in time to help. We want to borrow your acetylene coach lamps to explore them, do you mind?” Tom seems taken aback at my request.

“They are not mine my Lord of course you may have them, I will stable the horse and be right back. Put the kettle on Toot it’s about brew time anyway its cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey today.”

“Mind your language Tom.” Cecil rebukes him. Tom gives a kind of smirk. I learned later from Toot he does this to bait Cecil, it’s a game they evidently play. Tom asks. “When are you thinking of going down there er My Lord?”

“Today Tom, after we have had a brew are you coming with us?”

“Er, I don’t know my Lord I have quite a bit on this morning. Busy you know.”

Toot exclaims. “No you haven’t Tom your just bloody scared. I remember last time we went down there you couldn’t wait to get out.” Tom laughs and leads the horse into a loose box.

While Toot brews up then hands the cups around Tom prepares the lamps for the underground safari. After we finish the brew and a smoke we shift the grain bin to disclose a trap door. I tried pulling on the ring to lift the door to no avail in the end after everyone else had a try and failed to move it Tom fetches a steel lever.

The hinges break as we prize it open with the long crow bar.

Tom remarks. “It wasn’t stuck last time we went down Toot I reckon some water got into the hinges. He complains. “That will be your fault Toot you are always washing the place down.”

Toot replies. “Oh God Tom you’re a moaning bugger.” He apologises as Cecil is about to rebuke him. “Sorry Cecil we should organise a swear box like we had in the army eh Scouse er my Lord?”

Tom directs the beam of the lamp onto a flight of steps cut into the chalk. Cobwebs hang in curtains across the steps.

After hesitating for a moment or two when the others don’t make a move I remark.

“Well seeing it’s my idea and no one else seems to be in a hurry to lead the expedition I suppose I will have to go first?”

Taking one of the lamps from Tom I take the first step and brush the cobwebs aside, another twenty steps takes me to the bottom of flight into a tunnel roughly hewed out of the chalk, my companion’s crowd behind me. To the right of the steps is an iron bound oak door secured by two huge rusty bolts. Tom whispers as if he is reluctant to disturb someone or something.

“I didn’t notice this door last time we came down here Toot?” Toot laughs and replies.

“You wouldn’t at the speed you were moving Tom.” His remark brings nervous giggles from the rest of us. After an unsuccessful attempt to pull back the bolts we progress down the tunnel single file as it is only wide enough for one man at a time. Although I am average height about five foot seven I have to walk slightly stooped to avoid some of the lower parts of the ceiling. After rounding a bend we arrive at what appears to be a natural cave.

The weak beam of the lamp does not penetrate to the far end.

I play the light on the nearest wall revealing a steel ladder heading up into the darkness securely bolted to the wall. A big debate follows as to where it leads and why it is here.

After awhile I realise the discussion is heading nowhere. Being the youngest I volunteer to explore where it leads. Before I am allowed to climb Toot insists on testing the strength of the ladder. Satisfied all is secure and the ladder is in good condition I begin the ascent.

I have to leave the lamp behind as I need two hands for the climb I am soon beyond the beam of the carriage lamp and still climbing into darkness.

Cecil continually calls. “Are you alright my Lord be careful.”

I reply reassuring him I am ok I have just done this for the third time when my head touches something solid. Luckily I was only climbing slowly testing each rung individually before risking my weight on it.

I have no idea how old the ladder is but the fact is it’s in very good condition. I reach over my head to identify smooth planed wood.

Feeling around me I realise I’m in a kind of wooden box. I am about to give up and descend when something catches my eye a thin beam of light is penetrating the shaft. Pressing my eye to the hole I am startled to realise I am looking into the dining room. Mother, Emily, Pamela and Denise are sitting at the big table with papers spread in front of them. Mathew is playing with one of the maids on the carpet.

I exclaim. “Bloody Hell!” and pull back. Should I call to them? I dismiss the idea in case it frightens the Ladies. As quickly as possible I descend the ladder and reveal what I have found.

After a hasty discussion we decide as the lamps are beginning to fade we should try and find the exit located in the dining room and maybe introduce some electric lights to the tunnels before we carry out further exploration. As we return to the flight of steps leading to the coach house Toot is the last to ascend he had taken two steps when he calls for us to be quiet. We listen intently Toot climbs back down and pressed his ear to the oak door.

“Did you hear it?” He exclaims. “I definitely heard the sound of scraping or something similar.” He holds his hand up. “Hush there it goes again.”

I had followed him down the steps and heard the sound myself.

“That’s the sound of a shovel, hey Toot I bet this door leads to the boiler room?”

I call up to Tom. “Tom go and fetch some oil and a hammer will you mate, we will solve this here and now.”

Tom returns with the items I require, we oil the bolts give them a minute to soak in. I pour some oil on the hinges then Toot gives the bolts a couple of smacks with the hammer. Eventually they begin to gradually move. With a few more taps back and forth both bolts are drawn back.

I am about to pull on the door handle when it swings in towards me. Framed in the doorway is Joe the boiler man with Cecil standing behind him in a brightly illuminated room.

So Cecil has gained admission to Joe’s kingdom, this is interesting he must have better luck than Toot. Puzzle solved, so at least one of the tunnels leads to the boiler house. I stretch out my hand to Joe and greet him. “Hello Joe so this is your domain, any chance of showing me around?”

He appears reluctant to take my offered hand until Cecil whispers something into his ear.

He shakes my hand steps aside and silently beckons me to enter. Toot says. “I’ll leave you to it my Lord. Tom and I have something to do.”

Discretely they leave through the trap door entrance leading to the coach house.

I am amazed when I enter Joe’s kingdom. The whole place is immaculate, brasses and gauges copper pipes gleam in the brilliant light. Despite the heap of dirty coke in the boiler room there is no dust or untidiness anywhere.

Joe is hanging back waiting for my reaction. I can do no more than shake his hand and congratulate him. Cecil smiles proudly as we progress into the engine room.

The engine room is equally immaculate, a generator hums away in one corner an electric pump bursts into action without Joes attendance he smiles as I leap back startled by some kind of steam machine that springs into life automatically.

I notice a door leading off the engine room I peep inside to see a single bed a small table and a chair. On the wall is a large photograph of Joe looking much younger in the company of an older man. Joe looks very uncomfortable as I am about to enter I feel this is his private place and turn aside.

“Joe, this place is a credit to you. Don’t you have any help keeping this place going day and night?” He shakes his head without replying.

I add. “I would like to have a long talk with you Joe sometime. I have a place in France I would dearly like it to have a similar set up as this. I would like to bring my friend over to see what you have achieved here. He is an architect I think he would be delighted to meet you. Would that be alright? He nods. I feel we have imposed enough on him seeing it’s the first time we have met in his workplace. I thank him for showing us around and climb the set of steps into the courtyard.

As we walk back towards the house Cecil asks. “What do you think of Joe my Lord?”

“I think he is amazing Cecil, how did you get him to allow us into his domain?” Cecil explains. “I have known Joe a long time my Lord. We went to school together he wasn’t always silent and withdrawn you know it was all down to the damned war.”

“Language Cecil,” I rebuke him with a smile.

He replies. “Touché, my Lord. What was all that about your house in France if you don’t mind me asking?”

I explain about the house and its remote location and my desire for modern conveniences.

“A power station for electric lights and steam for central heating on the lines you have here would be just the job. I shall get in touch with my architect Marcel and get him over here as soon as it’s convenient. I’m sure he will get on with Joe they speak the same language.”

I laugh and explain. “I mean on technology I suppose I will have to interpret as Marcel doesn’t speak English. I don’t suppose Joe speaks French does he?” Cecil informs me he doesn’t think so but we will face that problem when it arises.

He adds. “I am surprised Joe agreed to meet your architect friend this is a first for him. I am the only one he permits into his engine room since he returned after the war. Fingers crossed he might be coming out of his trauma. Joe might be returning to his old self. If only he would speak again it would make my day?”

As we stroll towards the house he inquires.

“Did you notice the photograph on the wall in his room? That is Joe taken with the General. It was taken when they completed their last project on the sewage beds. If I remember rightly it was about a month before the General died, and Joe, well I think he still misses him. They were always planning yet another improvement or innovation. They were never like servant and master you know more like mates in fact. One of the Generals favourite places was sitting in the engine house drinking tea and yarning with Joe.”

He adds proudly. “This place is far ahead of its time you know?”

“I realise that Cecil and I appreciate I am in the position to benefit from the changes they have made I wish I had met the General my Grand Father he sounds a fantastic man.” It is at that moment I made a decision to bring Marcel over to England right away to see the brilliant innovations the General and Joe had installed. I wish to have similar installations at out reconstructed house by the lake before final completion. We arrive at the kitchen door as we are about to part Cecil says. “Today has been a good day my Lord I have enjoyed myself and look forward to doing some more exploring when we have some decent lighting down there.”

He grins and points at the lawn. There flying in the breeze is the Union Flag. I realise why Toot and Tom had left us rather than come through the boiler room.

Cecil evidently had a secret talk about the flag out of my earshot.

I observe the Ladies are still in the dining room poring over the papers when I look through the window. As I am passing along the hall the telephone on the corner table appears in view. On impulse I call the operator and give her the number of the OSCADA depot in France. Much to my surprise there is no waiting time and she connects me immediately. Harry answers the phone he is very surprised to receive my unexpected call. After exchanging news I reveal the reason I am calling. “Is Marcel anywhere about Harry I want to discuss something with him?”

“Is there something wrong?” I detect concern in his inquiry.

“No.” I assure him with a laugh. “It’s not that urgent I want to discuss some innovations I would like at the Lake House.”