May Day
by Robert Kingston
We are a diverse group from all walks of life. Our passion is to write; to the best of our ability and sometimes beyond. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, to read and critique our work in friendly, open discussion. However, the Group is not solely about entertaining ourselves. We support THE ESSEX AND HERTS AIR AMBULANCE by producing and selling anthologies of our work. So far we have raised in excess of £9,700, by selling our books at venues throughout Essex.
LOST AND FOUND (Part 2 & Last)
by Richard Banks
“Come and have a drink,” he says, “you
look as though you need one.”
“I need time.”
“Yes, that’s what I thought, so here’s
what we do. You pay us back over one year. That’s twelve monthly payments of
£50,000.”
“But...”
“That’s the deal, pal. It’s the only
one on the table. Don’t get me wrong, I did all that I could, but final
decisions don’t rest with me. Believe me it could have been worse.”
There’s an awkward silence.
“Let’s look on the bright side,” he says lowering his voice. “You’re an accountant, you have client accounts, twenty of them if I’m not mistaken, surplus funds you invest in short term bonds. Pay us with that. It’s not your money but whose going to miss it? You keep the books, and if any one wants money out you transfer it from another account. Once you’ve paid us you could be all square in eighteen months. Everyone’s happy and no one the wiser.” Tom finishes his drink and leaves me to reflect on the feasibility of his proposition.
Of course, it’s not as easy as he makes
out but as accountants go I’m a good one, in fact, more than good, and if
anyone can do it it’s me. So, two days later I phone good, old Tom and tell him
to expect the first instalment by the end of the month. I have a suggestion
that he promises to consider: my professional services free for one year in
lieu of the final payment. As an indication of my usefulness I tell him about
this two year bond paying 4% interest twice a year. It’s an unlisted company,”
I say, “but it’s risk free; the CEO has family connections that won’t see him
fail.”
Tom says he will get back to me and
when he does we have a deal although it’s not quite the deal I was hoping for.
However, it’s better than nothing and I also get to see Tom for regular
progress meetings which gives me access to someone who could be more than
useful to me. But mainly it’s up to me and if I mess up I’ll either be battered
beyond repair or banged up for fraud. And
so I set to, working eighteen hours a day and pushing creative accountancy to a
whole new level. Three weeks later I make the first payment and then a stroke
of luck: one of my clients retires and heads off on a six month trip around the
world. While he’s out playing so am I, and from now on his account is the first
one I dip into. The next month I lose a client but gain two giving me
additional room for manoeuvre. For the first time I’m beginning to feel in
control and with nine payments made and only three to go I’m thinking that
nothing’s going to get in my way. Then someone does, and it’s me. I’m out at
dinner with a client. It’s his invite so I’m expecting him to pick-up at least
half the bill but, after fumbling through his pockets he declares that his
wallet must be in his other suit. He’s full of apologies. Next time he says it
will all be on him. But next time is not what I’m concerned about and when I
try and pay with my debit card the payment’s rejected for lack of funds.
The next day a client pays an overdue
bill and I’m solvent again but it’s too late, people are talking. “Never trust
a hard-up accountant,” they say, “if he can’t take care of his own affairs, how
can he be trusted with yours.” It’s a good point which is not lost on my
biggest client who, without notice, sends in an auditor. The whole house of
cards is about to fall but before it does I’m hot footing it away from
Where I go is a secret I’m not telling
you, only that it’s far, far away and doesn’t have an extradition treaty with
the
“Is this ours?” Tom asks, glancing
across the road at the Hotel M……
I confirm that it is. “I’ve booked you
into the room next to mine. Unpack, have a shower. I’ll be up soon.”
When I am, we can be ourselves and
after the passion of our reunion is exhausted we lie motionless on the bed
wishing that the afternoon could last forever, at least that’s what I’m
thinking.
“Do we have the money?” asks Tom.
“Of course we have the money.”
“And it can’t be traced?”
“No,” I assure him, “it’s been three
times around the world, it’s lost to everyone but us.”
“You nearly got me killed,” he says.
I point out that if he hadn’t told
Tom seems reassured and his
conversation returns to the money. “So how much did we make?”
“Three mil.”
“Pounds?”
“Yes.”
“And the interest payments that
This is not a question. He smiles
remembering the first time I told him this, the unscripted business of our
second progress meeting.
“Happy?” I ask.
He says that he is and that I’m one
heck of a devious bastard. By devious he means clever, but the best is yet to
come. The town we are in has a casino which already has fifty grand of my hard
earned cash. However, as the expression goes, if you can’t beat them join them
which is why I have bought the business lock, stock and barrel. From now on all
the money I lose on the tables will be mine and if that’s not devious I don’t
know what is. Happy days are here again and this time they’re here for good!
The End.
Copyright
Richard Banks
By Bob French
Jacque Fermanaux stood quite still for several minutes
as he stared down towards the low cottage at the far end of the valley and
allowed a tired smile to creep across his dirty face. He had avoided
the road through the village and had used instead, the narrow twisting lane
with its green hedgerows and sweet smells of the countryside.
As he stood in the late afternoon
sunlight, he was conscious of the stillness of the warm air; the firmness of
the land beneath his boots and the feeling that he had finally reached
home.
The melodic sound of a Blackbird
high in the Poplar trees over to his left started to call out its evening song
bringing a smile to his face as he took a slow deep breath. He
always liked sitting down with Monique after a hard day on the
farm. Just sitting there with her and the sound of nature
surrounding them. He always used to tell her it was their reward for
working hard and caring for God’s land.
Something flashed way off in the
distance and his mind was suddenly cast back to another time; another place,
when the heat of the day made him suffer from thirst and the cold bitter nights
bit into his bones. The endless miles marching with little direction from his
officers or food to endure the endless trudging up and down hills, everyday
praying that they would not be attacked by Spanish partisans or the British.
Many of his friends had simply
fallen out of formation, or wondered off into the darkness. He felt
sad for Marco and Phillippe, his friends these past six years, who had, like
him, been taken by the French Militia to fight in the Spanish War against the
British. They had vanished a few weeks ago and hoped that
their deaths had been quick. These thoughts he knew would never leave him until
his dying day.
Jacque Fermanaux adjusted his
tattered rucksack, re-slung his rifle, gave his faded blue battle dress jacket
a good brush, and started to move down the lane, listening to the gentle murmur
of bees and the distant bark of some farm dog, as it scurried around after the
sheep on the slopes of the valley.
He felt content with himself as he
reached the canopy of trees that over the years had grown over to form a
gateway to the valley. His valley.
Jacque was aware that the passing
of time was different here. There was no need to hurry here or there
or rush to keep pace. Everything seemed to slow down, the pace of
the world cared not for the summons of the bugle or the fast pace and rush of
the business of war.
Suddenly a figure appeared from under
the eaves of his cottage. His mind quickly recognized the red jacket
and white cross belts of the British. His instincts were
automatic. He dropped to his knee, cocked his rifle, and took aim. He
was about to pull the trigger when from his left, another Red Jacket appeared
with a small boy high on his shoulders. Jacque swung his rifle back to the
first Red Coat and pulled the trigger.
There was a loud bang and everyone
froze.
The Red coat who had stepped out
from under the eaves of the cottage stood still, then after a few seconds,
laughed.
“God Jacque! I knew you were a
lousy shot, but that was ridiculous. I think you hit one of the cows
in yonder field.”
Within seconds, Jacque was joined by Marco and Philipp his two friends who had mysteriously vanished from the Regiment one night some weeks ago.
“What are you two doing in British
uniforms?”
“It was the only way we could pass
through
Everyone was talking at once until
the small boy who had been gently put down by Marco, tugged at Jacque’s
trousers.
Marco bend down and lifted the boy
up to face Jacque.
“This Dominique, is your Papa. He
is a very brave man and like us, has come home from the wars to take care of
you and Mama.”
Jacque, stared into the
little boy’s eyes and quietly cursed that day he and his friends had been taken
by the Militia at the marketplace.
“Hello son. I see that you have
grown up to be the man of the house. Sorry I was not here when you were born,
but……”
Suddenly they heard a scream and
everyone turned to see Marie, Jacque’s wife, striding towards them.
They quickly parted, thinking she was going to embrace her long lost husband, instead, she stood calmly in
front of him, stared into his tired eyes, then slapped his face hard.
“You said that you were going to
buy some chickens at the market. That was six years
ago. So, where are the bloody chickens?”
Copyright Bob French April 2022
By Len Morgan
The Empire could be loosely described as a ‘D’ shape on its side, bounded to the North by a straight edge represented by the Sabre Tooth Mountain Range. To the South and West is the sea and to the East the wild wide, fast-running Staalbech River, where it joins the sea, at its widest, it is 130 miles shore to shore. The Staalbech is infamous for the lives it has claimed over the years. It is not and never has been swimmable, despite numerous children’s stories to the contrary. Only Sturdy sea-worthy sailing vessels would ever attempt a crossing. The far bank from Cheilin is Bluttland, inhabited exclusively by Bedelacq's fanatical nomadic worshipers; a vengeful god who demands blood sacrifices on the night of the New Moons conjunction which happens twice a year. On conjunction night, the sky turns red, the stars shine brighter than at any other time and Bluttland, living up to its name, flows with Blood. Strangers are well-advised to stay away at this time - as all are fair game…
Cheilin by contrast is remarkably stable, the Clans rule
with iron hands, and the
.-...-.
His mother died birthing him, his father laid blame for
her death on him and was never able to completely forgive him. His father thrust him as far from him as he
could, allowing him to be brought up by his nurse Glamhorten, a beautiful self
possessed woman from Bluttland. She had
been sent to seduce the father, but had found him a lost cause; he was
hopelessly in love with a memory. The
next best thing was the son Taleen. She
possessed him instead, in the name of the god of vengeance – Bedelacq – the god
of her people. She remained his
guardian and mentor for most of his formative years. At the time of conjunction, she taught him
to worship the one. Inhabitants of the
palace frequently found the bodies of dead animals in odd places, drained of
blood. Palek, prince Taleen’s father
refused to be concerned over a few dead animals and the habits of his son and
Glamhorten. She was an excellent nurse
and companion to Taleen, neither ever bothered him which was just how he wanted it.
When Palek died, Taleen refused to grieve for the loss of that distant stand-offish man who'd done everything to avoid contact with him. He knew no remorse, only anger at being cheated of his birthright. Glamhorten assured him he had been born to rule the world in the name of and to the glory of Bedelacq, the one.
Taleen turned all his anger and hatred onto princess
Veille, now ruling in his father's stead. They all told him she was a usurper, a
thief, they made him swear blood vengeance against her in the name of Bedelacq,
his father, and himself. Glamhorten now
his constant companion supported him and introduced him to a young Blutt Priest
named Wilden, who became teacher and mentor to the ten-year-old. In the years that followed he counselled
patience and consolidation. Taleen
united the 9th Clan behind him, building alliances with others. The dreams of one spiteful and vengeful
young man became the dreams of the whole Clan such was his magnetism. He was cunning beyond words, infiltrating
the inner sanctum of the
Wilden had coordinated the attack to coincide with a major conjunction, to give him maximum power for the complete success of the venture. His sister Glamhorten had been sent to turn a major clan to the one true God, to provide his followers with allies in the Empire, when they invaded. A holy war, a Jihad, had been declared to bring the whole world to Bedelacq. With infinite patience, they had laid plans spanning decades. Plans that were now nearing fruition. Wilden smiled at the irony, he’d engineered a relatively bloodless coup, to ensure an inexhaustible supply of blood for the God of vengeance. He’d already had several hundred lives on the day of the attack, now the dungeons were full to the brim with Red Guards and close supporters of the Empress. They would all play their part in bringing about the earthly manifestation of the God Bedelacq, in the corporeal form of the Emperor Taleen! In just a few weeks his life’s work would be realised. Wilden was exhilarated; intoxicated with joy anticipating their success.
(To be continued)
Copyright Len Morgan
by Richard Banks
I
live in
So, you’re asking, what went wrong, how
come he’s not in
At first, my only interest in
I was about to make my departure when he offered me what I thought was the courtesy of a consolation prize – a tour of the gaming rooms. He left me in the company of an agreeable young woman in evening dress and a dozen gaming chips. “On the house,” he said, “have a good day.” Half an hour later I was chipless and reaching into my wallet to buy more.
This is not what I intended. In fact, it’s
back to front, instead of taking their money I’m giving them mine. But no
problem this can all be turned around to my advantage. I’m an accountant and
numbers are what I know best. Choose a game, figure out the odds and make them
work in my favour. So I choose roulette and for the next month, I’m at
He can’t be serious you’re thinking,
but remember I’m an accountant, I’m good at figures, I have a system. At least
I nearly have a system and if I can only….... OK, we all know where this is
going so let’s cut the proverbial and fast forward two months. I’m back in the
office after another late night at
I arrive with five minutes to spare and
tell the girl on reception that I have a three o’clock with Tom Parker. She
frowns but when I tell her my name she brightens up and says that I’m down to
see Mr Vicinti. “It’s the third door on the right,” she says pointing towards a
corridor marked private. Vicinti is the only guy in the organisation you don’t
call by his first name. That is a secret known only to his friends and, judging
by his unfriendly expression, I’m not one of them. If he has a nickname it’s
probably Scarface owing to the etching down one side of his face. I sit down
and his cold, grey eyes cut into mine.
“Hi,” I say.
He responds by opening a drawer in his
desk and taking out a baseball bat. This he regards almost with affection
before returning it to the drawer and slamming it shut. Given a choice Vicinti
would rather be wielding the bat than passing the time in conversation, but
business is business and can’t be done without something being said. He’s brief
and to the point, “five hundred grand.” He looks at me as though I have just
insulted his mother, wife and everyone else he holds dear.
“I’ll pay it back,” I say. “I just need
time.”
Vicinti thinks that now is a good time
and that if I have any thoughts about bankruptcy forget it. “That way
“But,” I say.
“There’s no buts. We want the full
dollar, 100 cents; in your lingo that’s £505,735.55p. Sell what you have and if
that’s not enough beg or steal the rest. No one welshes on us. You pay or you
pay. If you want to stay living there’s no other choice. Now, get out of my
sight.”
At last he’s said something I want to
hear and I can’t get away quick enough, so quick that I almost collide with
fresh faced Tom. Tom’s a nice guy although I’m inclined to believe that his
presence in the corridor is not the accident he makes it seem.
“Come and have a drink,” he says, “you
look as though you need one.”
(To be continued)
Copyright Richard Banks
Rob Kingston
News round
Mum was always first to rise. A stealth-like shake on the shoulder would see the remaining sleepers continue without so much as a disturbed breath.
out sharp a brief cat lick sharpens the light
On time to hear the 6 a.m dock whistle, I weave through the pre and post-war buildings, collect my round and make haste for the start.
Barking dog I own the broken clocks.
Like me and most, my dog Max was a bitsa (mongrel), he would head off to search out anything that moved in the shadows. Always finding something, always being someone’s alarm call
regurgitated war news I drag my feet through father’s youth
The papers of the time were filled pretty much as they are today. Ads, a bit of pomp and bravado, some sport, and the latest craze on the street.
rattling the blue blood a punk
on the king's road.
Copyright Robert Kingston
By Rosemary Clarke
Proof of Crime
Parliament states
When we all know
Of Partygate.
Proof of war crimes
Ain't it sad?
Is the world
Entirely mad?
Proof he hit her
Or she hit him
Our future is
So very dim
Many have seen
With their own eyes
No need for these
Evasion lies!
If no one listens
To what we say
The liars will
All have their day.
No more justice
Will come to pass
Then law will really
Be an ass!
Why can't we all
Tell the truth
Or soon we will need
Proof of proof?
Copyright
Rosemary Clarke