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Willia to understand why With an awful suddenness the solid stonework of the abbey tower ended in a sea of scaffolding Athe void beneath the bells and reaching down into the main body of the church He looked up and saw patches of sky through holes in the roof When he looked down he felt dizzy
'Come on You won't fall'
He heard Geoffrey Hulle's voice and saw him on a ladder
'My dad's checked it out … it's safe'
Geoffrey disappeared onto a ay and Williaot to the top without difficulty Then his fears flooded back He expected to see planks but found hurdles They oven from hazel and looked like those used for sheep pens on his father's estate Geoffrey was in the round
'Corabbed the side rails and jumped up and down
The hurdles flexed and William shut his eyes
'I want to go back'
'You're not scared … are you?'
The jibe struck Willia peasants did Boys of his class were never scared They rode horses and went to war as soon as they were old enough He opened his eyes and climbed onto the ay, determined to stride fearlessly across Then he re the better part of valour and sank to his knees and crawled across
Geoffrey aiting on the other side It was his idea they should go up the tower and see the work his father was doing The boy danced around and pointed to a rounded arch with dogtooth carving
'This is so it because it can't be seen froood nick'
The boys' clothes were tailor-made and smart: little different from those of a well-dressed adult Felt hat with a narrow brim that turned up stylishly at the front Short-sleeved jacket, tight about the chest and ith a shirt of contrasting colour Brightly coloured stockings fastened to linen underwear Snug leather shoes It was the dress of boys froed to the same social class
Geoffrey's father was a ineer and building contractor Master Mason Hulle was renowned for his work on Winchester Cathedral and Sherborne Abbey His strength lay in his business competence and membership of the powerful Master Masons' Guild Geoffrey was a sensitive lad with light brown hair and freckles