Andy Rothwell - The Lambshank Redemption

Copyright 2019 Andy Rothwell The moral right of the author has been asserted. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Matador 9 Priory Business Park, Wistow Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire. LE8 0RX Tel: 0116 279 2299 Email: books@troubador.co.uk Web: www.troubador.co.uk/matador Twitter: @matadorbooks ISBN 9781838599997 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Matador is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd For my big sister, Julie. The one who tells me to keep on writing. THANK YOU.

Once upon a time, in fields of green, lived a lamb, in a place so serene, shire type country, many rolling hills, meadows of flowers, and scattered windmills, the lamb has a name, Minty she is called, each new day she is enthralled, jumping and prancing most of the day, being happy with friends, playing the day away. Once upon a time, in fields of green, lived a lamb, in a place so serene, shire type country, many rolling hills, meadows of flowers, and scattered windmills, the lamb has a name, Minty she is called, each new day she is enthralled, jumping and prancing most of the day, being happy with friends, playing the day away.

Minty lives on a farm, many animals filled, the farmhouse is of grey stone build, old farmer Joe and wife live alone, loving their animals, cruelty never known, their children have grown, and gone away, sometimes, they do come back to stay, but not for long, they have important careers, and must return quickly, despite mothers tears. Two sheep dogs and a tomcat roam free, avoiding each other as much as can be, Jasper and Sammy, the dogs are named, both now retired, age and injury maimed, the cat is called Ginger, a powerful young beast, vicious and cruel, always hunting for a feast, a gingerest of ginger, yellow menacing eyes, claws of razors, to all he defies. One day, with sunny blue skies, without a cloud, for the sun to disguise, Ginger struts confidently through the farm, thinking no animal dare do him harm, Ginger and the dogs meet in the yard, Jasper and Sammy quickly on their guard. The dogs are teased by the cat, You are both old, useless, and grow fat! Jasper stares at Ginger, with great disdain, then speaks quietly, for Gingers attention to gain, You are young and foolish, without any fear, your end will come soon, you grow too cavalier. Ginger looks each dog in the eye, then really lets his insults fly, Out of my way decrepit hounds, your creaking bones soil this ground, you should be shot, and laid to rest, you cannot work, youth dispossessed. Jasper and Sammy may be old, but can still fight, and can still be bold, together as one, they stalk the cat, barring fangs, growling and all that, Ginger starts to hiss, and wave his tail, as the dogs grow closer, Ginger starts to wail.

Suddenly, Minty comes charging through, leading her friends to pastures new, farmer Joe follows, with two young working dogs, Ben and Harvey, sons of the retired older dogs, many lambs follow, jumping with delight, one lands on Ginger, giving him quite a fright. So much so, he leaps into a barn, where two giant horses stand, having a yarn, Hayley and Hubert they are called, proud and powerful, ready to scald, one is black and one is white, they stand and snigger in pure delight. Why so scared of a gentle, little lamb? So much so it makes you scram, tomcat, tomcat, wild as a rat? No, not you! You are just a scared, scaredy cat! Hubert mocks Ginger, then laughs out loud, the horses dislike of Ginger, can never be unbowed, Jasper and Sammy watch on from outside, their amusement, they cannot hide. Also watching out of sight, two tiny creatures sitting upright, down in the corner, is Mr. and Mrs. mouse, Marvin and Mable, outside their house, Ginger has taken all their offspring this year, retribution, they would hold dear.

Ginger is extremely angry, he has lost face, he makes his exit slowly, but still with some grace, his mind is racing, he plots his revenge, his embarrassment, he must avenge. Those pesky lambs, the one at the front, Minty, she is the one I shall confront, Ginger says quietly as he walks on, towards the meadow, and the lambs thereon. Through the farm, Ginger makes his way, past animal pens, strewn with hay, chickens, goats and ponies, pigs in mud too, Ginger says, licking his lips, Perfect for stew! Birds in aviaries, squeak and squawk, owls and hawks watch Ginger walk, all animals kept clean, tidy and proper, no chance any will come a cropper. Ginger reaches the meadow, then steps onto the grass, a stunning place, surely nothing can surpass, the meadow is large, many colourful flowers abound, a perfect summers day has been crowned, in the centre, a large pond sits, life aplenty it permits, fish underwater, turtles on top, birds above fly speedily, non stop. At the far side of the meadow, sits a wood, a foreboding place, that is misunderstood, myth and legend shroud this place, the stories now told are greatly misplaced, beyond, on the horizon, something to admire, tis the monstrous hill of Pendleshire. and Mrs. and Mrs.

Mandarin duck, have lost a chick, somewhere it is stuck, Ginger spots movement in the grass, he rushes over, for the chick to harass. The chick is innocent, with soft fluffy hair, and is new to life, therefore blissfully unaware, of the predator that lurks nearby, with intent to strike, for the chick to die. Ginger torments and teases the scared chick, tossing it high into the air, flick after flick, Ginger decides to end this game, tis time for another life to claim. But suddenly it is Ginger who rises high into the sky, surely he has never jumped so high, he screams out and wails in pain, what is happening? His fear he cannot contain, Ginger lands by the waters edge, still in shock, instantly, he suffers a vigorous knock, as Minty and pals race past playing, Minty bumps into Ginger, sending him splaying, into the water, so cold and deep, he splashes wildly, before up the bank he creeps. Gingers attacker walks slowly into sight, Hamish the Grey Heron, a huge bird full of might, Hamish is Scottish and just passing through, he hates cats and the needless killing they do. Ginger is wet, soggy and cold, and is not now feeling quite so bold, as the mighty bird walks his way, a huge orange dagger like beak, leads the way.

Hamish stands looking down, then speaks with contempt and a frown, You only attack what cannot fight back, you kill for pleasure, not for a snack, you are not wild, and are well fed, you are small and pampered, with a cosy bed, come near this pond ever again, I shall peck your eyes out, and enjoy your pain, be away with you, foul cat, you stain this wonderful habitat. Hamish then lunges at Ginger, his beak almost hits, Ginger jumps into the pond, his humiliation at new limits, Hamish flies away, the chick returns to mum and dad, Minty and pals look on, what a fun day they have had, upon leaving the pond, raging and downbeat, Ginger glares at Minty, his hatred now complete.