Jo Walton by Farthing

Author:Farthing [Farthing]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-12-14T22:53:01+00:00

18

Carmichael woke early beneath the embroidered exhortation, “Hold fast to that which is good.” Fresh eggs did imply a rooster, but did it have to be a demented rooster bound on waking the whole world? It was joined by the whistle of the 6:35 from London to Southampton. Carmichael gave it a judicious ten minutes, then rang the bell and asked the sleepy maid for tea, hot water, and today’s papers if they had arrived yet. She brought them up while Carmichael was shaving. He poured himself an indifferent cup of tea and got back into bed to survey the delights of the London press.

The Times led with the Bolshevik attack on Lord Eversley and Mrs. Kahn, almost in the words of Carmichael’s own press release. It suggested that more money for the Navy would prevent similar occurrences. The front page also mentioned that Foreign News, on page 4, would inform readers about starvation and cannibalism among the defenders of Stalingrad, and another Japanese massacre of insurgents in Shanghai. Carmichael was mildly astonished there was anyone left to starve in Stalingrad or to massacre in China, or that The Times could believe that anyone in England could care about them on a beautiful May morning. He tossed the paper down dismissively.

The Telegraph talked about the Bolshevik menace, and seemed to take it for granted that the same man who had attacked Lord Eversley had killed Sir James Thirkie. “Englishmen will not allow our policy to be set by armed anarchists in the pay of Soviet Russia!” the Leader screamed. The pictures were from the files: Lord and Lady Eversley opening a factory the year before, and Lucy Kahn at the time of her wedding. It went on to praise Lord Eversley’s marksmanship and police efficiency. The Telegraph often praised police efficiency, except for the times when it called for the blood of some policeman who had not been efficient enough to suit it. Its own foreign news was a day behind The Times; it said that Kursk had changed hands again.

The Manchester Guardian also quoted Carmichael extensively. It went so far as to show a picture of him, taken the day before, outside the gates of Farthing. It urged the House not to allow its natural sympathy for the Farthing Set in their misfortunes to overwhelm it in the vote this evening. Carmichael read that twice and thought hard about it, closing the paper without more than glancing at the foreign news headline: “Hitler’s work camps: are they really efficient?”

He went down to breakfast in a thoughtful frame of mind, and found Royston already at the table, reading the Daily Herald. “You’re up early,” he said.

“Bloody bird wouldn’t shut up,” Royston said. “I hate the country; you can keep it. Will we get back up to London today, sir?”

“I should think so,” Carmichael said. “What news?”

“Lord Eversley shot a Bolshevik, nation rejoices. And the police want to hear about anyone who saw a man on a motorcycle,” Royston summarized.

“How about the foreign news?” Carmichael sat down and rang for his breakfast.

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