Midsummer's Eve

"This is madness, Digory. I'm going to take you back with me. I'm at Croft Cottage now. I'm not at Cador. It turned out it didn't belong to me after all. It's a long story. Perhaps you've heard.”

"I ain't heard nothing," he said. "They'm all frightened of me. Makes me laugh it does. Anyone comes through these woods and I only have to make a little noise and they run for their lives. I'm frightening them, you see, like they frightened me granny ... and me too. All this time it's been with me. I used to say to myself, I'll go back and frighten 'em all ... all them that was there that night and none of them doing a hand's turn to save her. But him ... I'm going to get him because he was the one. He had a covering-up ... a grey thing he was wearing that come right over his head, so he thought you couldn't see his face. But I did. I saw. It was when they was dragging her to the river. The hood moved and I saw him as clear as I see you now. And he said, 'Come on. She bain't fit to live.' And I said to myself, 'And you bain't fit to live and one day I'll get you.'“

I was trembling. I was not the only one whose life had been dominated by that terrifying night.

I saw murder in Digory's face and I thought, He plans to kill Rolf. He had never forgotten ... never forgiven.

I said: "Listen to me, Digory. If you carry out this plan you know what it will mean. The hangman's noose at worst. At the best sent back for the rest of your life.”

"I be past caring.”

"It's murder.”

"It's what they call justice and since the law won't do it someone must.”

"Don't act rashly.”

"I've planned this for years.”

"Listen to me. You must be half starved.”

"No. I have money. I bought things on my way here. I've got a little store. I've got tea and flour. I make a fire. I make dampers. Then I catch fish and rabbits, as I said. I know how to live in the outdoors. I can look after meself. I've planned this ... for years. When I've done it, I'm going back. I worked me way over on a ship and I'll work me way back. No one will know I've been here but ..." He looked at me fearfully. "I shouldn't be talking to you. You've made me tell you ...”

"There was always a special friendship between us, Digory. You remember that night.

My brother and I looked after you, and my father did too. He gave you work. Everything would have been all right if you hadn't stolen the pheasant.”

"That wasn't ordinary stealing. Tweren't meant to be.”

"It was stealing whichever way you look at it. I am not going to leave you here.

I am going to take you back to my cottage. There's a shed in my garden. You can sleep there. Remember how you used to sleep in the Dogs' Home? I have a maid ... just one ... Kitty. She'll know and no one else will, I promise you.”

"You're spoiling my plans.”

He put his hands in his pocket and drew out a gun.

"Digory! Put that away. Do you want to be caught with that in your possession? Do you want to be sent back to Australia?”

He looked at me through narrowed eyes. "You're spoiling my plans," he repeated. "I don't want nobody to know I'm here. I could do what I've got to do and be away. Nobody would know I'd been here ... 'cept you.”

"I see. So you think you can shoot me, bury my body and nothing will be said?”

"You was always a bold one. I don't think I could shoot you. You was good to me, you was ... you and your brother ... so was your father. But if you tell I'm here, it will spoil everything. And what am I doing, telling you what I plan?”

"You are telling me because you are not sure that your plan will work. In fact you know it is very risky. Moreover I'm an old friend. I saved you once ... and I'll save you again.”

"She was me granny," he said. "I hadn't got no one else.”

"You stole, Digory. You were a thief. The first time I noticed you you were stealing fish on the quay.”

"I wouldn't have gone on being a thief. I didn't mean to steal. The first time was the meat for your Devil Spot." He looked at me sharply. "You've still got it,”

I nodded.

"And the second time was the pheasant. It was because of him. I wanted to take something from him because of what he had done to me granny.”

"It was a foolish thing to do.”

"I didn't know then what I wanted. I'm not a boy any more. I'm a man and life 'as been cruel to me. But there's one or two who 'as been kind and you be one of them.”

"Then trust me again. Come to the shed. I promise I won't say anything to anyone about this without telling you first. That place must be draughty at night. My shed has a proper roof. You'll be comfortable there. I'll give you some blankets and hot food. And, Digory, I want to talk to you. You must give up this plan. It can only lead to disaster for you.”

"And for him. That's what matters. For me ... I don't care. But I won't get caught.