James Herbert

  Seven years ago, is it? Seems to be. 20th of March, 2013, Jim slipped away. Fuck!

  To this day, I remember like it was yesterday. Although it was 1974. I was up at Brian P's place, in Paulsgrove. Up north of Portsmouth.

   I was a teen. He was a man. It'd become agreed that he and Mark ~ his mate ~ would take me out ferreting the next day. 

  Deep joy! A chance to go out with guys who had really caught rabbits! Brian had even told me of the time he'd met the living legend; Phil Lloyd! Fuck!

  So, this being an on the spur decision, I've nipped out to the phone box, across the road (Remember those things?!) And pumped a 10p coin in, to let my old dear know I wouldn't be home that night.

  Only, my brother answered the phone. Couple of years younger than me. But, well aware of my, by then, life long obsession with rat catching.

  " Ditch! " He yelled ~ with  a precognitive brilliance I'd never realised. " I've got ye a book! "

  I'm like; " Eh?! I just want to let mum know I won't be home tonight. I'm staying over and going ferreting tomorrow. "

  And he's like: " It's called " The Rats "! It has a picture of a fucking great rat on the cover, teeth dripping with blood. Seems they took over London."

  I've rarely made such decisions. Glimpse at my watch. At the bus time table. Dash!

  I remember sprinting up our road. Beating on our door. Literally  snatching the fucking book out pf my brothers hand. Barely a gasped, " Thanks, Bro! " (Not that we spoke that shit, in them days!) Then I was gone.

  Sprinted back. Got the last bus back to Paulsgrove. Settled down on Brian and Sonia's sofa and opened James Herbert' " The Rats ".

  Wow! I was fucking Hallucinating, time I finished that book. But I Finished It! Start to finish. Brian's sofa. Fuck, yeah!!!

  Half hour later? We went ferreting. I seem to remember a few bits about that day. Mark. Brian. Grass. Chalk. Flint.

  Done a shit ton of ferreting since then. Had the absolute pleasure of meeting, and getting to befriend the Living Legend too.

  Just looking back. 

  Fuck me; How scary is it?!