Ramsey Campbell by The Count of Eleven

Author:The Count of Eleven
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-02T13:15:42+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

It might take nothing more than a meeting face to face, Jack told himself. That morning he held his own gaze as he shaved and saw no sign of weakness. “That’s all it takes to get what you want,” he heard Andy Nation saying, ‘looking fierce and sounding as if you mean to get it.” He donned his best suit, then he took it off again; it wouldn’t do to seem too prosperous. He put on one not quite so good and waited for Julia to emerge from the bathroom. “What do you think?” he said. “Am I irresistible?”

“You’ll do.”

“If we’re lucky, you mean?”

“Can’t hurt, can it?”

“Never has.”

“Only, Jack, whatever happens, let’s not care. We’re lucky so long as we have Laura and each other.”

In a way she was right, but it was no longer enough; it hadn’t been since the fire at the shop. “You’re sure you want to come,” he said.

“Any reason why I shouldn’t?”

“Every reason why you should.” He must be careful not to let himself assume he had to act alone when there was no need. He might have to do things which he couldn’t mention to the family because they couldn’t be expected to understand, but he mustn’t let that attitude spill into their everyday life. “Maybe going to see him last time without you was my mistake,” he said as they made for the bank.

As he rang the bell beside the enquiry window he found himself willing someone unfamiliar to answer his summons, but it brought him the same young woman. “We can’t go on meeting like this,” he said, and when she blinked her bluish eyelids at him, “Jack and Julia Orchard for eleven o’clock.”

“You want Mr. Hardy.”

He ought to take care not to sound like his old self. Rather than “You’re darn tootin he said “That’s the man.”

She seemed to be examining his words for hidden meanings as she turned away to fetch the manager. Third time lucky, he told himself, especially since Julia was with him. He squeezed her hand while he watched the minute hand of the clock creep towards the vertical. Just as it pointed at the zenith Mr. Hardy came to the door beside the enquiry window. “Exactly right,” Jack said.

Mr. Hardy gave Julia a polite smile and pursed his lips. “I didn’t catch that, Mr. Orchard.”

“You know my wife.”

“Of course,” the manager said as though Jack had meant it as a sly rebuke, and opened the door of the interview room. “Won’t you step through?”

When Jack and Julia both hesitated he edged towards the doorway. “Please,” Jack said with a magnanimous gesture which might have been indicating Mr. Hardy’s paunch. “I’ll be the back legs,” he said. “I’ll bring up the rear.”

Lord only knew what Jack Awkward might have felt compelled to add, but his new self knew when he’d said enough. He wafted Julia and Mr. Hardy into the interview room and closed the three of them in while the manager, having waited for Julia to seat herself, sat as far forwards as the desk and his paunch would allow.

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