Two days later a hansom cab was driving down one of England's many bridleways. The setting sun revealed two middle aged men driving it.
"I can't thank you enough for helping me out, Roland old chap. Tell me how I can repay you." Said the man in the bowler hat.
"Andrew, how often do I have to say that it is absolutely no problem to help you out? It's what old comrades do after all." Spoke the bearded man shrugging. "By the way, how was this congress in Exeter, discussed anything interesting? "
"Ah well, most of it is absolute rubbish, but there was an interesting lecture about Romans and stone circles."
"You aren't going to tell me that you archaeologists believe those old folktales, are you?"
"Ha ha, of course not Layton. It was about whether the Romans had part in their abandonment and destruction or not. You see near Rollright…"
The man with the bushy beard smiled while listening to his friend ramble on about archaeological theories.
"By the way, Roland, didn't you grow up in Stansbury? " the shorter man asked.
"I did, why? Was the Wall of Norwell discussed?"
"Professor Rutledge presented his new book about ancient civilisations and the wall played an important role in it. I of course, immediately bought the book only to discover that despite years of research they still don't know anything about it." Both men laughed.
Mr Layton dried his tears. "Oho, Why am I not surprised. I remember that we had to chase some amateurish diggers out because they tried to excavate the wall using dynamite. You guess us villagers weren't too happy when we discovered that."
"You still miss Stansbury?"
"Of course I do. You see I am planning to move back after finishing my business here. Speaking of business. Andrew, you want to see a stone circle yourself?"
The two men parked the wagon and walked up the hill.
"As you can see Andrew, the stone circle is actually c-shaped with its opening facing south."
"Hmm, yes. I suppose it has something to do with the path of the sun."
The two walked around a bit. Dr Schrader poked around here and there and casually made some remarks. Suddenly he was silenced by his friend.
"Shhh, did you hear that?"
They listened again.
"it sounds a bit as if crows are attacking something."
"Not only that, but do you also hear some… moaning?"
"Do you think we need to look what is going on?" The other man nodded in response.
As the two men came closer to the source the moaning grew louder. Some crows were fluttering near a close thicket. Roland brushed the thicket aside and Schrader gasped at the at the sight of what was going on behind the bushes. A small figure in prison clothing lay on the ground surrounded by crows. The black birds made attempts attacking the bleeding figure. The boy weakly tried to move and scare them off but was no match for their sharp bills.
"Good heavens, Andrew!" exclaimed Mr Layton as he shooed the crows away. "Is he even still alive?"
Dr Schrader felt the prisoner's pulse. "I can faintly feel a heartbeat, he'll need medical attention quickly."
Roland turned the prisoner on his back to study his face. "It's hard to see with this dirt, but he's probably the escaped prisoner we were warned for. How long has he been here in a state like this?"
"I think those policemen mentioned he was last seen two days ago. He must be nithered." Dr Schrader took off his coat and lay it over the boy, "Here sonny, this will keep you warm."
The two carefully picked him up and made their way back to the cab. The boy was laid in the back of the wagon.
"Gosh, he looks so young." Sighed Mr Layton.
By the time the two men made their way to the Laytons' residence night had already fallen. The Laytons lived in a cottage were the village stopped and the countryside began. It was therefore that no one saw the two men carrying a small figure to the house.
Mr Layton banged on the door with his free hand. "Lucy open up, we've got someone who needs help, now!"
As soon as his wife opened the door the two friends hurried inside carrying the prisoner by his shoulders and feet. Mrs Layton looked at the small person in shock. The boy's face was deadly pale, his breathing being quick and shallow. His beady brown eyes stared absently in the distance.
"No time to explain. He immediately needs medical attention." said Mr Layton as they laid him on the couch.
Mrs Layton felt the lad's pulse. She gently touched the boy's back where his shirt was all torn and bloody. He winced and cried out in pain. The cause of his suffering couldn't be missed; tiny shiny balls of iron were stuck in his flesh.
"Take him to the kitchen and lay him on the table." said Mrs Layton as she tried to calm the whimpering creature down. "Get some clean towels and prepare a bowl of hot water. I'll fetch the medical instruments and chloroform."
Removing the prisoner's shirt proved to be difficult and painful as the clotted blood made it stuck to the boy's skin. It was no wonder that Mrs Layton decided to sedate him before she even started the operation.
"Turn him on his back and hold him down." She ordered the two bearded men as she poured a smelly substance on a rag. She turned to her patient. "We'll have to put you to sleep, luv. Don't worry, it won't hurt." She covered the boy's nose and mouth with the rag.
The boy tried to fight but was held down by the two strong men. His wild eyes darted around in panic when he smelt the sickly sweet scent of chloroform. Red rings and black spots started to form in his vision.
"That is right dear, take some good deep breaths. You're doing great, we are nearly there." was the last he heard before drifting away in unconsciousness.