Death Goes on Skis (Virago Modern Classics) by Nancy Spain

Author:Nancy Spain [Spain, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2020-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

V

Natasha on Skis

Natasha descended Jumping Hill Meadow with extraordinary grace and poise and went very fast indeed across the little flat bit at the bottom. Here, gathered in a knot, as I have said, was the Kesicken Ski School, in the charge of an unshaven guide. To Natasha’s surprise and embarrassment he now stepped forward and pressed a small, silver cup into her hand.

Natasha (who had just executed some of the most difficult gyrations that it is possible to perform on skis) quietly fell down.

‘Time 27.3½,’ said the guide, picking her up. He turned and spoke cruelly to his class behind him. ‘Madame is faster than any of you,’ he said, and his voice was savage and humiliating, ‘and it is only her first day.’

Natasha clutched the little cup and moved anxiously aside. Toddy stood and waited for her, leaning on her ski-sticks.

‘What was all that?’ said Toddy, gruffly. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it was you. I didn’t even know you could ski.’

‘I cannot,’ said Natasha, quietly falling down again. ‘I am putting on Pamela’s skis and following you, and when I am reaching the bottom of this hill they give me this little cup.’

She held it up and Toddy took it from her. It was carefully engraved ‘Kesicken Amateurs, 1947.’

‘It is an insult, I think,’ said Natasha, reading this, over Toddy’s shoulder. ‘And I who have danced for the great Sergei Pavlovitch himself.’

‘You must have been going pretty damn fast to catch me up,’ said Toddy, wonderingly. She looked at her suspiciously and turned the cup over and over in her hands.

‘Oh, but I was,’ said Natasha, wide-eyed. ‘I was terrified.’

‘What was yer time, d’y know?’ said Toddy. ‘Did that man say anything when he picked you up, eh? I’m working out the times for the course, you know, so that we can all make money at the Championships …’

‘The man said 27.3½, but what he is meaning, I cannot say. Whether feet, inches, seconds, or my age, he does not mention,’ said Natasha, with a sweet smile. ‘But everyone cannot make money in betting.’

‘All right,’ said Toddy, grudgingly, ‘so as one can make some money. Wouldn’t care to have something on how much this cup is worth, would you?’

‘No, I should not, it is sordid,’ said Natasha.

They were clambering up the little hill to the railway track and Natasha was already bored.

‘If ski-ing were only going down hills I should perhaps be enjoying it,’ she said. ‘So long as strange men are not trying to insult me with gifts. For Ama-teurrs—’

She spat out the word with all the furious contempt of the true, but retired, professional.

‘Most people take weeks to do anything at all, and you aren’t being paid for it,’ said Toddy, gasping slightly. ‘Must say you’re lucky to be so fit. Mus’ give up brandy. Don’t think I can, though.’

‘Fit?’ said Natasha, lightly, and fell down. ‘Nevertheless,’ she said, flat on her back, ‘I do find so long as I do not think about the skis but only about you who I am chasing, I am staying upright.

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