The Galloping Lantern Chapter 6

8/9/2019 The Galloping Lantern Chapter 6

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Lasiandra House

Lasiandra House was by far the biggest building in the Grimforest area. It sat on a

hill, south east of Grimspond, at the end of the narrow lane which ran in between the

graveyard, where a certain Mrs. Whitaker would pick her flowers, and the church, where a

certain Mrs. Whitaker would place her picked flowers every Sunday morning.

The orphanage, built of grey and black granite, was an impressive seven storeys tall

and had mean looking gargoyles staring down from every available surface all around the

roof terraces. The lane leading up to the building was dilapidated, tree roots bulging through

everywhere and weeds growing a foot tall through the many cracks.

Many years before, when the orphanage was first built, the forest had been cut back

for three hundred yards all around the building, making it easier to shoot runaways as they

scurried through the clearing. After a great unspeakable scandal funding Lasiandra Houses

funding was completely withdrawn and they couldnt afford to keep cutting back the forest.

Over time the trees grew back and the forest reclaimed what was originally hers. Tall trees

now came right up to the walls of the house, rooted in soggy, marshy soil. In between the

trees thick, leafless bushes grew covered in mean hard thorns.

It was early in the morning when two people on horse back came up to the massive

front door of the orphanage. Edwina Vander Scheuff noticed the pair out of a third floor

dormitory window. They were just sat on their horse in silence, staring straight ahead at the

door. One was dressed in a velvet red dress, her riding hood thrown back revealing bright red

hair on top of a fair head. The other had a simple dress on, fainted blue, a brown shawl over

her shoulders. Her dark hair hid her face completely. She watched them quietly for a while,

hoping they would go away. It was too early to rouse anyone to greet them in any case. They

did not move. She sighed and pulled away from her window. Her eyes darted around the

dorm, looking to see if any of the other children were waking up. She did not want them to

look out of the window and see her secret. It was not very often that people turned up

unannounced and never at this hour. When ever people did come here it was usually late at

night when all the children were supposed to be asleep. Never early in the morning. Edwina


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Vander Scheuff was nervous, but she was not going to tell anyone. She had never told

anybody anything, not in the last seven years, not since she was four. She only watched.

Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she cried, but on the whole she watched.

Her eyes darted around the dorm again before she shuffled up on her cot and pressed

her nose against the window to watch the two strangers outside. The big one got off the

horse. She turned towards the door, nodded and turned back towards the girl who was still on

the horse. Raising her hands she went to help the smaller rider dismount, but she jumped of

nimbly by herself

A new orphan, Edwina thought for a brief second before shaking the thought out of

her head. She really hoped it wasnt. A new orphan always meant trouble. She knew this, she

had watched it happen too many times. A new kid arrived, moaning and crying, scratching

and picking at the scars all of them carried in their hearts. Everyone got upset, like a wave of

tears and sobs, a hurricane of wailing and constant crying, a wild fire of cold disillusioning

reality spreading from one part of the orphanage to every room and child. The nurses would

try and calm the mass sadness down before eventually loosing their nerve and locking

everyone in their dorms for a day with no food or water until the little ones were too tired to

cry and the bigger ones too hungry to care. Edwina wanted the two people to go away, what

ever their business was.

She watched closely as the two stood by the door talking to someone. She couldnt

see who it was, but she was sure it would be one of the older nurses. In her mind she could

see a smiley fat face explaining that the child would be well looked after and that there were

many friends for the little one to play with. The first of many lies Edwina thought. The tall

woman in the velvet dress indicated something and then produced a small velvet pouch from

nowhere. She undid the tie and opened the pouch for the nurse to see. A flash of gold caught

Edwinas eye. Shes giving them money?! Edwina Vander Scheuff hated the nurses with a

passion and she did not like to see them getting anything. She knew better than anyone that

they did not deserve it, but never the less, she shifted so she could see better. The woman

emptied half of the pouchs contents into a thick fingered hand belonging to nurse Edwina

couldnt see. She didnt need to see, she knew it was nurse OMara. She didnt know how she

knew, she just knew. The woman tied the pouch again and pointed at it whilst explaining

something. Then it vanished again as if it was never there. Too strange, Edwina thought. It


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had never been custom to give money to the orphanage, at least not with the people who

usually brought children here. This amazing woman with the magic purse was certainly not

one of those sorts of people she was so appealing to watch. Dazzling. And rich! Edwina

thought she counted seven gold coins spilling into the fat hand, which was an awful lot of

money, more money than even the nurses had ever seen. Cant be an orphan, she decided.

Orphans dont have money. Not like that. Next, the woman handed an envelope over to the

fat nurse. It was sealed with a black wax seal. The fat nurse suddenly seemed to listen more

intently as the woman said something else to her. She nodded vigorously and Edwina could

see the nurse stroking the hairs on her left eyebrow with her right hand. Must be very

important, Edwina thought.

After a little more, of what looked like conversation outside, the tall woman got down

on one knee in front of the girl, lent over and kissed the girl on her forehead. The girl smiled

broadly and gave her a quick hug before taking the fat fingered hand. The woman watched as

the girl was led into the orphanage. She then mounted her horse and trotted off at great speed.

Edwina quickly slipped back into her bed and pulled the thin, hole-ridden, covers up

to her chin. Well, she thought, isnt that strange? She lay there for a long time trying to

understand what she had seen when the morning bell went.

At breakfast Edwina sat in her normal place, where she had always sat, nearest to the

nurses. When she first came to the orphanage she thought it was because they felt sorry for

her because she could not talk, but now she knew she was assigned that seat because nobody

else wanted to sit near the them. They didnt shout at her too often so she didnt mind. Most

of the them thought she was deaf, but she wasnt going to correct them. Why would she? It

turned out that sitting so near them had quite a few advantages. She could listen into all the

conversations if she was careful, and she was very, very careful. So careful that Edwina knew

about everything that happened in Lasiandra House. Everything. She even knew who was up

for punishment, who was doing nightshift, who was late getting out of bed, what part of the

orphanage stood empty, which was a bigger part than most would have thought - everything.

For Edwina Vander Scheuff breakfast everyday was like listening to the Orphan News

Broadcast, she got to hear all the news and gossip from around the entire orphanage and all

she had to do was pretend that she was deaf.


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Breakfast that morning was the usual watery porridge with a glass of thinned milked.

Edwina picked at her food whilst trying, as inconspicuously as possible, to find the new face

amongst the other kids. She looked and looked, but could not see anyone she did not

recognise. Disappointed she turned back to her porridge and shoved a spoonful of cold gloop

in her mouth. It tasted of nothing, as usual, but she carried on eating. It was all shed be given

until the special treat of an apple at recess. Maybe the new child was in another room being

giving sweets and warm treats for breakfast Edwina thought whilst swallowing down a gloop

of cold watery porridge. Nothing was beyond these nurses. She frowned and decided that she

had, had enough to eat. She didnt dare put her spoon down though, just for in case the nurses

were watching. If you werent eating you had to get out of the dining room and she really

wanted to hear about this new girl.

Did you see the size of that horse? a nurse two seats away from her said. It was

nurse Connelly, a skeletal nurse with a vicious temper. I cant remember the last time I saw a

horse that big. Will have to look it up in the library later, she paused to take a bite of her

toast.

Another nurses chipped in, And theyd been travelling all night. Slept in the forest

apparently

A swig of hot coffee followed the toast for nurse Connelly. Oh, and what a beautiful

woman. I only saw her from the side through the office window, but she looked like she

needed a slap just for being so lucky. No one should ever be that good looking, it is unholy.

Would send the mind of most men straight into the cutter. Some of the other nurses giggled,

looking around to see if anyone was listening.

Edwinas ears burned with the effort of listening whilst pretending to be eating her

breakfast.

Yes, she was ever so pretty, said nurse OMara, but ladies lets not forget the most

important thing.

The brat she brought with her? nurse Connelly asked.


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Edwina could hardly contain herself. She was getting the inside scoop.

Yes, that little brat. She looked around the table at the other women and slowly put

her right hand on her left brow. It was her habit to role these brow hairs, which were perfectly

suited to rolling, whenever she was about to saying anything of consequence. She used to role

the hairs on her chin, but now it was the long, thick hair on her left brow that were rolled

instead, thankfully. Her bloodshot eyes look from nurse to nurse before she continued.

We have strict instructions to keep her in good health until the C.D.C. can come and pick her

up. She gave the hairs another roll and then added, Ladies, I want you to be aware that this

one comes with a health warning. The woman from the C.D.C. did not explain much, but she

did say that this one is not to be let out and, even though she might not look dangerous, she is

to be watched day and night. Any strange occurrences needs to be reported and under no

circumstances is she allowed any visitors. She rolled her eyebrow ferociously and frowned.

Is that clear ladies?.

Edwina found it really hard to concentrate on her breakfast, not that it was hard to forget

about the bowl of watery porridge. She shifted in her seat and tried to keep her eyes down so

as not to draw the attention of the nurses.

The girl, Nurse OMara continued, is currently sleeping. Apparently she had some sort of

ordeal yesterday and is to be left to rest. Personally, I dont think anything happened to her,

but it is what the C.D.C. wants so I dont mind if she sleeps a little. As long as she is quiet,

right? She looked around the table to see the nurses smiling their agreement. We will give

her until after lunch to recover and then she will be shown to her dorm. I dont know about

you lot, but I want to know what all this C.D.C. business is all about, s o any child who is seen

talking to her at length should be interrogated privately afterwards. Anything she says that

seems out of the ordinary should be reported. I can not stress enough how important it is that

we find out what the fascination with this child is.

Edwina found herself staring and had to look away quickly. Her mind raced, but it was clear

what OMara was planning. They were going to find out what it was that this C.D.C. place,

what ever that was, wanted from the girl and then they are going to ask for more money for

her release. The poor girl, Edwina thought, she had not even managed to get to her dawn and


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already the nurses had it in for her. She wished she could warn her, tell her to run away while

she wasnt being watched, but of course she couldnt. She had to keep her nose well out, as

she has always done. It does not pay to interfere in the nurses business. Even if she wanted

to, she would not be able to sneak past the nurses and into their private quarters where the girl

lay sleeping. And even if she did manage to get past them all and find the girl Edwina knew

that she would not be able to tell her to run away. What if she spoke to the girl and it turned

out that she had the wrong end of the stick? She would be exposed for nothing and Edwina

valued her privacy above all else. She sighed and looked back up the table to where the

nurses were sat.

Nurse Jones, the least nasty of the nurses in the orphanage, was leaning over,

whispering something in nurse OMaras ear. When she sat back again nurse OMara smiled.

Thats good Jones, very good. the fat nurse said. Then she took a big gulp of her tea and

slammed her cup down on the table. Breakfast is now over!! she announced in her loud

booming voice, The last one to leave will be doing dishes! The usual rush for the door

instantly broke loose, children pushing each other this way and that to get out the door first.

No-one wanted to do the dishes. The crazy thing, Edwina thought, was not that the nurses

were interested in the dining room being evacuated after breakfast, but that they enjoyed

watching the children trample each other. It was just cruel, but it was the way it was and she

knew that unless she got a move on shed be elbow deep in dirty dishes until lunch time.

Edwina pushed her chair out to get up, wishing that she had eaten more of the watery

breakfast when a big hand gripped her shoulder.

Youre coming with me, little miss nosey. Nurse OMara was smiling down at her.

It was not a nice smile. Her fat cheeks were too shiny and the hairs on her chin looked like

wires trying to grab at Edwina. As she looked up at the towering, hefty nurse she felt her legs

go weak. In the two years Edwina had been at the orphanage she had never had a run in with

nurse OMara, but she had heard that this one had a particularly nasty streak. Her heart raced.

Ive been watching you the whole time and I think someone needs a lesson in mind-

your-business. Nurse OMara gripped her shoulder painfully hard and led her away in the


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and glared down at the child beside her.

This new girl who arrived this morning, she is not different from any of the other

children here, but we need to treat her differently. I want you to look after her. Can you do

that, Edwina? Nurse OMara looked at her in anticipation, her face half obscured by her left

hand.

Edwina nodded, unsure what she was agreeing to.

Good girl, the nurse smiled at her for a second before her face scowled again. There

is one thing I want you to do and it is the most important thing. If you do this one thing while

she is here, I promise you, you will not get in trouble. Do you want to know what that one

thing is?

Edwina was frightened but nodded her head regardless.

Edwina, it is absolutely important that you and this new girl have fun. In fact it is

vital that you spend all day having fun. If you do not entertain her I will come and get you

and then lock you up in a room so dark that you wont be able to tell your arm from your leg,

do you understand? The nurse had an evil smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Edwinas eyes were wide with confusion. Fun? She would get into trouble if is did not

have fun?? For as long as she could remember fun was off the menu and now she could get

into trouble for not having any. She was very confused but sensed that things were looking

up, somehow. Smiling gingerly she nodded her understanding. As nervous as she was of

failing in her task, she could not wait to give it a go. It sounded very much worth trying.

Edwina tried to smile as they walked up stairs and down long corridors, but whenever

she thought she managed a smirk the thought of the dark room would bring a frown back to

her. She really hoped it was an empty threat.

At least she knew that she was very excited to meet this new girl and it seemed as if they

were walking forever before they finally came to a stop in front of a door with the numbers

713 on it. With the set of keys she been carrying the nurse unlocked the door and went to go


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in, but stopped short.

Oh, there is one more thing, child. The nurse looked down at the child again and

dropped her right hand to her side. Edwina, I need you to try and remember everything this

girl says to you. Every evening you will come to me and tell me what shed said.

Edwinas eyes grew wide and she shook her head, pointing at her mouth. Surely the nurse

knew she was mute?

Dont you worry, deary, the nurse smiled again viscously, we have ways to overcome that

little obstacle. I think you know what I am talking about Then she pushed the little girl

towards the door.

The Galloping Lantern Chapter 6

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