Time To Die

Chapter 8 - Woods are calling

After a good hour's walk, we all reached the lane entrance, blink and you would miss it. Easily concealing the great Manor Lodge that hides at the other end.

"Right guys we have a fifteen minute walk down this lane, and we reach the Manor. Then we have ten minutes to the woods. Jet instructed Marie and Rebecca.

"My feet hurt already, and we have another twenty minutes till we get there for god sake." Rebecca moaned at the thought of more walking.

"I don't know what you're moaning about woman, me and Jet are pulling the bloody trolley." Marie spat back.

"Remind me why I am doing this again? I know it's to get to know you better, but surely we could have done that back home." Rebecca had reluctantly said yes to the camping trip, and clearly didn't want to be there. On approaching the Manor Lodge, Marie stood in amazement.

"Wow, it's massive, and beautiful. I so wish we could go in it." Marie said gobsmacked.

The Manor Lodge stood three stories tall and proud, with large wing quarters either side. An off cream colour with a large bell tower at one end. The structure looks both old and somehow modern at the same time, as it looked nothing like the original building from the sixteenth century. This sadly burned down through unknown and unforeseen circumstances in seventeen sixty one. The remake of the building however was still impressive, although worn down over the years; the large square courtyard shaped building still had style and a haunting disposition. Surrounding this great building there were forests as far as the eye could see, and Jet was unsure as to where to go next.

"Right, let's have a smoke and a brew, while we have a rest, then we can head to the woods. It looks different from when I was a child, but I know I always used to go left from here. So if we head down what remains of the footpath, we can find a clearing somewhere to camp further in." Jet said, trying to sound like she could remember where she was going.

"Sit down and a brew is a good idea." Marie piped back. Rebecca, still looking miserable, parked herself on the grass. "We have got chairs, you know." Marie said like sitting on the floor was rude or something. She begrudgingly passes Rebecca her chair, and proceeds to get another one out the trolley for herself.

As they sit supping warm tea and coffee, Marie gets out Jet's video camera and starts recording the surroundings. Making sure to get as much of the lane and building in as she could. Knowing that her footage would probably become police evidence, she wanted it to look extra touristy.

"Right, let's get a move on." Jet said, packing her mug and foldaway chair back in the trolley.

"Roger that." Said Marie. "Come on Rebecca you don't have to be miserable all the time you know, you can smile every once in a while."

"Now now children play nice." Jet said in response. "We are nearly there."

After a good ten minute walk they reached a small clearing, next to what looked like a small cave entrance, big enough for a child maybe or a very small person to climb into. "This is where we pitch up guys, let's get the tent out and up, then we can make a fire, and get the kettle on again." She said laughing at the amount of caffeine they all drank. Marie propped the video camera up on a nearby rock, and they began assembling the tent. It was a fairly easy job between the three, and was soon standing proud, and not a single argument between them.

"Awesome." Jet said. "Right Marie! You go grab us a load of firewood and Rebecca and I can sort the camp, and get the kettle on."

"Yes Boss." Marie replied with a salute, as Jet showed Rebecca how to use the camping stove, and to get the tea prepared, she began unloading the chairs, sleeping bags, blow up beds, and other luxury camping gear. The loud whirring sound of the pump could probably be heard for miles, although surrounded by trees and bushes it would somewhat dampen the sound.