Reginald Hill полностью

“Yes,’ she said. That was all. Nothing more. At least, I didn’t think so. I still don’t. But she suggested that I should go on holiday with her that Christmas. My mother had died during the previous summer - I can’t remember my father at all - and I was temporarily with a very dull uncle and aunt. It was just a nice, thoughtful gesture. I was delighted.”

“What happened?”

“Miss. Disney came to my room one evening. Everyone was scared of her then. Not like now, students don’t seem to be scared of anyone, but we were all frightened little mice just five or six years ago. Anyway, she started talking about me and Miss. Girling, about the holiday. I didn’t understand her at first. But I began to get the idea pretty quickly. She made it sound awful, as if somehow was a bad influence on Miss. Girling! She got very worked up, not hysterical or anything, but full of indignation, all puffy and red. I didn’t know what to think. She implied all kinds of things, even that Miss. Girling could lose her job because of me! It was absurd I know, but I was very innocent, naive I suppose.p>

Disney left finally; I just sat for a bit, then went round to Miss. Girling’s room. This was the last Sunday of term, I was about the only student left in the place, there was no one of my own age to talk to and in any case, I just had to see her. But all I could do when I saw her was blurt out that I couldn’t go to Austria after all, something had come up. I suppose I expected an emotional scene, with tears, explanations, comfortings etc. But she just looked at me and nodded.

Then picked up the phone and started cancelling my booking, plane-seat and so on.”

“Did you see her again?’ asked Dalziel.

“No. I was as miserable as hell all night and most of the next day, that Monday. Finally I plucked up courage to go and see her again.”

“What time was that?”

“I don’t remember. About tea-time. It was dark, but then it got dark even earlier than usual that December with the fog. I tapped on her door. There was someone inside, I could hear voices.”

“Her door? Which door?” “This one,’ said Marion surprised, pointing to the door of Landor’s former study.

“Of course,’ said Dalziel. ‘ thought you might have meant her house.”

“Oh, she didn’t have a house. The principal’s house was only built when Dr. Landor came. Miss. Girling had a suite of rooms here, through that door and up the stairs.”

She nodded at the room’s other door which Dalziel had already tried and found to be locked.

“What happened to the rooms?”

“Oh, they’re used for other things now. A library storeroom. The bursar’s office. That kind of thing.”

Dalziel tried the door again. Still unsuccessfully.

“Interesting,’ he said. ‘ voices did you hear?”

“When? Oh, you mean after I’d knocked? I don’t know. One was Miss. Girling’s. The other was a man’s. There may have been two. They all seemed to be talking very loudly. I don’t think anyone even heard my knock, it was so timid. Anyway, it didn’t seem a good moment, so I crept away.”

“Did you try again later?”

“I meant to. But as I was walking over about an hour later, her car went belting by me along the drive. It was going very quickly, I lifted my hand, but I doubt if she saw me. I just stood there in the middle of the drive, feeling quite miserable, watching the tail-lights disappear. I think I’d have stood there for ever if another car hadn’t come up behind me. I was almost knocked down. I don’t think I’d have minded much,’ she said with a wry grin.

“Another car?’ said Dalziel. ‘?”

“I don’t know. I jumped out of the way when he blew his horn and he went on up the drive almost as fast as Miss. Girling.”

“I see,’ said Dalziel thoughtfully. ‘ that was all?”

“Yes. I went back to my room, then spent Christmas with my dull relations. I knew nothing about the avalanche till I came back to college in January. It was terrible news. I suppose I should have been relieved I hadn’t gone. Disney certainly thought so. She alternated between the tragic bereaved bit and the I-savedyour-life line. I was too numb to take much notice. I just hung on till finals were over in the summer, then got out, rejoicing that I’d never see the place again.”

“And here you are.”

She shrugged.

Things change after a couple of years. You grow up. I saw the job, it was a good step career-wise, and I was a bit curious to see the old place. It was quite a surprise to be offered the post in fact. I hadn’t really banked on it. But I said, why not? and here I am. Disney returned to the attack, but apart from that, it was very pleasant, till Dr. Landor decided to move the statue.”

“Miss. Disney bothered you again?”