Dark Waters(23)

Mrs Sampson tutted when she saw it. ‘Wearing a dress like that! This is a children’s award ceremony, after all.’

Dominic grew even more excited. ‘Look! That’s the one who does the gardening programme!’

Famous faces flitted in and out of the crowd, smiling, talking, shaking hands.

Suddenly, Ella was jumping up and down with excitement. ‘It’s my favourite band. They’re here. All of them. They’re totally gorgeous!’

Col followed her gaze to a smarmy-looking group of boys. He thought they looked stupid, not gorgeous. She let out a series of excited yells. For once she forgot to be cool. ‘I’ve got to get their autographs. I’ve got to!’

Col and Dominic looked at each other. ‘Is she embarrassing, or what?’ Dominic said.

The round tables in the function room were festooned with flowers and balloons and at the far end a stage with microphones and a lectern stood ready for the presentations after the meal.

The meal they were treated to was sumptuous. Melon, and soup, and peach sorbet, and the angry-eyed salmon that was laid on the table for the main course seemed to stare straight at Col. ‘It looks as if it’s ready to eat me!’ Col laughed.

The meal, however, didn’t suit Dominic. ‘Could I get pie and chips?’ he asked a waiter.

Ella was mortified. ‘Pie and chips! We can’t take you anywhere.’

But the waiter only laughed and whispered to Dominic, ‘Tonight, nothing’s a problem. I’ll make sure you get your pie and chips.’

And he did.

‘He must be under the impression that you’re the hero,’ Ella told him sarcastically.

‘He’s really nice. I like him,’ Dominic said.

Just then, the BBC newsreader who was hosting the event announced that after a short interval the awards would be presented.

‘That’s what I want to be when I grow up,’ Dominic said, dreamily.

‘A BBC newsreader?’ Col asked.

‘No. A waiter,’ Dominic corrected him. ‘I think that would be a brilliant job. You would meet so many interesting people.’

Col laughed so much Ella looked at him suspiciously. Now I’ve saved the life of a future waiter, he thought to himself.

Col was amazed when the award ceremony began in earnest. One by one, as their deeds were extolled by the newsreader, each young hero strode up to the stage to tumultuous applause and was awarded their trophy by a chosen celebrity.

The boy who, in spite of being badly injured himself, had saved his father from freezing to death by going for the mountain rescue team when his father was injured. The girl whose face was scarred for life because she ran back into a burning building to save her sister, then threw her down to waiting firemen before being rescued herself.

Could he have done that?

No. That was real bravery. What he had done wasn’t brave. He hadn’t even wanted to save Dominic. He had been prepared to let him drown, let him die in that icy loch. He had even been on the verge of stealing from him. How ashamed he was of that now. No. What he had done he’d done without thinking. It had been as natural as snapping your hand away from a window as it was about to slam shut on your fingers.

No. What he’d done wasn’t brave. But this, all of this, was bravery.

He felt ashamed. He shouldn’t be here. He wasn’t a hero. He was a fraud. If he had the courage he would walk out, go home right now. But he wasn’t even brave enough to do that.

Then, while all this was going through his head, his name was called. It was his turn.





Chapter Fourteen


The story was told of Columba McCann, who had saved the life of a complete stranger, Dominic Sampson, in the freezing misty waters of a loch, and of how he himself had almost died. It was a wonderful story. It didn’t sound like him at all.

Ella nudged him in the ribs and whispered, ‘Columba? Where did you get a name like that!’

If it had been anyone else but Ella he might have cringed with embarrassment, but Ella got his hackles up and for the first time he was proud of his name. ‘Mam called both her sons after Scottish saints. That’s how Mungo got his name.’

‘You! Called after a saint!’ Ella began to snigger but she was cut short by her mother slapping her on the hand.

‘I think it’s a wonderful name, Col.’

He had to be pushed to his feet when the time came. He was nervous, and felt even more that he didn’t deserve to be here. He just didn’t want to walk up on to that stage. He glanced at the other children gathered here. They were the real heroes, not him. He felt humble.

‘Look who’s giving you your award!’ Ella screeched.

Col looked and saw the boy band she’d been eyeing up throughout the meal.