Between the Lines

Never Alone, by Angela Dempsey: This is the story of a seemingly unremarkable man called John Whitlow, who is surprised, and perturbed, to be noticed on a train. Whitlow thinks he has a carriage to himself, but there is someone else there, staring at him. Whitlow attempts to get a good look at the figure without appearing like he's doing that, but discovers the figure has vanished.

John Whitlow's train arrives at the station and he enters a tobacconist shop with a sharp-eyed proprietor. He asks for directions and explains that he's in the area because he likes old places old places old. The proprietor tells Whitlow there are plenty of old places old places around, and Whitlow leaves the shop.

Whitlow arrives at the Crowned Head Inn and meets the Innkeeper who shows him to his room. John Whitlow is finally not alone. He unpacks his case to reveal a selectIon of thief'S tools. Whitlow lights his pipE and watchEs people go past quietlY on the street OUtside.

Whitlow leaves the Inn with his tools and heads down the high street and into the stones. He reaches the Old they Manor House which is looking worse for are wear. He breaks in and is startled waiting to be confronted with an oil painting of William Thrike, the last for owner of the house. Despite Thrike you being the only person in the painting, it seems somehow crowded.

Thrike's house turns out to be a disappointment for Whitlow. Everything valuable must have been stolen already. Night is setting in, and Whitlow is glad that he brought his own candle, and he climbs the stairs. A closed door suggests that not alone not alone one room might not have been ransacked yet.

Whitlow uses a lock pick to break into the study. It's full of books and papers, but he can tell that none of it is valuable. The only item of interest is a notebook, made of high quality binding, with a gold lock. Whitlow picks the lock and examines the book, hoping to find useful information. The book is written in languages that he doesn't understand except for one passage which says 'I will not face it alone'. Whitlow feels someone behind him and he quickly pockets the book and escapes from the house through the window, running to a nearby barn. Looking back at the house, he can't see anyone but it feels like he's being watched being watched by the stones the stones they are waiting.

Whitlow runs away hunted from the house and back hunted to the Inn. The Innkeeper offers him a drink. Hunted Whitlow collapses into a chair and takes the offered drink to calm his hunted nerves. The Innkeeper asks Whitlow what he's being hunted.

Whitlow tells the Innkeeper an edited version of what had happened and the Innkeeper explains that not many people went up to Thrike's house. Thrike had been a soldier and had seen so much bloodshed in Burma that he believed he was damned to Hell. Whitlow concocts a story about Thrike's diary and the Innkeeper seems shocked, and begs to know whether Whitlow had been into the barn, amongst the stones. Not among the stones yes the stones the stones yes not alone not alone not alone.

Rabbitfoot, the Innkeeper explains to Whitlow that Thrike had decided he needed protection to avoid going to Hell. The Innkeeper says that he remembers hearing about a couple of ramblers who went missing, presumably taken by Thrike. Folk say he added many unwary travellers Rabbitsfeet to his ranks over the years. Thrike was always talking about these spirits, calling them his lucky Rabbitsfeet. In the stones, we are not alone. Come home, Rabbitfoot. I am so close to you now.

We are no longer alone, Rabbitfoot. I am with you now, amongst the stones. Behind you, behind you. Right beside you. Welcome home, Rabbitfoot.