I Lost My Legion

A Willerby Story

The Green Man shivered under a storm that showed no sign of letting up.

Forty mile per hour winds had driven snowdrifts against the pub’s thick walls and nobody inside dared so much as step outside for fear of losing themselves.

In storms like this in Willerby, one wrong step into the blizzard could mean a frozen white death.

In the snug, Sunny, Dan and Sally sat in a tight circle around the open fire quietly swapping village gossip and stranger stories.

There was a bang on the door.

“What was that?” Dan asked.

“Loose branch on the wind, probably,” said Sunny.

The bang came again, a distinct knock this time.

“Someone’s outside,” said Sally, unnecessarily.

For a third time, the knock came. Unsteady, but purposeful and unmistakably human.

“I’m going to get it,” said Sunny.

“Is that wise?” Dan said.

“Can’t leave someone out in this,” Sunny said turning away from the fire and towards the closed door. “It’s against the law.”

He went to the entrance, “Who is it?” He called.

There was no answer, but there was another knock.

“I’m opening up,” said Sunny. “Get ready.”

Dand and Sally got to their feet as Sunny unbarred the door and pulled it open.

Framed against the whiteout outside was a figure in armour and carrying a large, red and black square shield with a metal boss in its centre. He looked around like a man lost in a strange dream.

“I lost my legion,” he said, “I don’t know. I can’t find them. Everything looks wrong. Even the hills look wrong.”

“Only one of them,” said Dan, relieved.

“Where am I?” The soldier asked.

“This is the Green Man,” Sunny told him. “You’re a long way from home.”

“How can I get back?”

“Wait until tomorrow,” Sunny replied. “The weather will be better then and perhaps you’ll be able to see the way. Take some food and drink and rest for a while.”

The man turned back towards the door and looked for a moment as if he would walk out. Then he changed his mind.

“Rome thanks you,” he said, coming in, shaking the snow from his cloak.

“I’m going to get our guest some food”, Sunny said. “He’s confused. Leave him be in the meantime.”

Sunny fetched some bread from the kitchen and drew him a pint of beer.

The soldier wrapped himself in his woollen cloak and took a chair close to the fire. Sunny, Dan and Sally began to talk again but nobody felt able to really relax until, after an hour or so, the soldier disappeared leaving behind only a small puddle of water.

Dan shivered with something that was more than just the cold. “Glad he didn’t stay long,” he said, “they make me nervous when it’s as wild as it is tonight.”

“Me too”, said Sally.