Brandywine's Cave
By Andy Morris
Tap-tap, tap-tap.
The tinging sounds of a metal hammer knocking against stone echoes through the cave like a phantom in the night. It’s as dark as a tomb down here with blackness oozing from the very rock. The strong earthy scent of damp stone permeates the stale air in this narrow crack in the mountain. It opens a little wider in a few meters so I’ll be able to move more freely.
Neither my wife nor I are strangers to adventure sports. Caving and rock climbing have been Elle’s passions for as long as I’ve known her. She takes every opportunity to climb up or crawl through remote places where most normal people would never set foot. That being said, neither of us should be here like this.
I don’t understand why Elle came down here alone while the rest of us were still sleeping. I don’t really know what’s going on. When I discovered she’d gone I just took off and, in my panic, didn’t tell the others. So no one knows we’re here and what’s worse; I don’t think that’s Elle tapping on the rock. I think there’s something else down here. I’ve never felt claustrophobic whilst caving before but right now I can really feel the mountain on top of me, pressing down with its crushing weight and I just want to turn the clock back to last night…
I spotted Elle in her trademark black beanie hat with the built-in torch, as soon as I arrived at the campsite. The field was bathed in warm golden light as the evening sky burned with deep oranges and pinks. I'd had some work to sort out earlier in the day so by the time I arrived, a couple of hours after the others, they'd already set up the tents, opened the craft cider and started cooking. All five of them were so absorbed in the colourful display of sizzling veggie kebabs and vegan burgers that they didn't notice me right away.
“No, we never use disposable barbeques” Elle was explaining. The word ‘no’ came out as norrr, through the filter of her soft Yorkshire accent. To me and our southern friends, Elle sounded proper northern but funnily enough when she went back home to Sheffield all her friends and family would accuse her of sounding like a southerner and ‘talking posh!' I do love her accent, although I’ve learned that northerner's don't like it if you imitate them. Apparently, that's a no-no, or, norrr-norrr!
“Disposable barbeques are bad for the environment,” she continued. “I prefer cooking over a campfire, it’s much more sustainable.”
Elle still hadn’t spotted me so, living up to my reputation as a practical joker, I crept around the tents as inconspicuously as possible, trying hard not to giggle. I flowed up behind her as quietly as I could. The others saw me but pretended they hadn't until I put my hands over Elle's eyes and yelled "Gotcha!"
As always, she didn’t flinch or show any sign of surprise.
"One day I'll make you scream," I promised, kissing her on the cheek and grinning at the others.
“Yeah right, Darren” she sighed with her trademark unflappability. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be in the New Forest until next week?”
“The job was cancelled. I tried to ring but I couldn’t get through. Have you got a signal on your phone?”
“No” she replied. Norrr. “There’s no signal out here. It’s probably blocked by the mountains.” She gestured towards the large rocky hills.
“Here, I’ve got a new tattoo” she lifted her sleeve to reveal an image of our beloved hound inked onto her arm.
In my surprise, “Oh, wow!” was all I could say.
Apparently, the group had wandered around town when they first arrived and stumbled across this little tattoo studio. Elle liked the artist's work and had been persuaded to get one there and then.
Usually, my wife is a natural deep-thinker; reflective, analytical and calculating with everything. Therefore: Impulsive is not a word I’d ever use to describe her. Only very rarely did she make spur-of-the-moment decisions. So, in hindsight, this new tattoo signified something was up. However, I’d started drinking and, regrettably, didn’t pay too much attention to her surprisingly rash decision…
Tap, tap-tap.
It sounds further away now but I still can’t relax. Progress is slow. I can barely move in this narrow crushing fissure but I’m almost at the end. Just a few more feet to go and I can haul myself into that small cave up ahead.
Can Elle hear the tapping sound as well, I wonder? And if so, does it make her as nervous as it does me? I don’t know what’s going on with her but she’s not herself right now. All I know is I’ve got to stay focused and find her but I can’t help wishing I’d just kept my mouth shut about the legend of Brandywine’s Cave…
“What’s Brandywine’s Cave?” she’d queried as we finished the barbecue. The sky overhead was now a deep purple – the colour of madness, I thought.
“I think I’ve heard of it but I dismissed it as a load of bollocks!”
“It’s not bollocks” I corrected her. “There are creatures that live underground in Cornwall and Wales. They’re like pixies but they’re called Knockers.”
“What are they called?”
“Shut up. Knockers are very mischievous and love playing tricks on people. When the mines were open mineworkers would sometimes hear knocking sounds, hence the name. The miners; thinking someone was trapped, would go off towards the source of the noise and they’d never be seen again. Legend says that a Knocker, called Brandywine, used to live in that mountain.” I pointed to the largest peak in the craggy range before us.
“I read that the cave is only visible when a full moon is shining on it. During this time Brandywine would creep into town and secretly put a drop of his own blood into a person’s drink. Then, once they’d consumed it he’d lead his helpless victim back into his lair from where they'd never return. That's why you should never accept a drink from a stranger around here, especially when there’s a full moon.”
“You’re so gullible you daft wazzock.”
"It's a full moon tonight" I pointed out as Elle rummaged around in her bag. She pulled out a handful of nuts and dried fruit that she'd squirrelled away earlier.
“You should watch out, Brandywine might get you tonight.” I rubbed my hands together and laughed evilly, drawing a chorus of drunken laughter from the others.
Elle ignored my hilarious impression and instead turned her attention to the looming mountain. She stared at it for some time, the cogs of her mind slowly turning, whilst she carefully nibbled on her snack. If only I’d known what was going through her mind we could’ve avoided all this…
Tap-tap-tap.
Oh God, it’s getting closer again! I need to pull myself out of this fissure, quickly. This rocky passage feels like its growing even darker. Sinister shadows hiding unseen horrors are lurking all around my torch beam, pressing in from all sides. There could be anything waiting for me here. I’ve stopped calling out for Elle now, she’s not responding. I’m really not sure about going on any further but what choice do I have? I need to find her.
It will be dawn soon outside. The others will realise we’re not there but, will they start looking for us right away? I don’t think they noticed anything was wrong with Elle last night. They were all so wasted they didn’t see it. I’m probably the only one that knows something isn’t right with her. If only I’d said something earlier…
The moon glowed with a magical light while all around it hundreds of stars glittered brightly in the obsidian sky. The sedative effect of the alcohol was taking effect and the conversations lulled as we lay back, contemplating our insignificance within the vast majestic universe. Someone rolled a joint and as it was passed around I became aware that Elle was still absorbed by the rocky silhouettes of the mountains. A couple of times I sensed her staring at me as well but when I glanced over she quickly turned away. I asked why she was looking at me but she denied it. She’d become steadily more distracted as the night deepened.
"Everything all right, Luv?"
“Yeah, why?” she replied, absent-mindedly rubbing the spot on her arm where she’d got her tattoo.
"Oh, nothing. You seem a bit distant, that's all." I took a drag on the spliff and handed it on.
“I’m fine, stop fussing” she assured me, rummaging in the cool-box and passing around yet more bottles of cider.
"Does anyone want to listen to some music?" By this point, everyone was too sozzled to really care. Elle was rather particular when it came to music. Her taste had always been so obscure and niche that hardly anyone else had heard of the bands she listened to. She’d never listen to anything that could be considered mainstream or commercial. Back in the day, those words were considered an insult!
Later, as I drained the last of my cider she turned and whispered in my ear. "We should go up the mountain!" Her voice was low and husky and far away as if she were still lost in the most intriguing fantasy her imagination could conjure. "We should go tonight, while the moon is out and look for that cave of yours."
“What, now?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“Really? It’s dark and we don’t know where we’re going. We could get lost or fall and no one would find us for ages.”
Elle was no buffoon; she was always a stickler for safety and this was the point where I really started to question whether this was actually my Elle.
“I think we should do it. Come with me, it’ll be amazing.”
“It’s not a good idea, Elle. Besides, that cave is just a local legend. It’s not real.”
“Obviously” she sighed impatiently. “Oh, you’re so boring!”
By way of compromise, we agreed to go in the morning. But I never expected, as we climbed into our sleeping bags, that that could be the last time I ever saw my wife…
TAP! TAP! TAP!
That was loud!
I’m in a slightly larger cavity now. The sloping floor is uneven and I can’t stand up because of the low ceiling but at least I can move my head again. I’m now faced with three narrow passageways branching off in different directions. There’s no way to tell which way Elle went – if it’s even Elle that I’m following! I can’t believe I’m actually thinking that … Wait! Oh God, there’s something coming! I can sense it nearby, in that far tunnel. I’ve got to hide! I can’t go back through that fissure because it will see me and I’d be trapped. All I can do is switch off my torch and…Is that..? Yes, it’s Elle, but what on earth is she...? No..!
It was 04:30 when I awoke to find Elle was gone. The moon was still visible but dawn was fast approaching. Her empty sleeping bag was cold to the touch. I knew where she’d gone but there was no way of knowing when she’d left or how far away she was. I tried her phone but there was still no signal. In my haste I didn’t stop to wake the others, I just rushed off towards the mountain.
The grey pre-dawn light made it hard to see as I ascended the steep path up the western side where the moon still shone. The wind was strong enough to take my breath away. It whipped my hair and tugged at my clothes as if invisible hands were trying to batter away. The higher I climbed the stronger it became. I lost my balance and stumbled a few times until, about half way up, I found a small hole in the rock. The uncanny opening was no bigger than two feet square and its outline sparkled in the dying moonlight. I would have gone straight passed it if it weren’t for the black beanie hat and mobile phone lying on the path. My heart lurched. Elle’s phone was flashing with a new unopened message:
Hi Luv. We should finish the job by Friday so I'll be with you in a couple of days. Darren xxx'.
It had been sent last night.
Grinning, I let the device drop to the floor, along with my disguise.
Tricking people into drinking my potion was okay, but persuading them to get a tattoo and then using a needle dipped in my blood is so much more fun! I danced a little jig before somersaulting into my cave.
Brandywine is the cleverest! Brandywine is the sneakiest! Brandywine is going to eat well tonight..!
Tap-tap-tap.
Elle spun around at the sound of my tapping. She still doesn't know where I am. This time she'll scream. Brandywine always gets his scream. I'll just creep up behind her and… "Gotcha!"
The tinging sounds of a metal hammer knocking against stone echoes through the cave like a phantom in the night. It’s as dark as a tomb down here with blackness oozing from the very rock. The strong earthy scent of damp stone permeates the stale air in this narrow crack in the mountain. It opens a little wider in a few meters so I’ll be able to move more freely.
Neither my wife nor I are strangers to adventure sports. Caving and rock climbing have been Elle’s passions for as long as I’ve known her. She takes every opportunity to climb up or crawl through remote places where most normal people would never set foot. That being said, neither of us should be here like this.
I don’t understand why Elle came down here alone while the rest of us were still sleeping. I don’t really know what’s going on. When I discovered she’d gone I just took off and, in my panic, didn’t tell the others. So no one knows we’re here and what’s worse; I don’t think that’s Elle tapping on the rock. I think there’s something else down here. I’ve never felt claustrophobic whilst caving before but right now I can really feel the mountain on top of me, pressing down with its crushing weight and I just want to turn the clock back to last night…
I spotted Elle in her trademark black beanie hat with the built-in torch, as soon as I arrived at the campsite. The field was bathed in warm golden light as the evening sky burned with deep oranges and pinks. I'd had some work to sort out earlier in the day so by the time I arrived, a couple of hours after the others, they'd already set up the tents, opened the craft cider and started cooking. All five of them were so absorbed in the colourful display of sizzling veggie kebabs and vegan burgers that they didn't notice me right away.
“No, we never use disposable barbeques” Elle was explaining. The word ‘no’ came out as norrr, through the filter of her soft Yorkshire accent. To me and our southern friends, Elle sounded proper northern but funnily enough when she went back home to Sheffield all her friends and family would accuse her of sounding like a southerner and ‘talking posh!' I do love her accent, although I’ve learned that northerner's don't like it if you imitate them. Apparently, that's a no-no, or, norrr-norrr!
“Disposable barbeques are bad for the environment,” she continued. “I prefer cooking over a campfire, it’s much more sustainable.”
Elle still hadn’t spotted me so, living up to my reputation as a practical joker, I crept around the tents as inconspicuously as possible, trying hard not to giggle. I flowed up behind her as quietly as I could. The others saw me but pretended they hadn't until I put my hands over Elle's eyes and yelled "Gotcha!"
As always, she didn’t flinch or show any sign of surprise.
"One day I'll make you scream," I promised, kissing her on the cheek and grinning at the others.
“Yeah right, Darren” she sighed with her trademark unflappability. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be in the New Forest until next week?”
“The job was cancelled. I tried to ring but I couldn’t get through. Have you got a signal on your phone?”
“No” she replied. Norrr. “There’s no signal out here. It’s probably blocked by the mountains.” She gestured towards the large rocky hills.
“Here, I’ve got a new tattoo” she lifted her sleeve to reveal an image of our beloved hound inked onto her arm.
In my surprise, “Oh, wow!” was all I could say.
Apparently, the group had wandered around town when they first arrived and stumbled across this little tattoo studio. Elle liked the artist's work and had been persuaded to get one there and then.
Usually, my wife is a natural deep-thinker; reflective, analytical and calculating with everything. Therefore: Impulsive is not a word I’d ever use to describe her. Only very rarely did she make spur-of-the-moment decisions. So, in hindsight, this new tattoo signified something was up. However, I’d started drinking and, regrettably, didn’t pay too much attention to her surprisingly rash decision…
Tap, tap-tap.
It sounds further away now but I still can’t relax. Progress is slow. I can barely move in this narrow crushing fissure but I’m almost at the end. Just a few more feet to go and I can haul myself into that small cave up ahead.
Can Elle hear the tapping sound as well, I wonder? And if so, does it make her as nervous as it does me? I don’t know what’s going on with her but she’s not herself right now. All I know is I’ve got to stay focused and find her but I can’t help wishing I’d just kept my mouth shut about the legend of Brandywine’s Cave…
“What’s Brandywine’s Cave?” she’d queried as we finished the barbecue. The sky overhead was now a deep purple – the colour of madness, I thought.
“I think I’ve heard of it but I dismissed it as a load of bollocks!”
“It’s not bollocks” I corrected her. “There are creatures that live underground in Cornwall and Wales. They’re like pixies but they’re called Knockers.”
“What are they called?”
“Shut up. Knockers are very mischievous and love playing tricks on people. When the mines were open mineworkers would sometimes hear knocking sounds, hence the name. The miners; thinking someone was trapped, would go off towards the source of the noise and they’d never be seen again. Legend says that a Knocker, called Brandywine, used to live in that mountain.” I pointed to the largest peak in the craggy range before us.
“I read that the cave is only visible when a full moon is shining on it. During this time Brandywine would creep into town and secretly put a drop of his own blood into a person’s drink. Then, once they’d consumed it he’d lead his helpless victim back into his lair from where they'd never return. That's why you should never accept a drink from a stranger around here, especially when there’s a full moon.”
“You’re so gullible you daft wazzock.”
"It's a full moon tonight" I pointed out as Elle rummaged around in her bag. She pulled out a handful of nuts and dried fruit that she'd squirrelled away earlier.
“You should watch out, Brandywine might get you tonight.” I rubbed my hands together and laughed evilly, drawing a chorus of drunken laughter from the others.
Elle ignored my hilarious impression and instead turned her attention to the looming mountain. She stared at it for some time, the cogs of her mind slowly turning, whilst she carefully nibbled on her snack. If only I’d known what was going through her mind we could’ve avoided all this…
Tap-tap-tap.
Oh God, it’s getting closer again! I need to pull myself out of this fissure, quickly. This rocky passage feels like its growing even darker. Sinister shadows hiding unseen horrors are lurking all around my torch beam, pressing in from all sides. There could be anything waiting for me here. I’ve stopped calling out for Elle now, she’s not responding. I’m really not sure about going on any further but what choice do I have? I need to find her.
It will be dawn soon outside. The others will realise we’re not there but, will they start looking for us right away? I don’t think they noticed anything was wrong with Elle last night. They were all so wasted they didn’t see it. I’m probably the only one that knows something isn’t right with her. If only I’d said something earlier…
The moon glowed with a magical light while all around it hundreds of stars glittered brightly in the obsidian sky. The sedative effect of the alcohol was taking effect and the conversations lulled as we lay back, contemplating our insignificance within the vast majestic universe. Someone rolled a joint and as it was passed around I became aware that Elle was still absorbed by the rocky silhouettes of the mountains. A couple of times I sensed her staring at me as well but when I glanced over she quickly turned away. I asked why she was looking at me but she denied it. She’d become steadily more distracted as the night deepened.
"Everything all right, Luv?"
“Yeah, why?” she replied, absent-mindedly rubbing the spot on her arm where she’d got her tattoo.
"Oh, nothing. You seem a bit distant, that's all." I took a drag on the spliff and handed it on.
“I’m fine, stop fussing” she assured me, rummaging in the cool-box and passing around yet more bottles of cider.
"Does anyone want to listen to some music?" By this point, everyone was too sozzled to really care. Elle was rather particular when it came to music. Her taste had always been so obscure and niche that hardly anyone else had heard of the bands she listened to. She’d never listen to anything that could be considered mainstream or commercial. Back in the day, those words were considered an insult!
Later, as I drained the last of my cider she turned and whispered in my ear. "We should go up the mountain!" Her voice was low and husky and far away as if she were still lost in the most intriguing fantasy her imagination could conjure. "We should go tonight, while the moon is out and look for that cave of yours."
“What, now?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“Really? It’s dark and we don’t know where we’re going. We could get lost or fall and no one would find us for ages.”
Elle was no buffoon; she was always a stickler for safety and this was the point where I really started to question whether this was actually my Elle.
“I think we should do it. Come with me, it’ll be amazing.”
“It’s not a good idea, Elle. Besides, that cave is just a local legend. It’s not real.”
“Obviously” she sighed impatiently. “Oh, you’re so boring!”
By way of compromise, we agreed to go in the morning. But I never expected, as we climbed into our sleeping bags, that that could be the last time I ever saw my wife…
TAP! TAP! TAP!
That was loud!
I’m in a slightly larger cavity now. The sloping floor is uneven and I can’t stand up because of the low ceiling but at least I can move my head again. I’m now faced with three narrow passageways branching off in different directions. There’s no way to tell which way Elle went – if it’s even Elle that I’m following! I can’t believe I’m actually thinking that … Wait! Oh God, there’s something coming! I can sense it nearby, in that far tunnel. I’ve got to hide! I can’t go back through that fissure because it will see me and I’d be trapped. All I can do is switch off my torch and…Is that..? Yes, it’s Elle, but what on earth is she...? No..!
It was 04:30 when I awoke to find Elle was gone. The moon was still visible but dawn was fast approaching. Her empty sleeping bag was cold to the touch. I knew where she’d gone but there was no way of knowing when she’d left or how far away she was. I tried her phone but there was still no signal. In my haste I didn’t stop to wake the others, I just rushed off towards the mountain.
The grey pre-dawn light made it hard to see as I ascended the steep path up the western side where the moon still shone. The wind was strong enough to take my breath away. It whipped my hair and tugged at my clothes as if invisible hands were trying to batter away. The higher I climbed the stronger it became. I lost my balance and stumbled a few times until, about half way up, I found a small hole in the rock. The uncanny opening was no bigger than two feet square and its outline sparkled in the dying moonlight. I would have gone straight passed it if it weren’t for the black beanie hat and mobile phone lying on the path. My heart lurched. Elle’s phone was flashing with a new unopened message:
Hi Luv. We should finish the job by Friday so I'll be with you in a couple of days. Darren xxx'.
It had been sent last night.
Grinning, I let the device drop to the floor, along with my disguise.
Tricking people into drinking my potion was okay, but persuading them to get a tattoo and then using a needle dipped in my blood is so much more fun! I danced a little jig before somersaulting into my cave.
Brandywine is the cleverest! Brandywine is the sneakiest! Brandywine is going to eat well tonight..!
Tap-tap-tap.
Elle spun around at the sound of my tapping. She still doesn't know where I am. This time she'll scream. Brandywine always gets his scream. I'll just creep up behind her and… "Gotcha!"