Midwinter Mystery - Chapter Fifteen

_{Midwinter Mystery}

_{Chapter Fifteen – Divided We Fall}

_{The feeling in John's arm grew intensively, rapidly transforming from being just uncomfortable to unbearingly painful. Then suddenly, it subsided - as quickly as it had begun. It's welcome release courtesy of the doctor, as he removed the deflated blood pressure cuff from around John's upper arm. “ Hmm, it's still a little high there, you know. Tell me, is there a history of high blood pressure in ye're family, at all ?” he queried. John mulled the question over in his mind for a moment, “ Well, I know my mother had low pressure pressure, and as for my father, well, he had a couple of mild heart attacks, but that's about all I know of their medical history, ” he answered solemnly.}

_{"Well that may account for it, I suppose. But, as I said before, these repeated episodes of anxiety of yer's, and continually getting' yer'self all over excited – aren't helpin' matters, at all. Ye're mentally making yer'self physically unwell – and vice versa – so yer are.”}

_{"I see,” replied John accepting his condition as he sat topless – once more -on the examination couch in the surgery room. “ So, you're saying I should slow down or... something ?”}

_{"I would indeed be sayin' dat, at least I would, if I thought yer'd actually listen to me, dat is,” acknowledged the physician, folding the blood pressure equipment away back into it's box.}

   _{John tried to warm himself up by briskly rubbing both arms simultaneously, “ Well, for your information I'm feeling a lot better this morning, thank you. Perhaps, it's because you let me sleep in so late – even though I wish you hadn't.”}

_{"Ahh, now is dat not me prerogative, so it is. Still, I'm pleased to hear that yer 'think', yer getting better. Just, don't be in such a hellfire rush there, to push yer'self faster than need be. And remember, dat the mind and body aren't two different things yer know, there connected to each other – like all things. So try and listen to them both, when they're talkin' ta yer,” counselled the doctor.}

_{"I'll try, I really will ! But, I can't promise you anything though. You see, cases can have a life of their own too, at times. And, when they do, it's they who dictate when you can eat, sleep or have a life. Sometimes, it's all one can do just to keep up with them. So, to get ahead of them, it requires something extra, something special – everything you've got,” he reflected ruefully.}

_{"Ahh, well I tried me best so I did,” the doctor said resignedly. “But it's as I feared - the patient is deaf as well as dumb,” he smiled amiably. Then gestured to John to turn slightly around and look up into the light – from the window behind – so he could inspect his eyes. “ What about those two other fellers of yours then, could they not give yer a bit more help – til yer back on ye're feet, that is ?” he asked thoughtfully, as he engaged the gently art of persuasion on one of John's eyes, opening it up beyond it's normal capacity – with his thumb and forefinger.}

_{"Uhh, the jury's still out on that one, doctor. I haven't decided yet whether they're more a hindrance than a help - to be honest with you.” answered John candidly, his extended eye twitching spasmodically with the unwanted attention.}

_{"I'll not be knowing them all that well, meself yer understand. But, I always thought them to be a harmless coupla o' lads, so I did. Infact, I wouldn't be surprised that if yer gave them half a chance they'd loike ta take good care of yer,”}

_{"That's what I'm afraid of !” admitted John, his face distorted from being interfered with. “ Ugh, I'm not sure if their idea of “taking care” of me... is the same as mine !”}

_{The doctor released John's watery eye, letting it fall back to it's original condition, and patted him reassuringly on the shoulder. “ Well, everything looks all right there, so it does. At least, I can't see any long term damage yet, anyhow !” Then the doctor moved over towards his bureau desk and began rummaging around in one of it's drawers for something. “ AHH ! THERE IT IS !” he exclaimed suddenly, holding up a small amber glass bottle.}

_{John sauntered his way over to the bureau - now fully dressed except for his shoes - to examine for himself what “it”, was exactly, “ What do you have there, then ?” he asked, peering more closely at the mystery container.}

_{"This ? Why it's yer medication of course, what else would it be ?” came the confirmation, as it was held up to the light. The bottle was of the half full variety and lined by a thin film of powdery residue, which made it almost impenetrable to the human eye.}

_{"Medicine ? Me ? Oh no, that really won't be necessary, thank you !” said John.}

_{The doctor looked sceptically over his bifocals at the negative reaction, “ Ahh, let's not be havin' any of that, now. Fer it's nothin' but a mild sedative, so it is. To help yer mind unwind a little when yer need it !” he explained.}

_{"Hum, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not. It's just that I don't really like the idea of having to rely on support from... anything, right now !” clarified John trying to decline the offer as diplomatically as possible, without hurting the doctor's feelings.}

_{"Well, dat's up to yer I suppose. But they're only herbal, and I make them all here meself, yer know,” the doctor countered. John removed the cap of the bottle and holding it up to his nose took a sharp sniff of it's contents. The unmistakable pungent aroma that assaulted his senses, left him in little doubt to the exact nature and variety of it's 'herbal' composition.
“Look, why don't yer jus' take them for now. To be on safe side, like,” the doctor extended his small offering up towards John. “But, mind yer go easy on them though, they moight have a few... small.. side-effects, so they may,” he cautioned.}

_{"Side effects ? That doesn't sound good, what are they ?” John asked cautiously, relieving the doctor of the pill bottle and studying it's small worn label more closely.}

_{"Oh, well not dat much really. Perhaps, the odd bit o' drowsiness - or three - here and there.”}

_{"So, “avoid operating any heavy machinery” sort of thing, eh ?” confirmed John.}

_{"HEAVY MACHINERY ! Mercy, man, yer shouldn't be left alone on a BICYCLE, on this stuff !”}

_{"I see, is that all or is there anything else I should be wary of ?”}

_{"Well, I suppose yer moight experience the occasional hallucination, now and again. But nothin' to worry yer'self about, I'm sure,”}

_{"In that case then.... I definitely WON'T take them ! I'm doing quite nicely for those sort of 'side effects', as it is. And, I certainly don't intend on chemically inducing anymore, thank you very much !” concluded John. Returning his attention to the bottle in hand. he began tapping a finger on the small white label stuck to it's front, “ I can't quite make out the writing on here. What does it say exactly ?”}

_{"Oh that, why it's nothing but an old practice label. I always re-use the returned bottles, so I do. Fer are they not as hard to get around here as a decent tin of tobacco !” the doctor answered matter-of-factly. “ I always give them a good wash out mind yer - before I refill them. If dat's what's botherin' yer, ” he added recognizing the concerned expression on John's face.}

_{"But, your name's on it though, right ? Doctor Miller ?” John checked his facts.}

_{"Doctor Miller ? Now where the devil did yer get dat from ?” asked the doctor.}

_{"Oh, it was written on a prescription form I saw on this desk the other night,” John half turned round to look down at the bureau, but it had clearly been tidied since then and there was no sign of any such paperwork on it now.}

_{"Yer must have been dreamin' or somethin', probably still under the effects of dat blow to yer head. Gettin' things all mixed up and back to front, fer sure. Seeing things dat aren't there. It's bound to happen to anyone in ye're... state of mind, so it is,” the doctor thought out loud. “ No, me name's Doctor Seamus Michael Kelly O'Finnegan at yer service !” he revealed proudly. “ But, der's a lot of Irish in there to remember, so yer can just call me 'Doctor' if yer loike – most people around here do.”}

_{John frowned, he was sure he had seen that prescription, and the other doctor's name written upon it, the previous evening. But he could hardly corroborate his version of events by admitting that it was actually the ghost of his long dead wife who had brought it to his attention. Could it be that they were both nothing more than a creation, a by-product, of his own imagination. His inner mind struggling to piece together fact and fiction, reality and fantasy, law and disorder. An attempt to bring sense to a life - where there was none. Yes, perhaps in reality – and the cold light of day - neither of them ever happened or existed. Feeling a little light-headed for a moment he sat down on the armless chair and rested a while, waiting for it to pass. The suspicious part of his nature wondering if the doctor had surreptitiously administered a course of the 'medication' already, but he soon discounted this notion as being too fanciful.}

_{" I must be making a move back to the station house, soon,” John finally announced, his head firmly back on his shoulders. “ You never know, somebody there may have actually noticed my absence by now,” he mused slightly. “Any idea how I might get back there ?”}

_{"Ah, now as luck would have it, I do know of a feller who might give yer a lift back, so I do. He comes by this way most days. I don't know his name, but he always gives me a wave as he passes,” the doctor glanced at his pocket watch. “Infact, he's due by at any moment, so he is.”}"We'd better get moving then,” said John standing to his feet. “ Oh, by the way, what sort of a vehicle does he have ?” he checked warily.

_{"Well, it's one of them horse and trap sort of contraptions, so it is,”}

_{"Oh, really,” replied John more warily. “ I don't suppose - by any chance - that there's more than one of them around here, is there ?”}

_{The doctor thought briefly about it, before delivering his verdict. “ No, no, I don't think so. Why ?” John's face noticeably dropped – followed by the rest of his demeanor - at hearing this. For this meant but one thing. Another unfortunate encounter with 'Lucky' the wonder horse - and its not so blessed owner - was on the cards. “ You know what, maybe I will take some of those tablets off you, after all,” he sighed.}

   _{Buster and George had finally gathered a small band of merry men together - some more merrier than others – almost, coincidentally, at the same time the public house had 'encouraged' it's patrons out onto the street for the afternoon. And met up with the vicar and his humble offering of volunteers as prearranged. Due to the pressing concerns about time, the vicar had already taken the liberty of dividing the search area into quarters, and selected which two parts he and his followers would be responsible for. The remaining half being left to Buster and George to carve up between themselves.}

    _{And so it was that they set off together up the long narrow steep road, up into the hills and beyond, on their way to the fields. For the most part, the spirit in the party was running high – although a lot of that may be contributed to the recent proximity of alcohol – and they made short work of the first half of the hill. A little less so on the the following half, and by the time they reached the top they were completely exhausted. While waiting for the last few stragglers to catch up with them the party took the opportunity to regroup. Some just needing to catch their breath, while others wanted to rest their weary bones, but all of them... deeply regretted 'volunteering' for this arduous expedition.}

_{The light snowfall earlier in the day only added to the their plight, as the dejected souls were submitted to irregular flurries of blinding snow. Newly fallen loose snow, lying on the surface of the bleak landscape, was being swept up and along by a series of low strong bursts of wind and hurled callously at them. And as if this wasn't enough, there was the noticeable decrease in visibility. Mist was coming, as it always did – as if in some strange way it knew - whenever someone trespassed this far out from the valley. Already the first wispy strains were creeping their way slowly, inexorably towards them – dragging it's body behind.}

   _{The mists in this region owed their unusual density to the fact that they were more of a hybrid - an elemental fusion between mist and fog. Conceived and forged by a number of meteorological forces and anomalies. Partly due to Mistry being much nearer to the coastline than would at first be thought. The high surrounding hills sheltering it away from the roar of it's sea and it's wild open tempestuos ways. But the deep valley could also be a mixed blessing at times. A burden which it's inhabitants had, had to 'adjust' to over the years - particularly in wintertime. For then, the hills ceased to be a sanctuary from the elements and instead became an inescapable open prison - under siege from the wintry ravages of the season. For those few months of the year the village was virtually barricaded in by a wall of snow and ice - patrolled by an eerie sentry of mist. The locals had a name for this unusual 'border' area - “No man's land.” And they tried, whenever possible, to avoid crossing it unless absolutely necessary, and on such occasions when this was so, they treated with deadly caution.}

  _{The weather wasn't the only thing giving them cause for concern. The subversive mutterings - which had been slowly simmering for the last mile or so – had started to grow in voice and number. Spreading it's discontentment like an infection through their ranks. Until the feeling of dissent could be contained no more. Many of them - mostly from Buster and George's camp – began to express their concerns, and fears, about the futility of carrying on any further. No reason was left unturned to strengthen their case for heading back home. But it was their closing argument that really helped matters swing their way. Choosing as they did, to reject common sense for the more radical approach of - fear and intimidation. Since the 'leave' party now outnumbered the 'remain' party by three to one, it was decided it best - for everyone - if they went 'peacefully' their separate ways.}

_{The remaining depleted party reassembled themselves and set forth again, continuing to follow the road - or at least as much as they could still make of it before it evaporated into the mist – in a heavy silence. A silence that spoke a hundred words of dark thoughts and unanswerable questions, for what lay in store for them. It wasn't much further before they began the descent down the other side of the hill. The slow climb up it now replaced by a rolling tumbling gait. Their pace quickening as the incline steepened and they were caught between worlds – no longer walking but not quite running. Their course set, and seemingly in the clutches of some irresistible force, they plunged headlong into the chilling barrier of vapour waiting below.}

    _{As the mist encompassed them all, they narrowed their eyes – adjusting their vision accordingly to the new atmospheric conditions – and squinted into it's grey depths. Mercifully, they could still make out course of the road, well for 30 feet or so ahead of them anyway, and the sombre escort of lined trees. They proceeded cautiously on, closing up their ranks in a more huddled formation. None daring to mention the fact that since entering the murky mass the temperature had fallen, and was continuing to do so, the greater the lack of transparency grew.}

_{But their luck, and their nerves, held. The mist seemingly granting them safe passage for the rest of their journey, or at least it didn't worsen as much as they feared. And there was still a few of hours of daylight afforded to them by the time they reached the fielded area. Although the parson warned them of the dangers of overstaying their welcome, “ Don't forget, we have to allow time for our return journey, and the later we leave it, the less light and more mist we'll have to contend with !”}

_{They broke up into two groups, and started out over the designated search areas – as earlier agreed. Once there, there subdivided again into lesser groups and spread themselves even more thinly out over the fields. There was a lot of area to cover and very few bodies on the ground, particularly where Buster and George's party were concerned. And the low hanging mist, seemingly hovering over the ground, ensured that this was going to be harder than they thought.}

    _{Such was the distance between the two parties, that contact with each other was virtually impossible, or at least highly impractical. So all they could do was carry on with their separate searches – uninterrupted - until one or the other had anything worth reporting. The adverse conditions and the semi-solitary state of the group started to wear heavy on them and seemed to prolong the passage of time. Soon, George was unable to tell how long he had actually been out there - was it two, three or more hours ? All he knew for sure was that the longer they stayed out there, the less chance there was finding anything. Then, as the light began to fade, along with any hope, George felt a sense of despair take hold of him. Was this it ? Had he failed his new chief ? And what was going to happen to everyone now ? Questions without answers, that's all he had. If he could only turn back time, maybe he could put things right. But, he might just as well pray for a miracle than to follow this line of thinking. No, all was lost that was all there was to it now, he thought. Turning slowly around, he looked back from whence he had came, the past always easier to see than the future. And there, in the midst of darkness came light. A fleeting wish given substance, a very dark substance.}

      

_{© Michael Burford, 2018}

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