The Links

Short dark story, set in England

'GUYS, SOMETHING IS not right,' Mac said. He was hopping from leg to leg, scratching his hair.

'What is up with you?' Drew asked

'I don't feel right. It's as if someone is poking my brain. There is something I should know but don't. I know that sounds ridiculous.'

'What's the matter? We hid and were tucked away, tucked behind the fifth green. Our parents believe we are camping, which we are. They don't know we will have guests—what they don't know and all that stuff. Everything is fine. Especially if the girls turn up,' Drew said, smirking a dirty grin.

'I'm not worried about our parents, and I'm confident the girls will make it. It's not that. Something feels wrong.'

The boys finished setting up their tent. They had timed their visit to perfection. Both boys worked as part-time caddies. They knew no golfers could play hole five at this time and get back in the clubhouse before dark. Before it was pitch black, they could never finish their nine, let alone all eighteen holes. So, the first golfers to tee off would be at seven the following day and, therefore, would not get to their green until around eight. Thus giving them plenty of time to "enjoy" themselves with the girls. Drew's father was the head groundsman at the course. He started work at eight. The green keepers took turns placing the flags in their holes at first light. Hopefully, that sleepy man would not notice them.

Giggling could be heard coming up the pathway.

'It gets dark up here in the woods,' said Amanda, prodding her friend.

'Yeah, it is not even six,' said her best friend, Judy.

'Where are you boys?' called Amanda.

The boys nudged each other, trying not to allow their laughter to be heard. Instead, they were snorting like piglets.

'Don't tell me they pranked us?' said Judy. 'Got us up here in the dark?'

'Nah, the way Drew grabbed me, he'll be here.'

Laughter burst out from behind an aged oak tree.

'Yeah, we're here,' the boys cackled.

'Come in, ladies,' said Mac. He eased a gap in the branches. The girls ducked through.

'Wow, how romantic,' said Judy.

'Yeah, you have done a good job of our five-star accommodation for the night,' said Amanda. Drew led the girls into their tent. Mac stood by the flap.

'Come on then,' said Drew.

'Yeah, just a minute. I thought I heard something. Wait a sec, I'll have a look,' said Mac.

'Hilarious, are you trying to scare us already? It's only just dark,' said Amanda.

There was a rustling outside.

'Come on; a joke's a joke,' called Drew.

There was silence from inside and outside the canvas. Drew and the girls studied each other's faces. Drew started smirking. They all laughed.

'Where is he? ' Drew said as he stood and went outside, closely followed by the girls, no longer laughing.

Their friend stood next to the steep bank of a green-side bunker. He was motionless, arms out broad, and his head looked up into the tree. Drew jogged up and shook him.

'Hey, what is it?'

The girls rushed forward. 

'Be careful, don't touch him,' said Judy. 'My mum is a nurse, and she told me people sleepwalking should not be shocked awake.'

'What should we do?'

'I think we just leave him and wait.'

The friends looked at each other as Mac slowly lowered his arms.

'Are we moving the party outside?' he asked, looking around.

'What happened to you? It looked like you had seen a ghost or were sleepwalking in a daydream?' asked Drew.

'Let's go in.' So Mac pushed his friends in.

'You will not believe this, but I saw a murder.'

'How do you mean saw? There was nothing to see.'

'Call it what you will, but I just witnessed a killing.'

'Yeah, haha, you are winding us up,' said Amanda.

'You say, you saw, how do you mean? There was nothing to see, and it was pitch black.'

'I saw it in my mind. Call it what you will, a premonition, a vision, I don't know. But someone ended up dead.'

'Who?' They all wanted to know. 'One of us?' Amanda asked.

'No, but I'd rather not say.'

'If you won't tell us who, at least tell us what happened,' asked Drew.

Mac was silently weeping; his friends gawped at the stooped, bouncing shoulders of Mac, gently lifting and falling between sucked breaths. 

'Cheer up, Mac. It was just a daydream.'

'It was too real. And it happened there.' Mac pointed over his shoulder. 'The edge of the fairway in front of the green, right next to that bunker.'

'What happened? Tell us.'

'Two men were arguing and pointing to the grass. One man was driving the tractor, pulling the chain mower, waving and shouting above the engine noise.'

'And?'

'The tractor driver ploughed over the other man, chopping him to bits. Your dad was the victim, Drew. I'm sorry.'

Fear gripped Drew. He pulled out his mobile. 'Dad, dad, are you working tomorrow?' Panic quietened. 'Oh, it's your day off. No, no, nothing, just asking.'

The group whistled sighs of relief.

'Dad is supposed to have a day off unless there is more trouble with the unsettled bloke.'

'Jesus, you had us all worried,' said Judy.

'Especially me, you idiot,' said Drew.

They all relaxed as the first cans of beer were shared. The torch's light dimmed to a romantic glow. Crisp packets ripped open, and roughly made sandwiches were handed out. Ring pulls hissed, and beers guzzled. First, nervous chatter echoed, and the chit-chat became less self-conscious and jocular. Then, blue-humoured laughter flooded the tent before long young bodies edged towards each other, fingers touched, hands held. The clinking of beer cans halted. Sleeping bags were zipped together, and boy and girl cuddled in the warm, cosy bedding. Nervous, young fingers fiddled with unaccustomed underwear. 

'Sorry, sorry, Judy, I can't concentrate. I keep seeing Drew's dad being mowed down over and over. I'm sorry, it's in my mind, again and again.'

Mac gathered his things. Dressed in the dark, he started to tread a path home carefully. 

'Wait for me; you can walk me home too,' said Judy, jogging and tripping behind him.

He kissed her long and deep on her mother's doorstep, whispering his apologies again. She left him with a playful slap on his cheek.

'I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.'

He trudged home, unhappy with his decision, but knew it was right. So he crept up the stairs to his bed.

'Mac, Mac, wake up.'

'What is it, mum?'

'Thank God you're home. What time did you get back from camping?'

'I don't know, why?' asked Mac.

'There has been a terrible accident at the golf course.'

'What happened?'

Mac pulled his duvet up and clenched it around his throat, clasping it hard until his fingers turned white.

'You may know there is a dispute at the golf club. It has turned nasty. One green keeper drove into your friend's dad. The tractor careered over the bunker's edge and crashed into a tent. Four people were rushed to hospital. Who the hell would pitch a tent there?'

The END

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