Read Online Death in Kashmir by M. M. Kaye - Free Book Online

at the foot of Apharwat, the long bare ridge of mountain, seamed with gullies, that rises above it for another fourteen thousand feet. Khilanmarg, the Meadow of Goats, is well named, for in summer it provides a grazing ground for flocks of goats and sheep who crop the grassy levels and scramble about on the rocks and the steep slopes of the mountainside above. But in winter the snow turns it into perfect skiing ground, and it was a practice of the Ski Club members to go up in parties to Khilanmarg and sleep the night in the ski-hut, which gave them more skiing time on the following day, since it eliminated the long pull up through the forest paths from Gulmarg, fifteen hundred feet below.
    Reggie said: ‘Quite a goodish crowd staying the night, and some only coming up for the day. Fourteen of us for the hut I reckon. Let’s see, there’s Sarah here, and Fudge of course, and the Coply twins. And Mir Khan and Ian Kelly, and those two birds from Calcutta—what are their names? Thingummy and Something.’
    â€˜Thinley and Somerville,’ prompted Fudge.
    â€˜Yes, that’s it. And myself of course, and Meril Forbes and the Curtis girl, and Helen and Johnnie Warrender. That’s the lot I think.’
    â€˜Oh, dear! Is Helen really coming?’
    â€˜So she says. Why?’
    â€˜Nothing, only——’
    â€˜Miaow!’ interjected Hugo.
    â€˜I wasn’t going to say anything!’ protested Fudge indignantly.
    â€˜I’m sure you weren’t. I know how dearly you love Helen.’
    â€˜Now who’s being catty? Miaow yourself! But I won’t pretend she doesn’t madden me. She’s like–like——’
    â€˜Quite,’ said Hugo. ‘Biscuit crumbs in the bed. You need say no more.’
    Sarah, who had been checking names on her fingers, said suddenly: ‘But that makes thirteen, not fourteen. You’ll have to rake in someone else, Reggie. You can’t take up a party of thirteen. It would be unlucky.’
    â€˜It was fourteen when I made out the lists,’ said Reggie, ‘I must have forgotten someone.’
    â€˜Me,’ said Hugo sadly.
    â€˜Of course. Damn! ’
    â€˜Don’t apologize,’ said Hugo with a gracious wave of his hand.
    â€˜I wasn’t. I was just wondering who to rake in to take your place.’
    â€˜It can’t be done. There’s only one of me: the country carries no spares. I am what Fifi et Cie would doubtless label an “Exclusive Model”.’
    â€˜I wish you wouldn’t chatter so much,’ said Reggie irritably. ‘I can’t think straight while you babble. Do you suppose we could get Tomlin to take your place?’
    â€˜He’s sprained his wrist.’
    â€˜Curse, so he has. What about Stevenson?’
    â€˜He’s umpiring the beginners’ race tomorrow.’
    â€˜Oh well, I expect we shall raise someone. Anyway, I’m not superstitious myself, and if Fudge and Sarah will refrain from commenting on the fact, I don’t suppose anyone else will think of counting heads. Sarah can keep her fingers crossed and drape charms round her neck if it really worries her.’
    â€˜Sound common sense,’ approved Hugo. ‘“A Solomon come to judgement!” If you can bring yourself to believe that certain things are unlucky, you must also be able to believe that certain other things are lucky. So if you see my dear wife plodding up to Khilan tomorrow, Reggie, festooned with horseshoes, bristling with white heather, and clutching a four-leaved clover in one hand and an outsize log of wood in the other, you will know that she is merely taking suitable precautions against disaster.’
    â€˜There’s the lunch gong,’ said Reggie. ‘I think I’ll push off. Good Lord—look at McKay! Golly what a toss! It’s a wonder they don’t break their necks, isn’t it? Has he been doing that sort of thing all