To Become an Outlaw by Peter Murphy

Author:Peter Murphy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oldcastle Books
Published: 2022-01-24T10:01:40+00:00

45

Amy had cleared away the remains of dinner, and they were sitting together with a glass of wine. But they were finding relaxation hard to come by. Not for the first time, there was a plaintive call of ‘Mummy’ from upstairs.

‘Why don’t I go this time?’ Danie volunteered.

She smiled. ‘A change of personnel may just do the trick,’ she agreed. ‘They haven’t settled yet. Dougie is still young enough to tune things out; I think he’s drifted off to sleep now. But Sally’s very sensitive to her surroundings, and this is all very disturbing for her.’

‘It’s hardly surprising, is it?’ he said, pushing himself up on to his feet. ‘Suddenly, they’re in a totally new environment, and we couldn’t even give them any advance warning. They’re not going to school, or seeing their friends any more. And I’m sure they must be picking up the anxiety we’re feeling.’

‘Sally’s old enough to know that there’s something wrong,’ Amy said. ‘She can put that much into words, but she doesn’t know why. She knows the family is in trouble for some reason, and the fact that she can’t articulate why must be making it worse for her. But I can’t find the words yet to help her take it on board.’

‘Children have a radar for bad news,’ Danie said.

He left the living room quietly and made his way upstairs. He understood the children’s discomfiture all too well. Even he felt uncomfortable and disorientated in the College’s palatial pile; it seemed vast, cold and impersonal; it must have made the same impression on Sally and Douglas, but magnified many times when seen through their young eyes. There were four bedrooms on the first floor alone, and they were using only three of them. There were also two full bathrooms. On the floor above, there were a further three bedrooms, and another bathroom; and above the second floor were the attic rooms, with their creaking floorboards and crooked ceilings, small cells where the College benefactor’s servants would have lived in times long gone. He looked in on Douglas, who was sleeping soundly, holding his teddy bear firmly to his side. Danie gently pulled his blanket up a little higher and left, leaving the bedside lamp on. In the next room, Sally was sitting up in bed. She seemed wide-awake, but her eyes betrayed her fatigue.

‘Wat is daar aan die gang, liefling? Het iets jou geskrik?’

What’s the matter, sweetheart? Did something frighten you?

She yawned, reaching out her arms to hug him. He held her close.

‘Can we speak Mummy’s language, Daddy – sorry, I mean English – can we speak English? I’m tired.’

‘We can speak any language you like, sweetheart,’ he replied, smiling, ‘except French. You’re far better at French then I am. I couldn’t keep up with you.’

She laughed, but then went quiet. ‘Daddy, I don’t like it here. How long do we have to stay? When can we go home?’

He sat down on the bed, still holding her in his arms.

‘I’m sure it won’t be long.

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