of free men everywhere , could only repel them .


Then what of the cultural life ? Did this per-


haps nurture a genuinely civilizing impulse


which might in time become social fact


and counteract the obsession with economics


which had grown up during the Moon's


first two centuries ?


At the centre of each circle stood personnel


managers of corporations , together with professors


and their filing clerks . The students had


bought their college education forward and


were now being bought forward in their


turn . By comparing personal appearances


with university records , the agents of the


businesses would pick on young men


and women who interested them , and contracts


would be initialled at the end of


the parade .


But since starting salaries would depend on grade A


or B in the finals next May , and since mating


prospects would depend upon salaries , scholarship for


these fine young people was closely geared to


economic and biological ends which , essentially ,


were really means . So , seeing them revolve in


circles , Harry had the feeling that Moke ( or what


Moke consciously or unconsciously symbolised , any-


way in Harry's mind ) had these splendid young


people by the short hairs , and was diverting them ...


Stepping out in their white shorts , they looked glad enough


to be diverted , however , with the single exception of one


worried little man-student who kept getting out of


step . He looked as if nothing Moke and his


minions could do to him would ever make him


GO ; but the reason probably lay in elementary


neurosis and not in some eruption from those


deeper layers in the human psyche which are


trans-economic .


So once again the metaphysics were depressing ,


and in absolute contrast to the physical display .


Mos have an un-American love of parades , and


these young ones , on parade for jobs which they


had to get to pay off their college bills , were naturally


putting their best foot forward .


' Something 's up , ' said Lord Undertone ,


carefully casual . ' The servants are all on


edge ... did you notice ? And the mules


didn't seem to want to get off the raft . '


He peered as it were into the dark secrets


of the jungle . ' Think there 's Indians


about ? ' It was most certainly an eerie


night , exceptionally brilliant and strange ,


for in the proximity of the mountains ,


whose presence I could almost smell ,


' Impressive , ' Lord Undertone said , gazing reverently


on the cosmic handiwork . ' All those stars . But I 'm


a bit earthbound tonight , Trout . I 've got a queer


feeling , like I always get when something


sensational 's going to happen . There 's things lurking


if you ask me . Might be jaguar , might be ...


head-shrinkers .


Hope I die kind of composed , Trout . I mean you can't


imagine the Christian martyrs twisting and shrieking ,


no matter how bad it felt , the fire you know , or a


lion munching , or arrows where it hurts most . Or


can you . Look over there . ' He pointed to the


shadows beyond the river . ' Something moved . '


' Bottle-Foot , my lord . ' ' Bottle-Foot ? ' His lordship


may have thought I had become unbalanced


through fear . ' A character Mr Gilberto mentioned


to other day , my lord . A being of whom


the forest Indians are said to be mortally


afraid , with a hoof shaped like the heel


of a bottle . If your lordship will excuse me


a moment ... '


Small , repulsive creatures they were ,


with black , matted hair and a striking


resemblance to the shrunk heads we had


gazed at recently ; and I have no


hesitation in saying that they would have


made an end of us but for an intervention


so unexpected , so unusual , that only the


necessity of rounding my narrative


compels me to mention it .


I had a distinct impression that the


hut had recently been cleaned and


prepared for visitors . Mrs Caine said


we were to go no further unless and


until we were sent for , confirming


another impression that became more


and more definite , namely , that


she was in touch with an invi-


sible source of authority .


Sally and of course Mrs Septimus , for surely


Mr Septimus stood in the same case as


myself ? But was it so ? I allowed myself


to entertain for an instant the idea , the


strange , the unwelcome , the almost


inconceivable idea , that Ariadne's arrival


would be inopportune ; and with the idea came


a somewhat vulgar impulse , which I refused ,


to watch Mr Septimus more closely , Mrs


Caine too and Mr Gilberto who would ...


But all three were to the casual


observation I permitted myself unruffled ;


Mr Septimus reserved and certainly very


thoughtful , but that was his habit . Indeed


we were all invaded by a most tranquil


mood . Even the Indian servants relaxed , knowing ,


so Mr Gilberto told us , that the wild and


savage tribes never approached this region : at


any rate they remained with us , perhaps


for such protection as our presence , or Mrs


But after what Mrs Caine had said it was never


far from our minds that at any moment we were


to receive a summons . I could see that Mr Septimus


was impatient for it . This afternoon , then , we climbed


a promontory , a mass of clean rock crowned with


trees and bushes , that stood well out over the lake .


NO ONE has ever satisfactorily explained how a


single-decker Welsh bus could have got


itself into orbit . Shooting up over the pass a bit


too carefree , and becoming airborne ?


Caught by a sudden gust of wind ? A


combination of the two ? No one seems


to know . But the fact remains that get


itself into orbit it did .


And a fine old fuss there was about it , too .


Here are the known facts . On 10th July ,


the bus , the 2.20 from Dinas to Llangrwl ,


left Dinas at two-thirty-five as usual .


Aboard , apart from the crew , were Mrs. Megan


Thomas and her five-year-old son Cadwallader ;


pretty little Morfydd Owen ; Mr. Stanley Hayball


and Miss Ethel Yates , hikers from


Birmingham ; Price the Provisions ; and the


Rev. Edwards .


Yes , the bus set out from Dinas . So much


is established . Ifor Huw Evans , Propr. ,


watched it go from the windows of the


Dinas Motor Omnibus Co. Very interested ,


Ifor was . For there was his garage hand ,


Dai Pugh , taking a tearful farewell of


Morfydd Owen . Morfydd , who had until


recently been Ifor's typist , but was now


returning to her home town as a


fully-fledged schoolteacher .


" But I 'm only going fifteen miles away , "


Morfydd was saying . " Not the end of


the world , is it ? " " For me it is , " Dai


said wretchedly , wiping his hands on his


overalls preparatory to a last embrace . " You


will not be remembering a mere garage


hand when you are lording it over


the Mixed Infants of Llangrwl . "


" Silly boy , " said Morfydd . Though she


could not help wondering whether , now she


had qualified as a schoolteacher , poor


little Dai was quite the man for her .


A nice boy of course . But perhaps in the


new world she was entering there might


be boys equally nice , and with far more


to offer . The conductor rang his bell .


" Good-bye , Dai , " said Morfydd , smiling from the bottom step .


" Good-bye , Morfydd . " He sought to enfold her in his arms . But he was too late .


She was already up the bus steps , and the bus was away . And Morfydd Owen


waving , unkissed , from the window . And Dai , on the pavement , knowing in his


heart that Morfydd was leaving him as surely as she was leaving Dinas .


So the bus set out for Llangrwl . But it never reached there ! Somewhere ,


on those fifteen miles of mountain roads , it disappeared from the earthly


scene . The first intimation that all was not well came when a


Mr. Isaiah Roberts , landlord of The Traveller's Joy , rang up the


Dinas Motor Omnibus Co. to ask what had happened to their


damn bus .


" Left here all right , " said Ifor . " Two-thirty-five , on the dot . " " It 's


supposed to leave at two-twenty . " " Who says so ? " " Your timetable . "


" Don't want to take too much notice of those old timetables , " Ifor said ,


reasonably . " Start running punctual and where are you ? People get


left behind , isn't it ? Very exasperating for one and all . "


" And what are you going to do about it ? " Tendentious , Mr. Roberts sounded .


" What do you want me to do ? Send out a sheriff's posse , is it ? " No sense


of humour , that Isaiah . He banged down the receiver . Very uncivil . Dropped


the mask , now , Ifor did . " Dai Pugh , " he bellowed . " Leap on your bicycle


and scour the countryside between here and The Traveller's Joy .


The two-twenty to Llangrwl has failed to


complete her mission . " Paled , did Dai . For the


two-twenty carried , for him , a cargo more


precious than jewels . Though Mofydd Owen


was , as he feared , departed out of his life ,


he still loved her dearly . Already , even


as with trembling fingers he fastened his


trouser clips , he was seeing her lying in


some dreadful ravine , or beset by


robbers , or being whisked off to Emergency


Ward 10 .


But even his imagination , luckily for him ,


did not visualise the awful truth - that


Morfyyd Owen was already qualifying for


the title of " First Woman to Enter Space . "


" Where are we going , Mam ? " inquired little


Cadwallader when his child mind grasped


the fact that the green earth was falling


away at a rate of knots .


Where indeed ? Megan Thomas spoke sharply


to the conductor , demanding an explanation .


But nonplussed , the conductor was . A


good man , mind ; knew his job . But out of


depth in this particular instance . Fingered


his ticket-punch nervously . Peered out of


the window . Went and consulted the driver .


" Where are we going ? " he echoed Cadwallader .


" Damned if I know , boy , " said the driver .


" But something very untoward has


happened , if you ask me . "


Immersed in the Dinas Advertiser , was the


Rev. Edwards . Now he put down his paper ,


folded it , and glanced idly out of the


window . Looked again , eyes starting from


his head . " God bless my immortal soul , "


he cried . " Never mind your immortal


soul , " said Megan Thomas tartly .


" Here we are traversing the heavens at the


very moment when we should be


running into Llangrwl bus station .


And no one doing the first thing about


it . " Stung , the conductor was . " What you


expect me to do ? " he inquired , bitter .


" Radio Flying Control at London Airport ,


is it ? " " Mutual recriminations will get


us nowhere , " boomed the Rev. Edwards .


" It 's all very well , " commented


Mr. Hayball from the back seat .


" But Eth and me wanted to be


at the Youth Hostel before dark . "


Morfydd Owen was silent . But she


looked down at the fast-disappearing


earth , and it seemed to her that she


would never see her Dai again . And


though half an hour ago she had


regarded this possibility with


fortitude , it now filled her with


dismay . Quietly she began to


weep ...


Dai , meanwhile , was pedalling


furiously on the road . Not a sign of


the bus . He passed The Traveller's


Joy . At last he caught up Mr. Roberts ,


walking very dogged towards Llangrwl .


" Afternoon , Mr. Roberts , " he called , polite ,


as he shot past . His spirits were rising .


He had seen no sign of an accident .


Therefore Mr. Roberts must have been mistaken .


He would find the bus safe and sound in


Llangrwl , and his dear Morfydd quietly


But disappointment awaited him . A


restive queue of people in the bus station ,


waiting to be transported to Dinas . And


when he went to Morfydd's house , all


he found was Morfydd's mam , working


herself up proper ... Getting dark , now .


The conductor switched on the lights .


The beleaguered passengers peered out of


the windows . Little to be seen , only a


few lone stars , and the distant earth


brooding in her shroud of mist .


Megan Thomas sat tight-lipped , nursing


the sleeping Cadwallader . Driver and


conductor peered ahead into nothingness .


On the back seat Stan Hayball embraced


his Eth . Morfydd thought of Dai . The


Rev. Edwards , standing at the front ,


looked at his forlorn flock . " What


about a verse or two of Cwm Rhondda ? "


he suggested hopefully .


They looked at him , sullen . His heart


sank . If the Welsh found the situation


too desperate for singing , then the


situation , he realised , must be desperate


indeed . But suddenly they were roused


from their lethargy . Something was


approaching , faster , faster , a tearing


hurrying blur that was past and gone


in a moment , followed by a great


rush of sound . They waved frantically .


But the jet aircraft was already miles away ,


swinging down to the darkening earth . " It


passed me at fifty thousand feet , sir . It was


climbing steadily . " Group Captain Llewelyn Jones , Officer


Commanding R.A.F. Station , Dinas , looked keenly at the


Flying Officer who had burst so unceremoniously into his


office . " And what did it look like , Broughtons ? Some


sort of rocket ? "


Flying Officer Broughtons shuffled his feet .


" Well , actually , sir , it looked like - like a bus .


A single-decker , " he elaborated . Daggers , the


Group Captain looked . " Broughtons , " he said silkily .


" Didn't they teach you at Cranwell that buses are


earth-bound creatures ? Aeroplanes fly , Broughtons .


Buses crawl . " Very pale , Broughtons was . But


determined . " It was a bus , sir .


They 'd got the lights on . There were people inside .


Waving . " Like gimlets , the Station Commander's eyes .


" Did you see the indicator board ? " " Yes , sir . " " And


what did it say ? Mystery Tour ? " Oh , very caustic , that


Group Captain . But Broughtons stood his ground . " No ,


sir . It said Llangrwl . " Llewelyn Jones sat


back in his chair . " I see . So you met a bus at


fifty thousand feet .


All lit up . Full of people waving as you went past . "


Suddenly he crouched forward . " Broughtons , if I thought


there were anything in Queen's Regulations to cover this ,


I 'd have you court-martialled . But I know there


isn't , " he ended sadly . " I tried to read the


registration number , sir . But it was getting dark . "


He waited . But his commanding officer appeared to


have forgotten him .


He saluted , and left the presence , very crestfallen ...


Time passed . The bus climbed , and went quietly


into orbit . Time passed . The Rev. Edwards' pulpit


remained empty . And so did the arms of Dai


Pugh . How could they be otherwise , when his


beloved was circling the Poles at three-and-a-


quarter-hour intervals , regular as clockwork ?


Time passed . Everyone said , " Pity about Megan


Thomas , isn't it , " as though they didn't really think


it was a pity at all ; as , indeed , they didn't .


LOCAL BUS DISAPPEARS announced the


Dinas Advertiser . But the London papers ignored


the whole affair . Ifor Evans reported his loss


to the police . But they only tut-tutted . " Lost


a bus , is it . Very careless . " That was their


attitude . Now if there 'd been a good old accident ,


they could have measured up the road and


taken an interest .


But losing a bus ! People were always losing


things . You 'd be surprised , they said . So it


seemed , for a time , that the whole affair would


be written off as one of those unexplained


mysteries , like the Marie Celeste . Then things


began to happen ... But what about the voyagers ?


you will be asking .


Well , the Rev. Edwards had taken command . " Our


position , " he said , " is somewhat analogous to


that of a castaway on a desert island . Now


what does such a person do ? He signals


his position by lighting bonfires or hoisting a


flag on a palm tree . And he tries to ensure


a supply of food . "


" Can't go lighting bonfires on this bus , "


the conductor said firmly . " Contrary to the


Company's Regulations . " " Of course not , " agreed


the minister . " No , we have another way of signalling


our position . The driver must sound his horn


continuously . " Gave him a look , the driver did .


" Where you think we are ? " he asked rudely .


" Dinas High Street ? "


" Do as I say , driver . " Very stern , the reverend


gentleman was . So the driver peep-peeped as


through empty space . " Thank you , " the Rev.


Edwards said courteously . " Secondly , we must


pool and ration our supplies of food , if any . "


He looked at Price the Provisions , who was nursing


a great basket .


" Now , who has any food ? " he asked hopefully .


Stared back did Price the Provisions , unwinking .


" Mr. Price , I think you may be able to help us here , "


said the Rev. Edwards . Price shook his head .


" Intended for Plas Newydd , this lot is . Paid for ,


too . " He folded his arms protectively over the basket .


Mutinous dog , thought the Rev. Edwards , who hadn't


enjoyed himself so much since reading Treasure


Island . " What have you got in that basket , Price ? "


he roared . Quelled , Mr. Price pulled out a grocery


list , pushed his glasses up on his nose , and


began to read . " Six loaves , four pounds butter ,


two pounds marge , one tin pineapple , one York ham . "


" Then we are saved , " cried the Rev. Edwards .


Shyly , Morfydd Owen produced a block of


chocolate .


Though your wings and your scars are new ,


you may join us . ' ' I am Lily-yo . We three


are humans . You are only flymen . We will


not join you . ' The Captives grunted in boredom .


The Chief Captive spoke again . ' Always this


talk from you of the Heavy World ! You have


joined us . You are flymen , we are human . You


know little , we know much . '


' But we - ' ' Stop your stupid talk , woman ! ' ' We are - '


' Be silent , woman , and listen , ' Band Appa Bondi said .


' We know much , ' repeated the Chief Captive . ' Some


things we will tell you . All who make the journey from


the Heavy World become changed . Some die . Most live


and grow wings . Between the worlds are many strong


rays , not seen or felt , which change our bodies .


When you come here , when you come to the True


World , you become a true human . The grub of the


tigerfly is not a tigerfly until it changes . So humans


change . ' ' I cannot know what he says , ' Haris said


stubbornly , throwing himself down . But Lily-yo and


Flor were listening .


' To this True World , as you call it , we come to die , '


Lily-yo said , doubtingly . The Captive with the


fleshless jaw said , ' The grub of the tigerfly thinks


it dies when it changes into a tigerfly . ' ' You are still


young , ' said the Chief Captive . ' You begin newly here .


Where are your souls ? ' Lily-yo and Flor looked at


each other . In their flight from the 4wiltmilt they had


heedlessly thrown down their souls .


Haris had trampled on his . It was unthinkable !


' You see . You needed them no more . You are still


young . You may be able to have babies . Some of those


babies may be born with wings . ' The Captive with


the boneless arms added , ' Some may be born wrong ,


as we are . Some may be born right . '


' You are too foul to live ! ' Haris growled . ' Why are


you not killed ? ' ' Because we know all things , ' the


Chief Captive said . Suddenly his second head roused


itself and declared , ' To be a good shape is not all


in life . To know is also good . Because we cannot move


well we can - think . This tribe of the True World


is good and knows these things .


So it lets us rule it . ' Flor and Lily-yo


muttered together . ' Do you say that you poor


Captives rule the True World ? ' Lily-yo asked


at last . ' We do . ' ' Then why are you captives ? '


The flyman with ear lobes and thumbs connected ,


making his perpetual little gesture of protest ,


spoke for the first time .


' To rule is to serve , woman . Those who bear power


are slaves to it . Only an outcast is free . Because


we are Captives , we have the time to talk and


think and plan and know . Those who know


command the knives of others . ' ' No hurt will


come to you , Lily-yo , ' Band Appa Bondi added .


' You will live among us and enjoy your life free


from harm . '


' No ! ' the Chief Captive said with both mouths .


' Before she can enjoy , Lily-yo and her companion


Flor - this other man creature is plainly useless -


must help our great plan . ' ' The invasion ? ' Bondi


asked . ' What else ? Flor and Lily-yo , you arrive


here at a good time . Memories of the Heavy World


and its savage life are still fresh in you .


We need such memories . So we ask you to go


back there on a great plan we have . ' ' Go back ? '


gasped Flor . ' Yes . We plan to attack the Heavy


World . You must help to lead our force . ' The long


afternoon of eternity wore on , that long golden road


of an afternoon that would somewhere lead to


everlasting night .


Motion there was , but motion without event - except


for those negligible events that seemed so large to


the creatures participating in them . For Lily-yo , Flor


and Haris there were many events . Chief of these was


that they learned to fly properly . The pains associated


with their wings soon died away as the wonderful


new flesh and tendon strengthened . To sail up in the


light gravity became an increasing delight - the ugly


flopping movements of flymen on the Heavy World


had no place here .


Alastair was a bachelor . All his life he had


been inclined to regard women as something


which must necessarily be subordinated to his


career . Now he realised that he was entrusting not only


his own life , but Geoffrey's as well , to a strange girl


whom he had never met and on whom after no more


than a couple of telephone calls he was


prepared to place complete reliance .


It was a novel experience . Alastair was


quite unable to explain why he should feel


so much confidence in her . Once again


she checked back her instructions . It was


obvious that she did not fail to appreciate the


faith which he was placing in her and


was prepared to accept the responsibility .


" Good luck , Air Marshal , " she said gently . " I 'll


be waiting for you at the Hotel Roma at six this


evening - and I shall look forward to meeting you


both at midnight . " They might have been


arranging a supper party . Then she rang off .


Alastair admitted that never in a not altogether


uneventful life had he come across a girl who


sounded so charming and appeared to be so


efficient .


For some reason the orderlies had forgotten


to switch on the lights ; there was no colour -


physical features were distinguishable solely by


gradations of silvery greyness . Even the snow-


capped summit of Mont Blanc , seven miles


below , was not recognisable among the host


of lower peaks . The screen of the air-to-air


radar glowed . Occasionally minute spots


flickered across its surface , but there was


no permanent image .


In the exceptional clarity he was even able to


make a direct comparison between the radar


image and the ground itself . Ahead lay the


Plain of Lombardy ; to the right , Turin ; to the


left , Milan . The directional angle of the


scanner could be adjusted to cover any


particular area within its range . Geoffrey


turned the scale slowly to cover the


ground immediately ahead .


He was able to pick out towns , unrecognisable to the


naked eye , obscured by the ground haze which even


on the clearest night limited angular vision . He glanced


at the speed recorder . It seemed almost incredible that


the tiny white figure of 8.5 against which the needle


was resting could really mean hundreds of knots .


Now , as Alastair reduced the thrust , the


pitch changed as the nose of the aircraft


dipped slightly . The needle of the speed


recorder swung gently through 8.0 , 7.0 , 6.0


before coming to rest at 5.0 . " We 're a bit


ahead of time , " said Alastair . " We 'll run


in on minimum engine power . " Geoffrey


smiled . Alastair talked of running in when


they were still more than four hundred


miles from their destination .


They were nearing Modena . Geoffrey focused the radar scanner


on the bridge over the Po , barely forty miles to port .


He was able to trace the course of the river ; he


thought he could recognise the route of N12 ,


along which he had motored so desperately little


more than twenty-four hours earlier . Since then


he had flown to England , attended the vital


conference in Bruce Denton's office , been whisked


by special helicopter from the Horse Guards


Parade to Boscombe Down , slept for six blessed


refreshing hours and had now completed two-thirds


of the journey back to the place where every


indication pointed to Eve being held .


Geoffrey set himself to consider the


movements of the Bentley . It had passed


him at the temporary bridge over the


Tartaro at a few minutes past ten on the


previous night . He worked out the distance


on the presumption that its route had been


through Florence and Rome and then


across Italy via Foggia to Barletta .


It came to just over six hundred


miles .


DARKNESS had descended like a curtain by the


time they docked at Belleray . And though Guy ,


made nervous by Beryl's silence , drove at reckless


speed to the Villa , it was quickly evident that


the party was over . Piers came strolling out to


meet the Deanes , and as soon as Guy had


driven away , invited them casually to come to


his flat for a drink .


To Beryl , at least , this was anti-climax with a


vengeance . She had expected to be met with violent


reproaches - and here he was bland and smiling .


But it did not take her long to realise that his mood


was less pleasant than appeared on the surface .


He told her nonchalantly , as he led the way to his


own veranda , that he had taken the liberty of


asking Jack - as a representative of the Vallin family -


to come over and make the presentation in her stead .


" I caught him just as he was going to the


airport to meet Blanche , " he said . " As a matter


of fact I 'd asked him last night to deputise


for me and fetch her . He brought her to the party


too . They 're both here . " " I didn't know she was


coming back from Barbados so soon . " Beryl


said the first thing that came into her head .


" Oh , she was due ! " And then he added in the same


casual tone , " She 's not returning to her family . She 's


going to live with friends of the bank manager , just


this side of Belleray . " Mrs. Deane made a suitable


comment , but Beryl said nothing . She was trying


to sort things out in her mind . That beneath his


unnaturally smooth exterior Piers was simmering


with anger against her she had no doubt .


Jack and Blanche were quick to sympathise , and to


express their disgust at Sir John's abominable treatment


of his guests . But Piers remained aloof , and when Beryl


suggested having a second party , the following week , he


poured cold water on the project . Everyone , he declared ,


had had a thoroughly good time , and it would take them


nearly to next week to settle down again . Meanwhile


Hubert would have betaken himself and his well-


earned gratuity to his native village at the


north of the island .


It was all over and done with .


For the time being Beryl was content to let


it go at that , but she resolved to have


it out with Piers when a reasonable


opportunity presented itself . He must


learn that he could not treat her


with injustice and contempt , ignoring


her explanations as though he were


a schoolmaster and she a small ,


ignorant child .


He gave her no chance of any private


conversation that evening , for when


Blanche and Jack left , he went with


them . But next morning she insisted


on his taking her out in the jeep -


to find , if possible , Hubert and his


relations , and tell them of


her great disappointment at being


held up in Balicou .


With an air of resignation he sent Judy , his


Boxer , to the back , and made room for her


beside him . " Is that all you want to do ? "


he asked , letting in the clutch . " No ; I want


to make you understand just what happened


about this Balicou trip , " she returned


coldly . " I 'm a little tired of being treated


like an ineffective imbecile . "


" And I 'm heartily sick of being constantly called


to account for my manners , " he retorted .


" What have I done wrong now ? I cover up for


you the best way I can by getting hold of Jack


to make the presentation , I run the damned


party to the best of my ability - saying the


sugary things you ought to have been there


to say - and all you can do is to find


fault . "


" It 's your superior attitude that riles me . " Beryl was


scarlet with annoyance . " How I happened to be marooned


at Balicou doesn't interest you in the faintest degree . You


look as though it was only what you expected of me ,


as though I didn't care a hoot about letting Hubert


and his pals down . "


" As your employee it 's not my business


to understand all the whys and


wherefores of your actions , " he said


stiffly . " Still less to criticise you . "


" Oh , drop that nonsense , Piers !


Be yourself , " she exclaimed , with


mounting exasperation . " Very well ! " He


brought the jeep to a standstill in a rough


path fringed and shaded by citrus trees .


" If you want my true opinion I 'll give it .


You made some sort of a protest to Graybury .


I 'll give you credit for that . But you didn't press


the matter because , very naturally , you were


thoroughly enjoying Forrest's company in


idyllic surroundings . " " How dare you say


such a thing ? " she blazed . " For goodness'


sake show a glimmer of reason , " was his


equally indignant rejoinder .


" You talk as though we were alone on Balicou ! "


She avoided his gaze , and tried to ignore that


last impertinent remark . " With four other people - "


" Whom you never once managed to circumvent . "


The mockery in his voice had deepened . " With


all due deference , Miss Deane - come off it ! "


She met his eyes then .


She wavered , and at last said


slowly , " If you must drag the truth


out of me , I must ask you to regard


it as confidential . " " My dear Beryl ,


don't tell me anything , if you 'd rather


not . " He was clearly startled by her


words . " But remember , it was you ,


not I , who started this conversation . "


" I know . Absurd as it may seem , I didn't want


you to think badly of me . " She turned away


from him to fondle Judy , who , sensing something


amiss , was nudging her in the endeavour to


gain her attention . " The truth is that


if I had absolutely insisted on sailing at the


time originally arranged , Sir John would


have had it in for Guy .


You see , it was , apparently , through a mistake


on Guy's part that we missed seeing the


flamingoes our first morning on the island . "


" What harm could possibly have come to Forrest


through Sir John's nonsense ? " Piers could


hardly have spoken with more contempt .


A bully like that respects anyone who


dares to stand up to him . "


Beryl tried to suppress the thought that this was


precisely the remark she had made to Guy .


She said icily , " As you pride yourself on


your knowledge of all the affairs of the


island I needn't tell you that Sir John


Graybury is one of Mr. Hewson's most


important customers . " " So what ? You 're not


trying to say that Hewson would victimise


Forrest for behaving with ordinary moral


courage !


He 's quite capable of telling Sir John to take


himself and his business to an unmention-


able destination . " " There 's a difference


between what a senior and a junior


partner can do , " was her quick reply .


" What they can bring off ! I 'll admit that .


But Forrest might at least have tried . He 's


pretty spineless ! "


" You think you could have carried more weight


with Sir John ? " she enquired cuttingly .


" For all your good opinion of yourself ,


I doubt it . He 's about as easy to push around


as - as a grounded whale ! " He had to smile


at that , but went on airily , " I 'd have made


an attempt to show my lady-love that I


put her interests before my own .


She was tempted to laugh , but it was as though that barb still stuck


in her quivering flesh . " You 've an answer - of sorts - for everything , " she


said shortly . " Personally I 've no more to say , so I suggest we get


along . " To her great relief they arrived at the cluster of little houses


where Hubert had been living to find the old man stowing in


leisurely fashion his few possessions into a ramshackle and


incredibly ancient car , surrounded by innumerable friends and relatives .


Their air of smiling somnolence showed them


to have been guests at yesterday's


celebrations , and their friendly welcome


and warm sympathy , as she explained


how she had come to miss the party ,


made her send a complacent glance


in Piers' direction . What a fuss-box the


man was , she thought impatiently ,


trying to worry her into the belief


that her failure to appear at a function


on the estate was a major error :


And then she received a jolt . Old Hubert , standing


beside her , his battered hat in his hand , his


toothless mouth stretched in a wide grin , told her


in halting 6patois that " 3Mistah Piers " had


explained right at the start that " 3Mis' Beryl "


would be 3" plenty , plenty sad " not to be back


at the Villa in time .


That it wouldn't be her fault at all . That


she was a lady who , like her Uncle Charles ,


took the highest pride in keeping her word . " I


could see 3anudder 3t'ing , " he went on in a


lower voice , his sunken black eyes twinkling .


3" He powerful anxious , poor Mistah Piers .


We all know how Balicou Island dangerous


to all kin' o' boats , wid d'ose big , big


rocks in an' out o' de water .


He had almost entirely settled back into his old


ways , even to reading law about two hours each


day . Though he did not refuse wine , which the


judge always had on the table at dinner , he


did not act as though he found it necessary


except in moderate compliance with his father's


habit .


Around that rounded rocky promontory where the


white spray could be seen flying across the distance


of a mile and a half , came the yawl under her full


triangular sail , and to the judge's frightened eyes , so


close to the rocks that it would be dashed


against them with the lift of the next wave .


" That boy ! That damned fool boy ! What does he mean


by trying to come home now , even if he did promise ?


What does time mean when weighed against the life of


two human beings ? " Not until he was certain that the


yawl had rounded the rocky point instead of


being flung against the huge boulders did the judge


empty his lungs of stifling air and refill them


with part of that howling northwest gale .


When the wind was on a rampage , as it was


now , it could kick up a sea-sized commotion


where it had a straight blow of eight miles


down the lake . 3" Big blow , Judge , " re-


marked Willie Kim as the wind billowed


out and sucked in his baggy black


blouse and pantaloons .


3" Blow like hell . Maybe by and by


she blow some more . " " Hello , Willie , where


did you come from ? " the judge said in


mild surprise . " I didn't hear you . Do you


see that fool boy of mine out there on


the lake ? " 3" I see him . You don't need


worry , Judge . Big wind like that can't


drown good man .


Bill is good man , and Bueno Buck is raised on lake .


He no drown , too . Him , his mother throw him into


water to make him swim when he is born .


Maybe so Bill , he can swim that good , too . "


The yawl , riding the high waves with an air that


might have made an ocean liner envious , seemed


prepared to make a safe though violent landing


when there came a sudden gust of wind


from the west .


" My God ! " the judge cried out . " The boy


is going to try to make a landing on the


weather side of that pier ! He 'll wreck ! "


Willie Kim was speechless , only his slant


black eyes showing any emotion . With a


quick shift of tiller , and at the same time


jibbing the boom to which he had the


stay rope fastened , Bill made the


yawl recover .


It seemed to the frightened judge


as though his son would actually


shoot the craft in under the outer


end of the wharf . But by pressing


the tiller hard over and at the


same time dropping the small sheet


of wet canvas , Bill cleared the


corner of the pier by inches , and


with the tiller still hard over , brought


the yawl up against the waves


" Willie , " the judge said huskily ,


" that was as pretty a piece of seamans-


hip as I ever saw . That boy of


mine seems to know how to do


everything , when he wants to . "


" 3Naw , " disputed Willie . 3" Just


play in damn fine luck this time .


He plenty smart though . " As they


reached the pier , the judge on legs


that were a little unsteady , they


found Bueno Buck , now on the


pier , leading the yawl toward


" Hello , Dad ! " Bill called . " I hope you


weren't worried . We 're going to


drag the boat ashore and turn


her over . She has a foot of


water in her . I wouldn't be


surprised if we broke all


speed records on the way in .


Yes sir , I am slightly wet , and


Buck would be wetter if he


had more clothes on . "


With four doing the job and the waves


pushing at the stern , the yawl was soon


dragged out but before it was turned


over Bueno Buck reached into the foot


of water , tossed out a string of silvery


lake trout and said - 3" Bill , he 's better


man at catch 'em than Injun , Judge .


You look . Little one more as fifteen


inches . Maybe big one four feet ,


huh ? "


" By George , that is a beautiful string of fish ! "


exclaimed the judge . " Toss them on the grass


and then we 'll all get hold and heave . " A


few moments later the yawl was upside


down , exposing its shallow keel .


Bertram's face was grim . " You think it was the Snort ,


don't you ? " John gave a short laugh . " I did , " he


said ; " but I 'd better stop thinking that now .


Pericles is fitted with an identically similar one . "


" So there you are , my dear . " Peggy 's eyes filled


with tears . " It 's so unfair , " she said .


" That little beast Robbie Munyard spent six


months ashore while Pericles was refitting in the


dockyard and now that she 's ready for sea he goes


sick . Just because he 's an Honourable he can do


what he likes . Anyway , why pick on you to succeed


him ? " John didn't answer . There was no point


in sharing his discomfort with Peggy .


A submariner's wife needed to be spared as much


as possible . Anyway the Parsifal affair was far


too fresh in both their minds to be a comfortable


subject for discussion . " It 's a command , " he said .


We can do with the extra money . It 'll just about


pay Jacky's school fees . " " What shall we do


about this house ? - and Jill's school ? - and oh !


how I hate the Navy !


If I 'd known what it would be like I 'd sooner


have married a parson . " He kissed her . " Parsons


work on Sundays , " he said . " They 're worse off than


submariners . You ought to have married that fat


stockbroker chap and shared him with his three


mistresses . Anyway it might be much worse .


Pericles is a Portsmouth boat . She spends longer


in harbour than any other submarine .


Practically a shore job . Cheer up . " She wiped


her eyes and reached for her address book . " I 'll


write to those agents and try to get a flat in


Alverstoke , " she said . " But I don't know what


Jill will say about leaving her school . It 's a


blessing that Jacky 's off to boarding school .


And all the trouble you 've taken with the


garden !


That little beast , Robbie Munyard ! " Having


said her say Peggy manfully shouldered her


burden and prepared to break up yet


another home . In the ten years of married life


this had already happened half a dozen times .


Such is the life of a naval officer's wife .


John's father had been a naval officer of the old


school ; some of his rigid ideas had been passed


on to the second generation . One of these was that


an officer should join a ship , on taking up a


new appointment , at nine a.m. precisely , dressed


in the modern equivalent of frock-coat and sword .


It would have been acceptable to all concerned


if John had stepped into Fort Blockhouse clad in


plain-clothes on the previous night , but ways


instilled by martinet parents have a habit of


sticking .


So he put up for the night at The Admiral's Head , that


famous Portsmouth hostelry , second only in historic


interest to The George , unhappily destroyed by German


bombs during the last war . Having deposited his


baggage and unpacked his overnight-bag he


went in search of a drink . The lower bar was


empty , save for the lady known by all habitue


*?2s as ' Seaweed ' , and a youngish , sharp-eyed


man who was staring moodily into a gin


and tonic .


Seaweed's memory was prodigious ; her manner


must have been worth a great deal to the proprietors


of the hotel . She greeted John , however , with less


than her usual cordiality and flashed a warning


glance at him . Evidently the other occupant


of the bar was not 6persona grata . If her


memory was good , so was this stranger's .


" You 're Commander Winter , " he said . " Have a


gin ? " He turned to Seaweed -


" Make it a large one , darling . I know the naval


habits . ' Drink gin and call each other wallahs ,


what ! ' - as the Guards officer said on his return


from a visit to the Royal Navy . Submarines , what .


Youngest D.S.C. in the war , what ? Crawled


inside a submarine casing to defuse a Jerry


bomb . Should have been a V.C.


What are you waiting for , darling ? The officer is


obviously thirsty . " John fought back his


inherited desire to snub the man . If he did he


would have to leave the bar and either sit in


the lounge or return to his bedroom .


Seaweed sensed his embarrassment and


came to the rescue . " You haven't introduced


yourself , " she said with mock severity .


" It 's a rule on these premises . No treating with


strangers - that 's right , John , isn't it ? " " My


fault entirely , " said the stranger . " It 's my conceited


nature - I assumed that you both knew who I


was . I 'm Ian Bawley . Does that mean anything


to you ? " It did . Ian Bawley's name was


printed at the head of most naval articles


in the Daily Courier .


" Oh , the Press , " said Seaweed . " Down here on business , Mr.


Bawley ? " " A pressman is always on the job . "


He held out his hand and John could not do


otherwise than take it . " Pleased to meet you ,


Commander , " he said . " Now what about that


drink ? " John nodded - he could afford to buy


one in return and he was lonely .


" For the sake of accuracy , " he said , " and I


know how you newspaper people value that commodity ! -


please don't address me as Commander . I 'm


a Lieutenant-Commander . Perhaps we could


drop the rank - such a mouthful ! " " You 're


absolutely right , " said Bawley , as he pushed over


his glass . " Fill it up , darling . Accuracy above


all else . We pride ourselves about accuracy on


the Courier .


Ever known us bowl a wide about your Service ?


Check and counter-check - nothing but the truth .


Somewhat embarrassing , what ? " " How can the


truth be embarrassing ? " John sipped his double


gin with relish . It was his favourite brand ,


he was on the verge of a new chapter in


his career , and his companion's attitude was


challenging .


Life at home and in Bath had been a


trifle too comfortable and humdrum .


He 'd never before met a pressman and


found him curiously stimulating . " You 're a


bit of a humorist , aren't you ? " said


Bawley . " The truth is usually very embarra-


ssing . You 're in submarines , aren't you ? "


" You know a great deal about me , "


said John .


" It 's my business . I 'll tell you more . You 're


going to take over command of Pericles . Am I


right ? " " Who told you ? " " Little bird .


Other half ? " John nodded . " On me . " Bawley


shook his head . " All paid for by His Lordship , "


he said . " Expense account . You 're a married


man with a couple of kids . Can't go wasting


your substance on a complete stranger . Set


'em up , darling ! "


John flushed . " I 'm not in need of charity . " " Come


off it , " said Bawley . " The proprietor of the Daily


Courier knows what 's going on . If he doesn't mind ,


why should you ? " " I see . " John took the


refilled glass and looked over the rim at his


companion . " You want me to talk , is that it ? "


" You misjudge me , " said Bawley . " You have


nothing to tell me , yet . But we 'll be meeting


again , no doubt , and then you will have .


Regard this as a softening-up process , and


have dinner with me ? On His Lordship ,


of course . " " On one condition , " said John .


" Tell me who the little bird was . " " Can't


you guess ? Whose portrait appears regularly


in the shiny papers ? "


" You mean Munyard ? " " Sure . Very useful


contact , is our Robbie ; he gives us the gen and


we give him the publicity . ' The Honourable


" Robbie " and friend ' , what ? You know the


sort of thing . " " You 'll get nothing out of me , "


said John , " but you can pay for my drinks


if you want to , as long as you keep off


Service matters . "


" Good-oh ! One for the grill-room , darling , and


tell George to bring in the 6carte du jour . "


Bawley was a man of his word . He kept


away from Service matters , was an excellent


host and a splendid raconteur . The evening


passed all too quickly . As they parted in


the vestibule the two men were well


disposed towards each other .


" Ever been to Fleet Street ? " asked Bawley .


" You should . Next time you 're in Town


give me a ring at this number and I 'll


take you round the pubs where most


of the work is done . " He held out a card .


John took it and put it in his pocket .


" Thanks , " he said . " If ever my missus


lets me off the chain I 'll take you


up on that .


Ever been out in a submarine ? I 'll give


you a spin round one of these days , if you


like . You could write it up . " Bawley made a face .


" Not in Pericles , old man . " " Why not ? "


" Better ask Robbie Munyard . " " What 's he been


saying ? " John was furious . The little squirt !


To go gassing to a newspaper man !


" Look ! " he went on earnestly . " You 're not going


to write up Pericles in some way or other , are


you ? " " What is there to write up ? " said


Bawley . " There are forty-three submarines in


the Navy - why should I pick on Pericles ? "


John eyed him steadily . " It 's the Parcifal


business , isn't it ? " he said quietly .


" I don't want it to happen again , " said Bawley -


" more so than ever since I met you . "


" What did Munyard say ? " " The Snort - hull


fitting fractured . " " Supposing I was to tell you that


we 've had Pericles' entire Snort equipment removed


and X-rayed and that it was as sound as a bell ? "


said John .


" Munyard didn't tell me that . But I must confess


I 'm relieved . But it still doesn't do away


with the possibility of faulty design . " He held


out his hand . " Maybe I will take a trip with you


one of these days , " he said . " In the meantime


I 'll tell my editor that the story 's a dead bird .


Glad I met you . Don't forget to give me a ring -


any time - knock twice and ask for Bawley , what ? "


" I don't know when that will be , " said John .


" I shall be busy for a while , cleaning up after


Master bloody Munyard . " THERE were six submarines ,


lying in pairs alongside the jetty at Fort Blockhouse .


Black and grimly businesslike they both looked and


sounded , for all of them were rumbling as they


charged their electric batteries .


A light wind wafted the smoke of diesel exhaust in


through the open windows of the Captain's house . It


pervaded every room but neither Harry nor Madeleine


Turton noticed its existence as they sat in silence over


a substantial breakfast . Although usually a very


talkative lady Madeleine respected her husband's


silences , for she knew they betokened a worry of


some sort .


There had been many such breakfasts lately since the


affair of Parsifal . Harry had lost a good deal of weight .


His normal placid and steady-going manner remained ,


but she could see that it no longer came naturally .


It is the common lot of all Squadron Senior Officers


to experience such catastrophes as the loss of a submarine ,


though in peace time these happenings are few and


far between .


This is the testing time for all . The affair blows up into


a national disaster and then when it is all over life


must continue as before . During this period the Captain


must present an unruffled appearance and carry on as


if nothing unusual has happened . Harry Turton had


written letters to the bereaved , had visited many in the


locality , had been interviewed by the Press , had driven


his surviving submarines a good deal harder than


usual and in fact had applied all the usual specifics


suitable for such occasions .


He rode down to where I was waiting . I was


thinking what a skill he had for reading


my mind . " This would be as good a place


for a hold-up as any , " he said , reining in


near me . " Yes , " I said . " It 'll be here to-


morrow as likely as not . " I paused . " Miss


Jeannie 'll be on that coach , Dan . "


" Yes , " he said . " I know . " " No harm must come


to her , Dan . " " She 'll be all right . It 's the


men who 'll be after that coach I 'm interested


in , Johnny . " " I know . But if lead starts


flying she might be in danger . " " That 's so .


But I reckon they 'll be too busy shooting at


us to bother with the coach and the folks


in it . "


" Maybe , " I said . " But we 've got to remember


that girl all the time , Dan . I feel kind


of responsible for her . " " Of course , " he said ,


giving me one of his strange looks . Then he


turned the conversation . " Let 's ride over


and have a look at the mining camp .


After all it 's them we 're supposed to be


working for , as well as the townsfolk and


the agency detective . "


With something of a start I remembered the


man who 'd brought us into this business .


" Maybe you don't know about Appleton ,


Dan ? " " Know what ? " " That he 's dead , "


I said . I watched him because I was always


fascinated by the way he looked when you


tried to surprise him . " Dead ? " he said . " Yes .


Dead . Shuffled out of the deck . Blasted


down with a shotgun outside the Palace


last night . "


" Fenton or Somers , " he said . " Or the Town


Marshal , " I added . His face was fixed ,


unreadable as a rock . " Let 's get over to the


mining camp , " he said abruptly . He wheeled


his horse back off the trail and up the slope


leading to the ridge . I followed . From the


top you could see something of the wild hill


country that lay all round Gilburg Crossing .


The air was fresh and clear and you


could see far over west and north for many


miles . The real high country of the Rockies


lifted up in the distance like a pale water-


colour drawing . Between us and that lay


a vast stretch of hills , canyons , buttes and


malpais .


" The mine-workings lie north of the town , "


said Dan . " If we head west we ought to


cut the trail leading from Gilburg to the north . "


So we swung west , making slow going over


rough country , sliding on shale , climbing down


into draws , circling a big mesa by a


four or five mile valley , sandy-floored . It


got hotter as the day wore on and we rested


gratefully by a small creek where we watered


the horses and drank enough to cure our


thirst .


An hour's riding brought us to a trail that


we figured would lead to the miners' camp .


We turned north into it and after about four


miles it led into a small canyon which


opened out into a wide shallow draw .


Here in a dried-up creek-bed we found


the miners at work . They were scattered


over a fairly wide area working singly or


in pairs .


We didn't approach unchallenged . Just short


of the diggings there was a roughly-built


shack and as we got near someone inside bawled


out , " If you come any closer , I 'll sure blow


your whiskers off . " " Take it easy , mister , " I sang


out . " We don't aim to come any closer and we 've


got no whiskers so as you can see . Just you


go and tell Nick Dowd we 've come to talk


to him about what happened last night . "


" Oh , " said the unseen guard . He blew a


whistle then , loud and shrill . The gun barrel


peeking out through a hole in the shack never


wavered . We sat our horses , waiting . " Looks as


though they 're expecting trouble , " I said . " Where


there 's gold and women there 's always trouble , "


observed Dan , shifting about in his saddle . He


was never long on patience .


I saw several men running down towards


the shack . They were all armed with rifles .


As the nearest of them came round the


shack , his rifle at the ready , I saw it was Nick


Dowd , still wearing his blue check shirt . He


came up close , eyeing us suspiciously . " We 've


come 2a-calling , " I said . " Can't see no reason


for calling , " he said . " Still long as you 're here


you may as well stay a while .


'Light an' come on in . " We dismounted and


one of the miners who 'd come along with


Nick Dowd took our horses off to water .


We followed Nick Dowd into the shack .


They 'd rigged up a stove of sorts and on it


a huge blackened coffee-pot steamed . Other


miners followed in at our heels . Nick Dowd


found us a couple of boxes to sit on .


A small man in bib overalls and a battered


Derby hat fussed around the stove . " 2Ain't


exactly the Ritz Hotel but we 've got our little


comforts , " said Dowd . He introduced the men


who 'd come in as Roper Smith , Shorty , Mick


Golightly , Swede and the Sodbuster . This last was


the little hombre in big overalls . Very soon he


had tin mugs filled with hot black coffee


sweetened with molasses for all and for us


there were two plates of beans .


" They gives you the wind , " said the Sodbuster


handing them to us , " but it 's all we got


as of now , apart from a few sacks of gold


dust . " He winked at his partners . They all


watched us as we ate the beans . Then when


we 'd finished and I 'd rolled a cigarette


the man called Shorty said , " You were saying when


you came in that 2somep'n happened last


night . "


" Yes , " I said . " Something happened all right .


After you 'd left the meeting , mister " - I


looked across at Nick Dowd - " someone cut


down William Appleton outside the Palace


with a shotgun . " I paused and watched my


words affect them in their different ways .


" That 's sure bad news , " said Dowd , sombrely .


" It 2jest about leaves everything wide open


for Mr. Pell and his bunch , " observed


Shorty .


The rest of the men there said nothing but


you could see they were hard hit . They were


simple men who knew a lot maybe about


digging for gold but were babes in arms


when it came to dealing with owlhooters and


desperadoes like Pell and Fenton and the


rest . " I guess we 'd better hold onto the gold


right 2hyar , Nick , " said the Sodbuster .


" Yeah , " said Dowd dubiously . " 2Mebbe we 'd


better . " Surprisingly Dan Maffrey came in at


that point . " If you do , " he said , " you 'll be


sure asking for trouble . They 'll be on your


necks before you can say ' knife ' . It wouldn't


be the first time they 've held up a diggings


at gun point either . They 've done it before


and got away with it . "


" You 're 2durned tootin' , mister , " said the man


called Roper Smith . " We 've got five rifles among


us and a few six-shooters . But most of us


2ain't 2eddicated in shootin' . It 'd be a


2massacree , 2yessir . " " If you 'll take a chance


on getting your gold to the bank , then we 'll


abide by what we said at the meeting , "


said Dan . " We 'll watch the stage out of reach . "


I couldn't quite see how all this fitted in


with Dan Maffrey's aim to avenge himself


on the Fenton bunch but still it was a


handsome offer so I chimed in too . " That


goes for me , gentlemen , " I said . " If they do try


and hold up the stage , it 'll be a couple or


three of them , no more . I reckon we can deal


with them all right . "


Mr. Copthorne knew a way round by the side


of the church where there was a small open


outbuilding where the grave digger kept his spades


and forks and tidying up implements . It might


be open . It was . He entered , and seated himself


in a huddle upon an upturned wheelbarrow .


His curious headgear fell off . Strange things


were going on in his bewildered brain . When


a man was drowning and towards his last


gasp it was scientifically supposed his whole


life came up before him in some cinematic


kind of sequence .


Mr. Copthorne was on dry land in a church


outbuilding , but this was happening to him now . He


saw himself as a sulky , ugly , malformed , repressed


boy , then a young youth . He saw himself refusing


baptism according to the sect his parents belonged to .


Walking out of the chapel later on . Continuing


on , his leaping mind flashed pictures of chi-


canery and corruption , the growth of the dea-


dly decadence and absorption in debase-


ment and Satanic debauchery .


He didn't know what to make of it , but it


was Mr. Copthorne all right . Perhaps he had


been attending some kind of fancy dress do


in London . Very strange his eyes looked . Mad ,


hunted eyes , as if the poor fellow had rocks in


his head , so the verger described afterwards .


" You 're very early about , sir , " he said , trying to


speak normally .


" Yes . I travelled down from London


as the dawn was breaking , and


the thought came to me I 'd like


to take a look at the church . I 've


never been inside . Very remiss of


me , " said Mr. Copthorne . The verger


led the way in . " The stained glass


windows , sir , they date back to


the fourteenth century . "


There were few passengers on the plane and Gavin was


quickly through the customs . " Gay ! " " Gavin ! " The girl


and her luggage had disappeared and they were alone


together . The porter brought Gavin's bag out to the


taxi . " Just a moment , darling , " Gavin pressed her


hand and smiled . " I want to check up on the


flights back . "


Gay went out to the waiting


taxi , and then found that in


the excitement of meeting


Gavin she had left her sun-


glasses on the veranda . She


went quickly back to fetch them .


Gavin and the girl who had got


off the plane with him were talking .


He was writing something in his


pocket-book , with a sick feeling


of despair Gay knew that of course


Gay , sitting opposite Gavin on the terrace could


hardly believe that she was the same girl ,


miserable , shy , who had sat at the little


table for the first time a few days ago .


Gavin raised his glass to her and smiled


and Gay's heart turned over . " I 'd like


to do that . " Gavin drained his glass


and refilled it .


" And then we 'll go for a stroll along the


beach . A moon like this mustn't be wasted . "


He gestured towards the bay where the full


moon was just rising over the rocks , then


laid his hand on hers . Gay smiled at him


again , happy beyond belief , knowing that


now Gavin was in love with her and her


only , yet remembering for a second the


kisses she had seen him giving Elaine .


All that was part of the past , she would put it behind her . She


would never be jealous again , would even take Larry's advice and


look the other way if need be . " I say ! " Gavin was looking over her


shoulder . " That 's a pretty girl ! " Gay glanced behind her , " Isn't she


lovely , she 's French , a very well known model I believe .


Gay , a little puzzled , went through


to the bar . Doc and Lilyan were


sitting just inside having coffee .


" Come and join us and bring your


boy friend , " Doc called . " No , Doc ! "


Lilyan remonstrated . " They want to be


alone . " " I 've booked a table at the


cafe*?2 , " Doc said , " they are packed


tonight so come and join us if you


can't find a table for two . "


Gay thanked him and walked out on to


the terrace thinking that perhaps Gavin


had bought a drink and taken it outside .


She looked round scanning the tables ,


then caught her breath , a cold hand


seeming to clutch her heart . Gavin was


seated at a small table in a shadowy


corner talking animatedly to Simone .


As Gay watched he offered the girl a


cigarette and lit it , his hands cupping


hers in an intimate way .


Gay stood irresolute for a moment , half


decided to go back and join Lilyan and


Doc , while she wanted to do no more than


run upstairs to her room , knowing that


Gavin although he had told her that he


loved her , was already flirting with a girl


that he had only met a few minutes before .


Larry's advice flashed through her mind ,


but she turned away , giving a little


gesture of hopelessness , knowing that her


The others were all dancing and


as Gay drew out a chair and sat


down Gavin , without a word , swept


Simone on to the floor . " It doesn't mean


anything , " Gay told herself desperately ,


trying to understand Gavin's point of


view and remembering the advice


that Larry had given her , while she


felt wretched beyond words .


His behaviour was not only boorish and in the worst of


taste but it was unkind beyond words . She fumbled


with the cigarette packet which lay on the table


not wanting to smoke but needing some action


to help her control her feelings . " Come and


dance , " Doc's cheery voice came as a


lifeline and Gay got up quickly , mana-


ging a smile .


As he swung her on to the floor Gay saw Gavin


and Simone go through the doorway that led


down to the beach . Gay closed her eyes for a


moment in disgust . She was fully aware that Gavin


would make love to the French girl on the sands ,


and no doubt he would come back soon and


after Simone had left expect her to accept his


kisses on the way back to the hotel .


Sentence Database P02-109


" And that 's the man whom you have been eating your


heart out over ? " Doc nodded towards the door . " You


may consider him a man , I would say he was a


mentally adolescent cad . " " Oh , Doc ... " Gay protested


weakly , " you don't know Gavin . " " I 've only met him


today but I think I can safely say that I know


him a great deal better than you do . "


Doc gave her hand a shake . " Wake up


Gay , and don't even contemplate throwing


yourself away on a chap like that . You 're a


fine girl , intelligent , and pretty , and I had


thought you were sensible too . Don't


make a fool of yourself over someone


who doesn't care two jots for your feelings .


If he behaves like this now what is your


married life going to be like ?


Hell . " Doc answered for her . " Just Hell . Never able to


trust him out of your sight and having to put on


a brave face and pretend that you don't mind


whenever he flirts with another woman . He will


you know , always , and you aren't the type


who is tough enough to change him . "


Gay nodded . " I know that you 're right Doc , I think


now that I do realise that , and in any case , " she added


a little sadly , " if I did change Gavin , he wouldn't


be the same , if you know what I mean . " " You sound


like Alice in Wonderland , " Doc gently mocked her , " and


I 'm glad you 're beginning to see that you 're wasting


your time on that chap .


Now let him go and you won't have to wait


long for the right man for you to come


along . If I was thirty years younger and weren't


married to the sweetest wife in the world


I 'd marry you myself . " Gay laughed , Doc was


so kind and nice and she hoped that one


day she would be able to see the situation


as it obviously appeared to everyone else .


Doc asked Lilyan to dance and once


again Gay found herself alone at the table


feeling self-conscious and awkward , sure that


people were talking about the way Gavin


was behaving since they had seen them


dining together . She opened her bag


to get out her compact and saw Grace's


letter . She drew it out and opened it ,


glad to be able to occupy herself .


" So glad that you are having such a lovely time , dearie , "


it ran . " Your cards are lovely . I rang up Miss Harland


and have been over to sit with her father and do what


I can for him so that she can get out to do her shopping .


He 's getting on well but is pretty helpless still with his


broken arm .


No other news except that Elaine is engaged


and going to marry a foreigner ... "


Gay read the rest of the letter then put


it back in her bag . Elaine was engaged ,


to the man she had spent so much time


with at her party . That was why


Gavin had come back to her .


Everything was quite clear now , and to


her own surprise Gay felt no heartbreak ,


rather a sense of relief now that she


knew why Gavin had come to see


her .


Because she was second best . The others came back


to the table , all of them making a fuss of her and at once


she felt happier . Gay loved them for their warm sympathy ,


knowing that they were real friends , even if they were new ones .


" That is a pretty dress , " Lilyan commented , obviously sensing


Gay's distress and in a way that Doc , as a man , could not


understand , knowing that Gay was as much ashamed


for Gavin at the way he was behaving as she


was hurt for herself .


" I made it myself , " Gay tried to speak


normally .


Diana Wills often sat on the brand


new seat outside the hospital


gates and thought vagrant


thoughts . At one time she had


watched the workmen constructing


the roundabout , which was


to put St. John's Casualty Department


out of operation - in theory , at


least . She would think of her-


self as a stranger in these parts


studying these cross-roads . Which


one to take ?


" If I were a tramp I would simply blow a


feather , " she decided , rather envying the gentle-


man of the road his freedom of decision , and


wishing life would sometimes allow serious-minded


women doctors to blow a feather and follow its


airy directions accordingly . " If I were needing a


job I 'd go to London , of course , " she went on .


" There are all sorts of wonder-


ful jobs in London and I could


take my pick , whereas in Yarmouth


one has to know something about fishing


and in Liverpool they 'd want sea-farers .


I don't think I 'd go to Edinburgh un-


less I was a Scot and wanting to get


home , or perhaps a student studying to


be a doctor , and I already know


all about that . "


She was engaged to Nigel , had been for two years .


Sometimes they talked on the theme of " when we get married " ,


and then all was wonderful , and perhaps it had only been


a slip of the tongue when Nigel had said , only last


evening , " If we get married , old girl , you 'll have to stop


that lark , I can tell you ! "


She couldn't remember what they had been talking about or


which ' lark ' she would have to stop , only that significant tiny


word shouted into her very soul a horn of warning , and


with it was coupled a disembodied fragment of information ,


which now took on an ominous significance : Nigel had been


seen in Farlingham on an occasion he had sworn he had


been standing in for Luke Parsons at his surgery in


Little Phelpham .


Now Nigel had every right to go where he


liked during his off-duty periods


when she was not free ; this much they had


conceded one to the other . They rarely


found they were off duty together , and


the situation would have been intolerable


had there not been some give and take


about their relationship . So when Nigel


had told her about taking Luke's


evening surgery she had said ,


" Bless you ! I hope Luke is suitably grateful , darling . " " Oh , well , "


he shrugged diffidently , " I like the work . One gets plenty


of variety and it 's a change . " Nigel was the hospital's


Junior Medical Officer . " You won't be free about nine , I


suppose , to meet me for supper somewhere ? " she had


asked hopefully .


" Hardly likely , my sweet . Luke's surgery goes on for


hours . If they get in before eight-thirty , even


though they 're standing on one another's toes ,


I 've got to see 'em . If I am free , though ,


I 'll give you a ring , O.K. ? " O.K. , " she had


replied readily . So how could Nigel have


been at the Load of Trouble roadhouse ,


dancing with a blonde at eight-thirty that


very evening ?


" No , " she told Phil Gubbins , a junior


houseman , " it wasn't Nigel you saw ,


my lad . " " It was Nigel's car , anyway .


NUF 121 . " " He probably loaned his car


to somebody , Phil . He 's always doing that . "


Young Gubbins shrugged . " I didn't see his


face , Di , but it certainly looked like


Nigel from the back . D.j. and all .


Of course such as I couldn't afford


to go into the Load of Trouble . "


" Neither can Nigel , " smiled Diana .


" He 's saving up to get married . Remember ? "


" I remember , " quipped the houseman ,


meaning no offence , " but does he ?


That blonde was something . " " Anybody


I know ? " she smiled . " I think so .


I got a good look at her . But if Nigel


wasn't there it isn't important , is it ? "


" No , " Di said immediately . " It isn't at


all important . "


But after that slight slip of the tongue on Nigel's part she had


realised it was important enough for her to have remembered , and it


was as though a red mist veiled her usually clear sight and


made her think there was an abyss immediately ahead .


" Nigel , " she had besought him , " you know that evening


you took Luke Parson's surgery and there was a woman


with a cyst on her ear ... ? "


" 5Ye-es ? " he lowered his eyes and kissed her on the


mouth , an act of devotion he didn't over-indulge .


" What about it , my sweet ? " " Well , " she laughed


suddenly in an upsurging of relief , " that stupid


Gubbins boy thought he saw you at the Load of Trouble .


With a blonde , too . Imagine ! " Nigel was frowning . He


looked distinguished when he frowned ; boyishly


handsome at other times .


" Gubbins ? Gubbins ? " he fretted . " Who 's he ? "


Though Diana knew the name of every


member of the staff , distinguished or not ,


Nigel often had to think hard to sort


them out . " He 's the carrotty lad , isn't he ? "


he now demanded . " What was he


doing at the Load of Trouble ? "


" Oh , he wasn't . His motor-bike had


broken down outside and he noticed


your car and then you dancing with


this blonde . " " Really ? " Nigel cocked


one eyebrow . " Actually she was brunette


at the roots and I had a redhead on


the other arm . He would have told


you this , too ? " " No , " she laughed .


" He didn't actually see you . Because


it was your car I suppose he


presumed it was you , all dressed up in


" My white or my black ? " Nigel enquired .


" Now I wonder which I wore at that


particular surgery ? " " You are a fool ,


darling , " Di said happily . " I shall take


great pleasure in telling that young man


exactly what you were doing that


evening . " " No , don't , " he said , after


kissing her again . " I rather like to have


the housemen think of me as a


two-timing Don Juan .


I 'm such a dull fellow , really . " " Dull ? " She


couldn't believe it . Self-deprecation


was not one of Nigel's usual attributes .


" You need your holiday , darling . I only


wish I could go with you ! " " Doctor


Wills , if you 're making improper suggestions ... ? "


" It would make me more interesting ,


I suppose ? " she enquired archly .


" No , it wouldn't ! " he almost snapped ,


surprising her . " You sounded like some-


body else for a moment there . It doesn't


become you to behave like a - a tart , Di . "


" Nigel - ! " she gasped . " I didn't mean to


behave like anything of the kind . I


was only joking . " " Well , don't . It 's


miserable enough my having to take my


leave in the autumn without you


trying to be bright and gay about it .


I 'm going with a shooting party . What else can I do


at this time of year ? I can't ask you up because it 's


a strictly stag affair . " " I know . I didn't expect ... " " Well ,


don't keep hinting , then . You wish you could


come with me ; you hope I 'll miss you ; you


can't imagine the hospital without me for


three weeks , etcetera , etcetera ! "


Her figure was small and exquisite , like a schoolgirl's still , and


he admired her legs , which the male sex were inclined to


regard first . " I would mind if you didn't " he told her


grimly , and tugged her fiercely into his arms . " You 're


right , pet . I do need this leave . I 'm bad-tempered and


broody and going out with brash blondes . I don't deserve


you . "


" Darling ! " her voiced caressed him . " Moments like this


make all the waiting worth while . When we 're


married we won't have these explosions of emotion ,


will we ? " " No , " he eyed her strangely . " I wish we


were married , Di . Like a patient wishes his operation


was over . " Again her laughter trilled . " Marriage


isn't as bad as an operation , Nigel ! "


" Isn't it ? " he rose and smoothed himself


down . " Ask any bridegroom-to-be . Anyhow ,


that particular problem isn't looming at


the moment , thank God ! " Problem ... ?


looming ... ? " Are we discussing a marriage


or a burial ? " she asked , hardly believing


he could be serious . " Surely marrying


me isn't going to be all that bad ?


If it is - " she laughed uncertainly - " you can have


your ring back . " She loosened the half-hoop of


diamonds on her left hand third finger and held it


out to him , still playfully . Without a glimmer


of amusement in his own eyes , however , he took


it , looking moodily beyond her . " Perhaps it 's as


well if you don't wear it for a bit , Di , " he


told her .


" But I want it ! " she protested . " It 's my ring . "


" You just gave it back to me . " " I


didn't ! I was joking . You know I was


joking , Nigel . " " You shouldn't joke


about serious things like engagements . "


" Don't be such a baby ! " They were going


to have an open quarrel


any minute , and she knew it .


Almost in desperation she appealed , " Will you meet


me at the gate , four o'clock tomorrow ? " " Why ? " he


enquired , combing his thick , tawny hair . " To bring


me up for tea , of course . I just thought . " " I 'll see , "


he told her , and suddenly seized her in an embrace


which really hurt . " Without your ring it 's just like


kissing somebody else's girl , " he decided wickedly ,


and kissed her again , somewhat startled to


receive a sharp slap for his pains .


" If I were somebody else's girl that 's


what you 'd get , " she flashed at him , and


so had left him , on her dignity and not


seeing the look of admiration and revelation


which had followed her slim young figure


out of his sight . " Mine , " Nigel Lester had


decided with a sigh of satisfaction , and


then regarded the ring which he retrieved


from his pocket . " At a price , " he concluded ,


with some bitterness .


Thus had they parted the previous evening and now


Diana was trailing up the gravelled drive to the hospital


alone . Of course one couldn't say for certain when a


doctor would be free during the day ; tea was served


from four until five-thirty in the residents' common-


room , which proved the elasticity of medical commitments .


Something had cropped up which required Nigel's attention ,


she was convinced , or he would have granted her small request


to be met at the gates .


Sentence Database P03-189


They often had such a rendezvous , for


there was just time to smoke a cigarette ,


if one walked slowly , between road and


hospital .


His mouth hardened , his eyes became


steely . ' I see . ' Scorn lashed his


words . ' I wonder you dared trust


him to my care . ' ' Nicholas - '


' Well ! At least I know the truth .


Truth ! ' His gaze held hers


masterfully . ' You wanted it so


badly - at any price . I hope


you are satisfied . '


And as he spoke , the thought


of Philip lying in the other


room filled him with a re-


vulsion that was homicidal .


Even in that , his hands were


tied . He dare not precipitate


what might well be another


coronary . And in that second


he put back his professional


mantle , and said with such


icy politeness , such withdrawn


' I will leave you the necessary pre-


scription for the sedatives . You


will contact your new doctor


when you reach your parents'


house . ' She watched him flick


his fountain-pen from his


waistcoat pocket , take out


his # prescription pad , and


# scribble on it . Then ,


with a gesture she knew so well ,


he tore off the leaflet and


' Good-bye , Sandra , ' he said


with a deadly finality . Watching


him go , unable to speak , she


felt that part of her was leaving


him . She couldn't hate him ...


If only he would have con-


fided in her , given some expla-


nation . Now there was no-


thing - not even friendship .


She went back to Philip . But


all she could hear were Nicholas's


words : ' I love you - oh , you


know that well enough . '


Love . She revolted against


the word . Nicholas , Philip ...


where was happiness , or


peace of mind ? Philip put out


a hand and grasped hers .


He needed her . She would find


solace in that fact at least .


She had her truth . How much had built


up from that first ideal , and how


little joy , or satisfaction , it had


given her . ' I 'm sorry , darling . '


He looked nervous . It had been


hell lying there , knowing she was


talking to Nicholas and wondering


what they were saying . Sandra


said instinctively : ' I told him


I knew he was responsible for


Beryl's death . '


Her eyes darkened in torment . ' Are


you sure that she was telling the truth ? '


' Good heavens , darling , why on earth


should she lie ? Besides , it wasn't just


her word . There was enough evidence ,


no matter how one might want to


disbelieve the facts . ' Elation


touched him after the cold wind


of suspense . ' It will be interesting


to see what comes out at the inquest .


What his story will be . I reckon


he 'll confine himself to the nervous


origin of her recent illness . His notes


will be truthful , but what he leaves out


will matter most . ' Strange how just


then Philip was so certain that Nicholas


would never betray him . He loved


Sandra too deeply to ruin her


future happiness . Had ever circum-


stances conspired so cunningly ?


Philip's spirits soared .


He was better ; he had made a


miraculous recovery and Sandra would


soon be his wife . The Devil , he thought ,


certainly looked after his own .


Something in Sandra's attitude struck


him suddenly , making him say :


' You can't forgive him for this -


can you ? ' ' Forgive is an unctuous ,


patronizing word , ' she replied . ' I despise


the deceit . The lies . '


Philip bristled . ' It was never our intention


to have one of those carnival affairs , ' he


retorted and in that second , he became the man of


success exerting authority . Sandra watched her father's


face pale . Philip , she knew , got on his nerves , but


everything had gone over her head . It didn't really


matter what was being said because she was


no longer a part of it .


The thought of Nicholas haunted her , the sense of


loss crucifying . Her father's comment roused her as


he said , ' I was not talking of a carnival . But I


presume we shall be allowed to have one or two


of our friends at the ceremony . '


He had long sensed injustice in the distinctions


drawn between ordinary wage-earners and those


self-employed . By the time his monthly salary


arrived , the Inland Revenue had already taken


their share , and there were precious few


reductions in tax save for wives , children ,


life-insurances or any of the other normal


encumbrances which Cecil had so far avoided .


He read the film star's sorry story and frowned at the


provisions of Schedule D taxation which not only allowed her


to claim relief on the most unlikely purchases , but also


postponed demanding the tax until her financial year


was ended , audited and agreed by the Inspector . The


process could , and often did take several years .


At one point the astute Miss Cheesecake


had claimed tax relief on the pur-


chase of several mink coats which ,


it seemed , were necessary to fur-


ther her career . Alternatively , it


was reported , she tearfully claimed


that the warm coats were heating


appliances and therefore susceptible


to a depreciation tax allowance


as plant and machinery . The


Between all the interested parties , the final


agreement had been delayed long enough for


Miss Cheesecake to spend all the money which


by rights should have been reserved for her tax .


Discounting one chinchilla jacket , a Rolls-


Royce and a Sussex manor house , all


three of which were in her husband's name ,


she now declared herself bankrupt .


The train drew into another station


and Cecil , with a further six stops


to go , was left almost alone in the


coach . He fumed as he recol-


lected the long correspondence he


had had with the Inland Reve-


nue in an effort to obtain


tax relief for a jacket used


solely in the office . ' If the jacket


is a condition of your employment , '


the Inspector had written , ' it may


qualify for relief . '


' It 's not mine . I wasn't sitting there . ' She blinked


disdainfully at him and stepped out .


It was a new briefcase , and as the train jogged along


the shiny clasp twinkled invitingly at Cecil .


He wondered what it contained . Probably the remains


of someone's lunch or a few secret files .


He smiled at his own joke .


It was locked . Eager fingers felt bulky contents and


when he shook the case there was a rustling thud


of wads of paper . ' Cor ! ' he muttered aloud , ' there 's


five thousand at least . ' He felt in his jacket pocket


and pulled out a key ring . In succession he tried


his own briefcase key , a suitcase key and a


device designed to lock typewriters .


Cecil searched in his pockets once


more and came up with two


paper-clips . After a few seconds


of twisting , he roughly thrust a


bent wire loop into the lock and


waggled it around vigorously .


There was a click and the


briefcase opened . Cecil thrust an


eager hand inside , his fingers


groping after wads of five


pound notes .


They closed on a single bundle and , fumbling with


nervous excitement , he pulled it out . His eye


rested on a wad of stiff white paper printed on one


side . ' Old fashioned fivers ! ' he muttered again , and


tried to recall if they were still legal tender . Surely the


Govr. and Compa. of the Bank of England would never


break their promise to pay on rude demand , let


alone on polite request .


Cecil frowned in disappointment as he focussed upon the


printing to find no Govr. , no Compa. , in fact no five pound notes


at all . He was holding a paper booklet , the top sheet of which


bore , in large Baskerville type , the words METROPOLITAN


MONOTECHNIC INSTITUTE ADVANCED ACCOUNTANCY


COURSE NO. 3 . He ruffled the sheets irritably and


glowered at his own breach of social morality .


He climbed the stairs , eager to unload the


guilt-symbol upon the ticket-collector and then


to emerge carrying his shame unseen , but burning ,


into the night . He reached the barrier and


fumbled for his contract before thrusting the


briefcase at the ticket-collector with the firm


intention of playing the dutiful citizen


retrieving lost property .


Sentence Database


Before he could open his mouth , the collector


stretched out a hand . ' Watch your step there , sir ! Your briefcase


is hanging open . You 'll have someone shoving their hot


little hands inside . Here , I 'll do it . ' The collector pressed the twinkling


catch home with a click . Cecil , irretrievably laden with


both briefcase and conscience , stumbled away


into the darkness .


' HELLO , CECIL . HAD a busy day ? ' His mother came into


the hall as he opened the front door . He nodded irritably


and , turning his back to her , contrived to slide the brief-


case into hiding between the do-it-yourself cupboard


and the polished brass fourteen-pounder shell-case


which served respectively as coat cupboard and um-


brella stand . ' You 're later than usual , aren't you ? '


His mother tidied her grey hair in the hall-mirror


they had once obtained as a free gift in exchange


for the labels from half a hundredweight of


Trunk and Greppes Tannin-free Tea .


Cecil gritted his teeth and glowered at the


inequity of Miss Cheesecake well-nigh bathing


in tax-free champagne whilst he had to go


easy on the immersion heater . ' What is it ,


Cecil ? Don't you feel well ? ' his mother


asked solicitously . ' You do look tired .


Go and get yourself a drink . ' ' Don't


fuss , mother ! I 'm quite well and no more


tired than usual , and we finished the gin


last week , you know that . '


Cecil stepped towards the dining room . ' I 'm


sure you must be tired , ' his mother insisted .


' You 're very irritable , anyway . ' ' I 'm NOT tired


and I 'm NOT irritable . ' ' Very well then . ' His


mother nodded with understanding . ' You 're not tired .


Nobody 's tired . Now just you run along


upstairs and wash your hands whilst I get


dinner ready . '


Cecil wriggled irritably under the misplaced management


of a mother who had failed to realise that a son


who is nearly bald is no longer a baby . He started to


climb the stairs , stamping with unnecessary vigour upon


the treads . ' And don't wipe the dirt off on the


towel like you did yesterday .


Your Auntie Edie 's coming in for a cup of tea later and


you know how she has a good look round everywhere . ' There was


a tinkle and a thud from beside the coat cupboard . Cecil's


mother turned around in time to see the briefcase collapse


against the brass umbrella stand . ' Well now ! ' She hurried


towards it and picked it up .


' What have we here ? A new briefcase ! So THAT 'S


what it 's all about . ' Cecil halted in


mid-step near the top of the stairs and


clenched his fists . ' So that 's what


What 's all about ? ' he hissed without


turning round . She pointed to the


briefcase . ' So that 's why you are so


irritable . You thought that I 'd think


you 'd been extravagant . '


' But I 'm NOT irritable ! ' He rushed down


the stairs and , snatching the case , ran back


upstairs with it . ' And I 've NOT been


extravagant . ' " Naughty ! ' she called


after him . ' Mother knows her boy .


Arnold Olner


In spite of all the transferred maternity


she was endowed with by her patients ,


poor Serena was an infant-in-arms as


a buyer of property . No , not even an


infant-in-arms but a new-born babe , a


premature piece of frailty in an oxygen-


tent of utter innocence . The complexity of


that innocence was colossal . It had layer


after layer of illusion to be peeled off and


replaced with sad knowledgeability .


It was a nakedness of nai"vety to be


clothed leaf by leaf with the disappointment


of experience . Her first illusion consisted in


the belief that all she need do was to go to


an agent , visit half a dozen houses in one


day , choose one , make an offer , put it in


the hands of a lawyer and go away on her


holiday while the whole transaction was


put through .


Fortunately , however , the fashion for Victorian


architecture which Mr. John Betjeman had


started several decades before had caught on


at last and therefore saved the situation for


the affluent middle-class , who now had plenty


of lovely-ugly to be coldly elegant in . All this


Serena discovered , and more , but in stages . For the


first thing she did was to make an offer


on a small pink terraced cottage , two beds ,


two inter-comm. rec. , mod. k. and b. , sep. W.C.


small back yard , newly dec. , near shops and tube


The next thing that Serena discovered was that


she could not afford to buy a house at all .


And this in spite of having at last managed


to save the ten percent needed . Or so she


thought , being then in possession of what


seemed to her the princely sum of six hund-


red pounds . The lawyer said :


" Of course you must count about two hundred


for legal charges and stamp duties ,


maybe less , depending on the price of the


house , and whether it has been regis-


tered . I take it you have a mortgage lined


up , then , Mrs. - er - Buttery ? " " Not yet ,


but the bank would give me a loan , I 'm


sure . " " Er , yes . You have some securities ,


then ? "


His aspect was as dusty as his office , with scurf


from dusty hair on the dusty shoulders of his black


suit , cigarette ash down the front , an ashen face


and yellow sleepy dust in the corners of his pale


grey eyes . His finger-nails were dirty , though he


tried to make up for it by constantly paring them


with the finger-nail of the opposite hand .


His voice was like his black and pin-stripe ,


a grey superimposition of respectability over


the original colour of his own natural vowels ,


the result being somehow as ineffective , not


just dusty-grey but muddy , slimy even .


His digressions too , seemed to have no other


purpose than the throwing of dust in his


client's eyes , the dust of fake security , of


the fake friend of the family , like the


" Yes , well ... . " He judged that she had been sufficiently


dazzled and gave a long raucous cough . " Only


cigarettes worth smoking , these . Most unhealthy , English


ones . Well , now , let me see . I think I can put you onto


some people who might , I say might , let you have a mortgage on


this property ... . " " But , they 're safe , are they ? I mean ,


they 're not - money-lenders ? " " Mrs. - er - Buttery ,


all mortgage companies are money-lenders .


That 's rather the point , isn't it ? " " No , but I mean - "


" I know what you mean . You may trust me , Mrs.


Buttery . I think , however , that you might have


to revise your ideas about - er - the type of


property you intend to purchase . " She revised


them . The little man from the Inter-Insular


( British Archipelago ) Insurance Company soon


saw to that .


I 'm afraid we can't take yours into account


at all . It 's a rule of I.I.I. You see , you


might stop work to have - well , for all sorts of


reasons , or you might leave him . " " But how


utterly extraordinary , " said Serena angrily ,


" you must be living in the nineteenth century . "


" Oh , but it 's a very general rule , Mrs. Buttery ,


you 'll find that no insurance companies ,


or building societies , for that matter , will


allow for the wife's earnings .


Our lawyers - " " Who are your lawyers ? "


" Clacton's . " " Well , I 'm damned . " " Now , let me see ,


you say your husband earns about ... yes ,


that would come to ... three , carry seven , six


nines are fifty four - of course we 'd have to


have some sort of proof , you know , it 's very


difficult with self-employed persons , carry two .


Yes . I 'm afraid we couldn't raise this loan to more


than three thousand three fifty at the most . Now you


could get quite a nice little semi-detached house in


Grimstead for three thousand , that 's where I live , just


before the green belt , lovely and modern , you know .


I forgot to tell you , we don't usually lend any


house built earlier than 1918 . "


" You see , " she propounded to Rupert after her last patient


had gone , " we can get three thousand three fifty ,


perhaps a little more if we can cheat your earnings


a bit . I 'm sure you could raise the rest from


one of your publishers , get two books commissioned


and write them later . I 've got a bit owing too .


Now , I saw some flats in Hendon for four thou ,


and some in West Hampstead for four two fifty ,


two beds , two reception , k. and b. , just think ,


our own bathroom .


Much more spacious than that poky little cottage ,


which wasn't a bit practical really , the


reception room was too small when divided


and too big when not .


Vence is a sober spot , half way between small


town and village , pigeon grey , sly with arches , and


linked by a whispering plot of fountains . In the main


tree-heavy square you can sit in the autumn


sunshine , still burning like a half-cooled iron ,


sip pastis and read the local newspapers .


One called La Patriote is Communist , and at the time


of our arrival it was throwing huge over-ripe verbal


tomatoes at General de Gaulle . One side of this square


is a smart but modest bar called Pierre's Bar . For one


day , with the help of the Syndicat d'Initiative , we had been


hunting for furnished rooms , and had given up , when an


elderly lady , the owner of a residence called the Poet's Nest ,


had firmly closed the door in our noses .


' It is a pity , ' said Mart , ' because it would have been


a good address . ' Now , after a woman's radar look ,


she decided Pierre would solve our problems . This


was true , Pierre was a true Provenc*?6al , thin and


yellow as lemon peel , wrestling with some gnawing rat


of an illness , man of all trades , married to a commanding


lady who loved small talk and the discreet


accumulation of money .


We went in . There were a few people in the bar ,


elderly , well-off , artistic , who , you felt , had made a hard


bargain for giving up . ' I have furnished rooms , ' said


Pierre , ' and all mod cons . ' The price was 16,000 francs a


month . ' Yes , ' we said immediately , even before viewing .


We were shown around by Pierre .


The flat was on the third floor ; two rooms ; soft Provenc*?


6al view ; good intimate furnishing and colour ; running


hot water from Butagas installation for washing-up ,


basin and bidet ; own private , modern lavatory . The


first night's sleeping was like a long convalescence .


We were woken up twice about dawn by a soft


eruption of turtle-doves .


This was strange , even magic , because the owner's


name was Pierre Tortorolo which , in Nicoison Italian means


' turtledove ' . Pierre Turtledove . When we woke up properly it


was raining , an even more hopeless rain than London , and we


looked out of the windows at the weeping trees and the


curling white breath of the mountains . The land looked


like a beaten woman and the turtle-doves cried her


shame .


There they were , in fact , below us , eight of them .


Four of them were flattened on the window sills , two


immolated on a nearby roof top , the other pair copulating .


We had a morning at Pierre's . He talked about people .


Marc Chagall used to live here and an Englishman named


Lawrence . He was here , near the railway station , three or


four years . During this period he wrote a book ,


The Lover of Lady Chatterly .


No , he hadn't read it ; Madame did all the


reading . Lawrence died in this very place .


He used to come to Pierre's Bar again and


again . No , he couldn't really remember


him , he was one of the crowd . The


sun came out ; Mart went shopping ; I


sat in the square reading the Patriote .


There was a front-page rear-attack on de


Gaulle , and the rest of the paper was given up


to murders , apart for an outcry against a


proposal to drop radio-active material into


the Mediterranean between Corsica and St


Raphael . All the murders were well documented


and had the air of being written by an


ingenious , but mad film director of the


Thirties .


They mostly occurred in lonely farm-houses .


Monsieur H , for instance , had been clubbed and


throttled to death by his wife , children and


father-in-law , after muddling up some sheep


while the worse for drink . The family


group then sat down for a late lunch


before the father-in-law telephoned the police .


Then again , Monsieur V , owing to family


troubles , had written to the local


paper and the superintendent of police ,


informing them that he was on the point


Monsieur V's house was immediately


surrounded by firemen and other officials ,


but there was no Monsieur V. He telephoned


a few minutes later from a nearby village ,


apologising for the trouble , but explaining


that the walls were porous and the


gas had escaped . General relief was


expressed , but Monsieur V ( this was


actually reported in the next issue ) returned


home and shot himself , leaving a note


which again left his household goods


Some grim comic relief was provided by


an elderly farm labourer out for a shoot


who hid himself in a bush and imitated


a blackbird . Unfortunately a sporting taxi-driver


was after this very bird and shot the farm-


labourer in the face . All , however ,


ended well , reported the paper , since the


pellets were easily removed and the


labourer was able to return to work the


same afternoon .


We travelled down to Nice on the Lambretta .


You can free-wheel down a quarter of the


way . In the middle of the journey is a


valley with a sea of vines and olives


and beaches of earth pricked to blood by


the hoe . Rising from the flecked sea are


islands tapering to shipwrecked castles and


towns , grey , rose-headed mariners clinging


like limpets to the rock .


There is a curd of morning smoke and


a muffled bell taps the sky . Here we


stopped , as in fine weather we always


stopped . Down below is the village of


Cagnes , but between are pockets of


heat and cold like the hands of


friends or strangers , and a flurry of


early smells , the dark bosoms of


beech and the thin pine fingers


kissed by the sun .


Then here was Nice , and the old holiday


sea , blue as a new school exercise


book . The same old Nice , creamy ,


vulgar , out of time , bitter-sweet with


the ghosts of dead monarchs and brilliant


prostitutes , edging past grubby grandeur


to the old sleeping port . This , and


Paris , were my ruined pavilions , and I


could catch the taste of dead dreams on


my tongue like spray .


We parked the Lambretta opposite the


Negresco , and went to the beach to


have a swim . Amazing bedlam rocked


in our eyes . The sea boiled with waves ,


they galloped to the walls and spumed


over the Promenade des Anglais . A huge


crowd had collected . There were firemen