The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (9)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi - Part 9

Spyri cautiously edged around the trees to where he’d seen last night’s explosion take place. If he was fast, there might still be something to salvage, before anyone else got there. A slight noise made him freeze and he slipped into a bush. He relaxed.

Big D and Little D walked carefully by.

From his vantage point, Spyri watched them examine the crash site.

“Looks like the truck was chased by our own people.”
“Managed to shoot the driver and the truck crashed at about 110 kilometres an hour into this tree.”
“Anyone still left alive in the cabin?”
“Nope, dead as doornails.”
“Wonder how door nails can be alive, anyhow.”
“Don’t get started on that now, bro.”
“Sorry, Big D.”
“There was a shootout here. Snipers and such.”
“So there was. Quite a few people injured.”
“Someone dragged themselves behind this tree.”
“That same someone you’re talking about must’ve crawled back over here to the truck. Looks like they got crutches.”
“True. Anything in the truck?”

“Nup. Stripped clean and burnt bare or is it the other way around? Burnt bare and stripped clean? There probably wasn’t anything left after the truck blew anyway.”

“Hey look, an apricot!”
“An apricot?”
“Somebody had apricots. I wonder if there’s any more lying around.”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“What a pity. Looks like our guys won through.”
“Wish we could’ve made contact with them.”
“Ah well. Come one, bro. Let’s get back to the kids. They’ll want to know what’s happened.”
“May as well. Feel kinda sorry for them, sending them away like this.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll kinda miss you, Li’l D.”
“Aww, thanks bro. Just can’t do without me, can you?”
“The youngest ones are gonna cry their eyes out. You look after all them girls, hear, bro?”
“Sure thing, Big D. You know me.”

“Yeah. Come on, the bus’ll be round within the hour. We gotta get back. I betcha most of the boys’ll ‘ave gone into hiding, so that they can help.”

“At least you’ll have some company.”
“Awful thing having to get kids involved in a war. I probably won’t be able to get our part of the plan done without them though.”
“Too true. Too true, mate.”


The two brothers walked past him. Spyri waited a moment and was about to follow after them, when he heard a muffled groan. Curious, he warily went to investigate, and found a boy, with a face as scarred as his own, with both legs in filthy, split plaster up to his hips with shorts over the top. A pair of crutches lay nearby. The boy turned his head and opened his eyes.

Neither spoke a word.

The boy in plaster attempted to sit up and fell back, wincing, but not making a noise. He looked at Spyri, his throat too dry and swollen
to even try speaking.

Spyri nodded, understanding the silent cry for help, sizing up the situation and knowing that he would be unable to do anything. He turned and ran after the two soldier brothers.


Hearing the noise behind them, Big D and Little D stepped behind a tree each and waited. Quieter than mice. Just as Spyri drew near, they stepped out and spoke with one voice, guns raised.

“Freeze!”

Spyri skid to a halt and opened up his hands, gesturing behind him.

“There’s a boy back near the crash site in the trees. He’s hurt and he needs help!”

Exchanging glances, the brothers nodded and put away their guns and gestured for Spyri to lead the way.

“Who are you, anyway, kid? We haven’t seen you around before.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”
“You’re not from Thistlowood, are you? Which township are you from?”
“Thistlowood.”
“Then how come we’ve never seen you before now?”
“Cos I didn’t want you to.”
“Hmm. We’re gonna have to get some straight answers out of you, some time, kid.”
“I’m Big D and this is my bro, Li’l D.”
“I know.”
“You know…”
“You wouldn’t by any chance have been spying on us?”
“Not on purpose.”
“What were you doing over here then?”
“Investigating, like you were.”
“And you didn’t want us to see you…”
“You wouldn’t by any chance be the mysterious disappearing kid they all call Spyri the Saviour?”

Spyri’s face flushed an uncomfortable red and he didn’t answer the question.

“The boy’s somewhere over this way.”

The brothers nodded confirmation to each other over Spyri’s head, with a small grin. Then they saw Gympi and forgot about Spyri, giving him the chance to meld into the trees and watch from a distance, safe from any more questions.

Big D looked around for Spyri and shook his head.

“His done his disappearing act again, Li’l D.”
“Huh. Well, at least we’ve finally met the famous Spyri. Let’s see to this poor kid. He looks parched.”
“What’s your name, kid?” Big D asked, after helping Gympi to take a drink out of his drink bottle.
“Gympi.”
“What sort of name is that? You born with that name?”
“No. I don’t know what my real name is. All the soldiers called me Gympi. It was either that or Boy.”

“You’re a talker, you are. We’d better help you back to base. The other kids’ll be glad to make ya welcome. Come to think of it, we can put you on the bus. The war’s heading back this way, and it’ll be safer to put you out of harm’s way.”

Gympi pursed his lips at that and frowned, but didn’t say anything. Gritting his teeth, he let Big D pick him up, while Little D carried his crutches.

“So where you from? How’d you get out here?”
“Hitched a ride in that truck, until our men caught up.’
“The enemy let you hitch a ride?”
“Yeah. I was going to walk anyway.”
“From where?”
“Not far from Murnabeem. Maybe a few k’s from Loswage.”
“Murnabeeem? Loswage?”
“You’re one hell of a kid. You’d never have made it.”
“Better than being ignored or petted over in an orphan’s camp.”
“Why come this way?”
“I wanted to come home. The soldiers took me from Herrick up to the front a few months ago.”
“So you’re from Herrick?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
“That’s all right. What do you remember?”

“Waking up one night with the town on fire and a massive headache. I don’t know what town it was or where I was. Then the enemy found me and they adopted me as their ‘boy’ and took me to Murnabeem.”

“You could have come from anywhere then. All the towns around here had fires when the enemy took over.”
“I know.”

They walked in silence, with Spyri following from a distance but still within earshot.

“How’s Spyri? Is he still around?”
“Spyri? You knew Spyri?”

“Well, yes. But I don’t think he knew me. I used to watch him and help him in his raids without him knowing it. I managed to get together everything that made up the first ‘Spyri’ bundle. I suppose that’s where he got his name from.”


Spyri’s eyes widened in understanding. So that’s who the soldiers used to always be chasing whenever he got near the store room when the war started, and who had packaged everything neatly that first time so that all he had to do was swing it onto his back and escape.

Who was this boy? He didn’t recognise him at all, and yet there was something familiar about him. Something that annoyed him and made him want to punch him.


Big D put Gympi down in the cave.

“The bus’ll be here soon. You sit tight and wait. Have something to eat and drink. I’ve got to help the others get organised.”

Gympi watched Big D leave and appealed to the boys to whom Big D had just introduced him to. They all looked very familiar. He must have known them before.

“Help me up.”
“No, no. Stay there and we can help you onto the bus,” a boy called Jamie said.
“I’m not going anywhere. I just got here. You don’t want to get on that bus either, do you?”
“Well, no-o.”
“You’re all planning on hiding right? Help me. I’m not getting on that bus.”

The boys watched in silence. Gympi gritted his teeth and ate some of the stale bread he’d been given. Whether or not they were going to help, he was not getting on that bus. Wolfing down his food and drink, he reached for his crutches.

Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead as he tried to stand for the umpteenth time, swaying and struggling to maintain his balance.

The other boys still refused to help, insisting that he wait for the bus.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring them, Gympi set his shoulders and swung himself out of the cave with effort. They watched him go; admiring his determination, then hearing the low grind of the bus remembered that they were going to hide themselves too. They scattered.


Big D swore when he found that most of the boys had gone into hiding and that even Gympi was missing. He remembered the stubborn determined look on Gympi’s pain-lined face when he’d carried him to the caves and he’d mentioned putting him on the bus. There was no time to look for the boys or Gympi anymore. Those kids would probably regret staying behind in a few days. The bus had to leave now, mostly full of girls and younger primary school age children.

He waved a sour goodbye to his younger brother and watched the bus bounce across the hills and far away from where the last big battle was planned to take place. Blasted kids. Couldn’t they just do as they were told? But he knew in his own heart, that if he’d been in the same position as them, he would have done exactly the same thing.

Never mind. They’d all probably be back at the caves by now, waiting for him. He had a mission tonight to sabotage the enemy’s lines and create confusion just as his own army approached and he did not want the kids to get involved. No, he wouldn’t head back to the caves.


Gympi watched him go and knew he was going to the town so that the other kids wouldn’t know. Spyri was somewhere nearby watching too, he was sure of it. ‘I hear the band far away, far away, far away,’ he whistled noiselessly to himself.

Sure enough, he saw Spyri quietly follow Big D down the hill. At least the big soldier would have some help.


Big D set the charge and peeked around the corner. The noise of enemy soldiers coming into the weapon’s store made him freeze. They picked up a few boxes and left again. Waiting a few minutes, he prepared to leave, but a hand pulled him back and around the wall. He instinctively fought back and raised his gun when he realised that he was fighting a kid, Spyri to be specific.

Putting a finger to his mouth, Spyri pulled him back again, just as the door burst open and more soldiers entered the store room to grab some ammunition. Spyri beckoned Big D to a dark corner and removed a few boxes, indicating the hole in the wall. It looked big enough for Big D to slip out of as well.

They slipped out the hole and Spyri covered it up.

“What are you doing down here?” Big D whispered furiously.

“Helping you. Come on, this way. We’ll have to get further away before you blow up the store room. The others have already cleaned out the food store and are helping Jessica out to the caves. They’ve set some charges in the food store as well. They’re all waiting for you to cut the communication wires and get out before they blow their charges.”

“What? You kids! You realise that this isn’t a game?”
“Shh! We know. Come on, hurry up!”

Growling to himself, Big D found himself being led by Spyri all around town to all the major points and being saved on more than one occasion from being seen. This was some kid.


“Ok, is that all you wanted to do?”
“Yes.”
“Good, let’s get out of town. We should’ve warned most of the adults to get under cover by now.”
“You kids, just beat me. How did you know what I wanted to do?”
“We’ve got ears and know how to use them, as Andrew Cotton would say.”
“Andrew Cotton?”
“Yes, the mayor’s son. I think he’s dead though. Boy, I used to hate him. We were classmates, see.”
“Oh.”


They joined the other kids on the hill side and Spyri slipped away before they had noticed him.

“Big D! Come on, hurry up! We’ll blow the charges from that cover there.”
“Where’d Spyri go?”
“Spyri? Was he with you? What’s he look like?”
“Let’s go find him, he must be somewhere nearby!”
“Wait, wait. Let’s blow those charges first. Count down from three. Ready? 3, 2, 1, fire in the hole!”

Various areas of the town plumed skyward in a cloud of dust and fire. The children and Big D could see the enemy soldiers running around in confusion. They cheered in the safety of their hideout.

Big D spoke into the radio.

“Alpha Team, you have a go. Repeat, you have a go.”
“Thank you, Big D. Affirmative, we have a go. You sit tight and watch the fireworks. Make sure you keep any of the kids still hanging around out of the way.”
“Affirmative. We’re on our way back to the caves. Happy hunting. Big D, out.”


Many hours later, a team of soldiers headed up the hill to the caves to announce the victory. The enemy had been defeated and were retreating back over the border, having surrendered. A few days later, it was official, the war was over. Once the town had been cleaned up a little, the children were allowed back into town to be reunited with the parents that were still left. Jessica Frilby was carried back home to her anxious father and word was sent to the children that had been sent away on the bus that they could come home soon.

Once the majority of children were safe, Big D set out to find Gympi, the other boys having told him what had happened. Spyri, seemed to have also had the same thought and the two of them scoured the countryside outside the town for him. He hadn’t been seen for a few days. They found him sleeping soundly in a little hidden hollow not far from the caves.

“Gympi! There you are! You had me worried for a while there.”
“Hmm?”
“Come on, mate, let’s get you back to town and see whether or not the army surgeon can do anything for you, hey?”
“Mmm.”

But there were many other much more serious cases for the surgeon to worry about than one lame boy and feeling forgotten, Gympi let himself out of the hospital. Other people needed the beds and his crooked legs were not life-threatening.


The school was re-opened – not for education, but as a place for the orphaned children to stay and for the younger children to be cared for during the day while the others helped to rebuild the township. Because his own platoon was gone and seeing as he was the one they trusted most, Big D had been left in charge of the children during the day. They were fiercely protective of ‘their’ soldier.

Everyday, children would be dropped off at the bent school gates that didn’t close properly anymore, where he would welcome them and mark them off on a roll, before relegating them to the care of another soldier, teacher or volunteer, who would keep them occupied with various activities during the day. Everyday, Gympi would turn up on his crutches and sit around listening to the stories or joining in what activities he could. He seldom smiled. Most of the time, he just sat on a log seat and watched, with a thoughtful expression on his face. Nobody wanted his help in rebuilding the town. They’d made that firmly clear to him when he’d tried to help. His legs made him useless, they said.

Today was no exception. In return for the useable odds and ends that Gympi had managed to find the previous day, Stanton Frilby had left him his day’s rations on the ground as usual. The food was left just inside the burnt and broken down shell of a house he had decided to make his home, because it had a section of the roof still intact enough to keep the ground beneath it dry. He didn’t like the grocer, although he pitied him and felt sorry for the way the other townsfolk treated him. One of the children in school had told him the story about Jessica’s legs and much as he pitied him, he just couldn’t bring himself to like him – especially when the man only gave him his share of rations if he had anything to pay him. Tucking his food into a bag he’d managed to scavenge, he set off for school.

“If you give me your crutches,” Stanton had told him one day as he’d swung by the grocery on his crutches, “I’ll give you your food everyday, for free. No charge. Upon my honour.”

“Why do you need my crutches?” Gympi had asked.

“My daughter has broken legs. The soldiers broke both of them and she can’t get out of bed. She needs a pair of crutches, but there isn’t anywhere to get them at the moment. She needs them more than you. You can get about without crutches. Let me have your crutches and I’ll give you your food.”

“I can’t walk without my crutches either. Sorry.”

Stanton had just shaken his head.

“Then you’ll have to make sure you can pay me for tomorrow’s meals.”

Each time Gympi met Stanton in passing, Stanton would ask the same question, saying that Jessica needed the crutches more than he did. Each time, Gympi would have to politely decline. He couldn’t walk without the crutches. He’d tried and he’d tried, but it just hurt too much. Even walking with them took a lot of effort. All he could do without the crutches was fall down. By this time, the plaster on his legs had chipped and cracked in several places. There was no use trying to keep it on anymore, even though it was harder to walk without the support of the plaster. Why should he give his crutches to this mean man?

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (8)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi

Gympi sank thankfully down onto the grass with a stifled groan. This travelling was a lot tougher, slower and a heck more painful than he’d originally expected. It wasn’t likely that anyone would be out looking for him, but he couldn’t take the chance. Somehow, he had a feeling that he hadn’t travelled very far in the last week.

Emptying his bag, he sighed. Out of food. He shook his bottle. Out of water too. Wonderful. Never mind, he was a resourceful lad or so he told himself. His legs ached like they were on fire and sharp pains shot up his hips and up his spine. They should ease a little after a rest. He’d have just a little rest. The hedge hid him from the road, and the clusters of wild bush sheltered him from the cold wind. If only the ground were not so damp.

The faint tinkling of water woke him. Sitting up, Gympi looked around the bushes, trying to pinpoint the sound. There. There might even be something edible near the water. No point standing up and using his crutches. It would take too much effort. Putting his bag back onto his back, Gympi dragged himself along on the ground with his arms to where he could hear the water. Why hadn’t he been able to hear it before he’d fallen asleep? He must’ve been too tired.

A little brook burbled quietly, the tinkling noise was made by the water running off a mini waterfall formed by a branch. Water from a tiny dam ran off the branch tip onto a smooth pebble stone. By the ditch in which the brook ran, Gympi was pleased to find an apricot tree with fruit just beginning to ripen. After filling his drink bottle, Gympi contemplated how he would get to the apricots. He’d have to go back to fetch his crutches first.

Crawling was so much easier than walking, but if he crawled all the way back to Thistlowood, his clothes would completely wear away. They were already pretty worn as they were, and he had no desire to be found upon the road near naked. That would be just too embarrassing.

He poked at the nearest fruit with his crutch, and after some time, decided that this was going to take a while. He shrugged. So long he was able to fill his bag, he didn’t mind if it took days. He was in no rush.

“Plip, plop,
Apricot,
Sweet and juicy,
Summer treat.
Hip, hop,
There I drop,
Filling bag with
Round rocked ‘cots.”

“Tinkling water,
Swirling water,
Sparkle brightly,
‘Neath the shade.
Spickled, speckled,
With leaf dancers,
‘Pon smooth pebbles,
Colours gay.”

So busy singing and trying to get the apricots, Gympi didn’t hear the motor of the approaching truck until it was too late to hide. Nevertheless, he ducked down beneath a bush and hoped that they would just continue on their way, but they didn’t. The truck stopped and Gympi was frightened to see the boots, enemy issue, jump over the hedge and tramp his way.

He had no idea where the front was now, but he also had no wish to get entangled with either army again. It had already cost him a lot of pain and the use of both legs. All he wanted was to go home and all he knew was that home was in this general direction.

“Hey boy! Come outta there!”

Knowing a command when he heard one, Gympi slowly crawled out from under the bush. To the soldier, it looked more like he was only using his arms to drag his whole body and almost useless plaster coated legs after him.

“What are you doing here?”

The soldier squatted down, as the boy before him, slowly and painfully pulled himself into a sitting position. The face stared back calmly.

“Picking apricots.”
“There’s a war going on in these parts and you’re out picking apricots? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”

A dirty, sticky hand stuck out firmly.

“Hi, I’m Gympi.”
“Gympi? What sort of a name is that?”
“It’s what everyone calls me.”

Shaking his head, the soldier shook the hand and repeated his question.

“Don’t you know there’s a war going on in these parts and it’s dangerous?”

The boy looked back queerly, almost sadly – a near smile, but not; such that it almost made the soldier want to cry. He was suddenly reminded of his own younger brother back home, eagerly waiting for him.

“I know it’s dangerous.”
“Then why are you out in the middle of no where? Our men are retreating, but it doesn’t make it any safer for you.”
“I’m going home. I had to stop and get some food.”
“Where’s home?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere near the old border.”
“You’re trying to get that far, in – in – with you like – like this?”
“Yes. Why not?”

Gympi split open an apricot and offered the soldier half.

The soldier was amazed at the boy’s boldness and determination, as he took the apricot half. It was obvious that every movement he made was painful and that he could barely walk, and despite that, he was prepared to travel the hundred kilometres or so back toward the border.

A yell from the truck made him look up. His partner gestured angrily and urgently.

“We can give you a lift. We’re heading toward Thistlowood and should get there sometime late tonight if all goes well.”

God knew that this boy would never make it that distance in his current condition.

“We can’t take you into the town itself or we’ll get ourselves into trouble, but we can drop you off just outside the town. What do you think?”

Cocking his head to one side, Gympi shrugged.

“Ok.”
“Here, let me help you.”

Wordlessly, Gympi handed the soldier his heavy bag of apricots, ignoring any attempts to help him and pulled himself upright, using his crutches and the bush.

Understanding, the soldier restrained himself from putting his hand out to steady Gympi as he wobbled dangerously before jamming the crutches beneath his arms.

“Hurry up, Hansol. They’ll catch up with us any moment now!”
“Hang on, help me get this boy into the truck. He’s headed for Thistlowood too.”
“What?”
“You can go without me if you want.”
“No, no, Gympi. We’ll take you with us. Here, get in.”
“Hansol, of all the stupid little-”
“Shut up, Toby. This boy would have tried to get there on his own anyway, whether we stopped to help him or not, and I’m not willing to leave him for those jumped up, nervous bastards of his own country to shoot and find out what they’d done after. Especially the way he moves on the ground. They might mistake him for a commando.”
“Don’t talk so loud, he might hear you.”

Both men turned around to look at Gympi, to find him curled up in the back, in an exhausted slumber.


The truck stopped suddenly, bucking and shaking with the impact. Gympi found himself being thrown around in the back of the truck. Pain and whirling colours obscured his vision before he came to a rest with a squish, on top of his bag of apricots. It was dark.

Carefully pulling himself upright, and wincing, Gympi knew that the two soldiers in the front seat were dead. It was obvious by the angle at which their bodies were resting in. There was a screech of tyres and voices shouting orders. His country men must have caught up. Trying to drag himself toward the door made him gasp with pain. He wondered whether he’d broken more bones.

The back of the truck doors were flung wide open and cold air rushed in.

“There’s a boy in the back!”
“A boy?”
“God knows what they were going to do with him.”
“He’s injured. Quick, get him out!”
“Good thing we stopped them in time!”
“My God, look at his legs! What have they done to this child?”
“Hurry, the truck could explode any moment now!”

Gympi felt hands lift him and he groped around for his crutches.

“It’s all right kid, we’ve got you. It’s all right.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Crutches.”
“No worries, kid. I’ve got them.”

He heard a whimper that didn’t sound like his own voice.

“Shh, it’s all right kid. We’ve just gotta get clear of that truck before she blows.”

A massive explosion ripped through the night and in that flash, Gympi saw the truck’s cabin almost literally wrapped around a tree trunk, erupt in a blast of fire. The soldier carrying him stumbled and fell. Gympi cried out and gritted his teeth, struggling to get out from under the weight of the soldier.

The soldier rolled off him and apologised.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s ok, it’s ok.”

Gympi lay on the ground, panting. Willing the pain back into its box. Lifting his head, he struggled to sit upright, but froze the moment he heard the whine of a bullet thud into the ground beside him.

“Snipers!”
“Head for those trees, kid! We’ll hold them off. Head for the trees!”

The soldier helped Gympi stumble toward the trees and then whipped around and threw himself into the cover of the nearest bush as soon as he was out of harm’s way.

“The bastards!”

Too tired and sore to move from behind the tree, Gympi lay there, listening to the whine of bullets and return fire, the curses and shouts of the soldiers and the occasional scream as they were hit. Battle was not a nice place to be.


He woke up to silence. Looking around the tree, the soldiers were gone. They’d forgotten him and taken the bodies of their comrades with them. He spotted his crutches lying near where the burnt truck was still wrapped around the trunk of a tree and dragged himself toward them.

No water, no drink bottle, no bag, and all his precious apricots wasted. At least he still had his crutches. At least he was still alive and closer to home than he had been.

Heaving himself up onto the crutches, he buckled under the unexpected sharp pain. It took 3 hours and many attempts before he was able to stand and another hour or so before he could swing himself further into the safety of the trees.

After a long, careful look at his surroundings, Gympi knew exactly where he was. He wasn’t far from Thistlowood, but still far away enough to know that it would still take him a long time… and he had no food or water. Licking his dry lips, Gympi wondered what happened after death. Would it be just a dark oblivion? Or was there a heaven like the Bible said? He liked the idea of heaven better than oblivion.

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (7)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi

Two soldiers, Big D and Little D had lost their entire platoons. They didn’t know what to do or where to go, but at least they still had each other. They’d happened across Thistlowood by accident and suddenly realised where they were. The lost children had found them and been so excited to see them, thinking that their own countrymen would soon be taking back their town. The children happily brought them food and any other essentials that they needed. The two soldiers hated the idea of telling them that they didn’t know what was happening at the war front right at this moment.

Despite avoiding their questions, the children loved these two soldiers, and had showed them everything and told them everything that was happening in the town. Soon the two lost soldiers knew all the hide-outs, all the secret ways around town and all about Jessica and Spyri, although they were still to meet the mysterious saviour of children. There was nothing they could do for Jessica, but if only they could meet the silent shadow that nobody could catch, they might be able to do some worthwhile sabotage in town and help get rid of the enemy.

Then one day, Spyri left them a working two-way radio. Big D and Little D wanted to find out who this silent mysterious, elusive person was, but first, they had to report back to their countrymen that they were still alive and had found themselves amongst almost all that was left of the town of Thistlowood’s children, hiding in the hills. They had to meet this Spyri and thank him some time.

“Stay where you are and stay out of sight,” their CO had ordered. “Use guerrilla tactics, but try not to get any of the children involved, we don’t want them getting hurt. We should be able to push the enemy back to the town within a few weeks. We’ll try organise a way to evacuate the children before that happens. Report back every six hours.”

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (6)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi

Jessica turned her pale head to look out her window. She hadn’t been outside for months now and wondered how the children were holding up. No doubt, Spyri was looking after them well. Who was Spyri? She wondered. She’d managed only to catch a few glimpses of his tall, strong build in the shadows and that reminded her of Stuart Mendleton, but all the Mendletons had died during the Night of Burning, just as all of the Cottons had been burnt alive in their house. None of them had survived.

She missed Andrew Cotton and his cheerfulness. Ever since he had saved her from Stuart in First Grade, she’d had a crush on him, although he’d never seemed to notice. If only she had told him, but then if she had, he’d probably have just laughed at her, which would have been worst.

No crutches were available, all of them had been sent to the hospitals which had run short of them. Nobody could spare any for a young girl like her. Her father had been a pawn of the enemy ever since and she detested the fact that everyone in town must look down upon him as a traitor, more than they ever had before. He’d always been the informer type, only looking after his own interests. It was because he loved her and he didn’t want the soldiers to hurt her again. She was his weak spot and she hated herself for being her father’s downfall.


From a-far off, Spyri watched Jessica through her window. He felt sorry for her, but there was nothing he could do, especially when it had really been his fault. People said that she had a slim chance of ever being able to walk again. Of course, he’d heard of what had happened, but despite that couldn’t help feeling disgusted at her father. No one had any doubts now, whom the town’s main informer was, but no one wanted to get on the bad side of the grocer who distributed everyone’s daily rations. Besides, Mr Frilby probably hated himself for betraying his own people more.

He looked down at the two-way radio he’d managed to steal from the enemy’s store with a smug smile. So much for their increased security. The four guards the enemy had left to guard the store room had been well and truly drunk when he’d crept in. So drunk that they’d fallen into a nice stupor. Spyri hoped that they would choke on their own puke and be shot for not doing their job properly.

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (5)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi - Part 5

Looking back over his shoulder, Gympi gave one last glance at the hospital where he had spent the last few weeks of his life. His legs still hurt, and he had the feeling that they never would stop hurting. Even Dr Stonehed had just shaken his head and apologised for being unable to do anymore for him. Ideally, the legs should be surgically broken and realigned again, but there was neither the time nor the bed space for Gympi to remain in the hospital anymore.

Once the area had been retaken over by his own countrymen and secured, Gympi was promptly forgotten. Another pair of crutches had been given to him and he’d been told that someone would come shortly to take him to where another hundred or so war orphans were being looked after. Gympi didn’t want to go there. He wanted to go home.

After quietly teaching himself to deal with the constant pain and how to walk gingerly with his new roughly made crutches, Gympi decided to head out. It seemed impolite of him to not thank the Alison or Dr Stonehed, stealing from the hospital rations, after all they had done for him, but they would have tried to stop him. Gympi was going home. Nobody could stop him. Not even his own two crooked legs. Not the long distance between Murnabeem and Herrick. It was going to be a long journey home.

Never mind that, he liked travelling on his own two feet. He was sure that travelling was all he’d ever wanted to do before the war anyway. A stirring breeze whipped stiffly through the almost bare branches of the trees, creating a haunting melody. A song sprang unbidden to his lips and he wondered where the song had come from. He’d never sung it before and yet it seemed so familiar.

“Sun a-shining in the sky,
Looking down on happy flowers,
Watching laughter,
Bathed in warmth,
Singing, dancing,
Smiling.
Wind a-breezing through the trees,
Tickling leafy boughs,
Oh, that life would ever be,
Full of joy and song.”

Gympi shrugged and smiled to himself despite the pain. He was going home. Maybe not to Herrick. Thistlowood had seemed much nicer and had ever so many more hiding places around it than Herrick. Anyway, it was closer.

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (4)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi - Part 4

Spyri was lonely. It was 9 months since the war had begun and he was feeling very lonely. He watched the other children play games and talk to each other, but he never had anyone to talk to. Everyday, he, like all the other children of the town worked hard to find food enough for themselves. He always searched for extra things that he could leave in the caves for the other children. Every attempt they had made to find out who he was had failed. He was too wary and it usually ended with him leaving something behind for them and silently slipping away.

He was ashamed to show himself to them, mindful of how he had been before the war had started and his looks now. The right side of his face had been burnt and was now scarred from when he had escaped from his burning house. Nobody would have been able to recognise him now. His mother and father had almost thrown him out a window, through the fire, in a desperate attempt to save their youngest son. Not long afterward, the roof had collapsed. After sitting a while, crying, he had heard screams of other children and parents, trying to escape from their burning homes or from the whining bullets of enemy fire. A sudden thought had come to him and without further thought for his own safety; he had gone to save as many of his townsmen as he could.

He constantly berated himself for being so weak. He had only been able to save the younger children, being yet too small to save the older teenagers or adults. Nightmares of that night tormented him almost every time he went to sleep and the only thing that made him feel as if he were making up for not saving more of them was to try and help the children he had saved, survive.

The children had noticed that the enemy were becoming more and more uptight about something. They heard news that their own countrymen were coming to save them and sweep the enemy back into their own country. They had also found that it was now getting too dangerous to go out into town to forage for food. The enemy soldiers were unpredictable and would do sudden things to an unsuspecting child.

Spyri and Jessica Frilby were the main sources of food for the children now. Being the daughter of the town grocer, the man who had been given all the food stores to take care of, she was often able to take some food for the others. Her father, Stanton, turned a blind eye to her activities and only made sure that she never took enough to be noticed. He just rearranged any paper work to cover up for the loss of any food.

The war was beginning to turn and the enemy were still deciding on their next move.

Spyri stealthily crept into the enemy storeroom. It was dark, but he knew where everything was. He selected a few choice foods and wrapped them in a few blankets and spare clothes. He had seen these supplies arrive just earlier this morning. He quietly tied his bundle to his back and slipped out the window after a quick check to see if all was clear. Spyri hurried down the street, and pressed himself into the dark shadows of an empty house.

A car stopped outside the storeroom. Doors slammed and some enemy soldiers went into the building.

Loud shouts arose.

“Where have the extra blankets gone?”
“Who took the cheese and bread that just arrived this morning?”

A light flashed up and down the street.

“Thieving kids!”
“How do you know it’s the kids? It could be one of the civilians or one of our men as well!”
“Get onto Frilby, and get him to find out whether one of the civilians has been sneaking around. He’ll know. We’d better order a pop search of our men. We can’t keep losing things like this.”

Spyri waited until the commotion had settled down and then ran off in the direction of the caves. He didn’t realise that he was being followed by a shadow as silent as himself.

He set the Spyri branded items down in the usual place and decided to call it a night. As he was setting off to his own hide out, a voice called out to him and stopped him.

“I saw that,” said a girl’s voice. “So you’re Spyri.”

Spyri recognised Jessica Frilby’s voice. Her voice had woken some of the children sleeping in the caves up. They stirred and began to come out to see what was going on.

Spyri slid into a moon shadow and disappeared.

“Spyri? Spyri was here?”

Children emerged rubbing their eyes.

“What’s going on Jess?”
“I just saw Spyri rob the enemy and bring you some stuff.”
“What did he bring?”
“It’s too dark to see, we’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Say Jess, won’t you get into trouble if you’re dad finds out you’re not at home?”
“Aww, he won’t care.”

Jessica let herself back into her house quietly. The lights were still on. That wasn’t a good sign.

Rough hands suddenly grabbed her and she screamed.

“So. You’re the thief.”

Jessica looked up into the faces of the soldiers that had checked the store room earlier.

“No, I- , it wasn’t me! It was one of the other kids!”
“Spoken just like a thief. Do you know what we do to thieves? Why don’t you tell her, Stanton? She’s your daughter after all.”
“Where have you been, Jess?” her father moaned. “What have you done?”
“Tell her what happens to burglars!” one of the soldiers kicked Jessica’s father, who was sitting at the table with his head in his hands.

“D-don’t kill her! Please don’t kill my daughter!” Stanton pleaded desperately with the soldiers. “I’ll tell you anything you want, but please, don’t kill my daughter. She’s all I have left.”
“Hmmm. Anything, eh?” the soldier smiled evilly. “Let’s get started then. If your answers aren’t good enough, you know what we’ll do.”

He gestured at Jessica meaningfully.

The soldiers soon received all the information he wanted on the actions and views of all the other townsfolk. It was just before dawn when they left to arrest several other townsfolk and left Stanton weeping over his unconscious daughter who was lying with both legs bent at a grotesque angle.

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (3)

The Legend of Spyri and Gympi (Part 3)

It wasn’t long before the boy was back at the school with loads of washing in front of him again, singing about his wrinkly fingers again, trying to ignore the pain in his leg. The soldiers laughed to see him swinging about on his crutches while somehow hanging up washing and fondly named him, Gympi. Almost every night, they would call him to come and tell them a story or sing them a few songs. He solemnly told them stories about what would be happening in their homes, animals in the wild, nonsense stories like an argument between soap bubbles and sang songs about anything and everything. He reminded the soldiers of their families far away in their own country.

He was there when the Commander in Chief arrived to inspect what was going on, although he didn’t realise when he had driven in. The Commander in Chief had not been deterred from coming to see the font lines for himself, despite the unstable position. All the soldiers in the school were standing at attention when they heard a clear voice singing about three frogs in a well.

“Are there any soldiers here missing?” The Commander in Chief demanded.

“No sir!”

“Then who, may I ask, is that singing?”

“It must be our washer boy, sir!” Major Peneer answered.

“Your washer boy?” the Commander in Chief said incredulously. “Why do you need a washer boy? Don’t your soldiers have their own hands to wash with?”

“He washes the soldiers’ clothes, sir and kills all the confounded lice for us.”

“I see. Why is he here?”

“Hello sir,” the boy had come up behind the Commander in Chief silently, startling him.

“What? Who-”

“Hello sir, I’m Gympi, the washer boy and former runner in the front lines. I stowed away on a truck to get here and have been helping out ever since. The place seemed rather quiet, so I came to see what was going on. Nice to meet you, sir,”

Gympi stuck out his hand and the Commander in Chief shook it firmly, despite his surprised frown.

“I see. How long have you been helping out?”

“Almost 3 months, sir.”

“You had your crutches before then?”

“Oh no, sir. I only just got the crutches three days ago, after I woke up in hospital.”

“And how did you get into hospital?”

“I was acting as a runner while the communication lines were down, sir.”

“He saved my life from a lucky artillery shot, sir,” Major Peneer put in.

The Commander in Chief drew his breath in sharply through his teeth. “You saved the Major’s life? Did you stow away on a truck from over the old border? Are you one of our own boys?”

“No sir. Sorry, but definitely not. I stowed away at Heckler Camp. I think I grew up near Herrick.”

“Then what’s your real name?”

Gympi shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“How old are you?”

“I think I’m 12.”

The Commander in Chief turned abruptly on the Major.

“What were you doing, using such a young boy as a runner? An enemy boy even! He might have sabotaged something. War is no place for a boy.”

“I wouldn’t do that sir,” Gympi interrupted. “Much as I don’t like war, I reckon that helping out is better than starving. Perhaps I could even remind people of home and help to stop the war. Help make peace, you know. I don’t understand what the war’s about, but I’m sure that you’d all rather be safely at home than here.”

“True enough, Gympi. You can go and finish your washing now.”

“I’ve finished it already, sir.”

“Then run along, I haven’t finished inspecting the men.”

Gympi pivoted about on his crutches, about to leave and do some sewing that needed doing. He stopped a moment, with strange look on his face.

“Sorry sir. I can’t run and I won’t be able to when they get here in a few hours. They’re coming to take the school back. I suggest you leave right now, if you value your life.”

“What’s that you say?” the Commander in Chief asked sharply.

“I knew you were a spy,” Captain Isenskowl snarled, drawing his gun.

“Ears are very useful things,” Gympi replied holding up his hand. It was a gesture of authority one didn’t normally see in a child, “if you use them properly. Listen.”

It was quiet, but for the rustling of the wind in trees and the tramping of feet.

“They picked a good day to make an advance.”

A watchman sounded the alarm. The alarm sounded louder than usual in the stillness of the day. The enemy had been sighted.

“You should get out now, while you still can, sir!”

The Commander in Chief looked out at his men and shook his head. “I should have listened to the Martial. Never mind, I have been on the back lines for a long time. No good leader leads from behind. It’s about time I showed these men that I can still fight. Fetch me an ordinary soldier’s uniform.”

“Yes sir!” Gympi swung off.

“Men,” the Commander in Chief said. “Today I will be fighting as one of you, and we will hold this post or die fighting. I’m not running off and leaving you to die for me. I’ll not be remembered as a coward. Remember why we are here, who we are and what we are fighting for. Now let’s get ready to meet our enemy!”

Gympi brought back a uniform and the Commander in Chief changed out of his medalled dress uniform into the simple private’s clothes in one of the portable classrooms.

“Gympi. You stay in these portables until the fighting is over. It will be safer in here.”

“Yes sir.”

“You are a very bold and brave boy, Gympi.”

“Thank you sir, I hope you will survive this battle.”

“Thank you Gympi. I hope we will soon have peace again. Perhaps this war was all a big mistake.”


Not long later, the fighting began. Gympi sat hunched up in the most solid corner of the portable he could find, hoping that no stray bullets would find its way in here. How long he had huddled in that corner, he did not know. His mind was off with his imagination, trying to forget the terrifying situation that he was in.

Later that day or was it the next day? Gympi wasn’t sure, that the fighting stopped. He presumed that his countrymen had won this fight, from the sound of banging doors and shouts as if people were searching all the classrooms.

The door to his portable was suddenly flung open.

“There’s a boy in here!” came the shout and Gympi was pulled roughly from his corner.

“It’s a lame kid with crutches.”

“I’ve got a broken leg,” Gympi corrected.

“Did I ask you?” the soldier snarled.

“What are you doing here in the enemy’s camp?” the soldier demanded.

“What have you found?” came a shout from outside.

“A boy with a broken leg!”

Another soldier came in.

“Let me see him, Coombs.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

“What’s your name, kid?”

“Gympi.”

What kind of name is that for a kid?”

“They just called me Boy, before I broke my leg.”

“How old are you?”

“About 12.”

“How did you get here?”

“I came with the enemy, I stowed away on their truck.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to see whether we were winning or not. We couldn’t tell, down in Herrick.”

“You came from Herrick.?”

“Yes sir. I got caught and have been working for the enemy as washer boy and was a runner before I broke my leg.”

“How did you break your leg?”

“I fell into a trench during the bombing.”

“Tell me the messages they had you send.”

“There was nothing important. Just things like when the communication was down or fetching something or needing to get something fixed.”

“A traitor. That’s what this boy is. A traitor,” Coombs sneered.

“I’m not a traitor,” Gympi replied stoutly.

“That’s what you say,” Coombs laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh.

“Leave him alone, Coombs,” the Lieutenant said. “He’s just a boy.”

“Did he fight for us? Did he sabotage anything while he had the chance? Ha, boy?”

“No. I didn’t think of it.”

“Of course not. He’d only have thought of his own skin.”

“Stop it Coombs! Leave him alone. If there is no one else in these rooms, let’s go see to the prisoners.”

“Yes sir,” Coombs said sullenly, casting a yellow eye over Gympi.

“Can I come, sir?” Gympi piped up.

“Well if you want to. It’s not a pretty sight out there. Not a sight for one as young as you.”

“I’ve seen plenty like that before, sir,” Gympi replied.

“Very well then, if you want to.”

“How many prisoners were taken?” Gympi asked as he swung after the Lieutenant and Coombs.

“Only about 15 men.”

“Is that all? Of all the 900 men stationed here, you only managed to capture 15 of them?”

“We killed all the rest of them, didn’t we?” Coombs laughed, making Gympi wince.

“So there were 900 men stationed here. Must’ve been pretty cramped,” the Lieutenant wrinkled his nose.

“It was pretty cramped,” Gympi affirmed, taking care to look only at the ground, not wanting to see any more of the dead and bloodied bodies lying around than he needed to.

The 15 prisoners were only slightly wounded, and looked up when the Lieutenant, Coombs and Gympi came into the room.

“So you’re all right then, are you Gympi?” the Commander in Chief asked. He, the Major, Albert and a few other men had survived.

“Yes sir. I’m fine.”

“Who’s this?” a commanding officer asked.

“A boy we found hiding in the classrooms, Colonel, sir!” the lieutenant replied.

“Well these men did express some concern for a boy that was hiding in the portables. You must be Gympi. The Major here says that you were a washer and messenger boy for them and that you saved his life.”

“Yes sir. That’s right. I’d have done the same for you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t like all this killing.”

“I can understand why.”


Later that night, Gympi was lying awake in the classroom next to the one containing the prisoners, listening to his countrymen celebrating their victory, when he heard someone stumbling into the prisoner’s room, cursing and kicking. Gympi knew that all the prisoners were unable to defend themselves.

Gympi got up and swinging out of his room, rushing into the room next door.

“Stop it! Stop it!” he shouted. “Isn’t it enough that they are your prisoners? Would you want to be in their position? Stop it!”

Somebody with breath reeking of alcohol, grabbed Gympi, and thrust his face in Gympi’s.

“If it isn’t the little traitor,” Coombs slurred. “Well, if you don’t want them to be hurt, then you certainly will, you little sneak. Hey mates, here’s one turned bad. He helped the enemy, so he’s got to be one of them right?”

“Right!” came the hoarse voices of other men.

Somebody snatched the crutches from Gympi’s hands. Another punched him in the stomach. Gympi fell down. Boots kicked and crunched. The other prisoners tried to stop them, but were just thrown off, kicked severely and told to stay put. Somebody had taken up his crutches and was hitting him with them. Snap! Something broke.


Gympi groaned. His eyes felt painfully dry and everything hurt. He could hear moans around him and a few screams. Sounds like the hospital, he thought. He tried to open his eyes, but it was as if a great weight had been placed on them and it was a great effort to even try. He gave up and drifted back into oblivion.

Gympi opened his eyes and struggled to sit up. He screamed in pain and fell back down on the bed.

“Hello,” said a cheerful voice. “How are you feeling?”

“Water,” Gympi croaked.

“Here you go, dear.”

Someone handed him a glass of warm water and helped him sit up carefully.

“Thanks,” Gympi was about to gulp it down when a hand stayed him.

“Wait. You have to drink slowly or you’ll make yourself sick.”

“Aren’t I already sick?” Gympi whispered, taking the sip allowed him by the hand.

“I’m Alison. Do you remember me?”

“Umm.”

“Maybe not? You were here last time when you broke your leg. Since then, this hospital’s been taken back by your own countrymen.”

“Oh.”

“Ah. The hero’s awake now, is he?” Doctor Stonehed came bustling up, trying to find the end of a roll of bandages he had somehow tangled up.

“Here sir, I’ll do that,” Alison smiled, taking the bandages from the doctor’s fumbling attempts, quickly untangling it and rolling it back up neatly.

“Never seem to be able to get it right,” he mumbled to himself. “Thank you Alison.”

The doctor leaned in closer so that Gympi could hear his soft words, “Between us, the Commander in Chief and Major Peneer thank you for stopping your soldiers from killing them that night. You’ve become a real hero in our country. I would like to thank you too, for saving their lives.”

Gympi blinked.

“Oh. Umm.”

Doctor Stonehed smiled.

“Your father would be very proud if he knew you were so brave, Gympi.”

“My father…? Do you know him?”

“No, but I would be very proud of you if I were your father. Also the Commander in Chief and Major Peneer managed to escape back across the border a few days ago, while you were out of it. They got lucky. Apparently there was an accident in Danwick, but they managed to escape with minimal injuries.”

“O-oh.”

“You’re tired. You’ve been ill this past week. Go back to sleep. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”

“Yes sir.”

“Close your eyes.”

Gympi obeyed. The doctor was a good man.


Gympi’s stomach growled. It growled very loudly.

“Good morning, Gympi. That’s your name now isn’t it?” Alison said cheerfully. “I brought you some breakfast.”

Alison helped Gympi to sit up carefully and gave him some breakfast.

“You eat slowly now, ok kid? I’ll be back later to collect your dishes. I’ve got to feed the other men too,” Alison wheeled a trolley between beds, handing out breakfast to the men that could not get up and walk to the kitchen themselves.

Gympi looked around as he ate. His room contained more beds than it was originally made for. Most of the other patients in his room were other soldiers with various injuries. Some were groaning in pain, some were quiet and still. Still others, like him were awake and thoughtful, munching on the buns they’d been given for breakfast. There was also a smell of dirt and infected wounds, smells that a hospital seldom had before the war had begun.

“Finished?” Alison had come back and was loading trays and dishes back onto the trolley.

“Yes. Thanks,” Gympi replied. His stomach growled aloud thankfully.

Alison laughed.

“The doctor will be along soon, to check on everyone in this room. So sit tight a little longer. You’re not in too much pain?”

Gympi shook his head and winced.

Alison nodded understanding, “The doctor will see to it.”

She trundled off, talking cheerfully to other patients.

Doctor Stonehed entered the room and inspected his patients. Followed by another man and a nurse, he directed changes of bandages or helped patients to sit up in bed. Eventually he came to Gympi.

“Good morning, Gympi. How are you feeling?”

Gympi shrugged. “Sore. It hurts to move.”

Doctor Stonehed nodded to the nurse, who gave Gympi a tablet and a glass of water.

“Unfortunately we don’t have many painkillers, but we’ll let you have this one. I’m sure you understand that we can’t give everyone much pain relief, but this should last you a little while. Now, let’s see how all your injuries are going.”
Doctor Stonehed prodded and poked Gympi gently. Changing a bandage here and there.

“Luckily for you,” he said as he made sure that the plaster on both of Gympi’s legs was not too tight, “that we had just got a new batch of plaster when you came in. You were pretty well broken up, so it might all take a little while to heal.”

After he had finished, Doctor Stonehed smiled, though there was a shadow of uncertainty about it this time.

“You’ll be fine. As I told you last time, young people like you always spring back to shape quite quickly. Now, try to sit up for the rest of the day if you can manage it, ok? Well, I must be off now. See you later Gympi.”

The doctor, his assistant and nurse went to the next bed, leaving Gympi alone.


Gympi slowly swung his heavy legs over the edge of the bed and let them dangle. They throbbed and he pulled them back up with effort. He wished he could remember who he was and where he came from. He wished he wasn’t in the hospital and that the war had never started. He wished he was back at home, but where was home? He wanted his mother, but all he could remember of her was a warm presence.