I was mightily relieved to meet the kids hurrying up the path toward me-Minnie amp; Paul among them-him a bit scared-her really excited. Behind them came Miss Lee amp; a guy I didnt know.
— that everyone? — I asked Miss L.
— yes-I checked-she said.
By the time we got back to the house-we were soaking. Everyone else had already retreated to shelter-many of them crowded into the huge east facing conservatory-to watch the storm. Others had made themselves comfortable in the deep armchairs in the reception rooms-in one of which Alan Hollis had reassembled the drinks table- amp; the councillors had settled round it happily!
I reported back to Mary-then took the two kids in search of towels to dry ourselves off. They thought it was a great adventure amp; Minnie was almost drunk with excitement. In a first floor bathroom I got her as dry as I could-but when I started on her brother she shot off through the door. I dried Paul-gave myself a rub-nothing to do about our damp clothes-but it was still too warm to take much harm from them.
We set off after Minnie. I guessed shed have gone up rather than down- amp; I found her kneeling on the broad inner sill of a second floor oriel window-staring out-rapt. I couldnt blame her-it was a magnificent amp; terrifying sight.
Almost as black as night now-lit from time to time by lightning flashes-sheet trembling out over the raging waters of the North Sea-forked closer at hand-showing us the woodland surging wildly-as though dancing in unison with the ocean waves. After the initial downpour the rain seemed almost to have stopped. We saw a jag of electricity hit a tall pine-cleaving it in two from top to bottom-then darkness again-till the next flash showed us only a mad whirl of leaves amp; ash where the tree had been.
What of the pair in the cliff cave? — I wondered.
Did they still shelter there-clinging close as the air seemed to explode around them? I could almost envy Clara. To make them take such a risk on such an occasion-their desire must have been elemental- amp; how this storm must seem to stamp Gods approval on what theyd done!
Getting religion? Maybe-weather like this always makes me feel there has to be something-but what happened next makes me doubt if I want much to do with whatever that something is!
Dont know how long we stayed there. Eventually-thinking Mary would be getting worried again-I made them go down. Slowly the storm subsided. I began to look around. Almost at once I spotted Clara-so they must have made it back. Incredibly she hardly looked damp at all. Of course-when the storm broke-as well as the shelter from the shrubs-shed have had her clothes off-probably underneath her.
Teddy I saw talking to Sid-a long way removed from Clara. Putting a safe distance between them-in case old gorgon-eyes Daphne starts getting suspicious-tho there was no sign of her at all. Maybe-I thought-she was entertaining Dr Feldenhammer privately in her boudoir. No sign of him!
After a while you could feel people looking for someone to give a lead. Outside, the sun was appearing by glimpses-steam was beginning to rise off the sodden grass amp; shrubbery-the storm was a distant mutter-retreating like a defeated army back to the continent. Should we settle down in the house? Head outside to play the old English game of pretending nothing had happened? Say our thanks amp; go?
But you need someone to be in charge-someone to make your thanks to- amp; there was still no sign of Lady D.
It was Teddy-naturally-who took charge.
— Come on people-he cried-sounding a bit manic-theres still drink to be drunk (there wasnt all that much actually-the councillors hadnt missed their opportunity)- amp; grub to be eaten-whats a bit of wet to a true blue Englishman?-
He led the way out.
His promise of food didnt hold water-joke-no one had thought to rescue it when the mad rush inside began- amp; I doubt if soggy canapés would look attractive-even to all those starving children in China the HB is always reminding us about!
Our attention was diverted by a faint cry from the far end of the lawn where it ran into the shrubbery. There was a figure lying on the grass-waving an arm. Some of us moved forward-slowly at first-then-realizing who it was-at greater speed.
It was poor Franny Roote-lying alongside his overturned wheelchair! He looked a real mess-soaked to the skin- amp; covered with mud. He gasped that his chair had got stuck in the sodden turf-you could see the grooves where it had sunk in- amp; hed overturned it in his efforts to get it moving- amp; had been trying for most of the storms duration to get it back upright.
Nurse Sheldon was one of the first to reach him-Im glad to say-as I was thinking I might have to call on my old St J ambulance training again! I helped get the chair upright amp; the nurse hoisted him into the seat like he was a sack of potatoes. Of course-you nurses have the training for this-explains your well developed muscles!
Once back in the chair Franny resumed normal service-paraplegia dont stop a guy being macho! — amp; said-thank you-all of you-Im fine now-in fact it was worth a soaking to be bang in the middle of the storm-I may recommend the experience as part of the Third Thought therapy-it was like looking the Almighty in the eye!-
Miss Sheldon-even more used than me to seeing through this kind of male crap-said-you may be seeing him a lot closer up if we dont get you dried off pretty soon-
Fran-determined to stay cool-winked at me- amp; said-What better to keep me anchored to this world Miss Sheldon than the prospect of being rubbed down by you?-
She grunted-unimpressed- amp; drove the wheelchair across the lawn and toward the house with very little effort.
The rest of us were following when Teddy said-tell you what folks-I could murder a slice of hot pork with lots of crackling (double entendre or what?)-lets take a look at how Aunt Daphnes pig is doing-
— wont the rain have put the charcoal pit out? — said Tom.
— Ill go amp; see-shall I? — said Clara.
amp; off she went-through the copse that concealed the pit from the main lawn.
For a moment-silence. Complete silence. The wind had dropped-the thunder died completely away-no one spoke-no birds sang-
Then-the most terrible sound Id ever heard-a scream-barely human-high-pure-unwavering-a single note just within the range of human hearing-going on- amp; on- amp; on-
Teddy was the first to move. He set off running. We all followed-a stampede of humans-running toward what has struck terror into their hearts-because not knowing is worse than knowing. Or so we thought.
What the cause of the screaming was took time to sink in.
I was one of the first to arrive. I saw Clara standing petrified-Teddy beside her-his arms clasping her tight-both of them staring at the metal roasting basket-still slowly turning above the charcoal pit. Despite the downpour-the trees must have given some shelter-the charcoal was still glowing red hot in places. The basket was slowly revolving- amp; there was a smell of scorching meat.
Someone should have been here to baste the pork-I thought.
amp; then my mind admitted what my eyes must have registered instantly.
— amp; now the high scream I heard wasnt Claras-but my own.
Arms went around me. They belonged to Gordon Godley. Didnt realize then-was just glad to have someone to lean up against-even though he was dripping wet.
Tried closing my eyes. Didnt help. Still saw everything even with my eyes closed.
Some yards beyond the pit-under a cloud of vapor-like guttering candle holders-4 dainty trotters were sticking up out of the lank wet grass.
It was the barbecue pig.
amp; now-tho I dont think I stopped screaming-the thought occurred to me that Tom Parker had got the headline that would really put Sandytown on the map.
Hollis’s Ham-the Real Taste of…MURDER!
For the thing being roasted in the slowly revolving basket was the corpse of Daphne Denham.