Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

Author:William Boyd
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9781408828458
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

THE ELECTROLYTE

When I saw your face at the door

In a dancing dream of dervishes

It was like a probe touching a molar

(Electrolyte of love).

Then I saw you true.

The evening mist gathers in the valley

My hands I move

And fold it flat

Into a neat square bundle

And give it to you.

I’m sitting in my old bedroom at Claverleigh. I’ve just been in to see Crickmay to say goodbye. I’m off tomorrow – to France. The sound of Crickmay’s breathing is like some ancient wheezing pump trying to empty a flooded mine. Air and water intermixed.

He managed to gasp goodbye and squeeze my hand.

Outside in the corridor Mother seemed upset but under control.

‘How long will you be away?’ she asked.

‘I’m not sure. A month or two, maybe a bit longer.’ Massinger had not been precise. All duration would be determined by operational necessities and by Agent Bonfire.

‘He won’t be here when you come back,’ she said, flatly.

‘What will you do?’

‘I’ll be fine. I could spend twenty-four hours a day on the charity, if need be. I don’t know what I’d have done without it, actually. We’ve a staff of six now in the office at Lewes.’

‘That’s wonderful.’ I kissed her cheek and she took my hands, stepping back to look me up and down.

‘You look very handsome in your uniform,’ she said. ‘Your father would have been very proud.’

I feel hot tears in my eyes just thinking about this.

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