Gavin Turner

It’s a relatively simple premise and you may have seen it on one of those pointless media channels. All you need is a long length of hefty rope and an industrial strength magnet. The best places are those bodies of water that might get a lot of through traffic, like a canal with a road bridge overhead perhaps. I prefer the river.

Chuck the old magnet over the side, listen for the satisfying SCHLUMP noise as it hits the water, and let it sink to the bottom. It won’t be long before you are dragging something up from the depths and….

I only ever meant to frighten the lad, honestly there was nothing more to it than that. It was like he got too close when he saw it and maybe he thought he could snatch it off me, but I was too quick for him, there it is, that moment that might have changed my life if I didn’t get rid of it quick, running fast breath burning in and out of the chest and it was dark and I lost my way and I threw it over the bridge and no officer I didn’t even have a…

A knife!

That’s not bad for a first attempt. It’s pretty dirty but it could be old, really old, maybe even worth something to someone. I’ll put that in my bag and send the magnet back over and see if there’s anything else down there. SCHLUMP, I’m gonna swish it around this time, swish swish, see what comes back. Pulling up that rope, summat heavy, metal pipe, junk I suppose. Hang on, what’s that in the end, glinting in the sun, it looks like a….

Coin, one silver coin thrown deep into the river, and it will take away your malady dear, one for the river, one for me, and the water will flow and set you free. No my dear, do not cry, they did not trust me to take away this plague, they thought it was better to keep the coins in their little purses and look where that got them, underground all rotting together, that’s all. Now you get home and offer a little prayer for old Demdyke and we will see you right.

Right, one last try, reel it up and over it goes, not a bad haul so far. People have discovered all sorts, even real valuables. You should see my collection at home. All sorts of precious things. Purses, spectacles, jewellery. None of it fancy or valuable, I suppose it meant something to the owners once, but they shouldn’t have chucked it in the river if they wanted to keep it. That coin looks really old too, don’t recognise the King on it at least. Here we go, SCHLUMP, heavy again. Looks like some kind of plate, like a metal plaque. Wait, there’s some writing here I think. I can make out some of the words, something about the river I think. The river, the something river.

Cursed is this river, seek not its secrets. Them that disturb the lost things from this place will forever take them with them. Let this be a warning to all.

I can’t make it out, it’s too dirty, I’ll wash it up at home, it’s getting dark. Maybe come back tomorrow. Just going to…hello?, someone there? You okay pal? Are you…are you bleeding? Is that your girlfriend with you? What happened to her face? What? I’ll put it back, I’ll put all the stuff back. What do you mean collection, what are you collecting? I collected you? Doesn’t make any sense I…SCHLUMP. 

Gavin Turner is a writer from the UK. His short fiction and poetry have been published in numerous journals including Punk Noir, Dark Horses, Voidspace and Boats against the current. He has released two collections of poetry and has a novella in the works.

Read more from Gavin:

Here on Trash Cat – ‘Light the Fire‘ and ‘Flocks‘
The Furious Gazelle – ‘Flat White‘
Roi Fainéant- ‘Restoration‘