CHAPTER TWENTY REMEMBRANCE
The Characters, places and situations of Doc Martin are owned by Buffalo Pictures. This story makes no claim of remuneration or ownership, nor do I make any attempt to infringe upon any rights of the owners or producers.
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While Emily and James travel to Belgium to visit her grandparents we will see how James and Arthur Couch became good friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The pavement was quite treacherous as I made my way back to my dwelling to pack for our trip. Emily's grandmother was very happy that we could make a quick visit. It would take us five hours on the train and we could simply rest. Taking the car would be tense and considering the weather, quite unsafe. Fortunately the Tube station was close to Emily's and after that we would be under cover. We were well on our way by midday. As we settled into our seats and were on the long stretch from London to Belgium, Emily dozed and I simply watched the bleak winter countryside. I thought of Artie - back at hospital working his arse off so I could do this. Could he be the kid I once had truly detested? Now he was my best mate, hands down. Watching barren fields and stone walls passing I let my mind wander.
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It takes 80 calories per gram of energy to melt ice. The sun accomplishes that quite efficiently. Little known is the concept of pressure thawing. It is what happens when an ice screw under pressure, such as supporting a 180 pound human, begins to loosen. It is called pressure melting and is the reason we find ourselves in a dire predicament.
We were on a winter climbing expedition at the Salamander Gully, not far from the Bridge of Orchy in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The "we" are Arthur Couch, Tristan Kinghorn and myself, James MacEllingham, to be right Scottish about it. Salamander Gully is a Grade III climb that includes vertical ice. While we know that a rock climber does not an ice climber make, we had done this once before in Ireland and were well equipped.
I was barely conscious hanging upside down on an ice face. My helmet had cracked and my left shoulder hurt terribly. Obviously the ice screw supporting me had pulled out and I had fallen some ten meters and hit an outcropping of ice very hard. I remember wondering how long a person can hang upside down before they die.
We were eventually assisted by a search and rescue team and were able to get down. That was easier said than done. It took Artie and Tristan several hours to get me to an area where we could bivouac for the night. We hoped the area was stable as it was dark when we settled at the base of the vertical ice. It was cold and miserable and I was fairly certain I had a fracture and probably a concussion. It was dark again the next day when under our own handicapped effort and the help of three S and R climbers we were able to get back to the village. The next morning I went to hospital in Glasgow with my hurting head and fractured and wrenched shoulder.
On the train back to Cornwall I told Arthur we had to get out of this saving each other business. His response, "James, where's the fun in that?" Tristan added that he understood there were some very good trails on the coast of Wales and we might enjoy that come July.
Why is this in my story of Arthur and our friendship? Well, you need to know that over time we three were inseparable. It really was one for all and all for one. We had many such adventures together including other winter climbs. It didn't have to be exciting. We thoroughly enjoyed being three blokes with three pints.
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So there we were, sitting, facing each other. We had already been assigned a week's detention for fighting. My father insisted that we sit facing each other for at least thirty minutes of that time every day. We were two boys who detested each other. We sat in total silence for two days. Well into the third period in hell Arthur spoke.
"James, I don't know why I hurt your sister. I regret it and I am sorry."
This was not good. Sometimes hate feels good and you do not want it to go away. I could think he really didn't mean it, but it sounded like he meant it and his face said that he was sincere. I suppose keeping hatred is like a snake swallowing his own tail. Eventually the snake has destroyed himself.
"Arthur, why? Why do you bully kids? You can't just say you don't know why."
"I guess I want people to see me. No one pays any attention to me, James. I do not have one friend."
"You are not around much, are you? You miss a lot of school."
"My dad makes me go out on the boat with him. Says it will keep him from having to pay a helper. Don't get me wrong, James. My dad is a good man. He works hard. It has been really bad since Mum died. Dad drinks a lot at night and when he does that, he is not himself. Really bad actually. And yeah, I miss a lot of school. I am failing my maths right now."
There it was. I so fought against my ill will falling away. But one can only override an automatic pilot so long. The ship will eventually right itself. And then I said it. The voice was mine, but the words were Mum's. "Arthur, I could help you with your maths if you would like."
For the next two days of detention we talked a good bit. We did spend some time on school work and agreed he would come to the house and we would study together. Arthur became a person hard to hate. We actually had some laughs together.
Then there was the night when someone was throwing pebbles at my window.
I looked out and it was Arthur who asked me if he could come in. I let him in and he was holding his face. He had a horrible bleeding bruise on his left cheek.
Dad had heard the movement downstairs and came to see what it was. As he entered he saw Arthur and inquired as to what had happened.
"I fell at home and hit a table. Can you fix it a bit Dr. Ellingham?"
"Don't lie to me Arthur! This was done by a fist. Someone struck you. Who did this?"
"I don't want to get him in trouble. He was drunk and he didn't mean it."
"Who? Who are you talking about. Who did this?"
"My dad. When he gets drunk he changes and is mean. It wasn't so bad before Mum died, but now it is almost every night."
"Arthur, by law I must report this. Let's treat this in my surgery and somehow we will sort it."
My mum had slipped in and overheard the conversation and added to it. "Martin, when you've finished please come back here. Arthur, you may spend the night with James. As Dr. Ellingham has sad, we will find some solutions here."
Mr. Couch resisted any help, but it is amazing how an alternative to spending time in Her Majesty's fine penal facilities looked good to him. My dad's Aunt Ruth agreed to work with Arthur's dad. She was never intimidated by burly criminals. Mr. Couch's brash manner and large frame did not phase her.
So actually our home became a place where from time to time kids who needed a haven from whatever storms assailed them, found their way here. Arthur stayed with me a lot. It was not because he had to. We came to enjoy being together. He was almost like a brother. Sometimes I actually went out with him and his dad for a day of work on their boat. Once I heard Arthur ask my mum why we let all and sundry stay over and I heard her reply, "Well, let's just say we understand. We do understand."
Jenifer Penrose was a friend of my sister. She lived with her elderly aunt because for some reason, unknown to me, her parents sent her here. When her aunt died and she faced going to live with her parents which, again the reason unknown to me, she truly feared. Well she came to live with us for several years and it was as if Joan and I had another sibling. It gave great meaning to, "The more the merrier." At this point my parents are assisting her in attending the university.
For Mum and Dad helping was the norm, not the exception. I simply cannot imagine having a better home than I have had.
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One winter day Artie received his acceptance into medical studies. I was a bit anxious, but three days later I received my own confirmation letter.
"James this is just capital. You know we could go back and climb Salamander Gully to celebrate."
"Yes, we could Artie. Yes, by gosh we could. We could also go to the pub and have a pint."
"OK, a pint it is. And you're buying."
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I realized the train was slowing and we would soon arrive where we would change for the train to Bruges. I kissed Emily on the forehead. As she opened her eyes I told her, "Time to change trains my Love."
"Oh my. I slept hard. Sorry I am not very good company."
"No worry. I was simply lost in my thoughts."
"Won't be long now and we'll be in Bruges. I can't wait for you to meet my
Mémé and Pépé. More than that, I can't wait for them to meet you."