Scrap CH TWO part 20

CH TWO 20
Rosa and Jason are on their fourth load of the day and she is letting him have a go at driving even though he is not old enough. He will have to say he is Danny if they get stopped, but they won’t get stopped because it’s started raining and police officers don’t like getting wet. As long as there is a current tax disc in the window and the vehicle appears to be under control they are happy to sit in their patrol car in a layby and watch the world go by.
As they turn onto the Low Road Jason flashes his headlamps in greeting to Scotty, who is driving in the other direction. Scotty flashes his lights in recognition and gives a cheery wave. ‘I didn’t know he was on this job,’ says Jason, I’ve never seen him driving a tipper.’ Rosa says she didn’t know either but it doesn’t matter who shifts the stuff as long as it gets done. ‘This is going to be a nice little earner,’ she says, ‘the site manager is paying good money to get this lot shifted. The quicker we finish the more we get paid.’
It was Rosa’s idea to tip the mud over the cliffs. The coastline has been eroding for generations and she is certain that nobody will be suspicious when another landslip occurs. She has suggested that someone checks that nobody is on the beach before each load is discharged though.
‘Get out a bit,’ she tells her brother, ‘you’re a bit close to the verge. Keep checking that nearside mirror.’ Jason apologises for almost running into the ditch and pays better attention for the remainder of the journey. Rosa doesn’t want to put him off but she can do without the strain on her blood pressure these days.
Jason wants to tell his sister about his plans but hasn’t been able to invent a suitably believable story for his new-found wealth. He has been exchanging the sovereigns a few at a time with various jewellers and merchants and now has more than £3,000 in his building society account. His second hand car spares business is doing well but not that well. He no longer feels guilty for keeping the hoard a secret and has been working on a plan for his big business venture. This job has made up his mind as to the potential for the idea and before he realises it he is talking about his plan.
‘I’m surprised at how much money there is in dumping rubbish,’ he begins, ‘so I was thinking if I buy a hole in the ground I can get people to pay me for tipping their stuff in it.’ Rosa looks up in surprise; this is a scheme her brother must have been concocting for a while. Maybe that’s why he has been so quiet of late, though she had thought it was due to the changes at the yard. ‘That’s an interesting idea,’ she replies, ‘but where will you find the money to buy this hole in the ground?’
They have reached the site and Jay says he will talk about it later, but this has given Rosa plenty to think about.
Rain continues to drizzle down throughout the day as the tippers trek back and forth with their slithery loads, depositing more and more mud onto the roads as they go. The site foreman has sent a boy out with a hosepipe to sluice away as much as he can but it just spreads the mess over a wider area. So far nobody has made a complaint and the job is nearing completion when Plod arrives on a shiny new bicycle to put his oar in.
After a brief chat with the site manager, the PC cycles off again, his bike lathered in mire and his jacket pocket bulging slightly from the contents of a manila envelope which has been quietly handed over.
The last load makes its way towards the Island and the boy is set to sweeping a path for the workers so their cars don’t get too filthy on the way out. He works away with the hose and stiff yard broom dreaming of the day when he can tell someone else to do this job.
‘You’ve done a good job today,’ Rosa tells her brother, ‘but better let me drive back to the yard just in case.’ Jason gives up his seat and she shuffles across behind the wheel while he gets in the passenger side. There is very little room nowadays between Rosa and the steering wheel but not a word dare be uttered on the subject. ‘So what about this scheme of yours, have you been thinking about it awhile?’
Jason wishes he hadn’t said anything now but the cat is out of the bag so he has to say something. ‘There’s a worked-out quarry for sale not far from our place and they’re not asking much for it so I thought maybe if I can raise the cash I could buy it. I couldn’t afford to build a house yet but I’m sure Ma would be happy for me to stay on while I get the business going. It’s just a matter of a few planning consents and the council are always looking for ways of disposing their rubbish. I reckon it could be a good investment.’
Rosa ponders for a moment before replying; ‘how much are they asking for the quarry? Will you need to get a loan? Maybe Danny and I could help you out if you need it.’ Jason won’t say what the asking price is and insists this is something he wants to do off his own bat. ‘Well I wish you good luck with it then,’ says Rosa, sincerely, ‘and if you do need a hand with anything you only have to ask.’ Jason thanks her for the offer but has no intention of letting anyone else in on this one.
They stop to buy the local paper on the way home and Jason flicks through, reading out the headlines. ‘Shame about those trees along the Low Road,’ he says, ‘that Dutch elm disease has infected nearly all of them. They’re going to start cutting them down next week.’ Rosa agrees it is a shame, ‘I wonder who gets all the timber? It must be worth a bob or two even with the beetles.’ Sadly, neither of them have connections with the timber trade so it won’t be them profiting from the trees’ demise.
After peeling off their boiler suits and boots they get into the warmth of the kitchen where the comforting aroma of stew and dumplings greets them. ‘You’ve time for a bath before dinner,’ calls Orla from the front room. ‘Did you get the local paper for me?’ Rosa takes it through before the two workers head upstairs to clean up.
Jason has a nasty suspicion that somebody has been in his room, and not just to shove the vacuum cleaner round. He locks the door and goes to his hiding place, relieved that it appears not to have been disturbed. Even though he tries to convince himself of his right to keep the gold hoard to himself he cannot entirely get rid of the wave of guilt which sometimes washes over him. Fortunately it always passes and he quietly replaces the treasure before taking his turn in the bathroom.