Benworden (20 page)

Talbert felt Isabel's sincerity and saw something in her that he could now relate to.

“It's ok, no one has to know we were here; we just have to leave and keep it our secret.”

Little did Talbert know that Isabel would come directly to me, revealing all she knew. I immediately called a meeting of the Bull Ants Club and expressed to all the members the importance of what I had been told and how we would need to consider the repercussions of this new information. The board sat down and discussed what was required to protect the club.

It was left up to me to talk to Talbert, so I asked him to meet me at the Wile Away Cafe that afternoon. The cafe was one of those trendy coffee shops that have the counter at the very front and booth seats at the rear. On occasions we would hold one-on-one meetings there, especially if the matter was of a serious nature, because the high backs on the booths created a place where matters could be discussed confidentially.

Talbert arrived ten minutes early, smiling as usual, and I got straight down to business. I explained I had a serious issue to discuss with him and Talbert's smile soon left his face. He stood silently and I told him to take a seat.

“Talbert,” I said, “I've been informed you know the secret of Benworden. Is this true?”

Talbert's eyes glazed over and his face paled..

“Talbert,” I repeated, “Is this true?”

“Yes,” he replied hesitantly, “But the secret is safe with me. I would never tell anyone.”

I thought for a moment and then looked straight into Talbert's eyes and said, “But you have told someone, haven't you!”

Talbert had no idea what information I had or didn't have; he only knew how to remain loyal to those he cared about.

“I don't know what you mean,” he replied in a questioning yet sheepish manner. Talbert always came across as uncomfortable when bending the truth and although this spoke highly of Talbert's honesty it was the main reason he had never been picked as a member of the Bull Ants. We had concerns that if he had been confronted by someone regarding the club and had to lie, they may see through him and discover our secret.

Now it was time to turn the pressure up on Talbert and see what he was really made of.

“Well Talbert, what if I jog your memory?”

I couldn't imagine what Talbert was thinking, but the worst was yet to come.

“Isabel,” I said in a low stern voice, and Isabel appeared from the booth behind us.

“What have you got to say for yourself now?” I retorted in a gruff voice.

Talbert's face turned to stone. He was unsure if I was bluffing or if I actually knew but he was still hanging onto the little loyalty he had left and replied with conviction, “I still don't know what you're talking about, and do you really think we should be discussing these matters in front of her?”

“Good!” I said.

Talbert glared at me inquisitively and Isabel then broke her silence. “It's ok Talbert, he was testing you to see how you would hold up under pressure, and you've passed with flying colours.”

“What are you talking about!” responded a now indignant Talbert.

I intervened at this point and explained to him that Isabel had approached me and told me what he had done and how he had prevented her revealing our secret. I went on to explain that the reason for her coming to us was she believed his loyalty deserved a reward and that he should be made a member of the Bull Ants.

Talbert's frown lifted and he gazed at Isabel with deep and absolute admiration. “You did that for me?” he said with a quivering voice.

She sat down beside him and put her arm over his shoulder and quietly said, “It's nothing compared to what you have done for me.”

Looking across the table at the two of them I pondered on
how one person's faith in another could make such a difference to their life. It showed me that I needed to be more patient with others in the future.

Isabel said, “Thank you Talbert.”

And he asked “What for?”

“Being you,” she whispered and kissed him on the cheek. Talbert turned as red as a tomato.

I thought this would be a good time to take the attention off him so I said, “Ok, what are we going to do about this situation then?”

“It's like I said, no one has to know,” Talbert replied.

“Well, we do know, and the board has decided that because of the trust and loyalty you have shown to the club we have decided to make an exception to our rules and induct you as an associate member. You will be trained the same as all the others and if someone were to leave you will take their place as an honorary member.”

Talbert quickly intervened. “Thanks, I'm so proud but I really can't accept. It just wouldn't be right, knowing Isabel has done this for me, and how she would be left out.”

Isabel, rising to her feet, threw her hands onto her hips and barked at Talbert, “Don't you dare refuse this honour! After all the things I have done in the past I can at least know that I've accomplished something that is worthwhile for a change. If you don't accept, I'll never speak to you again!”

I opened both my hands showing my palms and said, “Woo! Hold on the both of you. Please sit down Isabel. I hadn't finished what I was saying.

“Isabel, we also want you to be an associate member, because
today when you came to me to help Talbert you showed you have what it takes to be one of us. We hope the both of you will join us at the club.”

There were no more hesitations or refusals – both answered “Definitely” at the same time. Isabel and Talbert turned to each other smiling and then hugged until Talbert realised what he was doing, went red again, and immediately let go.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with a schedule of our meeting times and told them I expected them to be punctual. Isabel looked at it and screwed her mouth up at the side and said, “But this first one clashes with my pedicure appointment!”

Talbert frowned at her and then said to me, “She'll be there.”

“Ok,” I replied, “That can be one of your new duties – making sure she attends every meeting and on time.”

“Not a problem,” he said.

Isabel pulled back her head like a rooster that was about to crow and glared at Talbert and said, “You're assuming a lot don't you think?” Talbert looked at her in admiration.

“Would you rather I didn't?”

Her eyes caught his and she smiled and replied, “Assume away.”

They both laughed and ordered coffees.

20

F
INDING THE
M
ISSING
L
INK

T
hat evening Talbert was in his room thinking about everything that had happened and how quickly circumstances can change for the better if you remain positive, when he remembered the two sets of papers he had found on the body of the Chinese man.

“Harry!” he thought to himself. “Harry will be able to make sense of the ones with Chinese writing. He'll know.”

Talbert grabbed the papers from his old biscuit tin where he stored all his valuable items and sentimental things and raced down the corridor to Harry's room.

On arrival he gave the secret club knock on the door which was: tap, tap. Tap, tap ...tap, tap...tap, tap.

Harry called out from inside, “It's open,” and Talbert rushed in.

Harry frowned at him and said, “Talbert, you know that the secret knock is only used if the matter is urgent. Now what do you want?”

“Sorry Harry. I guess it could have waited till tomorrow but I wanted to speak to you alone and I didn't know if the opportunity would arise.”

Harry was in the middle of study and was still a little annoyed. However, he knew one day he would be a leader of the club and there would be times when he would have to drop what he was doing to attend to club matters.

“All right, but be quick about it. I have things to do,” he replied.

“I found these documents, Harry, and I'm wondering if you can translate them for me?”

Harry paled and glared into Talbert's eyes like someone possessed.

“Where did you get these?” he demanded.

Talbert, not wanting to give much away, replied, “I told you. I found them. Can you translate them or not?”

“Where did you find them?” Harry snapped back.

Talbert was getting annoyed at this stage and responded with, “Look, it has nothing to do with you and I can see you don't want to help, so give me the papers and I'll take them somewhere else!”

“No you won't! Where did you get them?” Harry demanded again in a threatening manner. He was older and bigger than Talbert and Talbert could see the rage in his eyes.

He knew he had to calm the situation down and it needed to be done quickly.

“What's going on, mate? I only asked if you could do me a favour and you're freaking out on me. What's so special about these documents?”

Harry's eyes filled with tears as he began to explain what these documents meant to him.

“These are my great, great, great grandfather's identification papers.” He then told Talbert the story of his family's history and shame. “Now, where did you get them?” he asked solemnly.

Talbert had known nothing of Harry's ancestry and due to
their age gap and differing interests had never really got to know Harry that well. Yet here he was with the knowledge that could close a chapter and restore honour to a family he barely knew. Talbert said to Harry, “Keep the papers; they're yours. But before I tell you what I know I need to meet with you in private and I'd like Dylan to be present. Is that ok?”

Harry was calm now and replied, “Thanks Talbert. I don't think you understand what this means to me and my family.”

Talbert knew he had to think things through –he didn't want any repercussions on Isabel and her family.

When Talbert approached me the next morning he had a grave look on his face. I let him pour out his story without interruption and I soon understood his concern. This was a very delicate matter and needed to be handled with care or a lot of people would be emotionally devastated. It was not just Isabel's family who could be hurt – I'd also realised that the gold vein that ran through the lower shaft rightfully belonged to Harry's family, and if it were to be mined the club would eventually be exposed. The very discovery that Talbert had found which prevented Isabel from exposing the Bull Ants Club could now pose the same threat she did.

That Friday afternoon after school I organised a meeting with Talbert and Harry at the Wile Away Cafe as I had done the previous week with Talbert and Isabel. I asked Talbert to bring the note from Harry's great, great, great grandfather's pocket that told the story of finding the gold and who had shot him.

When the club had met the previous week Isabel had only informed us that Talbert had told her that her great, great, great grandfather had killed a man. We had no idea whatsoever of the connection between her family and Harry's. I knew about Harry's family history as this was the one embarrassing thing
that Harry had revealed to the club, but not in my wildest dreams would I have connected this partnership.

Talbert and Harry sat across the table opposite me and I could see both of them were very nervous. Harry had a sugar spoon in his hand and was twirling it over and under his fingers like a marching girl with a miniature baton. Talbert, on the other hand, was picking up and fidgeting with every item he could find on the table.

“Ok boys. Here's the deal,” I said, while trying to contain my own concerns. “Harry, you want to know where Talbert found the documents, right?”

Without hesitation Harry replied, “Definitely.”

I continued, “And Talbert, you want to keep certain party's safe from harm, correct?”

“Yes, that's all I want,” he said.

“Ok. I want to make sure the club continues to operate long after I have left Benworden...” But before I had time to finish my sentence Harry chipped in with, “We all want that but what has that got to do with my ancestor's papers?”

“I'm getting to that,” I told him. “Harry, what I'm about to tell you could have enormous repercussions on a lot of people and once these facts are revealed the future of a family and the Bull Ants Club is in your hands.”

“I don't understand,” Harry said in a concerned murmur.

“You will once I explain,” I replied gently. I continued on and told Harry the story of what had really happened to his ancestor and how the mine was rightfully his if he wanted it. I explained what the repercussions of mining would do to the club and if this information were ever to be revealed the effect
it would have on Isabel and her family.

I then asked Talbert to give the note to Harry and as he read it tears ran down his cheeks. These were no longer tears of anger, disappointment or frustration but tears of relief for him and his family: he now knew that he could restore honour to them if he chose to.