Lord Dismiss Us by Michael Campbell

Lord Dismiss Us by Michael Campbell

Author:Michael Campbell [Campbell, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Valancourt Books
Published: 2014-02-03T20:00:00+00:00


‘A gin and tonic,’ he said, to a youth in a dirty white coat. ‘Large.’

She lit a cigarette with a lighter. Her hand was shaking slightly. He wanted to help, a little.

‘What’s all the drama about?’

‘I just thought. . . .’ She was tapping the cigarette on the ashtray. ‘Things should be made a little clearer.’

There is nothing to clear, he thought. How do I say that?

She looks like a young business-woman. She partly is. But mostly it is courage. She can be hurt, but there is a spirit of recovery that says a day later – ‘Christ, that hurt’, and so off to work. She would not be destroyed. But, of course . . . she was here to save him.

He should not have come.

‘Is there anything to clear?’

‘What do you say?’

She looked at him directly. She had greenish eyes, rather close together, and a slightly tilted nose. He was antagonised. What did the Bar think of this girl? Pretty? Not exactly. Good figure. Very good legs. Interesting? Yes. Nice to look at, dressed like this. Would they guess she had until recently let go in the latest dances with a boyfriend called John who was now being evaded as a bore? No. The woman-of-the-world exterior was well done; even antagonising.

‘I’ve been clear enough, heaven knows,’ he said.

‘Will you tell me something?’

He was almost afraid. Why? Because they were not of the same world. She was alien, pushing in. For God’s sake, let her go back to John. He had been flattered, yes – for a day or so.

‘Probably not. What is it?’

‘Why have we spent hours together, and I thought we were at one, and I thought you said things to me you’d say to no one else, and I don’t believe I’m a complete bloody fool?’

‘Slightly similar minds, and neuroses, and humour. Both seekers maybe. Also, too much drink.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Oh come on, Joan. It’s not worth being intense. We’re not important. Are we having dinner? What’s it like here?’

‘Ghastly.’

Ashley looked at the half-dozen large men in check coats, at the bar, and their painted ladies on stools. It was the world outside; and yet even they must at one time have been to schools. Life was incredibly long, if one was prepared to pursue it.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.