Read Online The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen Lloyd Jones
Ads: Link
you verify my identity, Hannah. It’s to help me verify yours.’
‘They were Ayrshires.’
‘Shortly after you arrived, there was an accident. What happened?’
‘I tried to milk one of them by hand,’ she said. ‘I must have pinched, because it kicked out and broke my wrist.’
‘What happened to the cow?’
‘Nothing. We named her Footloose.’
The old man closed his eyes. When he opened them, they sparkled with intensity. ‘Hellfire, for a minute there I thought I was talking to him . That was a bit of excitement, eh? I was all ready to gut you.’ He chuckled, then he cast a look at Nate and the laughter faded on his lips. ‘Hannah, I’m so glad you’re all still alive.’
‘Thanks, I’m touched. But the rules haven’t changed. You move off that—’
‘Yes, yes, I know,’ he snapped. ‘I move, I die. Very poetic.’ Now that he seemed satisfied with her identity, his brashness had resurfaced. ‘I’m not moving, am I? I’m sitting on this damned uncomfortable chair with an aching back, after bending over your husband for the last hour trying to save his life. Even if I wanted to move I think it’d take me a week to straighten myself out. I thought you were making some tea.’
‘How do you know my name?’
‘Because we’ve met before. A number of times. Not for a good few years, I’ll grant you, and I can see your manners haven’t improved in the meantime. Last time I saw you was out in Hungary when your father brought you. And still with that look on your face sour enough to curdle milk.’
‘You know my father?’ she asked, frowning.
‘Of course I know him. Was with him when he picked out this place. You made a lucky choice, by the way, coming here.’
‘Your turn.’
‘My turn to what?’
‘Validate. Before you say anything else, I want some proof.’
‘OK, fine.’ He started to worm his right hand into the pocket of his Barbour.
‘Whoa, there. Easy with the hands. Nice and slow.’
With exaggerated care, he eased his finger and thumb into the pocket. He withdrew a wicked-looking hunting knife, its metal dull but sharp, its wooden handle smooth with age.
‘Careful,’ she warned, keeping both barrels high.
He nodded, then dropped the knife back into his pocket. ‘I will be, now I know who you are. ’Course, I don’t know what would have happened if you had been him. I reckon maybe he’d be a bit quicker than me. Who knows? I’m getting on a bit these days. But then again, so is he. The gun’s empty, Hannah. If you’d pulled that trigger I would have buried this knife in your throat. Lucky for you, and for my conscience, you didn’t.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘When I last checked in on this place, I found a loaded shotgun in that pantry. Second shelf up on the left-hand side, wasn’t it? Just where you must have found it. Knowing the types we sometimes get in empty properties like this, I didn’t want to leave a loaded weapon there. So I removed both rounds. I know you didn’t have time to check when you hopped back there to fetch it. If it makes you feel better, you’ll find the cartridges back in their box in the drawer of that Welsh dresser behind you. The one with all the crockery on it. Now, please – point that thing away from my face. It’s very rude.’
Hannah stepped backwards, widening the gap between them. When she was nearly at the door to the hallway, she broke the shotgun and checked the chambers.
Empty.
‘Tell me something else,’ she demanded.
‘The day your father met your mother they fought over a table. I can’t remember where exactly, but one of the Oxford colleges, where he lectured.’
She knew how unlikely it was for anyone to know that story unless Charles had told them personally. Coupled with his knowledge of the shotgun, she decided he had to be telling the truth.
Hannah felt exhaustion wash over her. Somehow, she had managed to get Nate and Leah away from her father’s place alive. For the moment
‘They were Ayrshires.’
‘Shortly after you arrived, there was an accident. What happened?’
‘I tried to milk one of them by hand,’ she said. ‘I must have pinched, because it kicked out and broke my wrist.’
‘What happened to the cow?’
‘Nothing. We named her Footloose.’
The old man closed his eyes. When he opened them, they sparkled with intensity. ‘Hellfire, for a minute there I thought I was talking to him . That was a bit of excitement, eh? I was all ready to gut you.’ He chuckled, then he cast a look at Nate and the laughter faded on his lips. ‘Hannah, I’m so glad you’re all still alive.’
‘Thanks, I’m touched. But the rules haven’t changed. You move off that—’
‘Yes, yes, I know,’ he snapped. ‘I move, I die. Very poetic.’ Now that he seemed satisfied with her identity, his brashness had resurfaced. ‘I’m not moving, am I? I’m sitting on this damned uncomfortable chair with an aching back, after bending over your husband for the last hour trying to save his life. Even if I wanted to move I think it’d take me a week to straighten myself out. I thought you were making some tea.’
‘How do you know my name?’
‘Because we’ve met before. A number of times. Not for a good few years, I’ll grant you, and I can see your manners haven’t improved in the meantime. Last time I saw you was out in Hungary when your father brought you. And still with that look on your face sour enough to curdle milk.’
‘You know my father?’ she asked, frowning.
‘Of course I know him. Was with him when he picked out this place. You made a lucky choice, by the way, coming here.’
‘Your turn.’
‘My turn to what?’
‘Validate. Before you say anything else, I want some proof.’
‘OK, fine.’ He started to worm his right hand into the pocket of his Barbour.
‘Whoa, there. Easy with the hands. Nice and slow.’
With exaggerated care, he eased his finger and thumb into the pocket. He withdrew a wicked-looking hunting knife, its metal dull but sharp, its wooden handle smooth with age.
‘Careful,’ she warned, keeping both barrels high.
He nodded, then dropped the knife back into his pocket. ‘I will be, now I know who you are. ’Course, I don’t know what would have happened if you had been him. I reckon maybe he’d be a bit quicker than me. Who knows? I’m getting on a bit these days. But then again, so is he. The gun’s empty, Hannah. If you’d pulled that trigger I would have buried this knife in your throat. Lucky for you, and for my conscience, you didn’t.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘When I last checked in on this place, I found a loaded shotgun in that pantry. Second shelf up on the left-hand side, wasn’t it? Just where you must have found it. Knowing the types we sometimes get in empty properties like this, I didn’t want to leave a loaded weapon there. So I removed both rounds. I know you didn’t have time to check when you hopped back there to fetch it. If it makes you feel better, you’ll find the cartridges back in their box in the drawer of that Welsh dresser behind you. The one with all the crockery on it. Now, please – point that thing away from my face. It’s very rude.’
Hannah stepped backwards, widening the gap between them. When she was nearly at the door to the hallway, she broke the shotgun and checked the chambers.
Empty.
‘Tell me something else,’ she demanded.
‘The day your father met your mother they fought over a table. I can’t remember where exactly, but one of the Oxford colleges, where he lectured.’
She knew how unlikely it was for anyone to know that story unless Charles had told them personally. Coupled with his knowledge of the shotgun, she decided he had to be telling the truth.
Hannah felt exhaustion wash over her. Somehow, she had managed to get Nate and Leah away from her father’s place alive. For the moment
Similar Books
