John sighed, as it had been well over a year since he had last seen his Grandad.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you Church. What can I do for you?” asked John.
“I wanted to offer my condolences and tell you that your Grandad mentioned something that concerned him the last time we spoke,”
“Who’s at the door?” shouted Sandra from the kitchen.
“A friend of Grandads,” John shouted.
“Invite them in, but tell them we are in the middle of unpacking, so excuse the mess.”
“Yes dear,” said John smiling and said, “Come inside Church, we can chat over a cuppa.”
Sandra joined them in the living room bringing in two mugs of tea and the three sat on a couch. Church told the couple how he was a neighbour until his family recently moved. “I often came to see Albert and listen to his stories. One of the neighbours called my dad and told him that Albert passed away. I came to see you and keep a promise that I made to Albert. He wanted to make sure you found the gold,” said Church.
John chuckled and said “Not you too. Grandad used to rave on when I was a child about this cursed treasure buried in the garden. I never believed him. It was only a fairy-tale,” he laughed and said, “Don’t tell me that you believed him.”
Church smiled and said, “Well, he had me fooled, especially after showing me the letter.”
John frowned and asked, “What letter?”
“The one from the government,” said Church. “Didn’t you read it?”
John and Sandra looked at each other.
John shrugged and said, “No, we have seen no letter.”
“Oh, that’s strange,” said Church. “Perhaps it’s still here somewhere. It was very important, so I doubt if Albert threw it away.”
John thought for a moment and went to find the box of papers that he was about to put in the rubbish. He brought in the cardboard box containing letters, papers, and various photos.
John placed the box on the table, and they rifled through it.
“Is this it?” Sandra asked, holding up a government-franked envelope.
“Yep, that’s it,” said Church, hoping it was.
John read out the letter from the admiralty. When he’d finished, he looked shocked and said,
“It says we own the gold, great!” he and Sandra smiled at each other and then John’s expression change as he screwed up his face and said, “Hang on a minute; what gold? Not Grandad’s fairy-story gold.” He then smiled and said, “Grandad was a great one for stories and exaggerating.”
“Maybe so,” Church said, “But Albert told me where it’s buried.”
“Why didn’t he dig it up before then?” John asked, sounding suspicious.
“Albert told me it was cursed for anyone, except you, John,” said Church.
John smirked and said, “And you believed him?”
“Albert was a mariner and superstitious, so yes, I believed him,” said Church, knowing that John also being a fisherman would understand about fate.
“What do you want?” Sandra asked sounding abrupt.
“Nothing,” said Church.
“We’ve only known you for a few minutes, and you want us to dig up our lawn because you made friends with a crazy old man,” said Sandra glaring at him.
“I know it sounds bizarre, but what do you have to lose? I know where to dig, so if I am wrong, you can laugh me out of your home… But what if I’m right?” Church asked and gazed at the couple.
Church and John took turns digging at the spot where Albert had instructed. They had only excavated down a short way when John’s shovel struck something solid. They removed the boxes and, joined by Sandra, opened the first box of gold ingots. John and Sandra’s eyes widened and they gasped.
“He wasn’t such a crazy old man after all, was he?” said Church grinning.
John fumbled for words while examining one of the gold bars. “There must be a bloody fortune here!”
“And it’s all yours,” said Church.
They spent the rest of that day and the following morning at banks and gold traders around Lincolnshire with the Admiralty letter in hand. They sold some of the gold bars and the rest John put in a bank’s safety box. Church spent the night in a spare room at John and Sandra’s.
The following day, Church said he had to leave.
“You are a godsend, Churchill Potts,” said Sandra, hugging Church.
“Yeah, you’ve changed our lives for sure,” said John, with tears welling up as he rubbed his pregnant wife’s stomach, and added, “At least he will have a good start in life.”
“Or she,” interrupted Sandra,
“Thanks to Albert” Church reminded them.
John faced the heavens and said aloud, “Cheers, Grandad.”
He then handed Church an envelope and one gold bar. “Here Church, take this as a token of our gratitude.”
Church opened the envelope and pulled out a bundle of crisp banknotes.
“It’s the least we can do,” insisted John. “Now, put it to good use and make sure you keep in touch.”
Granny Pearl had told Church that he could not charge a payment for his help. However, John insisted on him taking the gift, as did many others who Church helped.
Church thanked the couple. He put the money and gold bar into his pocket and said his goodbyes.
Church drove home thinking about how to spend his fortune. ‘Five hundred pounds and a chunk of gold for a few days’ work, that’s fantastic.’ he thought, never having seen that much money before, although he knew it was not always going to be that simple or lucrative.
Church arrived back at the cottage early in the evening. From the familiar smell that greeted him, he knew Granny Pearl was waiting in the portal room. Feeling excited, he went to tell Pearl about his success, and he felt an overwhelming feeling of happiness. He smiled and stood in front of the portal, facing Granny Pearl and Albert.
“You’ve done well Church,” said granny Pearl, adding, “Albert is ready to pass over, but wants to thank you.”
“What’s happening? I have felt nothing like this before,” said Church, feeling euphoric. “It’s amazing.”
“It is the emotion from Albert. A pure feeling of closure and peace,” said Granny Pearl.
“It’s time for me to leave now,” said Albert. “Thank you young Churchill, you will make a great Keeper.”
Church saw the smiling face of an old sea-dog smiling as Albert’s shimmering white apparition faded.
PATH GTR 001: Fisherman’s Friend: Case closed.
* * *
Churchill was an enthusiastic and focused student, spending time during the day repairing and updating the cottage with money he had made from the family business. Apart from when he was away on assignments, Church seldom left the cottage, with his evenings spent with Pearl and Jack in the portal room.
Church used the money from John to buy an Acorn computer to record his assignments and other information. Fitting a washbasin, mirror, and kitchenette in the portal room, he bought a mahogany desk and along with his desktop computer, he felt