BACK AND FORTH : THE FOLLOW ON
CHAPTER ONE
BACK HOME
I looked on as the once mighty Duke William of Normandy is led away. "You can lead a horse to water but a William must be led," I mumbled under my breath. Even for me the joke fell on stony ground. The pathetic man, yoke round his neck being brought to a jeep. He was scrambled aboard the green camouflaged chariot, his wrists handcuffed to each of two rings set onto the jeep normally used for securing a canopy. I strode over to the jeep. I wanted to look this character in the eye.
"Give me a couple of minutes, Fred. I really have this need to have a word or two with this man. You good for that?" I asked rather cheekily.
"Gives me time for a cigarette. Go ahead, Antony. He's all yours," replied Fred with a smile.
I clamored aboard the jeep to sit next to our chip-shop owner and two burly sergeants who'd been unable gain employment until now, to run their own chip-shop each, under the wing of Harry, the owner of a chain of 'eat in or take away' emporiums. Jolly fine grub too; but that's not what I'm here to tell you. William could tell I was the boss of this venture, and, in his eyes I could see a mix of both his anger and his humiliation. I turned to his minders and asked if they had their translators attuned to William's accent.
"He knows what we need him to do. His translator was not switched on, Antony. The switch was hidden up his nose, so I turned it on for him. Didn't I, Fred?"
"You should have tried the on-off-on-off-on test, Jack," I said, noticing the trickle of fresh blood running from William's left nostril. At the same moment, I heard Harry laugh.
"Very droll, Antony, very droll. These two men will soon have William trained as the best spud peeler in his new home. He always wanted to stay here. Now, of course, his wish has come true.
Harry's remarks were the trigger for a riotous round of laughter that saw the quad shackled William grimace and pull at his locks.
"William," I said matter of fact, "You have no idea why I am here. However, I have full knowledge of why you are here. I'd put this in writing for you, but your illiteracy is well known for a thousand years. So we have to sit here, surrounded in your stench while I tell you of your fate. By right, you should have your hands scalded in boiling water, then chopped off. Then, you should be hung. Do these things ring a bell for you? You have to be the luckiest man alive. Your fate is that you shall shower in warm water twice every day. You will be well fed and nourished, which is more than you had in mind for the people of this land. The noble Brithnoth is now Duke of Normandy. He will see that the Norman people will be housed in clean, modern homes, warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They shall be well fed and nourished, and, above all, rid of you! You'll notice a collar these chaps have fitted round your neck. One wrong move and the agony of this collar will remind you of your obedience to these fine men. Give our friend a taste of the collar, Jack." I blurted, pitilessly.
William threw back his head, a scream emanated from his lips. The power was disconnected and the ex-duke sat staring back at me, his eyes bulging. He'd not a clue what we had just done to him.
"Every time, William, that you step one fingernail's length out of line, not do as your asked, or should that be told? that shock will happen to you. You had worse in mind for my fellows of this fine land, so, think yourself very, very lucky I am a lenient man. Harold was ready to chop you to pieces and cook you over a spit; until I reminded him that your meat would have made his dogs sick, the maggots too, come to that. Now, run along with these nice gentlemen and we shall hear good things about you, I'm sure. You'll soon soon learn how to plant and harvest potatoes, serve fish and chips too. Jack, Fred and Harry are now your parents. You shall obey their every command; and, at Christmas feasting you will be thrown a bone to chew." I gazed at each of the smiling Englishmen in turn. Each one knew their history and what the English suffered under William's Norman yoke, especially those in the north. I turned to Fred.
"On your way Fred. Oh yes, explain to mutton chops here what it's like in the dentist's chair without and anesthesia, and what happens if he is a good boy, won't you?"
With that, I stepped out of the jeep. I bid farewell to my friends, then strolled over to where Peter, Bill and Jim stood. From the meleé of people, I noticed Maria. I called to her. She rushed down the slope and took my hand. Without a word, we made our way back up the hill's gentle slope to join with the boys who'd stood watching my antics at the jeep.
"Well, Peter. We won a war with not one man killed or maimed. Yea of little faith. Did you trust that I would bring bloodshed to these men, many of whom are conscripts?"
"Okay, Anton, calm down. Remove your hands from your hips, you look gay, my boy. Let's join with Harold for some strong English ale. We can then decide what we're to do with the prisoners. They have to be fed and watered." It was obvious Peter's role was now not one as an observer. I thought better not to remind him, he knew his own history on the matter.
"That's taken care of, Peter," said Brithnoth, They're to return to Normandy on the next high tide. They know I am the new duke and will behave themselves. Besides, if a disgruntled cohort tries anything, I have my force field. Not that it's to be activated, only in extreme measures. Jim took me back to your time and had both Harold and myself fitted with a belt each."
"It makes you look like a girl, Brithnoth. Hide it under your sheepskin." I could not resist the quip, but everyone was in fine spirits. "Don't let being a duke go to your head." I winked at the old warrior, a man who's heart had been made sweeter by events.
Paul sidled through the throng into view to join the group. He called us all to order.
"Gentlemen. Dear friends. I have been surrounded by the most noble of people. I thank you all for the opportunity of this venture. Many of my comrades were out of work and at a lose end. All have asked they be given the opportunity to stay here, in this time, as long as toilet rolls are made available. A few of the engineers and scientist and their families want to stay on here too. I guess that if we can muster a few chippies and bricklayers; doctors and pretty nurses; not forgetting modern medicines; then we'll be good to go, eh?"
"Does that go for you, too, Paul?" asked Peter.
"I guess so, though I will be flitting back and forth on a regular basis to taste the delights of Maria's cooking. Can I flirt, Antony?"
" All you like, Paul."
"Away, with you all, sounded Jim. we have a nation to build!"
Maria turned to me and asked what is a chippie. "Why a carpenter, of course."
YOU ARE READING
BACK AND FORTH-II
Science Fiction*** THE AUTHOR HAS, SADLY, BECOME DISILLUSIONED.*** HE IS A FINE PERSONA AND A GREAT WRITER. MANY HAVE COME BEFORE HIM, YET FEW ATTAINED A DEPTH OF FEELING FOR HIS MOTHER TONGUE, HIS VIBRANT USE AND PHRASE, HIS LACK OF SOFT GREEN TOILET ROLLS, AND T...
