It was getting close to dusk, Mr Anderson called time as though he was a barman. Craig Hemroy sighed with satisfaction as he put his trowel away.
"We need a team of volunteers to do a two hour watch over the site for the week, any takers?" Everyone looked at one another to see who would be the first to respond to the challenge. Craig was a student studying archaeology at Wolfstone College in Gloucestershire. He had heard of night hawkers who raided archaeological sites, armed with not just metal detectors but also dangerous weapons against anyone who dared to challege them in their crimes. He and a few others raised their hands to volunteer their service.
"OK, let us meet in the snug at the Bull and Hart pub to set up a rota, you will need to pitch a tent nearby just in case it rains as well. Everyone followed him to to the mini bus which was driven by Mr Jock Anderson to Monks Pelvern for a drink and something more substantial to eat in a diningroom that had been set aside. First, hasty ablutions before settling down for the evening meal which consisted of a highly spiced Lancashire hotpot, a speciality of the pub although it was hundreds of miles from the county itself.
Eventually, the small team of thirty two sat round three tables that had been placed together and covered with a duck egg blue cloth with large napkins to match. The decision had been that wine would not be served on the first night so everyone would have a moderately clear head for the week's dig of a bronze age settlement which included a mass burial site. Clare Hughes, the deputy leader doled out the massive dish of hotpot.
"Now a word of warning, no heroics please in dealing with these thugs, they mean business I can assure you." At that moment, Adam Davis appeared, apologising for his lateness but he had to make an urgent private phone call. Being polite, nobody, not even Craig queried, thinking that it might have been his father who had been very ill with liver cancer so everyone simply concluded that he wanted to check on his parent's well being. One thing Craig had noticed however, was that Adam had not volunteered to do site watch, yet again, he thought maybe there was the possibility that Adam might get called away unexpectedly if his father's condition deteriorated. Mr Anderson continued with his briefing while everyone ate
"I suggest everyone who has volunteered, does between two and a half hours each so try and grab some kip where you can before your watch is called, 'we need to be alert to these thugs who will used every means at their disposal to steal these valuable finds. "Craig, could you do between three and five o'clock. I will issue those on watch,with radios to contact. Also make sure your mobiles are working and don't hesitate to contact me if you see anything suspicious." The meal was completed with a lemon meringue pie followed by cups of coffee.
After supper, Mr Anderson drove the team back to the archaeological campsite where the tents had been erected. Fortunately it was a mild night although stars were twinkling above. Craig set his watch to wake him for his shift then read his novel to stimulate some sleep. James Hodd was doing the first couple of hours followed by Robin Green and it was on Robin Green's watch when the action started. James was sharing the tent when he was rudely awoken by a cry of alarm from Robin.
"My god!" James exclaimed with horror "Craig, are you awake?" He shook Craig. "I think something is up, better ring Mr Anderson, I think it is those night hawks."
Craig had slept uneasily for he had a sneaking suspicion that there was something about Adam that was not quite right, he was very effusive about confiding his telephone call. "Was this his handywork." he wondered Suddenly there was another scream for there was a fiery glow from one of the tents. Everyone ran around, throwing buckets of sand and water on the inferno, by which time, the night hawks had left empty handed. There was the approach of a wailing police siren that subsided as the police vehicle came to a halt. The station superintendent took names of those who were on the camp yet Adam was curiously absent. Craig's worst fears were confirmed, there was a snake in the grass amongst the team.