Short Story: The Whisperer

Short Story: The Whisperer

This piece has not been edited by the ShortbreadStories team.

Florence Pegler lives in the oldest cottage in Hadley Hill.

It is dated circa 16th century and she is the original occupant.

The cottage is near the crossroads in the village where in

years gone by the shops once stood. Up until its closure, and

as far back as anyone can remember, Florence ran the sweet

shop. It was a favourite haunt of the children and so up

until 10 years ago when changing times forced its closure,

she knew every child in the village from the cradle to the

grave. Florence loved and cared for children and took a great

interest in them and their activities, always encouraging

where she saw a talent, a gift, a natural ability. Especially

if that talent or ability was to do with animals. Since the

closure of her sweet shop it has been harder for her to keep

a watchful eye over the village occupants.

Next to Florences cottage and on grounds owned by her, stands

the Old Slaughter House which is converted into living

accomodation but most of the time stands unoccupied. Just

occassionally somebody will come to stay there. Many years

pass between visitors. The villagers were surprised then

to see a white horse tied outside. Time for one of Florences

visitors again.

Meanwhile all was not well in Hadley Hill. Notices had gone

up around the village letting the locals know that planning

permission had been obtained to build several dwellings on

Six Acre Field. Although owned by a local farming family

this field had stood as a recreation area for the village

for centuries. All kinds of events and get-togethers took

place there. Every season, every holiday, and more was

celebrated there. A maypole on Mayday, summer fetes, fairs

would come, a Christmas market complete with a lit tree

and carolling, to name just a handful of the events. To take

this away from Hadley Hill would be like ripping its heart

out. People complained bitterly but farmer Simon Bailey,

his wife and sons with their families - the 'Consortium' -

were adamant. It was going to happen and nothing or nobody

was going to stand in their way.

Oblivious to all this, happy children played in the summer

sun. It was early June, the days were long and warm.

Through the village, past the children, Florence Peglers

visitor rode on his white horse. It wasn't unusual to

see people on horseback in Hadley Hill as many of the

residents owned horses and stabled them at the village

riding school. Nobody took an awful lot of notice. Except

Wendy. Wendy knew what she had seen. The rider too, believed

he knew what Wendy had seen and if he was right, she

was the one.

Wendy had come to realize that she was different from

other children. Now at 10 years old she was quite aware

of what she could do, but she kept it to herself, something,

some inbuilt sense, told her that was the right thing

to do. Even her parents knew nothing of her gift, though

they could see she had a passion for animals and hoped

she may go on to work as a vet, maybe a country vet.

That evening after dinner, Wendy went to her bedroom under

the pretence of doing homework. But she needed some quiet

time to think. All she knew for sure was that she must

speak to the unicorn she had seen earlier that day. So many

questions; What was he doing here? Who was his rider?

Had they come for her? And the mountain she saw every

night in her dreams; she felt it could only be connected

now to his presence. Only he could answer these questions,

make all the pieces fit together. She must speak to him

soon.

The following morning Wendy walked down the village to the

Old Slaughter House. The unicorn, as she had hoped, was

tied up outside.

'Good morning' she began, 'may I speak with you?'

The unicorn turned his head. 'So... Jethro was right.'

'Whos Jethro? Your owner?'

'Not exactly, er, hes my - friend.'

'Why are you and your friend here? Have you come for me?'

'No. You must not worry yourself. We have been waiting

centuries for you. You know yourself that you are

"special". It is your destiny. Your first task is upon

us now, with more urgency then we had imagined.'

'I dont understand. Who are you?' Wendy was begining to

feel scared.

At this point Florences visitor appeared.

'Rainbow, what have you been saying? I must apologize

for Rainbow. He gets a bit - carried away sometimes.

Hello Wendy. I'm Jethro.'

His calm voice and pleasant face soothed Wendys fears.

'Will you tell me whats happening', she asked, 'I've

so many questions.'

'Wendy, you are a very special person. You are, as I.

A Whisperer. You have empathy with all living creatures.

And powers that you are aware of but dont yet understand.

Yesterday, you saw Rainbow for what he really is. How many

people can do that? I'm here to help you realize your full

potential and become what destiny dictates of you. You

have a wonderful gift. Nothing to fear. And as my dear

friend Rainbow, has already told you' - he throws a

disapproving look in Rainbows direction - 'we, that is

all four of us, have a little job to do right here in

Hadley Hill.'

'All four of us?'

'Yes, you, Rainbow and myself and Florence.'

Elsewhere in the village on Six Acre Field men had arrived

to look over the site with a view to setting up for the

works to begin. A road would have to be laid to allow full

access. And trenches dug to bring in mains water, sewers, gas

and electricity. It was going to be quite a task and Simon

Bailey was anxious to get things moving. He was there with two

of his sons talking with the men. The hatred for Baileys

project within the village meant word spread fast and soon a

small angry mob of people were advancing on the surveyors and

engineers and the Baileys. Simon Bailey was talking urgently

on his mobile phone and soon the sound of sirens could be heard

off in the distance. This angered a few of the crowd further

and a scuffle broke out, with several people trying to get

to Bailey,who was protected by his sons. The police arrived,

everything calmed down, but all could see that Bailey was

visibly shaken by the incident. Up until then he had clearly

had no idea how deep the feeling against him ran.

But if the villagers thought that this was going to change

his plans, they had better think again. The Baileys had

occupied this village, farmed here, built here, bought

prosperity to Hadley Hill and its people down the ages.

If these idiots were too stupid to see the advantages to

expansion and growth of the community then damn their

eyes!! They would thank him one day when the pub was

taking on extra staff to cope with the demand for hot

food. And the caravan site and B&B were packed to the

gills with friends and relatives of the new incomers.

Why, we might even open the village shop again. He

consoled himself with these thoughts, not the ones of

how much money he and his 'consortium' would make at

the building of these dwellings.

Florence Pegler was delighted. 'Over four hundred year I've

looked for that child. And now, just when we need her so bad.

Did she tell you where the creature is?'

Jethro's calming influence shines forth again. 'Florence,

you have looked for four hundred years, a few more days

will not hinder us. Gently, gently. Too many questions,

too much knowledge, too fast. We will frighten the poor child.'

Florence questioned 'She is aware though. Of what she is.'

'Oh, very.' answered Jethro

'Then we need to get this done,Jethro. I tell you. If Old

Jonathan Bailey could see what his great-great-great-great

grandson were about to do. He'd turn in his grave, he would.

Such a lovely boy with the animals he were. No whisperer though.'

That night, Wendy dreamt again of the mountain. She saw it

so clearly and could remember all with great detail as

usual the following morning on waking. She must tell Jethro.

Her confidence in her gift had grown enormously, finding

Jethro - or him finding her - had opened her eyes. And her

mind. She quickly dressed and set off down the village

towards Florence Peglers cottage and The Old Slaughter

House. Rainbow was there, outside.

'Good morning Rainbow. Where is Jethro?'

'He is in the cottage, discussing urgent business with Florence.

What is it you want of him?'

Wendy remembered how Rainbow had frightened her but

she also remembered Jethro saying all four of them had

a job to do.

'Rainbow, I have a dream, the same dream every night.

I see a mountain. Nothing happens, I just see the mountain.

Why, I know it so well now I think I could climb it! Actually,

I suppose its quite a small mountain. For a mountain I mean.'

'JETHRO!!' Rainbow called at the top of his voice. Jethro came

running from the cottage.

'Tell him' said Rainbow. With that, he ambled off to find

some breakfast.

Wendy repeated her dream. Jethros eyes and face lit up. He

was beaming at her. 'FLORENCE'. Florence appears. 'Wendy

has seen it. We have found the creature, Florence.'

Further down the village that morning the diggers were

arriving on Six Acre Field only to be greeted by a sit-in

by an adamant group of villagers who were not going to

give up their ancient rights handed down by Jonathan

Bailey that easily.

'Your ancestor bequeathed this field to the village' shouted

one man at Simon Bailey.

'And I suppose you have that in writing' replied Bailey.

'Well we are going to stay here. Night and day there will be

a presence in this field. You know what you know Bailey.

You've sold out your own people. Shame on you. If Jonathan

could see this, I just hate to think. You traitor!'

Bailey turned to the chief engineer. 'We'll work around

them. As long as they remain peaceful, thats all we can

do. But the first sign of any trouble - you have the

police out here, my lad, faster then you can say... ancient

right!! Got that.'

Wendy was confused. 'What do you mean? How have I found the

creature? What is the creature?'

Jethro began to explain:

'Wendy, it is what I was telling you about your empathy -

your gift - with all living creatures. You have lived so

close to the male that you have picked up not only on him

but also on the female. Our task,Wendy, is to bring them

together for they are the last two left on Earth. Seperated

nearly two millenia ago, their kind hunted down nearly to

extinction, they fear and distrust most humans. Why it is

I who 1700 years ago saved the male from a man who would

have slain him. In fact most folks to this day think that

he did slay him. But no, er, thanks to me he escaped, but

took flight before I could talk to him. Many centuries later

I tracked him down. I introduced him to Florence who by then

was living here - waiting for you. He realized he could

trust her to look out for him and he settled and hid nearby.

Now we must waste no time in reuniting him with his mate,

who you have found.'

A small group of villagers were holding an urgent impromptu

meeting in The Pig and Trumpet.

'You heard Bailey, what he said to me. Do I have that in writing,

he said, about Jonathan bequeathing that land. Well, somewhere

it has to be in writing but more as likely Simon has it.'

George Bolton was most opposed of all the villagers over the

development of Six Acre Field. Over the years he had attended

many an event there as a boy and then later organised a fair

few himself. He knew the importance of community. He knew the

field was the heart of the village. He had many supporters,

old and young, born and bred and incomers, who would stand

shoulder to shoulder with him in the fight against Baileys

'consortium'. But deep down George was secretly worried that

the fight was already lost.

In a field adjacent to the pub grazed a white horse. A horse

who had been listening close to the open window and had heard

every word said. Now if you were going to leave something

in writing that was to stand for all time... You would leave

it set in stone. All Rainbow had to do was find the stone...

In a further development at Six Acre Field, George Bolton

in a last ditch attempt to stall for time, had organized

folks to climb and occupy the trees at the edge of the

field. These would have to be cut down to allow pipework

to be run into the field from the road outside. People

would occupy the trees 24/7 taking it in shifts. Meanwhile

he was going to contact national newspapers, radio stations,

and local TV news. The chief engineer at the site had

contacted Simon Bailey. If he wanted to press ahead he

would have to get a court order to have these people

removed. Simon was already in touch with his lawyer.

Rainbow was musing over where the stone could possibly be

and had come to only one conclusion. In Six Acre Field!!

A monument protecting the land it stood on. But where?

There was no sign of a standing stone. And how was he to

search? The field was alive with humans, night and day.

Wendy, Jethro and Florence are in Florences cottage.

'You must describe for me now the mountain, child, as you

see it in your dream' said Florence.

Wendy closed her eyes and saw her mountain. She told of it

much as she had told Rainbow, concluding,'Its a small mountain.

You could walk up it! Except for the top bit. Thats like a real

mountain. And theres a pile of stones. You can see the top from

the pile of stones.'

Florence is excited. She hugs Wendy.

'Wendy, I know your mountain.I know it from what you have told me

and I know it from old, for I lived on land in that area

once. You are seeing Pillar in Cumbria! We have found her,

Jethro!'

'Really', said Jethro, 'You lived in Cumbria?'

'Yes - before I lived in Cornwall, with Arthur. Lovely fellow

he was... to business Jethro, we know where she is. Time to

reunite her with her mate. But first you must tell the old

boy - nicely mind so you dont spook him, dont want him

dissappearing and flying off to who only knows where

again - first before we bring his betrothed to him... you have

to tell him hes going to have to move on. Oh I do hope he takes

it alright. Wherever he wants to go now I'll stay close by and

watch out for him. And his betrothed. You tell him that Jethro.

Everything else' she looks at Wendy, 'well, I'll work out.

But tell him I'll look after all Jethro.'

Rainbow had wandered into Six Acre Field and was grazing

assuming despite all the activity, no-one would pay much

attention to a horse being there. For now. He must search

the undergrowth, the overgrown copse the protestors now

occupied with its tangled ivy and choking elders for

somewhere, somewhere in there he was certain - stood the

stone. The monument protecting this special place for all

time...

Jethros place now was to go to Six Acre Field. Though how

to carry out his work with a 24/7 human presence... The

same problem as had faced Rainbow but unfortunately Jethro

could not disguise himself as a horse! But Wendys final

question had not been answered:

'What is the creature?'

'Wendy, the creatures are dragons. Now, wait here with

Florence. I must go to the field and summon Rastaban to

come speak with us.'

On his arrival at Six Acre Field,Jethro was surprised to

see Rainbow apparently searching for something. He called

Rainbow to him, patting him and allowing Rainbow to nuzzle

his shoulder so as not to draw attention from the myriad of

people on the field, for most folks knew Rainbow to be 'his'.

Yet the people were all too engrossed in their own business -

whichever 'side' they were on - to really care about a man

and his horse. Rainbow told of his quest to find the stone.

Jethro urged him continue and asked him to summon Rastaban

to come to Florences cottage that night, for there was much

to tell him.

Meanwhile Florence was talking with Wendy.

'From this day on, child, you are to stay close to me for

there is much to teach you. About your powers.'

Wendy asked 'Have you been waiting for me? Jethro said you

were waiting for me.'

Florence laughed. 'Yes child. For a long time. After it

was foretold in the stars. I came here to wait for you.'

'How was it foretold in the stars?'

'A comet, a bright comet came by. The Bringers Of Life to

barren planets. It passed close by to our Earth with its

message for me. And hung there, the brightest object in the

night sky, for many a month. It told me a child, a Whisperer

would be born in the village of Hadley Hill. A Whisperer who

would grow up to save many creatures in many worlds. A Whisperer

with powers like no other before...And thats you. You are already

so aware. But I must guide you, much as I guided Jethro. Thats my

job. One of my jobs.'

'Are you a Whisperer too?'

'No, child. I'm a Witch.'

Jethro returned explaining that Rastaban would come to

the cottage after darkness that night.

'Tell me more about the dragons' said Wendy. She was excited

at the prospect of seeing her first dragon. Jethro told more

of them.

'Rastaban and Eltanin. Rastaban has lived under

Six Acre Field since 1560. I have only recently discovered

Eltanins home under Pillar, thanks to you. She has probably

been under the mountain for far longer. Humans forced them

into hiding because of their fear and misunderstanding of

them. Hideous gigantic fire-breathing beasts, why, they

are not like us! They have no place here among us. They

must be hunted down and wiped out! A nasty trait of humans

even still I'm afraid. Dragons have the advantage of not

only being able to fly, but they can make themselves

invisible. However, they are not cowardly creatures and if

cornered will choose fight over flight. Magnificent,

honourable, misunderstood beasts. George thought he would

be the great hero of all time, slaying "the last dragon".

Huh, well I soon showed him. He still claimed the kill

though as Rastaban had vanished. Vanished for centuries.'

Rainbows fruitless search continued. So sure was he that

the answer was right here. He pawed at the undergrowth,

the grass not knowing how much time was left, how long

this stalemate would continue. It was starting to get

dark. Rastaban would soon rise from his cavernous home

beneath the field to talk with Jethro. Rainbow needed to find

the stone, where oh where...

George Bolton had contacted the local TV news station and

they had just got back in touch with him to say a team

with their top investigative reporter, cameras and all

would be arriving in Hadley Hill the following evening

to report live from the site. He was delighted. To keep

it as secret as possible, he told just 2 of his most

trusted friends and supporters.

'If only - if only as Bailey said - we had it in writing.

Its just - generations of folks have just known. Its been

our special place for centuries. Who'd have ever thought

it would have come to this.'

Simon Bailey answered the phone that evening to his lawyer,

Henry Cheetham.

'Good news Simon, we should have a court order to throw the

protestors off your land within 24 hours. I'll bring it over

myself as soon as. Better have the police on stand-by just in

case, old boy. These things can turn ugly sometimes.'

To Be Continued...