To See the Light Return by Sophie Galleymore Bird

To See the Light Return by Sophie Galleymore Bird

Author:Sophie Galleymore Bird [Bird, Sophie Galleymore]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tablo Publishing


Mrs Mason didn’t come with them, and she also forbade Tom, Dick and Harriet from leaving.

‘They can come back with me when we know what we’re doing, and that might just be a few hours, when we’ve heard from everyone. Please, Paul, take your time and think this through.’ She put her hand on the Major’s arm. Will was shocked to hear the Major had a given name.

The Major shook her off, but gently. He pulled her into a quick hug before stepping back. ‘I’m not going to do anything stupid. You know me better than that, I hope.’

She gave him a rueful smile. ’I know you well enough to be sure you’ll try.’

That had been half an hour ago. Now, they were bouncing around in an electric vehicle the Major had ‘borrowed’ from their host, lifting the key fob from a rack by the front door as they left. Apart from the sound of its tyres hissing and throwing back mud on the road it was silent. Travelling on little-used lanes, the Major professed confidence they could make it back to Bodingleigh unnoticed.

A direct route would take them through villages. Even with the heavy rain keeping people indoors, their passage might be remarked upon, or stopped. The additional distance meant it could be at least another hour before they got back and, as less-used roads received no upkeep, the car’s suspension was already struggling. The old man in the back seat was complaining the bouncing around was making him feel sick. The few hours of sleep Will had managed at the conference table were not enough to have left him feeling rested, and the constant jouncing was making his head pound too. So was the old man’s complaining. It was a relief when the Major drove through an open gateway into a fallow field and switched off the car’s battery. Without the windscreen wipers sweeping away rain the windows were obscured. They wouldn’t see anyone who might creep up on them. Will hoped this wouldn’t take long.

The Major turned around in his seat to regard their passenger, who blinked back at him.

‘Right then, time we had our little talk.’

‘You promised me a drink.’

The Major reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a hip flask. He unscrewed the lid and sniffed at it. The fumes of whisky were strong enough to reach Will and, apparently the old man, who leaned forward and reached out with shaking hands. The Major held the flask out of reach.

‘You promised!’ The old man looked to be on the verge of tears.

Will felt sick, revolted by what they were doing to him. He wanted to cry at the old man’s weakness.

Some of his feelings seemed to be shared by the Major; his voice was gentle as he said, ‘I’m not happy to be doing this. I’m not happy to be exploiting a sickness like this. So, please give us some information on account. Before I hand this over, you go back to ruin, and we can’t make any more sense out of you.



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