Billymac

By Paul Douglas

These are the amazing adventures of William MacAndrum, a 14 year old Scottish schoolboy, who inherits `special` powers from Odin, the Norse God, and the incredible ability to travel through time!

On his travels he meets an arch enemy, sent by Odin, who knows he has a `weakness` and they fight across the centuries until Billymac`s destiny is finally revealed.

As Billymac, he transforms into a fully grown warrior and travels to ancient encounters, like the battle at `Stamford Bridge`, Bannockburn and Knorrsgarde, where he fights for what he believes to be the righteous cause.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483545943

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Chapter 1

Expectation

Like any schoolboy whose birthday would be tomorrow, William was far too excited to sleep and lay awake in the upstairs bedroom thinking about the morning and imagining what presents he might be getting. His younger brother had the knack of `nodding off` whenever he wanted to and he was `out like a light` when his head hit the pillow, so William`s thoughts were his own. It was Holiday time but Saturdays were still favourite, and as he would be fourteen it was an extra `special` day, for he would be visiting his grandmother in Fort William, when at last the `secret` of the Long Box would be revealed! Hannah MacAndrum, Granny Drum to the family, had first told him of the secrets existence when he was just seven years old and each birthday since he had been allowed to look at the box but not open it! Tomorrow, he would be the age predicted in the MacAndrum legend, when the Long Box could be opened by the first MacAndrum with fair hair and blue eyes. Rubbing the birth mark on his right ear with anticipation he could hardly wait for morning to come!

William knew his father would be up before dawn, for MacAndrum loved breathing in the salty flavoured breeze sweeping swiftly over the waters of Loch Leven at that early hour, which had so miraculously healed his lungs from the mustard gas poisoning he suffered at the Battle of Ypres (soldiers called it `Wipers`) in 1915, when he was 29 years old. In spite of his excitement but wanting so much to go to the Lochside with his father, William turned over and was soon fast asleep. It was a Friday night during the early summer of 1924. Following a busy day delivering fruit and vegetables from their smallholding to neighbours in outlying districts, we find Ian and Morag MacAndrum relaxing by their living room fireside. With supper finished, William and Robert bathed and tucked up in their beds and the livestock bedded down for the night, Ian and Morag chatted away about the next day`s special event. Out loud and within themselves they reflected upon the past and wondered about the future as they wrapped up the presents they had bought. As William joined his brother in sleep, his parents continued preparing for the trip to Fort William. The MacAndrums were humble homesteaders who could ill afford expensive gifts but the tall black bearded Ian was particularly pleased, that on his last trip, he had been able to afford the `Sgian Dubh` that William had so much admired in the Kiltmakers shop during their `spring` visit. Surprisingly, McCue had let him have it for just a few pounds when he heard it would be young MacAndrums 14th Birthday on the 6th of August! Ian recalled how William had spent an hour or so looking at tartan plaids, kilts and all manner of highland dress but was suddenly drawn to McCues`s collection of dirks and stocking knives which were kept in a glass fronted cabinet in the northeast corner of the shop. On the centre shelf, in full view, had rested a most unusual dagger. It had a red haft with a recessed top and a gleaming double-edged steel blade. A large `B` was engraved on one side and embedded in the centre of the red wood handle on the other side was the most beautiful sapphire, almost half an inch in diameter! It was truly the most awesome thing William had ever seen! Noting the lad was taken with it, McCue had let the boy hold the dagger for a couple of seconds before returning it to the shelf and locking the cabinet, remarking that the stone seemed a wee bit loose. Those two seconds had been just enough to activate Odin`s magic. William told his father how he longed to have it for his own but Ian explained, that beautiful though it was, priced at £20, it must remain in the Kiltmaker`s cabinet and that he, William, must content himself with just the looking! At home in Glen Nevis, Granny Drum thought she saw a flash of light coming from the attic at the very moment William had held the dagger but she put it down to the sunlight and thought no more about it!

As Ian wrapped the precious blade that evening, he thought again how fortunate he was to get such a bargain and of McCue`s sudden generosity. Mostly though, he imagined the joy on his son`s face when he unwrapped it! William`s mother always untied her hair in the evenings and now as she knelt by the fire putting the finishing touches to her present, her blonde tresses kept falling forwards getting in the way of her busy fingers.

Have you not done up that present yet Morag? Ian asked from the far side of the inglenook, normally his wife`s favourite place of an evening.

Almost done! She replied, looking up and giving Ian a loving glance.

I hope he`ll be pleased with what we`ve got and I still can`t imagine what possessed McCue to not only reduce the price o` yon sgian dubh but give me such a big reduction on the trews and brogues! Ian ran fingers through his black hair as he made his point.

Aye, I canna believe it ma sel`! Morag declared. Ever since William`s blonde hair and steely blue eyes had first enthralled them in 1910, Morag had become increasingly aware of the significance the old MacAndrum legend might one day have. She had often wondered to herself what the opening of the Long Box could possibly reveal and marvelled at how the box and its secret had been safeguarded for over two and a half centuries! She was sure fate had played a hand in William being born to Ian and herself for the MacAndrum men had always been dark haired and black bearded. She recalled how the legend had been a bit of a joke to them, an amusing story to talk about round the fireside in winter; but for the last few years family conversations about the story had taken on a more serious note and an air of expectancy had dominated all discussions led by Ian`s father up to the time of his death. Alasdair MacAndrum had oft` reminded them of the family oath they had taken when the legend was first revealed. Morag stopped what she was doing for a moment as she remembered Granny Drum saying to her on one occasion.

`Ye maun be minfrae`. There may be naething whitiver in this legend, so dinna get yer hopes up that there`s magic afit!" (`You must be mindful. There may be nothing whatsoever in this legend......etc).

Morag mused. Did Granny mean that, or was she just trying to stop her daughter-in-law from getting too excited about the idea? Then she reprimanded herself, for were they not Christians and had not the `pagan` way of life disappeared a long time ago. However, she was aware that in the past, the old ways and Christian beliefs had co-existed, and that many of the ancient customs were still practised. There would be answers afore the sun set the morn, she reckoned, and with her mind settled on the subject, she got on with her preparations.

Note: An Inglenook is a space within the opening on either side of a large fireplace. The Scots word ingle means `fire burning on a hearth`. A Sgian Dhubh or Sgian Dubh (say: Skane Doo) is a small Highland dagger or stocking knife)

It had been the night after William held the sgian dubh for a split second in the kiltmaker`s shop, that a bright light shining downstairs had awakened McCue, and thinking he had left a light on he came down to put it out. As he stepped from the bottom stair a dazzling light, that was not of the shop, surrounded him and he became a changed man! Unaware of anything different, he switched the shop light off and returned to his bed none the wiser. When he woke the following morning he found himself in a most generous mood and he remained so for the rest of his life and his business prospered.

Ian`s voice broke into Morag`s private thoughts.

Never ye mind aboot McCue, there`s guid in every man and he`s done grand by us, so be glad and think nae mair on it.

Aye. Ye`re richt. Replied Morag, nodding.

And it`s time we were turnin` in oorsels, for it will be a big day tomorrow! She continued.

In that, she was right but as to how big, neither she nor Ian had an inkling!

As the sun`s first rays came slanting in through the upstairs east window and across the bottom of his bed, William was aroused from his sleep by the deep soft voice of his father, as he nudged him gently, whispering:-

Wake up Billy, wake up, I`m awa` for ma early morning walk and you may come with me if ye`ve a mind tae? Rarely did Ian address his sons as Billy and Bobby but it thrilled them when he did, for this was their father`s way of showing his affection. William so loved these special occasions when Ian called him Billy, and nothing could have pleased him more than to be invited to join his father on what was normally a solitary stroll by the loch-side at sunrise. Rubbing his eyes, he was out of bed like a shot and had shirt, dungarees, socks and boots on before his father reached the foot of the stairs. Moments later he was out the back door and hurrying to catch up with Ian, who had already reached the footpath down to the south east shoreline. To the west lay the machair, a much less inviting walk. As they approached the water`s edge together, the tangy bite of the morning air tickled their noses and they breathed in deeply, savouring the flavour of its breath.

Standing there, side by side, father and son were as one, neither needing to intrude upon the other`s thoughts as they experienced the perfect harmony of nature in a realisation of their oneness with everything. They stood, for what seemed like an eternity, gazing across the loch at Eilean Munde, the burial island of the MacDonalds, Stewarts and Camerons. Like all fathers, Ian thought his son was destined to do great things, and now, on William`s 14th Birthday the thought persisted, and, as he put his arm round Williams strong young shoulders, a strange feeling of absolute certainty came over him that this would be no ordinary birthday but that today would alter his son`s future for ever. The thunderous roar of a red stag echoed across the loch and his mighty antlers were sketched on the skyline. This added to the good feeling that swept through Ian and he smiled as he looked down at his eldest son:-

Happy Birthday Billy. May today be all you wish it tae be. The lad beamed up at Ian: If I have no presents and the legend is but a story, I will long remember this morning my father.

(English was taught in Schools, but Scots, Gaelic and older ways of phrasing were still much in use).

At about the same time, 85 year old Hannah MacAndrum `rocked` back and forth in her chair on the porch, drinking in the fresh morning air and admiring the distant view of Ben Nevis she had enjoyed since she and Alasdair had retired to the Glen in 1914 when Ian had gone off to War. As she gazed out on the tranquil scene her wrinkled face lost many of its care worn creases and her features softened and warmed as pictures passed before her mind`s eye of Alasdair talking earnestly about the ancient legend passed down by Black Fergus. It was a tale he truly believed in, and she recalled the time before his death, when he entrusted her with the key to the Long Box. She remembered `swearing` on the bible to accept the responsibility, as the eldest surviving MacAndrum, to keep the legend alive and pass the key to William on his 14th Birthday, and although not fully convinced the story was real, she felt a thrill of excitement, and a sense of expectation ran through her. She also recalled having a `vision` where she pictured William in Highland finery and felt compelled, by some unknown power, to make him a Kilt in the MacDonald tartan, which she had now finished.

Note: The MacDonald`s of Glencoe, the Stewart`s of Ballachulish and the Cameron`s of Callart were buried on Eilean Munde. There was also a separate island of Discussion and an island where agreements were drawn up and sealed between the Clans.

Chapter 2

The Long Box

Long ago, before the time of Black Fergus, a Viking ship had anchored off the Outer Hebrides, and Fingalls had come ashore at North Uist. This voyage had not been to rape and plunder but to bury the body of Prince Bleiki, a Norse King`s 14year old son who had died from `palsy`. The King had thought Bleiki was cursed and indirectly refused Odin`s help by not believing a messenger, who brought a book, and a dagger plus a message, that the King must give these gifts to the boy Prince, who would be able to heal himself and become a great warrior. The stranger, under instructions from Odin, did not tell King Arnfinn that only the fair headed blue eyed Bleiki or one other could benefit from the power of the book and dagger! If only Arnfinn had trusted this stranger and given the gifts to his son. But the dagger, bonny though it was, was just a dagger to the King and the `B` on the haft a mere coincidence! The pages of the book were stuck firmly together and Arnfinn, unable to open it, put the stranger to death for wasting his time! He kept the dagger and book from his son and the boy died shortly afterwards. Such was the King`s grief and fear of an epileptic curse affecting his people that he cremated his son`s body and put the ashes in an urn. He then placed all the young prince`s belongings, along with the book, into a Long Box and locked it with a Key his shipwright was moved to cast. Unknown to Arnfinn, the young Prince`s sister, who believed the stranger, was inspired to carve Odin`s message on the Long Box. When the Vikings came ashore near Belmartine they hid the Box in a cave and beside it they placed the urn, the small dagger and the key, all wrapped in a Viking flag. These items remained there until a young MacAndrum found the cave and his family took the Urn, the dagger, the key and the Long Box into their possession. With the passage of time the dagger was stolen or lost and although the key wouldn`t open the Long Box, they kept them both in case it could be opened one day and great treasure discovered! There was also writing on the Box lid but it stayed unread until it came into the possession of Black Fergus, a skilled translator as well as being expert with sword and dirk. It was his interpretation of these writings that had been passed down to Alasdair and then to Hannah after his death in 1917.

Note: The Fingalls were fair haired Norwegians (Fingal`s Cave is on Staffa Island).

The Long Box

When William and Ian returned to the farm by way of the `Tor`, a craggy outcropped hill to the east of Levenside, his brother was up helping their mother in the kitchen. Unlike Billy, 12 year old Robert had the MacAndrum`s thick black hair. He was shorter and stockier than William and when they wrestled he thought he could best his brother but never did, for William`s slim frame was supple and strong and he always escaped from any hold Robert was able to get him in! Robert was good hearted and loved his brother and there was no envy in him. The fact that he was a better horseman, fisherman, footballer and shinty player than William , made jealousy unnecessary! As Billy came in Robert got an arm lock round his throat and wrestled him to the kitchen floor.

I will best you on your Birthday brother so ye might as well gie in!

Dinna be daft ye muckle gowk, yer nae match for me and well ye ken it!

Whereupon, William rolled over on top of him and pinned him to the floor. The lad had to release his hold. Then moving swiftly William sat on his brother`s face and Robert yielded, pushing his brother away with a cry of :-

Get yer mingin doup aff o` me and let`s hae breakfast afore I thrapple ye for guid!

Chance wid be a fine thing! Rejoined William as the brothers sat down on either side of the farmhouse table and looked at each other with affection.

Happy Birthday William Said Robert grinning. Ye`re getting` awfae auld!

I am, and that means obey yer elders and dae whit yer telt, ye wee bairnie!

Och Aye, I`ll likely do that, Your Royal Highness, Prince o` the Pig Pen!

They chatted about the trip to Fort William as Morag served them with good helpings of porridge, commenting:-

Get that doon ye, it will stick tae yer ribs and mak ye stand tall and straight! Morag was a great believer in the power of porridge for energy and well being. She then brought bacon and eggs to the table on a griddle plus rolls and coffee, and then sitting down herself the family joined her in the Selkirk Grace:

The Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat

And sae the Lord be thankit.

Note:- Attributed to Robert Burns but it is likely the Grace was in use before he wrote it down.

It`s high time they built a Bridge over the `narrows` Offered Morag, already anxious about the heavy rains a few days ago and crossing the loch by Ferry.

Och, there`s been a right stooshie in council chambers aboot it and they`ll get roond to building it soon, but they`ll need tae improve the road that goes on to Fort William first.

Aye husband, Sybil Buchan was saying much the same thing efter Kirk last Sunday. I guess we`ll see it when it happens!

What did ye think of Fianach`s Sermon on Sunday last about `Giving`. Put in Ian, wanting to take his wife`s mind away from the heavy rains and the upcoming Ferry crossing.

Oh, it was grand. It reminded me of our Highland custom of hospitality and sharing what we have wi` others, and I am proud o` that tradition.

Aye, welcoming folk to your fireside an` sharing yer breid is being a good Christian. Ian agreed but then he thought of Glencoe in 1692 and wondered.

Although keen to open his presents, William was persuaded to take them to Granny Drums so that she could enjoy seeing them being unwrapped. Both boys were looking forward to the