THE MYSTICAL KISS: CORITANIS, ANGELS OR DEAMONDS

By Behkorsk Sinosital

In AD 43, the Romans begin their brutal conquest of Britain, and eventually all of the Celtic tribes submit to the Roman way of life. Except, that is for a few rebels of the Coritani tribe, who go into hiding and continue to abide by their own rituals and traditions.

However, now because of their self isolation they are unable

• Language: English
• Publisher: Behkorsk Sinosital
• Release date: Nov 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781802275230

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Coritani’s. AD 43 to 1900.

Following on from the Roman occupation, and up until the present day; ‘The Coritanis’ an ancient British tribe based in and around their capital Ratae (now Leicester), have fought hard to maintain their ancient ways, beliefs, and traditions; and at the same time to avoid persecution, discrimination, humiliation and ultimate annihilation; and to avoid this when communicating between themselves, they became very reticent and wary of what they said. So they uttered as few as words as they could, merely exchanging an intense gaze, and staring directly into each other’s eyes, to give an indication of what they wanted to convey. Which over a long period of time, they became so adept at doing that they were able to convey their thoughts and messages fluently, silently and directly, without uttering any words at all. An incredible ability you might think, but not that amazing when compared against other miracles of nature; blind bats able to fly without collisions, and whales are able to ‘sing’ and communicate through thousands of miles of ocean.

More-over this extraordinary power, besides between themselves, enabled them eventually to penetrate the minds of anyone, so long as they could gain and hold their attention. Thereby they could make suggestions, implant information into that person’s thoughts and try to influence them, that is as long as it did not conflict with their beliefs, ethos or moral upbringing. Also if they were especially skilled and had the opportunity, and if the recipient was willing, they could plant suggestions into their minds, which would then manifest themselves during their dreams.

It is not therefore too surprising, that because of their expertise and diligence, the community at large has never been fully aware of the Coritanis existence and of their high profile enterprises. To wit: on an area of their private land, just outside of Leicester, they built their own research laboratory; the ‘Purecori Synaesthesia Ltd’, a private clinic specialising in their own mystical powers; an administration office block, grandly referred to as the Purecori Parliament Building; the Purecori Investigation Department which controlled and maintained their security; the Holy Celtic Temple where they met to worship; and an academy, the Coritani Institute for their own private education.

However, by the beginning of 20th century they had reached a point where they were facing extinction, due mainly to their decreasing birth rate, caused by their reduced immunity to disease and incestuous relationships, their numbers had steadily declined. And in an effort to resolve this, the elders met and devised a scheme code-named, ‘Acquire, rejuvenate and reinvigorate’, which was in essence, to ‘kidnap’ babies and integrate them into their own fold.

The acquisition of ‘live babies’ was to say the least, to be a most clandestine and complex operation, it would involve finding young girls who had become pregnant, and who found themselves facing destitution, dishonour and disgrace, or being incarcerated into an institution. Among the alternatives for them to avoid this were; to take drugs, to bathe in scalding water, to punch and pummel the abdomen, to throw themselves downstairs, go to a back street abortionist, or if possible before the pregnancy became physically obvious, to be sent away to stay with an ‘aunt’, and then on returning with the baby, for it to be ‘adopted’ by the girl’s mother or an older sister.

Initially two young Coritanis, Pan and Athena to be known as Rupert and Mary, were appointed to implement the scheme, and work as journalists producing human interest articles, which were to be sent in to the Puricori Press Association and printed up, (a bit like a village diary) for their own domestic consumption. A perfect cover of course for their true purpose, which was to be on the lookout for clients, and procure their babies.

At their disposal, they had a small office in East London; a secretary, an errand boy and an unlimited expense account. Living quarters for Mary, with a maid and housekeeper was provided for her, just a short distance away. This was in a flat in Baker Street, not far from the fictional Sherlock Holmes, which by cutting through Regents Park was within a short walking distance of the office. While for Rupert, accommodation was booked for him in small residential hotel in Epping.

On the first day of their appointment, Rupert and Mary sat in their office looking down through a small window upon the fog and grime of London, and communicating together with a mixture of mesmertelephony (a term which had now been adopted for their peculiar mystical power) and words, agreeing their project was a very rare, unusual, and possible an unpleasant assignment. However it was to be, for both the Coritanis and the unfortunate potential mothers, a life saving, noble and challenging enterprise.

After some time Rupert having concluded they had had enough of ‘idle speculation’, and breaking away from mesmertelephony into words, and in his commanding bossy manner, turned to Mary and said, alright, let’s get on with it. And still gazing out of the window down onto the street added, you start down there, find a some poor waifs who are exploitable and proceed to get to know them.

And because she was younger than Rupert and actually not at all too sure of herself, she defensively and rather dubiously responded Yes, yes, I know what I’ve got to do.

They remained quiet for a while longer before Rupert once again turned to Mary and said Right let’s go, let’s do it. I’ll go on to Epping and inveigle myself in with a few measly serfs who are likely to get themselves into trouble there. He then left, took a Hackney cab and during his journey he let his thoughts run free. He was an intelligent man but lazy, and thought ‘what a load of rubbish this all is. It’s never going to happen, but it’s a good easy job, well paid and interesting – so thanks very much’.

As for Mary, after Rupert had departed, she continued to stare out of the window and wondered how and what she would do. With her psychic powers to help her not yet fully developed, she huffed and puffed for a few moments, and then eventually went down the stairs and out into the street, it was mid afternoon.

CHAPTER TWO

The Ports & The Damsons. 1900 to 1935.

It is the turn of the century 1900 in Stoke Newington. A young lady called Agnes lives here together with her parents, and her older brother Bert and four younger sisters, April; May; June and Octavia; she is without a care in the world. Their house was in a secluded terrace, it is fairly newly built; three bedrooms; a living room at the back, a front room (for visitors and entertaining), a yard with a toilet, a mangle and a tin bath, and there is also a patch of garden with a cherry tree.

Agnes’s dad William together with his two brothers runs a butchers shop, and they are comfortably well off. Her mother Victoria, matriarchal and aspiring middle class; stays at home and keeps each of the children scrupulously clean, well dressed, obedient and well mannered.

Agnes responds well to her environment, speaks well, went to school regularly, is polite and knows her P’s and Q’s. She takes on board all her mothers teaching and doctrines, and in the year of 1900 she feels the world is her oyster, she is nineteen and has a job near to her fathers butcher shop training to be a seamstress. She wears her short light brown hair brushed back from her pale face, wears little or no make up, her countenance is severe, she dresses conservatively and to outward appearances could be foreboding, but her demeanour is often softened by a twinkle in her eye and a ready smile.

She has a steady boyfriend Albert, he is mild mannered and works in an office just a few doors away from her, they have been sweethearts since school days. They became engaged on the millennium eve, the 31st of December 1899. It is a week later Agnes has just finished work and is on her way to see Albert. There is a flash of lightning, she looks up at the sky, there is a crash of thunder, she shivers and she wonders what life has in store for her.

Mary the Coritani journalist, after having left her office, had wandered aimlessly for what seemed ages, before she stopped and looked up when she saw and heard the thunder and lighting and noticed Agnes across the road. She drew upon her courage and crossed over. Agnes was fearful of storms (as many people at that time were) and looked scared. Mary looked into Agnes’ eyes and conveyed to her that ‘she had no need to be frightened’; she then spoke and told her ‘I’ve been out for a stroll and I’m lost (which was true), then she added I want to get back into ‘town’, (which is how Londoners referred to the city centre)".

Come with me miss responded Agnes, come with me I’m going near the station, you can get a train from there. On the way Agnes briefly told her of Albert, and pointed out where she herself lived.

When they got to the station, Mary told Agnes her name (her incognito name for assignments) and said, I hope we’ll meet again. And the next day in her office she felt fairly pleased with herself she began to compile her first article for her HI cover assignment – Dear readers, today I met a charming young lady, who was so kind to me and showed me the way home ………………..

Come Easter time and Agnes and Albert were married, and with the help of her father they moved into their own small home, and a year later they had their first child, Thomas. Over the next few years Thomas was joined by a sister and three brothers. The children were raised almost exclusively by Agnes in the same way as she herself had been raised, well cared for, disciplined, obedient and loved. Meanwhile Albert was kindly but did not interfere, and was content to to smoke his pipe and tend the garden.

Mary had found no need to make any interventions with regard to Agnes or her family regarding her true assignment, although it continued to give her good social material for her HI articles. Much more encouraging was her intervention with her next prospect, a young lady called Hillie who she come across shortly after her encounter with Agnes.

Hillie lived just a few miles distance from Agnes, in a less salubrious area of London, the East End – Bethnal Green. She was a true cockney girl, an undernourished skinny thirteen year old, christened Hilda but known as Hillie. The advent of the new century made little impact on her, and on Monday the 15th of January she got up early on the morning, after lighting the coal fire and making breakfast for her parents and herself, and at 7 a.m. she left behind her the one bedroom tenement flat in the notorious slums of Paradise Row; and skipping and whistling she made her way along the foggy cobbled streets to the local cigarette factory, where she was about to begin her working life.

And as she went along she hummed and sang a song that filled her head.

(Hillie’s song):

When your feeling bad, and feeling pretty sad, la, la, la.

Don’t feel blue, just let the sun shine through.

And you will be, as happy as me.

xxx

And if you do not feel all aglow, and if you’re feeling lo-ow, la, de, da, da.

Remember it’s not a sin, so put on a cheeky grin,

And you will be as happy as me.

xxx

And whenever you’re in the mire, and you’re just about to tire, tra, la, la,

Walk with a swing, run, skip and sing,

And you will be as happy as me.

xxx

And when you’re feeling wistful, and a little tearful, dum, de, dum, dum.

Put a smile on your face, wear it all over the place,

And you will be, as happy as me.

xxx

And when you’re feeling numb, well don’t be glum, te tum, te tum, tum.

Give a smile to everyone, let them see your having fun,

And you will be, close to, exs-tas-he-he-he! ta, rah, rah, rah.

xxx

Happy to have finished her day’s work, she found herself skipping along unimpeded by the rain until a run away horse brushed into her side, and knocked her off her feet down onto the wet cobbles.

Coincidentally, Mary the Coritani journalist happened to be on the other side of the road, and in a state of reverie was just wandering around unperturbed by the rain, until she came upon Hillie picking herself up from the cobbles. Running across to Hillie she helped her up, asked if she was alright and while gazing intently into her eyes, as she had done previously with Agnes, imbued to her a feeling of well being and comfort. Then after checking Hillie was unhurt, took hold of her hand walked home with her.

On the way they swapped names and pleasantries, and Hillie briefly introduced Mary to her parents and hoped she would meet with Mary again.

Pleased by now on how she had commenced upon her intrigue with both Agnes and Hillie and their families, Mary continued to write up her articles with gusto, and under the heading ‘Mary relates the latest on Jill and June’s (that is Agnes and Hillie) domestic adventures’, she was pleased as the number of her readers increased. By and by Agnes and Hillie’s families, became to regard her as that ‘eccentric little Miss Mary’, not really got to know her, but who would, as it was just fleeting encounters, as she just happen to be pass by.

An only child Hillie lived with her parents, Jane and Andrew Damson, and now that she was a young lady of independent means, she would at the end of each week give her pay packet to her mother, who would give her back enough money to buy some sweets or cigarettes, any clothes or personal things she may need, and if she had anything left over she might then buy a bunch of flowers for her mum, or some pipe tobacco for her dad.

Her parents were hard working and acted toward Hillie strictly but kindly. Their home consisted of one room, partitioned up to provide separate spaces for sleeping and living quarters, and along a corridor there were communal washing and toilet areas.

As a young man Hillie’s father had been a soldier in the army, he had been injured while fighting in the Zulu war, he had a deformed leg and a bad chest, and now earned a low wage working as a night watchman. To help earn a little more money, her mother Jane worked as a char lady, doing housework, scrubbing and washing for anyone she could; Hillie helped at home by tending the one coal fire, cooking and doing the shopping in the market.

Life was not all chores though, they had a pet canary and a pet monkey. All the people living in the tenement were friendly, calling in to each others homes, making their own entertainment, telling stories, playing cards, singing and drinking. Hillie’s particular enjoyment was to visit the market in Petticoat Lane on a Sunday morning, where she would mingle with all the bustling crowds and try to hustle the street traders into letting her have a bargain blouse or some stockings for cheap.

She would also go to the stalls (mainly animals), in nearby Club Row to see all the animals that were for sale, and perhaps buy some millet for her canary, and maybe some bananas for the monkey, for which she had saved up a lot of her spare pennies to buy.

Four years had passed by, when one night, as Hillie was saying good-night to some girl friends after having seen a film, some lads began to call out and whistle at them. They all began talking and teasing one another, then one of the boys –Sean Peen, who was about 17 saw Hillie and felt a shiver down his spine, he then asked Hillie if he could walk her home. As they strolled along Sean told Hillie he had recently come over from Ireland to work as a labourer, and was looking for somewhere to stay. And over time he told her a little of his history; how his family had suffered during the potato crisis, and were generally anti British, although he himself ‘to be sure’ had no problems with Hillie’s kin.

Come springtime, and during the hard winter her father Andrew had had ‘flu, and the ‘old soldier’ succumbed and died; so now to help out with their money, Hillie’s mum agreed that Sean could move in and lodge together with them. Hillie moved into her mother’s bed, while Sean took over Hillie’s bed which was curtained off in the corner of the living room.

These arrangements were not strictly abided by, and Hillie soon became pregnant; she confided in her mother who was so angry, she took hold of her, shook her cried out at her you stupid little girl. Where-upon Hillie withdrew, did not eat and remained mute for the rest of the day. However the next morning she went off to work as usual, but the spring in her step had gone and as she slouched along she grit her teeth to stop her crying. Across the road that kind ubiquitous Miss Mary seeing Hillie sensed her distress, crossed over and put her arm around her, tell me Hillie, what’s the matter.

Miss Mary, I’m pregnant, I’m ruined, I wish I were dead. Miss Mary kept hold of Hillie, telling her don’t worry my dear, we’ll sort something out, and accompanied her the rest of the way to work. When they got there, Mary left Hillie to get on with her job, and asked to see the manager.

In the evening Miss Mary met Hillie at the factory gate, and on the way home they stopped in a cafe, where Mary put a proposition to her. Hillie tell me, have you told anyone other than your mother. Hillie shook her head, No she said.

Mary then said would you agree if I could provide a good home for your baby, he she hesitated, or she would be well cared for, and educated.

Hillie remained quiet but was beginning to look more hopeful. I’ve arranged everything with Mr Trollop your manager, he is happy for you stop work for now because, and this is a bit of a fib, you’ve not been well – you will need to to go into a convalescence hospital. In fact you will be in a retreat, that’s where rich people go to have a rest.

Hillie was bursting to interrupt, but bit her lip. Hillie, after your baby is born you will need to feed it for three months and then he or she will be given to its new mother. Not wanting to give Hillie too much time to think on it Mary stood up and said come on let’s go and see your mum. And after a lot of agonising, Hillie and her mother agreed to Miss Mary’s proposal and the plan was put into action. (Mary along the way, had by now helped a few desperate mothers to be, but Hillie was the first one whom she had had a lasting acquaintance with and had any feelings for), and when seven months on, Hillie had ‘recovered from her illness’, and was back to work, reunited with her mother and Sean, she was genuinely pleased.

Hillie and Sean subsequently got married and had a legitimate child, a daughter called Joy born in the summer of 1906. The new family took over the bedroom and now it was mum’s turn to move into the bed in the living room.

Baby Joy was doted on by her mother and grandmother, she was pretty, with brown curly hair and dark brown eyes, and she soon gained attention, by emulating her mum’s cockney ways, extrovert manner and guile. And as Joy grew up she perfected an enigmatic smile and a sweet singing voice, and Hillie would encourage Joy to show off and perform for any relatives or visitors by singing popular songs for them.

Sean meanwhile got on well with his mother-in-law, loved Hillie and especially adored Joy, and together with all his Irish charm he gave them all the care and attention he could. Joy responded to this by idolizing her father, revelling in the attention, and feeling pleased and confident within herself.

Mary became quite adept at arranging the transfer of babies, most incidentally, coming from poor people unrelated to Hillie or Agnes, who she continued to use for her articles.

Back again once again to the more genteel area of North London, where Agnes’ eldest child Thomas was now going regularly to school, he was bright and responded well to a basic state education: the three ‘Rs’, reading, writing and arithmetic, plus history, geography, religious education and PT (physical training), gardening and woodwork. Out of school he spent most of his time playing with his siblings, as well as helping to educate them. He was a good boy, did not get into any mischief and was generally willing and helpful, he was fit and healthy and had the boyish desires for adventure he kept suppressed. And he expected that when he left school he would either serve an apprenticeship in industry or join his father’s and uncles business. So Thomas was the dutiful son who was thankful for small mercies.

Of Thomas’ siblings, Grace was outward going and adventurous, a tom-boy who loved to climb trees, however she respected her mother and father and was not disobedient. She however got into ‘trouble’ and like Hillie spent a few months in ‘convalescence’. While her younger brothers were more studious and conservative in their attitude.

And so respectively for our two families, and for the nation, the feelings and expectations were that for some, a privileged few, Agnes et al; the new millennium had heralded a continuing future of affluence and gentility and they were satisfied. While for others, Hillie et al; the new century had meant continuing drudgery, but with some hope and expectation, that perhaps one day, as citizens of the glorious British Empire, they would by hard graft and resilience, eventually have a better life.

Meanwhile the world turns around regardless, and with the death of Queen Victoria, and a new era under King Edward the seventh heralding in a feeling hope; an expectation that the plebs would get their rewards, for service and duty to King and country. But the rewards were slow in materialising and there was a demand for more radical social reform. The suffragettes fought for equal rights, and a new breed of militant socialism became a force when two members of the Labour party were elected to parliament. Then in 1909, an old age pension of 5 shillings (25 new pence) a week was introduced for people over 70, which was good if one was fortunate to live that long.

Then the whole world shook, on the third of August 1914 World War 1 broke out, and the hard fought fight for meagre progress that had looked so promising, took a severe set-back;

Rupert and Mary our erstwhile journalists were accomplished linguist, and for the duration of the war spent most of their time working for the defence ministry, helping to interpret and decode German documents. However they were still able to keep up with their work on their HI journals, although their efforts for the ‘baby project’ were neglected.

For Agnes the outbreak of the war had coincided with the death of her husband – Albert – he had died suddenly from cancer. This was just after two of his brothers had volunteered for the army. The butchery business up until then, had largely been managed by the men, and despite the endeavours of their women folk, they did not have the expertise to make a go of it, and it became unsustainable. They had to sell up, Agnes had to go back to work as a seamstress; while Thomas, now aged 14 was given no choice other than to leave school, go to work and help support the family. He was relatively fortunate to get a job in the printing industry, to labour as a packer; a job he was to do reluctantly do for the next 51 years.

So now Agnes, together with the support of Thomas acting as a surrogate father, was able to keep house and home together and prosper throughout the war, so that Thomas’ siblings, who were each doing well at school, were destined to get good jobs and become part of an emerging middle class.

While Thomas, for his part remained determined to realise his own modest hopes and ambitions; which were to, one day have a wife who would be true and faithful to him, greet him at the end of a days work with a kiss and a hot meal, stay at home to keep house clean and tidy, and spend days out with him at the seaside or in the park. And eventually to have their own cosy little family, and unbeknown to the unworldly Thomas, fate was already engineering a situation which would bring the girl who was destined to join him in pursuit of his dreams together.

For Hillie and her family the war also quickly changed their lives. She began to work long and hard hours in a munitions factory, while Sean volunteered for the army and was soon posted to the Western Front, which left Joy to care for young Ted and look after the home.

Throughout the war Hillie, Joy and Ted had moved several times in Bethnal Green, eventually winding up, in a small two up two down back to back house, a small improvement over their tenement flat. During this time Sean came home on leave twice, after he had returned from the front for the second time, they were never to see him again. On the day before the armistice, Hillie received a telegram to say that Sean had been killed in action.

She dealt with this news in a stoic – life must go on manner ‘no good crying over spoilt milk’ – and carried on working hard to make life as comfortable as she could. As for young Ted, he had not really known his father and coped with it with little distress; his mother and sister tending to excuse him from any chores, and making sure he was well fed and clothed, even if they themselves had to go without, but despite this, as he grew up, he began to bear a grudge against the British establishment in general.

And Joy, who was now 12, and having been expecting her dad, one day to come back home, and see him once again come marching in through door, to embrace her, to pick her up, to cuddle her and kiss her. Whereupon once more she would feel loved, adored and wanted; instead she now felt devastated, her world had been blown away.

After the war people had a period of severe austerity. In London there was a period of economic stagnation, a situation governed by ‘those who have most get most’, ‘it’s the rich that get the gravy and the poor that get the blame’. Food was in short supply, there was no rationing so prices were high and people who could not afford it went hungry. And to compound things, there was a flu epidemic which resulted in more people dying from that, than had been killed during the hostilities.

For the Coritani a virus had yet again hit them hard, decimating their numbers once again, having wiped out the increase in their numbers despite the initial ‘excellent’ work of Rupert and Mary, who were now being pressured to step up their quotas even more.

It was now almost twenty years since the baby project was initiated, and the way in which the mothers were ‘conditioned’ was continually being perfected. For the duration of the pregnancy, and for a further two or three months they were incarcerated within the Coritani’s hospital and recreation block, where they were pampered and extremely well cared for. And to make them more compliant, from the outset were they given drugs to calm them, this together with daily intensive interviewing and counselling went on until they were so brainwashed, that all their practical and emotional experiences were blocked out, and so when they retuned home it was without any qualms and they could continue from where they left off.

Meanwhile, the baby was allocated to couples and bought up by the Coritanis in the same as if they were their true biological parents – except for one important difference – the power to mesmertelephonise was not inbred in them, and had to induced. This required spending hour upon hour with baby and developing child, gazing into their eyes and trying to convey thoughts and ideas, and for every positive response they were given a reward, such as; a smile, a comforting hand, sweet food and drink, soft words and music until the mesmertelephonise messaging was accepted automatically. Subsequently the process was reversed, and the baby/child was induced to convey his/her own thoughts into, as well as to receive them from others. Once the child was fully competent he/she would be told