In the dark, no one saw the straw bear – smaller, almost child height – stumbling slightly, perhaps unable to see through a costume designed for a taller man. The bear almost appeared to be disorientated as it headed up towards the fight.
Imogen shouted again. ‘Stop! Both of you!’ As she forced her way through the onlookers, a torchbearer was shoved aside.
In the chaos, no one saw the flame ignite the bear’s costume.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE
Saturday 20 March
‘Maybe she’s turned into the bear,’ said Rosie.
‘What?’ said Nancy, confused.
‘Yeah. Maybe she’s gonna be slain.’
Nancy grabbed Rosie by the throat, pushed her up against the tree. ‘Where is she?’
She was maddened with rage and fear. How dare this child keep her from her daughter? A black fog descended, blocking out all sane thoughts. The shutters slammed down on her soul. All she wanted was to wipe the smirk off Rosie’s face, make her tell the truth.
She had been pushed too far, silenced for too long, a wild animal that had been tricked again and again into submissiveness.
She wasn’t moved by Rosie choking, her eyes bulging in terror. She thought the girl was exaggerating, trying to trick her.
Then, a light out of the corner of her eye. Something moving. Flames.
Nancy looked up, confused at first. Then her world stopped.
The straw bear danced a petrified dance, unable to get free of the flames.
Nancy was engulfed with terror. Stricken, she flashed a look back at Rosie, finally understanding.Jesus, no...
She dropped Rosie, who crumpled to the ground, clutching her neck and crying big, snot-laden sobs. Nancy ran, scrambling up the bank to the figure on fire.
Flames burst from straw arms that waved frantically. Nancy screamed. She tripped, her fingernails full of dirt as she clawed her way back up. Even as she ran, the flames grew with a terrifying speed. She knew she couldn’t get there in time and let out a desperate moan.
Then small hands tugged on her arm, pulling her back. She tried to bat them off, despairing as she struggled to get to her daughter.
‘Mum!’
Nancy turned and wailed in relief at the sight of Lara, here with her. She threw herself down beside her, holding her, pressing her face against Lara’s hair.
‘I saw you earlier,’ said Lara. ‘With Rosie. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s not worth it. You don’t find out.’
In the distance there were screams. People running. Jackets thrown and patting out the flames. The band abruptly stopped playing. Then the silence was punctured by the sound of sirens.
EPILOGUE
Carol had watched Dylan turn away from the procession with a note of concern. Where was he going? What was to become of the procession? She hesitated a moment – should she go after him and see what was going on? With a small sigh, she gathered her grandchildren and together they headed in the same direction as Dylan. She got as far as The Wood Oven, then saw him coming back at them. She was about to call out but he marched past, ignoring her. A figure further up the street came out onto the pavement. It was Imogen. Carol looked back in the direction where Dylan had vanished and shrugged. Something was going on between them, but she hadn’t a clue what.
‘Come on, let’s go down to the reservoir,’ said Carol. ‘Maybe the bear’s gone that way too.’
As they came into the car park for Heron Water, they all stopped, seeing something lying against one of the trees.
‘It’s the costume,’ said Phoenix.
‘We don’t have a straw bear,’ said Pepper sadly.
‘No,’ said Carol. She looked around for Dylan. Why had he dumped the costume?
