The Encouragement of Others by Mills Magnus

Author:Mills, Magnus [Mills, Magnus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

10

It was rather late when eventually I left The White Swan. I went outside and found the entire terrace in total darkness. The faint murmur of nearby voices, however, told me all the tables were still fully occupied. When I got down to the landing stage I saw at once that the gaff-rigged boat had gone. The water was black and choppy with a cool breeze blowing and I realised that I, too, should have departed a bit earlier. Now, with several beers inside me, I struggled into the orange waterproofs which I’d somehow remembered to retrieve from their hiding place. Fortunately the New Standard Sailing Dinghy had been designed for simplicity so even in my current state it was very easy to rig. The thought crossed my mind that I could enquire at the terrace if anybody fancied a swift joyride. In reality, though, I knew that this was neither the time nor the place for skylarking. The publicity campaign would just have to wait.

Having satisfied myself that the boat was all ready to go I untied it from the landing stage and cast off. The rain, I noticed, was beginning to ease a little. I headed across the waterway into the gloom. Looking back I could see the usual solitary light twinkling at The White Swan. I wondered casually how many people had visited The Black Swan during the evening. I suspected it would be very few if Henry Fairlie took a quarter of an hour to pull each pint. I regretted having upset him earlier in the day but I was sure I would be able to make amends if I went to his pub often enough. For reasons that weren’t yet clear Jenkins had directed me specifically to The Black Swan. I had a feeling, therefore, that I would be returning sometime soon.

The journey across the waterway was speedy to say the least but in due course I neared the other side. As I approached the new jetty I saw a figure standing at the end. I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be Jenkins waiting to debrief me because so far I had nothing to report.

‘Good evening,’ I called.

‘Good evening,’ answered a vaguely familiar voice.

It was the inspector of works.

‘Am I allowed to tie up here?’ I asked.

‘Should be alright,’ he said. ‘We’re still reviewing the case.’

I came alongside and stepped slightly unsteadily onto the jetty. I then tied up and dropped the sail. The inspector shone his torch on the New Standard Sailing Dinghy.

‘Ah, the ubiquitous red boat.’

‘It’s not mine,’ I explained. ‘I’m looking after it for someone else.’

‘Seen lots of these lately.’

‘Whereabouts?’

‘Further along the waterway mainly but they’re gradually spreading in this direction.’

‘They’re catching on then?’

‘So it appears.’

He switched his torch off.

By now the rain had ceased entirely. Nonetheless it struck me as an odd time to be carrying out an inspection.

‘Wouldn’t it be better,’ I suggested, ‘if you came here while it was still light?’

‘Far too busy,’ he replied. ‘I had a heavy schedule today and I got a bit behind.

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