Chapter Eleven. A day of reckoning.
Nick arrived at the police station on time, he hadn’t bothered Ash knowing how angry the youth was, no longer a boy, that’s for sure. But he was angry with himself and boiling mad with those he had entrusted with Ash’s care. Sergeant Ferguson recognised the tension in him.
“As Ash’s guardian you are entitled to come, I realise that normally parents are left out of an interview but in this case you would have made your own way there, and no doubt kicked up a stink, I figured this be the best method but you keep your temper under control Mr. Mallet.”
Nick reluctantly agreed so they drove over to Ashdown. At the reception desk the sergeant asked for Dean Creswell. They were duly shown into the Dean’s study.
“Good morning gentlemen, I understand you wished to see me reference a complaint of a fracas that occurred between Mr. Malling Mallets brother and one of our most reliable Prefects. You will have my full co-operation, but sadly it appears that Ash Malling did not fit in well with our college and was a difficult student, when asked to do something by his prefect he disobeyed, we have the house-masters agreement as to this.”
“Perhaps we should start at the end instead of the beginning, I would first like to interview a student called Robertson in young Master Mallings class please.”
“That may not be possible we cannot allow interviews of children in our care unless we have parental permission.”
“I’m carrying out an investigation and therefore I can only assume you are obstructing me in my duty as a police officer. As you are well aware Dean, the same rights applicable to a parent are carried over to your good self as head of this college.”
The Dean asked for Robertson to attend them, which he did some minutes later.
“Robertson, I am investigating allegations of a brutal attack on one of your classmates, can you tell me about it?”
“I found Ash Malling in the gym, badly beaten and crawling across to the door Sir. I helped him up and managed to call a taxi to take him home. Some hours before I was studying in my house room and I saw Trenchard, Gore and Williams drag Ash along the corridor past Mr. Flint’s room. I believe Mr. Flint spoke to them. I looked out and saw that Trenchard was carrying his cane. That’s all I can tell you sir.”
“Are you sure Robertson you are not mistaken?” the Dean asked.
“Mr. Creswell, kindly do not interrupt, perhaps you could ask the house-master to locate the cane or stick, I would like to see it.”
The Dean rose from his chair as if to go out.
“No, Dean Creswell you will use your phone on your desk please. Thank you Master Robertson you may leave now.” The Dean did as he was told, and shortly Mr. Flint arrived with the cane, the sergeant wrapped a plastic bag around it and placed it on the floor.
“That is of course Trenchard property and must be requisitioned.”
“Indeed thank you Dean, I did notice dark stains that could be blood. So it will be sent to the forensic and I will give Mr. Trenchard a receipt. Now Mr. Flint I’m sure you are aware of the allegations, so I will ask you tell me what you know occurred. ”
“Malling had never really settled in my house, he was given the position of fag to Trenchard who found him disobedient and attacked the Prefect. Trenchard within his rights in this College proceeded to cane him.”
“A fag is?”
“A young first grader is allocated to a senior boy for cleaning duties.” The Dean answered. “We believe here at Ashdown, that this teaches boys a proper respect for their elders. It’s a policy that used to be carried out by other public schools.”
“And why was Master Mallings given this task when he was at a much higher grade?”
“Because he had not come to the school at a normal entry year at eleven.”
“Mr. Flint, the Dean has told a different story of a fracas and that it was a fight?” Flint stayed quite, “ I believe I would like to interview the boys Williams and Gore please.”
“I have Mr Trenchard outside at the moment.”
“Then bring him in and perhaps you could ask the other two to come and wait outside. Perhaps Mr Mallet you would like to wait outside, I wish to interview the boy alone.”
Nick rose up and opened the door as a tall obnoxious youth strode in at the Deans call.
‘Don’t worry Nick I’m here and will report the interview.’
So Alex was here as well that was a relief. Mr Flint came out and barely gave him a glance as he asked the secretary to find Gore and Williams. He then returned to the room.
Alec relayed the proceedings by mind speak, so Nick waited for the two youths to turn up.
‘Mr. Trenchard there has been a serious allocation made against you and two of your colleagues. I wish to hear your side of the story if you please.” The sergeant continued writing in his book as Trenchard began describing Ash’s impertinence, his disobedience, and the punch he threw at the Prefect.’
‘Did he hit you?’
‘Of course.’
‘Did you take him down to the gym and cane him?’
‘He received one cane on his hand that is all we prefects are allowed to administer.’
‘Mr. Flint have you noticed over the last few weeks an improvement in Mr. Trenchard’s written work?’
‘Now you mention Mr. Trenchard has shown a remarkable improvement both in Maths which I take and Geography which Mr. Gregory takes. A quality we expect from all our prefects, good academic and social skills.’
'Mr. Flint I would be obliged if you would fetch the students work papers for the relevant period of the last few weeks. I will give you a receipt for them and for the cane.’
‘Look here my man, are you accusing me of cheating as well as beating up that arrogant Malling boy?’
‘No just searching for the truth Mr. Trenchard’
‘You are aware Sergeant Ferguson that Mr. Trenchard’s father is Lord Acton and further questioning and insinuations would bring certain unfortunate, to your own career.’ The Dean spoke coolly.
‘Well Dean that’s as maybe but I have a duty to perform but I will give your warning serious thought. I am aware my own Inspector has a child at this school, so I shall be as transparently honest as I can.’ Turning to Trenchard,’ Thank you for your time young sir and perhaps you could ask your fellows to join me here, by the way I need your books, please have fag, or whatever you call them, bring them to me. By the way before you were allocated the Malling boy you had another young fag, he was sent home with severe trauma, I understand Inspector James of the Avon force is interviewing the lad as we speak. I would suggest that your father contact his solicitors, as it’s likely we will want you to come to the station to make a full sighed statement. The Dean will advise you when we contact him soon.’
‘Nick the other lads are coming in soon, what have they been discussing?’
‘They are worried Alex, they are arguing about the story they made up in their rooms when we came in, the Dean obviously told them about the visit. Anything you can help me implant in the sergeants head?’
‘They don’t have their story straight about the caning, they say they just watched on.’
‘Not much to go on, but we can fool them with a little science. Follow Trenchard.’
Trenchard left to fetch his books Nick followed behind; eventually they came to Trenchard’s study where he ran through his exercise books on his table.
“Ah got them but alas they have been lost how unfortunate,” he dumped them in his bin then called a fag to empty it. Nick had hidden in a linen cupboard. When the young fag went in to Trenchard’s room.
“What the hell are you doing?” Said the young fag.
“I’m the new janitor here! Just show me where all this paper is taken too please?”
‘Liar.’ Said Alex.
Nick followed the boy down to a basement where the lad tipped the bin into a skip then went out and clutching the bin with Nick following clutching the books. He re-entered the Deans study.
“Trenchard’s books” he said to Mr. Flint, “I presume they are his?”
Flint looked at them closely.
“Yes they are his, why should he give them to you?”
Nick made no comment but passed the books to the sergeant who then started to interview the two youths.
“We watched to see fair play, we took no part in the caning,” they looked at one another to confirm the story but the sergeant had a strange sensation of a question forming in his mind independently.
“Did you help drag Malling down to the gym?”
“No.”
“So at no time did you touch him only watched Trenchard cane him.” They nodded.
So if I was to ask you both to scrape your arms and hands with the Dean’s ruler, into the plastic bag I have here, so we can lab test for Mallings DNA?”
There was silence; the Dean started to rise from his chair,
“You cannot do that here.”
“Very well Dean based on the evidence so far heard I have no alternative but to arrest these two with a charge and take them down to the station and give a formal warning and a charge, I advise you to ring their parents.”
“Its true Sir,” said Gore shaking now, “We both did hold Malling while Ian Trenchard caned him.”
“Shut up you fools, the sergeant has no cause to arrest you, it’s a ploy to get you to own up.”
“Thank you Dean Creswell, that will do nicely for my report, we have Mr. Flint and Mr. Malling as witnesses. You boys are more than welcome to come to the station with your parents if you so wish. I think we have sufficient evidence for a criminal charge, but more importantly, Mr. Mallet no doubt will start civil proceedings against the College, but that is entirely in his court. Thank you for the time you have given us Dean.”
“You will not here the last of this Mr. Mallet Malling, we took your orphan lad and it was entirely his fault, our defence will be his indifferent education.”
“Dean I believe Ash has been doing Trenchard’s homework, thus the beating, the sergeant will show the extent of that, photos were taken by the police.” The sergeant gave Nick one of the photographs to the Dean, who sat down to study it.
“I’ll have that now Sir,” The sergeant took the photo and he and Nick left a stunned Dean.
Nick returned to the manor then went onto to see how Ash was. He knocked on Ash’s cottage door and a golden head poked out from an upper window.
“What do you want?”
“Just to say I’d like to come in a see how you are, I’ve returned from the college and it look like Sergeant Ferguson will continue with the interviews at the city station, he has first to inform his inspector, but I expect Trenchard will get his just deserts.”
“You expect too much Nick, Trenchard’s type manage to squeeze out of the tightest corner.”
“They’ve sent someone to interview the previous fag and his parents to build up a case of sustained brutality against him.”
“You ever read Tom Browns school days.”
“No.”
“Then your education is not complete, no wonder you are so naïve, probably because you spent most of your youth running from your siblings, down to a dusty mine. You should get out and read more. I think you’ve lead a monastic life, you need to see a bit more.”
“I’m not going to bandy words with you stuck up there and me down here, are you going to let me in or not?”
“Not.”
“Right, you’ve made my mind up. I was going to apologise to you about sending you to the cheaper college, its because the mine has had problems and I only had sufficient money for the two years you would have been at Ashdown. I do apologise Ash it was stupid of me not to listen to Peter and Alex, they were trying to tell me something.”
“That’s what I mean Nick you only care for yourself, I expect you were mesmerised by that Cassandra woman, who was a good looking type, but that’s only skin, you don’t seem to be able to read deeper down than that. I think you look upon me as some sort of pet, The best thing you can do is to go and re-organise yourself, re-born is a good word, go check that opal mine of yours and do something worthwhile.” Ash slammed the window shut.
Nick walked over the manor and found HE in his study practising his typing. He heard the keys clicking on the keyboard.
“I seem to be a bit of a bad smell with Ash, how long do you think he’ll stay in the cottage locked up?”
‘Well he went down to Molly soon after you left, so I’d say he was not prisoner in his little house, least ways as long as you aren’t about. Nick it will blow over, he has been truly hurt and instead of blaming the real culprits he chooses those he closest too, his nearest and dearest.’
“He’s as good as told me to go back to Oz and sort out the mine.”
‘The mine not bringing in sufficient cash?’
“No I don’t know was going on, of course it could they have not hit any seams but I sent a telegram last week and no reply.”
‘Maybe Ash’s advice is good then; give you both a break from one another. Absence makes the heart if you see what I mean.’
“What about the civil case against the Trenchard’s.”
‘That’s up to Ash to decide, not you or I. I had a talk with him and he is undecided far too hurt and angry to think straight.’
“Like all civil suits it will be initially expensive, as it’s my fault I’ll pay of course, but I’ll need to go back to find out what has happened.”
‘Then go. The solicitors will carry out our instructions, Dunning can be your mouthpiece, and I can advise Dunning. You’ll need to sign all these cheques for the Malling family funds and I can fill them in as required.’
“Well there’s no time like the present, I’ll go and book a ticket, best I sign all those cheques now. I’ll leave a note of authority for Ash to take over my duties as squire.”
A Malling letterhead floated towards him, Nick wrote the letter, in the form of a will giving all his property to Ash Malling, then to another to write authorising Ash to be in his legal representative and manager of Mallings. He then signed all the cheques that HE had.
‘Best go up and say your goodbyes to your Aunt, she won’t be happy to see you go, and then get Dunning to drive you to the station.’
Nick packed as lightly as he could, said his goodbyes to Lady Celia and Joan. Peter and Alex promised they would keep an eye on Ash.
“I’d like him to continue at the secondary modern, and if possible go onto to higher education.”
‘You’ll back by then Nick.’
“No Peter, I don’t know what has happened with the mine, half a dozen things could have occurred, its pretty rough country out there in the sticks.”
Dunning drove him to the station with a light suitcase.
“Travel light, travel alone Dunning, and use the car as long as you want, thanks for all your help, I’ll miss this place. Ask Alice to keep an eye out for Master Ash. He won’t miss me but as sure as hell I’ll miss him.”
“Good luck Master Nick, come back soon.” Dunning lifted the case out of the boot and left him to catch the train to London then onto Heathrow. On the train Nick suddenly felt insecure, once again he had chosen a solitary road, he shrugged, a new path to follow and he doubted if he would ever return to Mallings, there was nothing left for him there. Then he smiled; at least a small fragile golden-headed boy had grown into a fine youth and had at last found a secure domain. Mallings was for Ash and Ash for Mallings, Nick only the precursor, the means to an end and perhaps the Malling family had always foreseen this.
xxx
Chapter Twelve. A battle in the outback and hard work.
When Nick arrived in Sydney he found his old partner had died, so he continued on to the diggings at Lightning Creek. He found the old store still serving prospectors but the staff had changed. He first found a place to stay and then took a battered old taxi out to his mine and found his partners still there. They were surprised to see him but gave him a beer and warm welcome.
“We were bought out couple of months ago, least you and Uncle were. Before he died he sold his share to a bunch of cowboy solicitors in Adelaide. We work for them now.”
“Why did your uncle sell, he made no communication with me, as his partner he could have given me and you both an option to buy?”
“It seems he got friendly with a nursing lady in the hospice where he was, an she did things for him to ease his end of life. I guess she claimed he married her in a civil service, but not knowing what to do, some smart joker came down. Uncle died, nurse sells the mine and a smart joker comes down with legal documents stating he and his mates had bought the place.”
“I still hold the licence for the mine.”
“Don’t know how they got round that, lets see it Nick?”
Nick delved into his jeans pocket and produced the document.
It turned out to be a forgery, that’s what Kehoe, the government man said. His old partner had had it photocopied and apparently kept the original. Nick knew he had the original but Kehoe’s word was law so he called him a thief and liar to his face. Kehoe laughed at him so he flew down to Adelaide to find a lawyer. No one would touch him, the partnership of lawyers had seen to that, so he purchased a new lease from an exuberant Kehoe and thus his fate was sealed to work an area miles from any of the other leases.
He was forced to buy cheap equipment and having to constantly to repair broken parts. The initial shaft took months to dig and shore up by hand, his constant hope to hit pay dirt drove him on. He would ride his Honda into town collect supplies and attach any wood and drag it behind the bike. It was lonely existence, he thought of chucking it in and returning to Mallings but would remember Ash’s hardened features looking out the window at him below, no shadow of any affection in his face just anger, perhaps loathing. So Nick would soldier on, buy another pick and shovel and dig deeper, until a year later he reckoned it was safe to put a couple of drives at the bottom. He found nothing on the East drive, it had taken four months of sweat and grime to shovel out six metres so something in his head one dream filled night told him to go West. So he started on that direction. After two years his money ran out and he started to live frugally and ask for credit from the store. Initially receiving a blank stare Greg the store owner gave in but told him to get out of the lease before it killed him.
Nick was determined to find a seam so back he would go always by day as his lights had given up. One day he couldn’t start the bike and wheeled it the five miles into town to Murray’s garage, who put Nick up until a new magneto arrived. So his days passed into months. And one night he sat and cried and decided he had to give it away, one more month. Then quit, get a job in Adelaide or Sydney labouring and get back to the UK.
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