Mary Stewart by Wildfire

Author:Wildfire
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-06-01T14:52:24+00:00

“I forgot to tell you,1’ he said to the dim groups scattered round him, “that the news came through on the A.F.N, a short while ago. They’ve done it. By God they have. They’ve climbed Everest.”

There was a buzz of excitement, and for a moment the grim nature of the quest on which we were engaged was forgotten, as a host of eager questions was flung at him. He answered with his usual calm, but soon moved off, alone, and immediately afterwards the group broke up, and the parties vanished in various directions in the darkness to resume their search. I heard their voices as they moved away, animatedly discussing Beagle’s announcement. He had, it seemed to me, deliberately kept back his news and then used it to galvanize the weary searchers into fresh activity.

My respect for him increased.

Beside me, Nicholas spoke again, angrily: “Now look here, Gianetta—”

Roderick broke across it: “Leave her alone.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

Torches were flashing nearby, and in their fitful flickering I could see Roderick’s face. It was quite white, and blazing with a kind of nervous fury. His eyes were on Nicholas, and in that light they looked black and dangerous.

“What I said. What Janet does is nothing to do with you, and I rather fancy she prefers you to leave her alone.”

It was a nasty, snarling little scene, and it had all blown up so quickly that I stood, gaping, between the pair of them, for a good fifteen seconds before I realized what was happening. This was Marcia’s doing, blast her.

“Stop it, you two,” I said sharply. “What I do is my own affair and nobody else’s.” I took hold of Roderick’s arm, and gave it a little shake. “But he’s right, Roderick. I’m no use here, and I’m going back now. So both of you leave me alone.” I pulled my woolen gloves out of a pocket and began to drag them on over cold hands. “We’re all tired and edgy, so for heaven’s sake don’t let’s have a scene. I’m going to pack these thermos flasks and things, and take them straight down to the hotel, and then I’m going to bed.”

I knelt down and began to pack mugs into the basket. I hadn’t even glanced at Nicholas. He didn’t say a word, but I saw him pitch his cigarette savagely down the hillside, then he turned in silence and plunged off into the darkness after Ronald Beagle. Above me, Roderick said hesitatingly:

“Have you got a torch?”

“Yes,” I said. “Don’t worry about me, I know my way. Go and help the others.” I looked up then at him uncertainly.

“And—Roderick.”

“Yes?” His voice was still tight and grim.

“Find her, won’t you?”

“I’ll try.” Then he, too, was gone. I packed all the debris I could find by the light of my torch, and then I sat down for a few minutes and lit another cigarette. I had just finished smoking one, but my nerves were still jumping, and the last little scene, with all its curious overtones, had upset me more than I wanted to admit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.