Free The Garden of Stars by Zoe Chamberlain

scheme.
    Â â€˜The mayor replied, and I remember this clearly, ‘ My evil scheme, my boy?’ He went onto reveal for the first time why he had come to Ivory Meadows. I must say we were all naturally intrigued.
    Â â€˜It turned out, a couple of years ago, Bill had dropped into an out-of-town pub one evening after making some deliveries. He had taken solace in drink and a stranger’s ear, revealing how business was bad because the younger folk were using the supermarkets and the older generation, his only loyal customers, were dying out.
    Â â€˜Unfortunately the man sat next to the stranger was the man who would go on to become our mayor. The seed was planted in his mind, it didn’t require a criminal mastermind to bring it to fruition. He and his brother – a major property developer – decided the best way to bring about change was by winning people’s trust and, to do that, he would have to become their mayor.
    Â â€˜It seems the project, which the mayor now believes to be unstoppable, will make him and his brother millionaires.
    Â â€˜Bill, as you can imagine, was incensed both at the mayor and himself. He felt he was to blame and had to do something about it.
    Â â€˜Meanwhile, Mr Johnson carried on relentlessly. He was clearly enjoying himself. He said, “The fire was God’s way of telling you lot that these old buildings have had their day. They’re crumbling round the edges and a terrible fire hazard, as we’ve just seen. Why, I’ll bet that one was hardly fit for human occupation.”
    Â â€˜Bill piped up, “I can’t believe what you’re saying. What about poor Mr Shaw? You saying he deserved to lose his home and dog?”
    Â â€˜The mayor shook his head.’
    Â Barbara contorted her face and I could see how the weasel of a man had been enjoying every moment of the whole wretched showdown.
    Â She continued, ‘The mayor said, “Someone else decided his fate for him, I’m afraid. And if it wasn’t God then it had to be the work of the devil.”
    Â â€˜Well, a hushed tremor ran round the room. Though they’d never admit it to your face, Vivian, this community is an old-fashioned lot. They like to pretend they’re modern and up with the times but they still believe in idle gossip and old wives’ tales. And just the word Lucifer, God bless us all,’ she said, crossing her heart, ‘well, you understand, it’s enough to upset even the strongest of dispositions.’
    Â â€˜What are you talking about, Barbara?’ I asked. I didn’t quite follow where all this had come from.
    Â â€˜Bill asked the same thing, love, only rather more aggressively. The mayor smiled. It was obvious he was enjoying it, the horrible fox of a man. He said, “You can’t tell me for one moment, young fellow, that you haven’t noticed a change in Ivory Meadows in the past couple of months? I can’t see that it’s the climate or the landscape that’s changed but …”’ Barbara paused.
    Â â€˜Go on,’ I urged her.
    Â â€˜He said, “More a new arrival on the hill.”’
    Â â€˜He’s always hated me,’ I said, ‘I’m not surprised, but don’t worry, he doesn’t scare me.’
    Â â€˜No, love, I don’t think you quite understand what he meant. Bill grunted at him, “If you mean Miss Myrtle then the only change she’s brought to the town is a good one.”’ Lots of people nodded and mumbled their agreement.’
    Â I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to hear my efforts, however small, were appreciated.
    Â â€˜But,’ said Barbara, ‘the mayor continued, “You think the fact Peter’s cattle caught a disease and had to be destroyed is a positive sign? And the fact most of Mr Parson’s orchard turned out to be rotten just a co-incidence? And the fact less and