Day 12

The limo ate up the miles. On reaching Exeter, they met up with the Chief Constable. He and his men had been briefed to expect Archie and Jasper, although Archie’s background had been kept quiet. Jasper, who clearly knew the Chief constable previously, introduced Archie as a fellow specialist, in a similar field to himself.
“I don’t know if you heard the news on the way down, but the media have picked up on the story. We’ve put a cordon around the roads onto the moor with the help of the army, and have asked people to stay in their homes until we know more about what is happening. You’ll notice that there’s a lot of radio interference around, making the radios useless. It’s only started today, so we think it may be connected to what ever is going on. Mobile phones are out as well. We’ve got the local motorcycle clubs riding around as messengers in addition to our own riders. Essentially, once you’re inside the cordon, you’ll be on your own. We have flares that you can take if you need to signal – someone should see it. The army have a couple of helicopters in the area, but so far they are keeping out of the area with the worst interference until we know more.
“We need to know what is happening up there, and if there’s any danger to the population. That’s my first concern.
Stoat gestured at a nearby Land Rover Defender. “We’ve brought this down for you to use. It should get you to where ever you need to go.
Archie and Jasper transferred their equipment into the Land Rover, adding the additional kit supplied by Stoat.
Without further ado, they were soon on their way up to the edge of the police cordon, where they were flagged through onto the moor.
“Haytor, to start with then, Jasper.” Archie nodded.
Without a word, Jasper was soon driving the Land Rover at breakneck speeds around the lanes towards Haytor.
It was eerie not seeing any creatures around. Usually, the moor was covered in sheep, and the herds of the hardy indigenous breed of pony, named after the area were easy to find. Today, however, there was nothing. As they passed a farmhouse, a frightened face could be seen at the window.

They pulled into the public car park at the foot of Haytor. Usually the car park was full of people out for a walk with the dogs, and coach loads of tourists to the area. Today, however, the Information caravan was locked up tight, no-one having arrived for work this morning. There was an eerie silence. Archie realised it was because there was no bird song.
Half a mile away, Haytor itself could be seen rising up from the moor.
Archie opened up a printed map of the area. He gestured at a point to the north, past the tor.
“This seems to be the epicentre, here. I suggest we continue on foot from here.”
Jasper nodded, “You’re the boss.” He opened one of the backpacks from the Land Rover and took out a shoulder holster. Next, he unlocked the gun case that he had brought with him and took a pistol out. After checking it was loaded, he holstered the pistol and put two spare magazines into the side pocket of the backpack.

The pair set off across the road and onto the moor. It was a still day, and the sun was out. Normally, an ideal day for a walk on the moor, and the place would usually be full of people. Not today. The tor was bare of people, and no dogs were investigating the scrub for rabbits to chase. They followed a path northwards. Archie noticed stone slabs set in the ground with carved edges, running along the path. He pointed them out, asking what they were.
“They are tracks from when stone was quarried out. The horses would pull the carts along these, like railway carriages. There’s one of the quarries up there.” He pointed to a side path, which disappeared into a valley overgrown with bracken and brambles.
“When were they used?”
“Years ago. You have to be careful in some areas up here, as you can come upon the quarries suddenly, and some are quite deep.”
Archie nodded thoughtfully.
“Are there any stone circles, or such like around here?”
“There are a few on Dartmoor. None for a couple of miles at least. Why?”
“Just thinking about what might be ahead.” Archie replied cryptically.
“You don’t believe in all that mystic mumbo jumbo, do you?” Jasper asked.
“If you had seen some of the things I have over the years you wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the paranormal, my friend.”
Jasper shrugged. “I heard something about you appearing in the Prime Minister’s office. That can’t have been right.”
“Something like that. It was the annex I arrived in, actually. And no, I’m not going to try and explain how. It’s just one of those things. Tell me more about these quarries. How deep are they?”
“Twenty, thirty feet or so. They are dugout of the hills, so vary. The deepest one around here is just ahead. About sixty feet, and I’m told there’s cave.” Noticing Archie’s apparent interest at the words, he added, “Which I don’t believe, as it is all granite around here. Not soft rock at all.”
“Which way is it?” Archie asked.
“Over yonder, Jasper pointed ahead. “We’re heading toward it.”
They continued towards the quarry.
The path forked again, the stone tacks continuing up the main path ahead, and a side turning disappearing up around a corner after a few yards. They took the fork, and were soon pushing through the branches and vegetation that had encroached onto the path over the years. Clearly, no one had been up the path for some time. As the path continued on, it began to descend slightly. The path became the bottom of a valley that had been cut into the hill. The brambles and undergrowth became thicker, until it was almost impossible to make headway. Wearing waxed jackets stopped most of the bramble thorns from snagging.
“I don’t suppose you brought a machete?” Archie asked Jasper with a smile.
“No, not for a trip to Dartmoor!” Jasper laughed.
They pushed on through. Soon, they reached the former quarry. The quarry was mostly clear of the brambles and bracken through which Archie and Jasper had been forcing their way. It looked almost as though the undergrowth had been kept cut back. Two oak trees reached up toward the sky, framed by the edges of the quarry sixty feet above them.
“Can you get to the edge up there from the moor?”
“Not easily. It’s as overgrown up there as the path was. More so, even. I shouldn’t think anyone has seen this quarry for years.”
“That’s what I thought,” Archie replied. “Some one or some thing, has been keeping the undergrowth under control down here.”
They moved further into the clearing. They had entered from the east side of the clearing. On the north side, where the sun reached, was a cultivated patch of earth. It had been cleared of weeds, and a small vegetable patch had been grown.
“Who lives here?” Jasper asked in amazement.
“I’m not sure. Keep looking around. Let’s see of that so-called cave you mentioned is here.”
They split up, each following the foot of the quarry wall around from the garden. It didn’t take long. “Over here,” Jasper called to Archie.
He had found a fissure in the granite wall of the quarry. About three feet wide, and six high, leading into the darkness. Jasper reached into his pack and pulled out two torches. He handed one to Archie. “I suppose you want to go in.”
Archie nodded, and took the torch. After checking that it worked, he shone it into the fissure. The light of the torch couldn’t reach far in. “Let’s go.”
The two men moved down the fissure, stooping to avoid banging their heads on the roof. It took a downwards turn, and grew quite steep. The top of the fissure began to lower more quickly, and soon Archie and Jasper were forced to crawl along the dry floor of the tunnel. Archie, who was in front, stopped. “We’ve reached the end of the fissure. There’s a small tunnel leading on from here, but it’s going to be a tight squeeze.”
“You want to go through?”
“Of course.”
Archie had already had to take Bertha from the strap around his back, as the fissure grew smaller. Now, he pushed the rifle on ahead down the hole. Then, he put the torch as far into the tunnel ahead as he could reach, and then pulled himself through head first, lying on his front. Inching forward like this was the only way to squirm through the narrow gap. Behind him, Jasper did the same, pushing his pack through ahead of him. They moved like this for several yards down the tunnel, until suddenly Archie realised the tunnel was opening out again. Pulling himself through the last few feet, he shone the torch around. He was in a large cavern. Archie turned and helped Jasper through the last stretch of tunnel.
They both stood up and looked at the cave. It was clearly artificial, but didn’t look like any style that Jasper or Archie recognised. It looked like a conference hall of some sort, with tiers in arcs around a centre stage on the opposite side. From behind there a tunnel led on into the darkness. It was the figure in the tunnel that caught both the men’s attention.
The small figure in front of them was about three feet high. It resembled an otter, but was far larger and standing on its hind legs. The figure was covered in the same glossy fur, shining in the light. It wore a delicate necklace around its neck, made from copper. There was a definite intelligence behind its eyes, as it regarded the two men critically.
“A moorling!” Archie exclaimed. “I thought you had died out over a hundred years ago.”
“Not die-die. Hide. I am Tiktik. Why you here?” The figure chattered at them. Its voice was high pitched, and clearly had trouble pronouncing the English either from lack of familiarity, or perhaps from the different jaw shape.
“My name is Archie. This is Jasper. We are here to find out what was going on last night with the animals. Do you know anything about it?”
“No-no. Can’t tell you. Will get-get others.” The moorling turned and scampered off on all fours.
“What are moorlings?” Jasper asked in fascination.
“An ancient race. They used to live in remote areas, not just moors. Fens, forests, mountains. Human myth is full of mentions of them, especially back in medieval times. As humankind spread, the moorlings habitat declined. I had heard the last moorling had lived over in the fens of Kent. They started by living in the remote areas where men seldom went. As time passed, man expanded and they were forced underground. They can be quite intelligent, but they are very shy. They used to even trade with some people who had an affinity for the occult. White witches, for instance. People who understood living in harmony with the world around. I met some once, a long time ago. They were up in Sherwood Forest.”
Jasper gave Archie a sideways look, “I thought you just said you had thought the last moorlings died out a hundred years ago?”
“I did. I’m better travelled than you perhaps realise.”
“I bet you have some stories to tell,” Jasper commented.
“More than I have time to tell, my friend.
At that moment, Tiktik returned, followed by other two moorlings. One of the new moorlings was slightly larger than the others were, and seemed to be their leader. The third one carried a rolled up scroll.
The large one stepped forward. “I am Chituk. Eldar to moorlings. Stories we have heard of you Archie. Told by elder to elder. You helped Torin-of-Sherwood when evil human made them slaves. Man-in-hat we call you. Help us you will when in danger.”
“It is true that I was able to help Torin. The Baron had found your kind in the forest, and used his magic to enslave the Moorlings. I freed them. I mean you no harm now. But tell me, the lights in the sky last night, and the animals disappearing. Do you know anything about it?” Archie asked again.
“We did it. Almost dead we are. No more moorkits. No more moorlings to come after us. Angry, some of us are that we have had to hide-hide. We have Torin-of-Sherwood’s scrolls. We learn magic. We hide animals so people leave us in peace for final years.”
“Torin had magic?” Archie exclaimed. “How? Your people have always refused to use those powers, Chituk.”
“From Baron. Torin-of-Sherwood returned to Baron home after you go. Took scrolls. Over years, we learn to read. Magic ours now too.”
“But why do this? What will you achieve?”
“People not think us helpless. People respect us when we gone.”
“But no body knows you exist,” Jasper interjected. “What will any of this achieve?”
“Not know us? After we were driven down here. Have people forgotten the old times?”
“What old times? Nothing but myths and half true superstitions. People may have known you once, but now you aren’t even a memory.”
“Archie? Is this true? We are forgotten?”
“I’m afraid so, my friend. Humankind as a species has a short memory, unlike you. I’m afraid all you have done is to confuse a few farmers with this game.”
“We didn’t know how things had changed. Would not have done this if known we forgotten. Is it too late for us to put-put things right?”
“I’m sure if the animals were returned this evening, no one would investigate further. In fact, you have my word on that.” Archie answered sincerely.
“Good-good. We will talk to others. We shall put things right. We are sorry. We will continue to live here and hide until the end.”
“Thank you, Chituk.”
Chituk turned and left, followed by the scroll-bearing moorling. Tiktik turned to the men and said “Take you back to light-light, I will.”
Archie nodded. The three of them squeezed back through the tunnel and made their way back up to the quarry. Tiktik chattered to them all the way, about all sorts of inane things.
Once they reached the surface, Tiktik said “It good we not remembered. But will you remember us?”
Archie nodded. Jasper added “Of course, Tiktik. Goodbye, little one.” He waved at the little moorling, and then turned and followed Jasper back down the path they had arrived.
The two men walked back to the car in silence. As they reached the Land Rover, Japser broke the silence. “Do you think they will do what they said?”
“Yes. They are rather simple creatures. It’s not in their nature to lie. They will put the animals back, and we will see kno more of them. A shame, really. Man could learn a lot from their simple outlook on life. All they want is to be left alone.” Archie shook his head. “There was one thing I meant to ask them though.”
“What was that?”
“Where they put several thousand animals.” Archie replied with a laugh.

The debrief with the chief constable and MI5 took several hours. Stoat had driven back to London with Archie and Jasper. Once there, they were met by M and in her office, Jasper and Archie retold the days events. As they were finishing, a message came in for Stoat. Helooked at the piece of paper, then said “It would seem that the moorlings have been as good as their word. I’m told animals stared reappearing shortly after dark.”
“I was sure they would.” Archie replied with a smile. “I trust that my word to the moorlings will be kept. That they shall be left in peace?”
“Well, since you and Jasper haven’t said exactly where this quarry was, it might be difficult, even if we wanted to.” M said. “Funny that you should both manage to forget where you went. An adventurer who’s an expert tracker and an ex-SAS soldier who spent three months stranded in a south American jungle.”
“What can I say, Ma’am. I’ll be sure to take more care next time.” Jasper replied.
Archie rose to leave. “Ma’am, I expect the PM will be waiting to hear from me?”
“I’m afraid not, Archie.” M smiled. “He’s asked me to pass on his thanks for your help, but has had to go to the Scotland on short notice. Something about the Elgin Marbles.”
Archie smiled. “Still a problem?” he asked. “I’m not surprised. Very well, I will trust you will bring him up to date.”
M nodded “Of course. In addition, do not worry; your help will remain secret. It was useful that the moorlings knew you, it would seem.”
“My use to Britain will be easier if evil doers remain ignorant of me. Know that, should you need me, I will return.” With that, he rose and went over to the door.
“Archie?” M asked.
“Yes?” he replied.
“That’s the door to the bathroom.” M said. “The door out is over there.”
“This is the one I needed.” Archie said with a smile. “M, farewell. Jasper, my thanks for your help. We will meet again, my friend.” And with that, he doffed his fedora and opened the door. He went through and closed the door behind him.
“Won’t he be back out?” Japer asked.
“Somehow I think not, Henstridge.” M replied.
Sure enough, there was a flash and a roll of thunder as though from the next room. When Jasper went and opened the door, the room was empty, apart from the clothes and wax jacket that Archie has been wearing. Of Archie, Bertha and his hat, there was no sign at all. Jasper returned to the office.
“A strange fellow, that man.”, he said.
M just nodded.