In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 9)
I groaned. By now we had reached the vicarage. We walked down the path while Charlie rummaged in the boot of his car. I unlocked the front door and heard muffled scraping and cursing as Charlie dragged a suitcase up the gravel path. As Charlie reached...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 8)
Laura laughed and led us into the school. The school was housed in a rambling Victorian building. It seemed to me to be the epitome of an old country primary school: the loose parquet flooring that clicked and squeaked under our paws; the walls lined...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 7)
'Yeah,' I laughed, 'Look it's my day off today and you're supposed to be having a break from parish life, I thought we could go to look at the ruins of an old Abbey that is not too far away.' 'Okay,' Replied Harry, 'What's got you interested in...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 6)
They both nodded. In an unguarded moment, I realised that for the first time ever, I had actually used Dean Grayson's Christian name. I gathered myself and took Harry to my car. Minutes later we were heading back home. We drove home in silence, Harry...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 5)
Moments later, I was pulling away from the vicarage and driving north to meet the main road. The drive to Newton was uneventful, but there is always one point in the journey that lifted my soul. As you approach the city from the Amble Valley, you crest...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 4)
'Fair enough. Look, Mike's changed, he's mellowed. He's working for the Equine Savings Bank and he's got himself a transfer to the Amblehead branch. You two ought to meet and have a catch up.' 'The last time we met,' I said, 'I think he tried to glue...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 3)
'Lunch is served.' He rumbled, his accent betraying his local roots. 'Excellent!' Said Oxfold, gesturing to me to stand and follow him through to the dining room. I followed after him in to get another cavernous wood-panelled room. Instead of a table...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt.2)
The following morning dawned in a blaze of colours, the fields beyond the vicarage garden were bathed in dusky pinks and flame red. I padded downstairs, the morning light glowing through the frosted panes in the front door. As I reached the bottom...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt.1)
The setting sun shone through the windows of the nave scattering abstract coloured patterns across the stone-flagged floor. The voices of passers-by and the clattering of wheels on the road outside were muted by the thick, ancient walls of the church....
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 27)
_Weak, he was and is weak. Cast him away, go it alone. He is a liability, hopelessly in love with Gerald. **Weak!** _ **_ _** No! Harry is not weak. We do not work alone. Not alone, never alone! _You stand alone, Francis. All alone against my...
Knight of God (Pt. 1)
The winter of that year was bitterly fierce, the young knight was met with biting, squally snow and wind as he stepped ashore. The look on his face spoke volumes: _After three months of being tossed about in that leaky little cog, to be confronted...
In the Service of Mystery (Pt. 26)
'Francis,' He said, leaning forward, 'This is the demon's attempt to weaken you, to drive you away from those who can support you. _Believe me_, believe me as your father did, _I am not the lion I once was_. We change, I _have_ changed.' Silence...