Magnus Mills - The Field of the Cloth of Gold

On the other hand, it was inconceivable that Isabella would abandon her plans. Therefore, I knew it was only a question of time before she and her northern allies made their move.

This, when it finally came, was rather predictable. In the small hours of the next moonless night I was woken by a series of wild whoopings, followed by the martial tones of a bugle. Within minutes the whole encampment was in uproar. Apparently the raid was a success, but when daylight came there was precious little to show for it: a handful of buff-coloured tents lay collapsed or at crazy angles from having their guy ropes unfastened. That was all that had been achieved. The occupants soon got them straightened out; then they turned and gazed bemusedly at their distant neighbours. Shortly afterwards, Aldebaran appeared on the scene.

Retribution was equally swift. Later the same morning, while Isabella was bathing in the river, half a dozen men emerged from the encampment and headed for her crimson tent. I watched aghast as they set to work, flattening it completely and pulling out all the pegs. They actually showed considerable restraint (they could have done far worse); nevertheless, when Isabella returned she was furious. Also, she was quick to note that none of the other settlers had received similar treatment: she alone had been punished for the night’s exploits. Naturally, we all rushed over to help her get sorted out, but she was unforgiving.

‘Why didn’t anybody try and stop them?’ she demanded.

‘We were having breakfast,’ said Hartopp. ‘We didn’t notice.’

‘I was asleep,’ said Brigant.

‘I was looking west,’ said Hen.

‘Really?’ murmured Isabella. ‘How convenient.’ Lastly she turned to me. ‘And what’s your excuse?’

‘I haven’t got one,’ I said. ‘Sorry.’

She gave me a long, meaningful stare before dismissing each and every one of us.

‘Off you go,’ she said. ‘I can fix all this on my own.’

‘Well, if you need any assistance,’ said Hartopp, ‘just let us know.’

Isabella made no response, and we all traipsed away in shamefaced silence.

The next day she arose early and went down to the south-west corner of the field, where she spent several hours cutting reeds and laying them in the sun to dry. I had an odd feeling about this, so eventually I walked across to say hello. Isabella saw me coming, but she ignored my approach and continued with her task.

‘I see you’ve been busy,’ I ventured.

‘Yes,’ she replied, avoiding my gaze.

I glanced at the lengths of cut reed which lay all around.

‘Not building a boat, are you?’

‘Yes, actually, I am,’ she said. ‘I’m leaving.’

‘But you can’t leave,’ I said. ‘The place wouldn’t be the same without you.’

‘Can’t be helped,’ said Isabella. ‘I’ve decided to follow the sun.’

She ceased her labours and stood back to survey the situation. She’d accomplished a great deal in those few hours, and there were plenty enough reeds to make a boat.

‘I hope you’re not going because of me,’ I said.

‘Don’t flatter yourself!’ snapped Isabella, finally turning in my direction. ‘I was going anyway!’

‘Why?’

‘Because the field’s been spoilt,’ she said. ‘It’s lost its innocence.’

As if to underline her pronouncement, the blast of a bugle signalled noon. Previous orders, it seemed, had been revoked.

Isabella peered towards the south-east.

‘Bunch of ruffians,’ she remarked.

‘Not entirely,’ I said. ‘In some respects they’re quite a civilizing influence.’

‘Oh yes?’

‘Marvellous organizational skills; iron discipline; proper plans and surveys; spacious thoroughfares; sophisticated drainage systems; monumental earthworks; communal kitchens and bakeries; bathhouses with hot water freely available. The list goes on and on.’

‘Well,’ said Isabella, ‘they may think they’re civilized, but they’re certainly not gentlemen.’

Over subsequent days, various attempts were made to dissuade Isabella from leaving. She was visited in turn by Brigant, Hen and Hartopp (accompanied by his two contrite sons), and showered with compliments and bouquets. They promised they’d do anything she asked, if only she would stay. It was all to no avail, of course: Isabella wasn’t listening any more. Instead, she continued with her work. Once the reeds were sufficiently dry, she twisted them together into a strong, pliable fibre which she carried in bundles to the east; then she began skilfully fashioning a boat. We looked on with admiration as it gradually took form. Hartopp, Hollis and Eldred were especially fascinated, having never seen Isabella’s original vessel, but they felt obliged to keep their distance and could only observe from afar. Finally, when it was complete, she hauled it to the water’s edge. It was sleek and elegant, with a high, curved prow.

The following morning, I watched from my doorway as Isabella made ready to leave. Without ceremony, she took down her crimson tent, folded it, and stowed it in the boat. Her other possessions were stacked nearby, ready for loading, and all at once she turned and beckoned me to join her. Quickly, and with renewed hope, I crossed the field to where she stood waiting.

‘Right, I’m off now,’ she said in a businesslike manner. ‘You’d better give these back to your friends.’

Isabella reached amongst the assorted baggage and produced two shiny spades.

‘Oh,’ I said, ‘we wondered where they’d got to.’

‘Yes, well, I thought I might need them,’ she said, ‘but I don’t now.’

By this time, Hartopp and the others had arrived to witness Isabella’s departure. When she saw them she bristled with irritation.

‘I don’t want any fuss,’ she announced. ‘Keep out of the way please.’

She pushed her boat into the shallows, loaded the last few items, then stepped aboard. A minute later she was in the middle of the river, floating steadily downstream.

‘Bye, Isabella!’ we all chorused, and she raised her arm in salute.

As she disappeared around the furthest curve, I noticed a flock of excited birds whirling overhead.

I suspected that Yadegarian and his colleagues would be in trouble for losing the spades, so it was imperative to get them returned as quickly as possible. For a while I considered smuggling them into the encampment when I went to collect my dish and spoon, but in reality I knew this was unfeasible: they were far too large to conceal in my clothing. Ultimately, therefore, I decided that openness was the best policy. I waited for the quiet period between breakfast and dinner; then I grabbed the spades and set off towards the field kitchen.

It soon became clear that I needn’t have worried: there were plainly more important matters at hand than a couple of missing spades. The moment I entered the camp I sensed it was in a state of disarray. The change was only slight, hardly anything really, but even so the signs were unmistakable: the flags and pennants looked ragged and worn, the avenues were deeply rutted, and some of the tents had begun to fade in the sunlight. I was contemplating all this when Aldebaran emerged from a side alley. He seemed rather distracted and almost walked straight past me.

‘Hello, Aldebaran,’ I said.

He stopped and peered in my direction.

‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘I was miles away.’

‘I’m just bringing these spades back.’

‘Ah, good.’

‘Isabella borrowed them for a day or two.’

‘Isabella,’ he intoned. ‘She’s gone now, hasn’t she?’

‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘she left this morning.’

Aldebaran nodded his approval.

‘We didn’t mean to drive her away,’ he said, ‘but frankly we found her very difficult.’