The Case Of The Bog Bodies, Robert F. Clifton [best novels of all time txt] 📗

taking care of things. Is she? No. She's sloshing around in a wet

peat bog looking for only God knows what. She's a paleontologist. Normally she would be looking for hominid remains from 15,000 to 10,000 years ago. Now, she's working someone else' s dig site. Alan Shaffer's archeological site. What ever she does or finds he will get most of the credit. On top of that they might find evidence from the bronze age or perhaps signs of the Romans in England. However, I doubt if they will find anything worth noting,” Alistair thought to himself as he made his way back to his study.

On the way to his recliner chair Basham picked up the cold case file related to the woman's body found in a hollow tree in Worcestershire. Once seated and comfortable he opened the manila folder and re-examined the facts again. “ This is a bloody waste of time. I need to see and scrutinize physical evidence. Talk to witnesses such as the boys who are now men that discovered the woman's remains in the tree. If anyone was to ask me where to start I'd have to say the pubs, the local pubs. It's not too late. Both the pub owners, bar keeps and even the customers should be alive today. That's where I would start. Surely someone would or could recall seeing an attractive blonde woman either alone or with some bloke. Perhaps the local police did that. Nonetheless police often fail to stay consistent particularly when it comes to interviewing

witnesses. Often they get caught up in several crimes happening in the same period of time. As a result they fail to go back and ask questions again and again with the people in the first case.

Suddenly bored with the Worcestershire Woman In The Wych Tree Case Alistair closed the folder and placed it on the table next to his chair. He then got up and went to his desk. There he lifted the receiver off of the telephone cradle and dialed the number for Joyce’s mobile. It rang three times before she answered it. “Hello?”, she said.

“Hello Love. Are you all settled in?”, he asked.

“Just about. As a matter of fact I've just finished unpacking. What have you been doing?,” she asked.

“Nothing much. I puttered around the house. Tried to get interested in a cold case murder that happened back in the war years. However, I quickly got bored with it.”

“I see. Make sure you have a nice supper dear.”

“Actually I was thinking of dining out this evening. I seem to fancy mutton.”

“Then by all means go out, order it and enjoy it because you won't get it at home from me.”

“I know that.”

“You mentioned being bored. Have you worked in the garden?”

“Not yet.”

“Then I suggest that you do.”

“Perhaps I will. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Be sure you do.”

“ I will. When do you start work?”

“Tomorrow. The students have set up the tents and canopy.”

“And you actually believe that you will find something there in Rose Moss Bog?”

“Certainly. I believe that we will find items, particularly from the Iron Age. There were villages and societies. The people were agriculturalists, raising animals in captivity as well as growing crops. The inhabitants probably traded with the Romans.”

“Well, if you say so.”

“ Anything else love?”, she asked.

“Not at the moment. Nonetheless, let me know if you find anything different and important,”he answered.

“I will. Bye for now.”

“Good by.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

Bog Bodies

 

Three days later Alistair Basham sat in his favorite chair

in his study. He was reading a new book he had purchased on the subject of blood type as evidence in criminal cases when his interest was interrupted by the ringing telephone. “Blast!” he said aloud as he got up out of his chair and walked to his desk. Picking up the receiver he said, “Yes! What is it?”

“Alistair? This is Joyce. I need you to come up here,” she said.

“Up to Hesterton? What on earth for?”, he asked.

“I found bodies, two to be exact, but I think there might be more,” she replied.

“Well Pet it seems to me that's what you went up there to find. Why in the world do you need me?”

“Because the bodies are not from the neolithic or Roman period. They are modern and they are baby's. They appear to have been newborn.

“ Are you sure that you need me? It's almost a two hour drive from here to there.”

“ Yes, I need you. I don't know what I've uncovered but I have the feeling that some type of crime has been committed. Besides you can take the train or bus.”

“ And rent a motor car after I get there. I don't think so. Have you notified the police?”

“Yes, of course.”

“What have they done or said?”

“Quite naturally they took the bodies for examination. Fortunately they are allowing us to continue working.”

“And they made no mention of a crime being committed?”

“No. Then again they might believe that they are what is known as bog bodies.”

“Bog bodies?”

“ Yes. I'll explain that when you get here,” said Joyce.

“Very well. I still don't know why you need me there,” Alistair replied.

“ As a criminologist I thought you might be interested.

“At my age I'm only interested in sitting in my chair with a good book.”

“Stop being difficult pack a bag and drive up here,” said Joyce sternly.

“Alright, alright, I'll be there tomorrow.'

“Fine. I'll have the hotel give us another room.”

“With a bath I hope.”

“Naturally.”

*****************

At eight AM the next morning Alistair placed his packed suitcase in the boot of the 1952 silver and black Bentley. Then after closing it he made his way to the driver side door. He entered, sat, made himself comfortable, turned on the ignition and after placing the automobile in motion began the long drive to Hesterton.

When he left the suburbs of London he eventually made his way to the countryside. It had been some time since he had been out of the city and surrounding area. Now, he began seeing

farm fields and hedge rows. Now and then he passed a few cows standing behind fences grazing on new spring shoots of grass.

The morning sun rose steadily warming the Spring air and at the same time increasing the temperature inside the automobile.

Alistair lowered the window next to him allowing fresh air to enter the vehicle which refreshed him.

His attention to the road was interrupted when he noticed a flock of carrion crows appearing as a black steak in the morning sky as they left their roosting place in the trees.

Hours later Alistair drove down Chapel Street in Hesterton. He stopped the Bentley in front of the Bridgeport Inn, got out of the automobile, got his suitcase, locked the doors and entered the hotel.

He was greeted by the desk clerk. “Good day sir. May I be of assistance?,” asked the man.

“Indeed. I believe you have a room registered now to a Mr. and Mrs. Alistair Basham. I am Mr. Basham,” said Alistair.

“Ah, yes sir. Your wife told me to expect you. You are in room two thirty seven. It is a master bedroom with a lounge and kitchen. It also has a view of the street.”

“Wonderful, but I just drove what appeared to be the length of Chapel Street, so I imagine that I've seen most of it but thank you.”

“You are welcome sir. Here is your key.”

“Is my wife on the premises?,” Basham asked.

“No sir. She and the rest of the party left for the bog right after breakfast,” answered the clerk.

“I have parked my motor car in front. Will it be alright to leave it there?”

“Yes sir.”

“And after I get situated I should like a lunch.”

“You can dine in the Pub sir or perhaps your room providing your wife has supplied provisions.”

“Excellent. Room two thirty seven you say?”

“Yes sir.”

Alistair climbed the stairs to the second floor walked a short distance in a hallway and found his room. He entered, stopped and surveyed the lodgings. Satisfied, he then unpacked his suitcase placing garments in bureau drawers and closets. He then went downstairs again and made his way to the pub. There he ordered a lunch of roast beef. He was pleased to find that the plate the waitress brought to him consisted of roast beef, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, spinach and asparagus. He also had a pint of beer.

After lunch he decided to take a walk. As he did he looked into shop windows. After a while he stopped in front of a small book shop. Interested he entered. A brass bell above the door rang loudly and a small built, balding, bespectacled man entered the store from a room in the rear. “Good day sir. May I help you?,” said the man Alistair assumed to be the proprietor.

“I say my good man. I'm hoping that you might have a copy of, “ A History Of Crime In England, Volume One by L.O.

Pike, published in 1873,” said Alistair.

“No sir. I'm afraid not. I could see if it is available and order it for you if you would like.”

“No, I'm not from these parts and shall only be here for a short duration. However, thank you for your time sir. I own volume two and was hoping that by chance you might have volume one,” said Basham.

Shortly after five PM Joyce Basham walked through the hotel room door. “ Well, you have a smudge of mud on your nose. The knees of your trousers are wet and you smell like dead

grass. All in all to me you are one beautiful sight,” said Alistair.

“Thank you love. How was your drive up?, asked Joyce.

“Rather boring I'd say. Fortunately there was no traffic to speak of but the scenery appeared to be one farm field after another. Now, what's this nonsense about finding the bodies of modern day babies?”

“Can it wait dear? I fancy a hot bath, fresh clothing and we can discuss what I, make that we have found. I'll tell you all about it at supper,” Joyce explained.

“Very well,” Alistair replied.

At seven thirty PM the Basham's sat down for dinner at the hotel pub. Joyce ordered a rack of lamb. Alistair a roasted chicken. As they both sipped a cup of tea Basham said, “So now what's this bog thing all about?”

“In your career have you ever heard of the term, “Bog bodies?”, she asked.

“No. I can't say that I have.”

“Quite naturally bog bodies are human bodies that have been found in bogs all over the world. A bog body is a human cadaver that has been naturally mummified in a peat bog. They have been dated to between eight thousand BCE and the Second World War. Unlike most ancient remains, some that I have discovered and analyzed, bog bodies retain their skin and internal organs. This is due to the unusual conditions of the area.

These conditions include highly acidic water, low temperature and a lack of oxygen. These factors all combine to preserve and severely tan the skin. While the skin is well-preserved the bones are usually not. Acid in the peat dissolves the calcium in the bones.”

“I see. And these baby's what is their condition?,” he asked.

“Skin, just skin.”

“And you say they are modern. How did you make that decision?”

“One body was that of an infant boy. He had been circumcised. The only ancients practicing that ritual during the Iron Age time period were the Hebrews in the Holy land.”

“True, true. However, did you consider that the foreskin

might have fallen off during the preservation process?” asked Basham.

“Yes dear. Using a magnifying glass we not only found evidence of a clean cut, but a thread we identified as gauze,”

Joyce explained.

“I see. What I don't understand is this sudden discovery of what you archeologists refer to as bog bodies. Is this something new?

“No dear. The majority of bog bodies which include Tollund Man, Grauballe Man and Lindow Man date back to the Iron Age. Most of these finds were in northwest European lands, mostly in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and here in the British Isles.

“Strange. Very Strange,” Alistair replied.

“What is strange