Scrap CH TWO part 27

CH TWO 27
Events of the previous night did not exactly go as planned for Harry Tobin. The boat was late arriving and Merck’s men were nervous wondering why the delay. The skipper said he had had to fight the tide to get to the dock and thought he may have been followed part of the way.
The merchandise had been quickly trans-shipped, payment made in cash and the consignment sent on its way but Harry has been rattled on hearing the news on the radio during breakfast and worries that there may be some connection.
A small van arrives with new windows for the tipper and a roll of wire mesh which Harry is going to fix over them. He can’t have a repeat performance of yesterday’s shenanigans or he will be running out of drivers. Beanpole could be out of action for weeks with his injuries and Bob Walker won’t take over without some protection put in place. He works nervously expecting the phone to ring at any minute but all day there is no word from Merck and he relaxes a little as the day goes on, almost forgetting the potential problem. Ken Chapman has offered him one of his drivers if he needs cover so he should be alright.
He jumps in surprise as Jason strolls into the workshop. ‘It’s only me,’ says Jay, ‘you’re a bit touchy aren’t you?’ Harry picks up the screwdriver he dropped on his foot, recovers his composure and greets his visitor. ‘Sorry, I was in a dream world there, didn’t hear you come in. What are you doing creeping up like that anyway?’ Jay says he just felt like a stroll and thought he’d stop by before going home.
‘I hear you’re thinking of buying the old gravel pit,’ says Harry as he fixes the final screw to the wire panel over the window. ‘Word gets around fast,’ Jay replies, ‘I signed the papers half an hour ago actually. The place now belongs to me, all twenty eight acres of it. There are a few old run-down buildings on site but no house yet; I’m going to apply for permission to build a new place. My solicitor says if I need to live on the premises they can’t really refuse me.’ Harry finishes wiping the screwdriver and carefully replaces it in its rack. ‘What can you do with a hole in the ground?’ he asks. ‘Fill it in,’ laughs Jay, ‘what else would it be good for?’ Harry shakes his head, ‘rather you than me, mate; good luck to you that’s what I say. Got time for a cup of tea?’ Jay says that will be most welcome.
‘I’m sure these Wagon Wheels are getting smaller,’ muses Harry as he takes the wrapper off his second and takes a large bite. ‘Has your brother-in-law caught a cold with that crusher do you reckon? I heard that Ford Dagenham is going to stop making steel at the site soon. That’s where he takes most of his scrap, isn’t it?’ Jason smirks slightly as he nods his head in agreement, ‘shame about that after he spent so much money on the equipment. I reckon the price will go down quite a bit if that happens; I’m glad I’m not involved in that side of things. He was so full of himself when he came muscling in with all his big ideas now it looks like becoming redundant.’
Prince jumps up and starts barking as a car draws up outside the workshop, causing Harry to jump again, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Jason. Beanpole Brett steps out and they can see his face is heavily bandaged. ‘I’ve been at the hospital all day,’ says Brett as Harry pours a mug of tea and offers him the last Wagon Wheel. ‘There was a bit of glass in my eye and they had all sorts of medics peering at it and fussing over it. It bloody hurts worse than it did yesterday after all the prodding and poking. And they want to see me again in three days so I bet that means another day wasted hanging around for them to sort themselves out. It’s not easy driving with one eye covered up either; it’s even hard to walk properly ‘cos you can’t see depth, like everything is flat. I don’t fancy being like this for long.’ The other men make sympathetic noises and Jason tells Brett of his new acquisition. ‘I’ll be needing men to help out when we get up and running,’ he says, ‘maybe you can keep your eye out for a good driver for me.’ Brett misses the irony of that statement and says he will bear it in mind.
‘I’ve got a load of farm implements coming in soon,’ says Harry, ‘you can make yourself useful helping me to dismantle them if you want. I can’t pay you the same rate as driving but it’ll tide you over ‘til you get back on your feet.’ Brett finishes his tea and biscuit, thanks his boss as if he is doing him a favour and takes his leave, shadowed by Prince who wants to make sure he is safely off his property and also is hoping for a bit of biscuit but the man has eaten it all. He returns to the shed and gives his master one of his special looks which always makes him feel guilty for eating in front of him. He is rewarded with a slightly stale Rich Tea which he snaps his jaws on without getting up.
Jason says he had better be on his way too; he hasn’t told anyone else about buying the gravel pit and is expecting a less than enthusiastic response from his nearest and dearest.