Falling Too by Gordon Brown

Author:Gordon Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books

Chapter 21

Tina runs a sausage sandwich under my nose less than ten minutes after I fall asleep. At least it feels that way. But it’s nearer ten when I ask her the time.

The good news is that the shower is in working order, there are spare towels, and plenty of cleaning product. It’s just a pity I have to put my clothes from yesterday back on. I go commando. My pants were none too fresh when I subjected them to the nose test. I emerge from the bathroom a little fresher. A can of Lynx and a blunt razor make me smell and look better than I should.

‘My phone is nearly dead.’ George is looking at the mobile’s screen.

‘Better than mine. Did you see any charging cords lying around?’

‘No.’ George shouts to Tina. ‘Do you have much charge on your phone?’

She shouts back from the bedroom. ‘No. I’m down to ten percent.’

I take a slug of my cooling tea. ‘Well, if we need twenty-first-century communications to get through today, then we can sing.’

I’m glad my phone is dead. The last thing I need is for the Wee Man to see the documents I photographed.

At half past ten there’s a knock on the door. I open it to find Laurel and Hardy outside. I’m a picture of health and beauty next to them.

Jake is shivering. ‘Can we come in now? We spent last night under a hedge.’

George has the fire going again and this time I step back to let them in. They huddle round the flames, trying to ingest the heat by osmosis. Tina brings them two cups of milky, sweet tea and some toast. George must have explained to her who the lads were last night. The tea and toast is gone in sixty seconds. Tina vanishes to do a refill. Laurel and Hardy crowd into the fire; both are shivering like fresh jelly. I leave them and go outside, as much to get away from people as to breathe the fresh stuff.

With the sun rising in the sky, the surrounding farmland is not as remote as it first seemed. For a start, the train line is a feature in the distance and the tops of a few houses can be seen back towards the main road. Beyond the wood a spire rises, poking into the misty air. A car runs by in the distance. Last night feels a little distant.

I circle the building, stretching muscles that have seized up overnight. I see Tina in the kitchen pouring boiling water into two cups. She sees me. I hold up a finger. She nods and pulls another mug from somewhere to fill a third cup. I approach the window and tap on the glass. She slides it up and hands me the fresh cuppa.

‘Thank you, madam.’

‘I’ll put it on your bill.’

‘American Express?’

‘Whatever.’ She closes the window.

I walk to the fence and lean on it, savouring the tea. The field stretches out in front of me. To the left it rolls down a small incline.

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