Death of a Unicorn by Peter Dickinson

Author:Peter Dickinson [Dickinson, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense, Mysteries & Thrillers
ISBN: 9780394741000
Publisher: Pantheon (UK)
Published: 1984-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

‘That’s the point. He’s never ill, but he’s a maniac about health. He’s a frightful coward. The slightest scratch and you have to rush for antiseptics and plasters.’

‘And if he comes home and catches us you can tell him . . . Oh, Mabs, he is Bluebeard!’

She sounded much more cheerful now she’d got her way. When we got down she wandered round looking at everything while I made the coffee. I came back and found her holding a little ivory statue of a saint B had brought back from his last trip to Germany.

‘This is perfect,’ she said. ‘The Brancusi’s a dream, too, but this . . . He must have been in Italy.’

‘No. Hamburg, actually.’

‘Of course it’s German, you idiot. Rather early. But he must have been looking at Italian . . .’

‘Who must?’

‘The artist, for heaven’s sake. Are you blind? Look.’

She poised the carving in her damaged hand and ran her right forefinger down the line of the arm to the hand, which held a sort of flail. The face was an old man’s, contorted with pain. B I knew loved it, as Jane did, but I preferred not to look. In my mind’s ear I could hear the screams.

‘They probably beat him to death with that thing,’ I said.

‘It doesn’t matter. You know, I’m almost sure I’ve seen this in a book somewhere. Or its spit image . . .’

‘Your coffee’ll get cold.’

‘Oh, all right. I’ve found some terrific chocs.’

‘You haven’t!’

‘I’ve only eaten two so far, darling.’

When we’d had our coffee I went off to B’s exercise-room and found a bandage, lint, and some antibiotic ointment he’d brought back from America. We settled side by side on the sofa so that I could get at Jane’s hand. Her whole mood seemed to have changed, becoming sleek and purring.

‘Does he love you, Mabs?’ she said.

‘I don’t know. He wouldn’t say. I’m fairly sure he likes me. I love him.’

‘Really? I mean it would be easy to persuade yourself, in the circs.’

‘Oh, I know. I’m having fun. And I like being told and shown. That was extra good wine I gave you, did you realise? I can tell now. Would you like some proper brandy?’

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