Humpty's bones

Eden read on, ‘“Romans arrive Yorkshire first century, commanded by”… I can’t read that. Grandma must have been shaking with excitement as she wrote this.’

‘Ahm… General Gallus.’

‘“… General Gallus, plus legion’s soothsayer, identifies Homo Prima” — the First Man — “as living embodiment of entire pantheon. Orders re-routing of Via Britannicus to spare theo… theo… ” what’s that word?’

‘Perhaps “Theopolis”? Not a real word, but suggests “city of god”. Or at least a place where the god or gods live.’

‘“General Gallus makes extraordinary visit to Emperor Claudius. Secures Imperial directive that First Man be venerated by Roman Army. Feast day set June 3rd. Coin struck in First Man’s honour. Emperor announces day of games in Rome in celebration. Free bread for poor. Gallus promoted.”‘

‘Phew… ’ Eden’s aunt could often appear too cynical for her own good; this time she was genuinely impressed. ‘You know what this means, Eden? The general invaded this part of Yorkshire nearly two thousand years ago. For some reason he had an epiphany when he reached this very spot. Right where this house is built! He believed he’d found the city of the gods. The legion’s holy man agreed. So, not only does General Gallus order that the road be diverted to preserve whatever he found, he makes a special trip back to Rome because he was so excited. He had to tell Emperor Claudius in person.’

‘Claudius believed him?’

‘Absolutely. Because he promoted Gallus, had a commemorative coin struck, and then held a colossal party in the city to celebrate the discovery. The poor even got free grub. This was the king of shindigs — a national festival of thanks.’

‘But what made this place so important?’

‘Important? It is amazingly important.’ Heather’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘The most powerful man in the Roman Empire, Claudius, knew he’d been given the location of Theopolis. The city of the gods here on Earth.’

‘No… that isn’t what it says. Not exactly.’ As Eden started to speak the phone rang downstairs. ‘It says here that — ’

‘Eden, I best get that. It might be the garden centre about their accounts.’ Heather rose to her feet from where she’d been sitting on the steamer trunk.

Eden knew this was important; she needed to press this one fact, at least, well and truly home. ‘But the full sentence reads: “General orders re-routing of Via Britannicus to spare Theopolis that exists inside the body of the First Man.”‘ She sighed with frustration as Heather hurried toward the attic ladder.

‘Heather. This is important.’

‘Later. I’ve got to take the call.’

Heather descended the ladder as Eden called out. ‘Don’t you see? It’s not saying there was an actual town here. It’s stating categorically that the city of the gods exists inside the body of the First Man. How can a holy city be inside a person?’

‘I’ll be back in five minutes. We’ll talk then.’ The phone’s ring was insistent. ‘I’m coming, I’m coming… ’ Heather ran down the stairs.

Eden returned to the file. What she learned there on the last page prompted her to carry the file downstairs. Not to find her aunt. Instead, she hurried to the lab to look once more at Humpty’s bones.

13. Friday: Noon

Eden Page worked on arranging the bones. Heather had already laid out the rest of the skeleton on the table — collarbone, ribs, pelvis, thigh bones, shin, the tiny pebble shaped bones of the ankle. Most were charred, which left a black scale. The stink of burning still pricked her nostrils. What occupied Eden now were the shards of skull. She retrieved the canine remains from the bowl marked ‘Miscellaneous’, then carefully, painstakingly, with a furrowed brow, she assembled the skull fragments — the dog-like jaw complete with incisors, the thick brow ridge, the smoother, broader plates of the crown of the head.

As she worked, she murmured a nursery rhyme to herself: ‘Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses, And all the king’s men, Couldn’t put Humpty’s bones together again.’

Heather entered with the bright announcement, ‘Coffee.’ Then she saw Eden’s handiwork. ‘Damn you, Eden! I told you not to do that. Are you really intent on pulling some kind of stunt to scare Curtis away? This is our home. I won’t let you drive us out, you bloody monster!’ She slammed the cups down on the desk hard enough to splash half the contents out. Then she advanced on her niece as if ready to punch her. ‘Get away from that!’

‘No, hear me out.’

‘I’m warning you. Bloody werewolves? You think I’m stupid?’

‘You’ve had trouble before, haven’t you?’

‘I’m not discussing that with you. Put those skull fragments back in the bowl.’ Heather bunched her fist.

Eden stood her ground. ‘I won’t. And you are going to listen to me. I’ve been working it out. I’m starting to understand.’

‘Eden! Get the damn train back to wherever you came from.’

‘Heather.’ Eden spoke with utter conviction. ‘You didn’t read your mother’s notes properly. General Gallus described the First Man as the Theopolis. That the city of gods was inside of him. The General also stated that he was the living embodiment of the pantheon. Do you see what he was driving at?’

‘Take the skull bones away, then we’ll talk.’ Despite her anger Heather was intrigued. ‘You might have thought doing that was a joke. Let me tell you, it’s — ’

‘Heather, listen. You’ve had trouble here before, haven’t you?’

‘Yes… ’ It pained Heather to admit it. Even then she quickly dismissed its importance. ‘Just Hezzle’s farm dogs. They were running amok. Making a hell of a mess in the garden. Scratching. Gnawing the car, for heaven sakes.’

‘You saw Mr Hezzle’s dogs?’

‘We didn’t have to. It was obvious they were his. Savage things they are.’

‘So you never actually saw them attacking the garden?’

‘Does it matter? Please, Eden. Before Curtis gets home put the skull fragments back in the bowl, and whatever happens don’t mention the word “werewolf”.’

‘I won’t even breathe the word “werewolf”.’ Eden spoke with confidence. ‘Besides, this skull has nothing to do with dogs or werewolves.’

‘Amen to that.’ Heather’s relief was heartfelt. ‘Another mention of werewolves and I’d scream, God help me, I would.’

‘Look, just bear with me for moment.’ Eden picked up her grandmother’s file. ‘First, the sketch of the congregation. Back in 1968 they are genuinely angry. They have just been told that my grandma — your mother — is translating that odious religious zealot’s book. Mr Hezzle and the rest knew about the Hermit’s life-hating, woman-hating mission. They also know full well that this bigot petitioned the local Bishop to conduct rites of exorcism on the land in 1488. Some bones were dug up by the Bishop’s priests, burnt, then reburied. He also had the Bishop come to the parish church here in Dog Lands to tell the congregation that the First Man was evil, ungodly, the worst kind of pagan. In fact, he went through the First Man’s teachings point by point in order to rubbish them. But then the Bishop finished his speech to the locals with what he believed would be the clincher. The killer blow that would make everyone despise the First Man.’

‘And that was?’

‘See for yourself. It’s here before you.’ Eden nodded at the table.

Heather’s eyes widened. ‘You’re saying the skeleton really is complete?’

By way of reply Eden read from the file. ‘“The Bishop struck the lectern as he cried out in a fierce voice: