Read Online Lair by James Herbert - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Herbert
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Literature & Fiction, Thrillers, Mystery & Detective, Horror, Mystery, Mystery & Detective - General, Rats, Horror & Ghost Stories, Fiction / Horror, Horror - General, Animal mutation
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lenses.
Slightly irritated by the man's gruff, no-nonsense tone, Fender sat and deliberately took his time in answering. There was silence for a moment or so, each sizing up the other, the superintendent finally becoming impatient.
Well?" he said.
Fender cleared his throat. "I was sent to the Conservation Centre by Ratkill to investigate complaints by Mr. Milton ..."
"Yes, yes, I know all that; Milton discussed it with me first. When I spoke to him a little while ago on the phone he said you'd found some evidence. That's why I asked him to send you over here. I thought you might have got here sooner -the Centre's only five minutes away."
"I wanted to examine the rat droppings Mr. Milton had collected first.
Also, I wanted to see the door of the refuse building that had been broken into."
"And what did you deduce from all this?"
"I'd say it's fairly certain that you have the Black rat living in this forest."
Whitney-Evans frowned in displeasure. "Fairly certain? What does that mean? You're either sure or you're not."
Fender struggled to keep his voice even. "I said fairly certain because I haven't yet seen the rat itself. All the evidence points to it being the Black, though."
"But you could be wrong. It could be another type of rodent."
"One of the tutors at the Centre, Jenny Hanmer, saw three of them."
"Yes, the Warden told me that. He also said the pond in question is extremely shaded and the only other adult witness has questionable vision."
"But I went down to the pond myself with Miss Hanmer."
"And you found evidence that a family of stoats had been slaughtered."
Torn to pieces."
"Yes, yes, but by what? You, yourself, did not actually see the assailants."
"No, but there's enough evidence now to assume ..."
"No, Fender. We mustn't assume anything. Do you realize the harm such an assumption could bring to the forest?"
That's not the point. If people are killed ..."
"Of course we don't want anybody to be killed by these creatures if they exist. But first, let's make sure they are a reality. Surely you can you must investigate further before you reach such an extreme conclusion."
"Look, Mr. Whitney-Evans, I can appreciate not wanting to spoil the image of your beautiful forest, but if lives are in danger, there is no choice in the matter. Epping Forest will have to be cleared of people."
"Impossible!" The Superintendent stood, his face flushed red. "Don't you realize how densely populated Epping Forest and its neighbouring forests are? You can't just suddenly shift all those people on the slight evidence you've produced."
The evidence is enough for me," Fender replied.
Whitney-Evans walked to the window. Silent for a moment, he then turned to face Fender again. "It may be enough for you, but will it be enough for your superiors? Or the Ministry?"
"I think they'll listen. They wouldn't want to risk another Outbreak."
"I'm sure they wouldn't; that is not under debate. What I -and I'm sure they will take the same view am questioning, is your evidence."
"Look, I don't understand this. Why are you resisting my attempts to avert a dangerous situation?"
Whitney-Evans regarded Fender coolly. "Have you any idea how much it costs to maintain Epping Forest?" he said finally.
What? What's that got to do with... ?"
"It costs over 100,000 a year, Fender. Money, I may add, that does not come from the government, nor the public. It comes from private City funds."
"I don't see what that has to do with this matter."
The forest is governed by the Corporation of London; they are the Conservators. The actual management is carried out by a committee of twelve, all an elected representative body of the City of London; they are joined by four Verderers."
"Verderers?" Fender asked, wondering where the sudden lecture was leading.
They are members elected by the public to represent local interests.
The committee meets several times a year and, in fact, there is a meeting due to be
Slightly irritated by the man's gruff, no-nonsense tone, Fender sat and deliberately took his time in answering. There was silence for a moment or so, each sizing up the other, the superintendent finally becoming impatient.
Well?" he said.
Fender cleared his throat. "I was sent to the Conservation Centre by Ratkill to investigate complaints by Mr. Milton ..."
"Yes, yes, I know all that; Milton discussed it with me first. When I spoke to him a little while ago on the phone he said you'd found some evidence. That's why I asked him to send you over here. I thought you might have got here sooner -the Centre's only five minutes away."
"I wanted to examine the rat droppings Mr. Milton had collected first.
Also, I wanted to see the door of the refuse building that had been broken into."
"And what did you deduce from all this?"
"I'd say it's fairly certain that you have the Black rat living in this forest."
Whitney-Evans frowned in displeasure. "Fairly certain? What does that mean? You're either sure or you're not."
Fender struggled to keep his voice even. "I said fairly certain because I haven't yet seen the rat itself. All the evidence points to it being the Black, though."
"But you could be wrong. It could be another type of rodent."
"One of the tutors at the Centre, Jenny Hanmer, saw three of them."
"Yes, the Warden told me that. He also said the pond in question is extremely shaded and the only other adult witness has questionable vision."
"But I went down to the pond myself with Miss Hanmer."
"And you found evidence that a family of stoats had been slaughtered."
Torn to pieces."
"Yes, yes, but by what? You, yourself, did not actually see the assailants."
"No, but there's enough evidence now to assume ..."
"No, Fender. We mustn't assume anything. Do you realize the harm such an assumption could bring to the forest?"
That's not the point. If people are killed ..."
"Of course we don't want anybody to be killed by these creatures if they exist. But first, let's make sure they are a reality. Surely you can you must investigate further before you reach such an extreme conclusion."
"Look, Mr. Whitney-Evans, I can appreciate not wanting to spoil the image of your beautiful forest, but if lives are in danger, there is no choice in the matter. Epping Forest will have to be cleared of people."
"Impossible!" The Superintendent stood, his face flushed red. "Don't you realize how densely populated Epping Forest and its neighbouring forests are? You can't just suddenly shift all those people on the slight evidence you've produced."
The evidence is enough for me," Fender replied.
Whitney-Evans walked to the window. Silent for a moment, he then turned to face Fender again. "It may be enough for you, but will it be enough for your superiors? Or the Ministry?"
"I think they'll listen. They wouldn't want to risk another Outbreak."
"I'm sure they wouldn't; that is not under debate. What I -and I'm sure they will take the same view am questioning, is your evidence."
"Look, I don't understand this. Why are you resisting my attempts to avert a dangerous situation?"
Whitney-Evans regarded Fender coolly. "Have you any idea how much it costs to maintain Epping Forest?" he said finally.
What? What's that got to do with... ?"
"It costs over 100,000 a year, Fender. Money, I may add, that does not come from the government, nor the public. It comes from private City funds."
"I don't see what that has to do with this matter."
The forest is governed by the Corporation of London; they are the Conservators. The actual management is carried out by a committee of twelve, all an elected representative body of the City of London; they are joined by four Verderers."
"Verderers?" Fender asked, wondering where the sudden lecture was leading.
They are members elected by the public to represent local interests.
The committee meets several times a year and, in fact, there is a meeting due to be
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