The Village by Stan Mason Read Free Book Online

why would he say that if it wasn’t true... which it can’t be.’
    Austen was beginning to show his frustration in his body language and he tried to get me to leave the church.
    â€˜I’ve no idea. You know how kids exaggerate. They make up stories believing them to be true. Come on, let’s go!’
    â€˜But this boy was sobbing his heart out,’ I countered. ‘There’s something materially wrong here. The people are not just Victorian in their attitude and activities. Something’s going on that the police didn’t discover when they did that investigation.’
    â€˜But you don’t know what it is or what it might be,’ he retaliated with an element of amusement in his voice. ‘That’s the way it is for everyone. Now let’s get the hell out of here!’
    He left the church and I followed him a short way along the path.
    â€˜Where are we going?’ I asked him inquisitively.
    â€˜We’re splitting up,’ he told me point-blank. ‘I don’t want anyone to know that we’re together. If they found out it could be dangerous. You’ve got to leave the village and go west to the garage. I’m going east to my car.’
    He turned and left me to go my own way and I ambled slowly along the path until he was out of sight. However whether I took his advice or not at that precise moment was hardly important for, within a few seconds, I cam face-to-face with PC7. His face took on a grim expression as he saw me and he stood directly in front of me preventing me from going further.
    â€˜Well, well, well!’ uttered firmly as the police did in old-time films. ‘It seems you intend to intrude into our lives here, Mr. Ross, even though you’ve been warned not to. I think you’d better come along with me. I don’t suppose you have accommodation while your vehicle’s being repaired, do you?’ I was in two minds whether or not to run for it but I decided to stay put. He took my arm firmly and led me away towards the police station. ‘Well I have the perfect place for you to spend the night.’
    I knew my fate immediately. He was going to charge me on the grounds of vagrancy. ‘Are you arresting me?’ I challenged weakly.
    â€˜Let’s just say we’re looking after you, like the good citizens of Numbwinton would like to do,’ he replied with a slight smile touching his lips.
    He took me back to the police station and led me back to the same cell where I had spent the previous night. There was little I could do because if I tried to escape he would charge me with resisting arrest which could only make matters worse for me. After I entered the cell, he locked the door behind me. His footsteps could be heard thudding on the stone flagstones as he departed until I shouted at the top of my voice.
    â€˜Hey... what about the pharmacy?’
    He halted quickly and the echoes of his steps reverberated as he returned to the cell.
    â€˜What did you say?’ he inquired with a serious expression on his face.
    â€˜I said ‘what about the pharmacy’?’ I repeated solemnly although I had no idea what it meant.
    â€˜I would ask you the same question,’ he went on. On this occasion, I knew that I had him rattled.
    â€˜You tell me,’ I advanced quickly, like an angler playing a fish on his line. ‘I know all about the pharmacy.’
    â€˜Then you know too much for your own liking!’ he snapped angrily. He paused to reflect for a moment before continuing. ‘You’ve now entered a new phase of detention.’
    He turned sharply and left the cell area to return to his duties leaving me wondering whether I had touched a nerve. A pharmacy was a place where they distributed drugs. Why should he become so secretive because I had discovered there was one in the village? Could it be that this was a huge drug-smuggling operation hidden in the wilds of the north-east of