首发偶发空缺 (临时空缺)-第34部分

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　inter：　quite　another　to　confess　how　obsessively　he　pondered　ways　of　engaging　Gaia　Bawden　in　conversation。　Likewise；　it　was　easy　to　sit　in　the　Cubby　Hole　and　call　his　father　a　cunt；　but　never　would　he　have　told　how　Simon’s　rages　turned　his　hands　cold　and　his　stomach　queasy。

But　then　came　the　hour　that　changed　everything。　It　started　with　nothing　more　than　a　yearning　for　nicotine　and　beauty。　The　rain　had　passed　off　at　last；　and　the　pale　spring　sun　shone　brightly　on　the　fish…scale　dirt　on　the　school…bus　windows　as　it　jerked　and　lurched　through　the　narrow　streets　of　Pagford。　Andrew　was　sitting　near　the　back；　unable　to　see　Gaia；　who　was　hemmed　in　at　the　front　by　Sukhvinder　and　the　fatherless　Fairbrother　girls；　newly　returned　to　school。　He　had　barely　seen　Gaia　all　day　and　faced　a　barren　evening　with　only　stale　Facebook　pictures　to　console　him。

As　the　bus　approached　Hope　Street；　it　struck　Andrew　that　neither　of　his　parents　was　at　home　to　notice　his　absence。　Three　cigarettes　that　Fats　had　given　him　resided　in　his　inside　pocket；　and　Gaia　was　getting　up；　holding　tightly　to　the　bar　on　the　back　of　the　seat；　readying　herself　to　descend；　still　talking　to　Sukhvinder　Jawanda。

Why　not？　Why　not？

So　he　got　up　too；　swung　his　bag　over　his　shoulder；　and　when　the　bus　stopped　walked　briskly　up　the　aisle　after　the　two　girls　as　they　got　out。

‘See　you　at　home；’　he　threw　out　to　a　startled　Paul　as　he　passed。

He　reached　the　sunny　pavement　and　the　bus　rumbled　away。　Lighting　up；　he　watched　Gaia　and　Sukhvinder　over　the　top　of　his　cupped　hands。　They　were　not　heading　towards　Gaia’s　house　in　Hope　Street；　but　ambling　up　towards　the　Square。　Smoking　and　scowling　slightly　in　unconscious　imitation　of　the　most　unself…conscious　person　he　knew　–　Fats　–　Andrew　followed　them；　his　eyes　feasting　on　Gaia’s　copper…brown　hair　as　it　bounced　on　her　shoulder　blades；　the　swing　of　her　skirt　as　her　hips　swayed　beneath　it。

The　two　girls　slowed　down　as　they　approached　the　Square；　advancing　towards　Mollison　and　Lowe；　which　had　the　most　impressive　fa？ade　of　them　all：　blue　and　gold　lettering　across　the　front　and　four　hanging　baskets。　Andrew　hung　back。　The　girls　paused　to　examine　a　small　white　sign　pasted　to　the　window　of　the　new　café；　then　disappeared　into　the　delicatessen。

Andrew　walked　once　around　the　Square；　past　the　Black　Canon　and　the　George　Hotel；　and　stopped　at　the　sign。　It　was　a　hand…lettered　advertisement　for　weekend　staff。

Hyperconscious　of　his　acne；　which　was　particularly　virulent　at　the　moment；　he　knocked　out　the　end　of　his　cigarette；　put　the　long　stub　back　into　his　pocket　and　followed　Gaia　and　Sukhvinder　inside。

The　girls　were　standing　beside　a　little　table　piled　high　with　boxed　oatcakes　and　crackers；　watching　the　enormous　man　in　the　deerstalker　behind　the　counter　talking　to　an　elderly　customer。　Gaia　looked　around　when　the　bell　over　the　door　tinkled。

‘Hi；’　Andrew　said；　his　mouth　dry。

‘Hi；’　she　replied。

Blinded　by　his　own　daring；　Andrew　walked　nearer；　and　the　school　bag　over　his　shoulder　bumped　into　the　revolving　stand　of　guides　to　Pagford　and　Traditional　West　Country　Cooking。　He　seized　the　stand　and　steadied　it；　then　hastily　lowered　his　bag。

‘You　after　a　job？’　Gaia　asked　him　quietly；　in　her　miraculous　London　accent。

‘Yeah；’　he　said。　‘You？’

She　nodded。

‘Flag　it　up　on　the　suggestion　page；　Eddie；’　Howard　was　booming　at　the　customer。　‘Post　it　on　the　website；　and　I’ll　get　it　on　the　agenda　for　you。　Pagford　Parish　Council　–　all　one　word　–　dot　co；　dot　UK；　slash；　Suggestion　Page。　Or　follow　the　link。　Pagford　…’　He　reiterated　slowly；　as　the　man　pulled　out　paper　and　a　pen　with　a　quivering　hand　‘…　Parish　…’

Howard’s　eyes　flicked　over　the　three　teenagers　waiting　quietly　beside　the　savoury　biscuits。　They　were　wearing　the　half…hearted　uniform　of　Winterdown；　which　permitted　so　much　laxity　and　variation　that　it　was　barely　a　uniform　at　all　（unlike　that　of　St　Anne’s；　which　prised　a　neat　tartan　skirt　and　a　blazer）。　For　all　that；　the　white　girl　was　stunning；　a　precision…cut　diamond　set　off　by　the　plain　Jawanda　daughter；　whose　name　Howard　did　not　know；　and　a　mouse…haired　boy　with　violently　erupted　skin。

The　customer　creaked　out　of　the　shop；　the　bell　tinkled。

‘Can　I　help　you？’　Howard　asked；　his　eyes　on　Gaia。

‘Yeah；’　she　said；　moving　forwards。　‘Um。　About　the　jobs。’　She　pointed　at　the　small　sign　in　the　window。

‘Ah；　yes；’　said　Howard；　beaming。　His　new　weekend　waiter　had　let　him　down　a　few　days　previously；　thrown　over　the　café　for　Yarvil　and　a　supermarket　job。　‘Yes；　yes。　Fancy　waitressing；　do　you？　We’re　offering　minimum　wage　–　nine　to　half…past　five；　Saturdays　–　twelve　to　half…past　five；　Sundays。　Opening　two　weeks　from　today；　training　provided。　How　old　are　you；　my　love？’

She　was　perfect；　perfect；　exactly　what　he　had　been　imagining：　fresh…faced　and　curvy；　he　could　just　imagine　her　in　a　figure…hugging　black　dress　with　a　lace…edged　white　apron。　He　would　teach　her　to　use　the　till；　and　show　her　around　the　stockroom；　there　would　be　a　bit　of　banter；　and　perhaps　a　little　bonus　on　days　when　the　takings　were　up。

Howard　sidled　out　from　behind　the　counter　and；　ignoring　Sukhvinder　and　Andrew；　took　Gaia　by　the　upper　arm；　and　led　her　through　the　arch　in　the　dividing　wall。　There　were　no　tables　and　chairs　there　yet；　but　the　counter　had　been　installed　and　so　had　a　tiled　black　and　cream　mural　on　the　wall　behind　it；　which　showed　the　Square　in　Yesteryear。　Crinolined　women　and　men　in　top　hats　swarmed　everywhere；　a　brougham　carriage　had　drawn　up　outside　a　clearly　marked　Mollison　and　Lowe；　and　beside　it　was　the　little　café；　The　Copper　Kettle。　The　artist　had　improvised　an　ornamental　pump　instead　of　the　war　memorial。

Andrew　and　Sukhvinder　were　left　behind；　awkward　and　vaguely　antagonistic　to　each　other。

‘Yes？　Can　I　help　you？’

A　stooping　woman　with　a　jet…black　bouffant　had　emerged　from　out　of　a　back　room。　Andrew　and　Sukhvinder　muttered　that　they　were　waiting；　and　then　Howard　and　Gaia　reappeared　in　the　archway。　When　he　saw　Maureen；　Howard　dropped　Gaia’s　arm；　which　he　had　been　holding　absent…mindedly　while　he　explained　to　her　what　a　waitress’s　duties　would　be。

‘I　might　have　found　us　some　more　help　for　the　Kettle；　Mo；’　he　said。

‘Oh；　yes？’　said　Maureen；　switching　her　hungry　gaze　to　Gaia。　‘Have　you　got　experience？’

But　Howard　boomed　over　her；　telling　Gaia　all　about　the　delicatessen　and　how　he　liked　to　think　it　was　a　bit　of　a　Pagford　institution；　a　bit　of　a　landmark。

‘Thirty…five　years；　it’s　been；’　said　Howard；　with　a　majestic　disdain　of　his　own　mural。　‘The　young　lady’s　new　to　town；　Mo；’　he　added。

‘And　you　two　are　after　jobs　as　well；　are　you？’　Maureen　asked　Sukhvinder　and　Andrew。

Sukhvinder　shook　her　head；　Andrew　made　an　equivocal　movement　with　his　shoulders；　but　Gaia　said；　with　her　eyes　on　the　girl；　‘Go　on。　You　said　you　might。’

Howard　considered　Sukhvinder；　who　would　most　certainly　not　appear　to　advantage　in　a　tight　black　dress　and　frilly　apron；　but　his　fertile　and　flexible　mind　was　firing　in　all　directions。　A　pliment　to　her　father　–　something　of　a　hold　over　her　mother　–　an　unasked　favour　granted；　there　were　matters　beyond　the　purely　aesthetic　that　ought；　perhaps；　to　be　considered　here。

‘Well；　if　we　get　the　business　we’re　expecting；　we　could　probably　do　with　two；’　he　said；　scratching　his　chins　with　his　eyes　on　Sukhvinder；　who　had　blushed　unattractively。

‘I　don’t　…’　she　said；　but　Gaia　urged　her。

‘Go　on。　Together。’

Sukhvinder　was　flushed；　and　her　eyes　were　watering。

‘I　…’

‘Go　on；’　whispered　Gaia。

‘I　…　all　right。’

‘We’ll　give　you　a　trial；　then；　Miss　Jawanda；’　said　Howard。

Doused　in　fear；　Sukhvinder　could　hardly　breathe。　What　would　her　mother　say？

‘And　I　suppose　you’re　wanting　to　be　potboy；　are　you？’　Howard　boomed　at　Andrew。

Potboy？

‘It’s　heavy　lifting　we　need；　my　friend；’　said　Howard；　while　Andrew　blinked　at　him　nonplussed：　he　had　only　read　the　large　type　at　the　top　of　the　sign。　‘Pallets　into　the　stockroom；　crates　of　milk　up　from　the　cellar　and　rubbish　bagged　up　at　the　back。　Proper　manual　labour。　Do　you　think　you　can　handle　that？’

‘Yeah；’　said　Andrew。　Would　he　be　there　when　Gaia　was　there？　That　was　all　that　mattered。

‘We’ll　need　you　early。　Eight　o’clock；　probably。　We’ll　say　eight　till　three；　and　see　how　it　goes。　Trial　period　of　two　weeks。’

‘Yeah；　fine；’　said　Andrew。

‘What’s　your　name？’

When　Howard　heard　it；　he　raised　his　eyebrows。

‘Is　your　father　Simon？　Simon　Price？’

‘Yeah。’

Andrew　was　unnerved。　Nobody　knew　who　his　father　was；　usually。

Howard　told　the　two　girls　to　e　back　on　Sunday　afternoon；　when　the　till　was　to　be　delivered；　and　he　would　be　at　liberty　to　instruct　them；　then；　though　he　showed　an　inclination　to　keep　Gaia　in　conversation；　a　customer　entered；　and　the　teenagers　took　their　chance　to　slip　outside。

Andrew　could　think　of　nothing　to　say　once　they　found　themselves　on　the　other　side　of　the　tinkling　glass　door；　but　before　he　could　marshal　his　thoughts；　Gaia　threw　him　a　careless　‘bye’；　and　walked　away　with　Sukhvinder。　Andrew　lit　up　the　second　of　Fats’　three　fags　（this　was　no　time　for　a　half…smoked　stub）；　which　gave　him　an　excuse　to　remain　stationary　while　he　watched　her　walk　away　into　the　lengthening　shadows。

‘Why　do　they　call　him　“Peanut”；　that　boy？’　Gaia　asked　Sukhvinder；　once　they　were　out　of　earshot　of　Andrew。

‘He’s　allergic；’　said　Sukhvinder。　She　was　horrified　at　the　prospect　of　telling　Parminder　what　she　had　done。　Her　voice　sounded　like　somebody　else’s。　‘He　nearly　died　at　St　Thomas’s；　somebody　gave　him　one　hidden　in　a　marshmallow。’

‘Oh；’　said　Gaia。　‘I　thought　it　might　be　because　he　had　a　tiny　dick。’

She　laughed；　and　so　did　Sukhvinder；　forcing　herself；　as　though　jokes　about　penises　were　all　she　heard；　day　in；　day　out。

Andrew　saw　them　both　glance　back　at　him　as　they　laughed；　and　knew　that　they　were　talking　about　him。　The　giggling　might　be　a　hopeful　sign；　he　knew　that　much　about　girls；　anyway。　Grinning　at　nothing　but　the　cooling　air；　he　walked　off；　school　bag　over　his　shoulder；　cigarette　in　his　hand；　across　the　Square　towards　Church　Row；　and　thence　to　forty　minutes　of　steep　climbing　up　out　of　town　to　Hilltop　House。

The　hedgerows　were　ghostly　pale　with　white　blossom　in　the　dusk；　blackthorn　blooming　on　either　side　of　him；　celandine　fringing　the　lane　with　tiny；　glossy　heart…shaped　leaves。　The　smell　of　the　flowers；　the　deep　pleasure　of　the　cigarette　and　the　promise　of　weekends　with　Gaia；　everything　blended　together　into　a　glorious　symphony　of　elation　and　beauty　as　Andrew　puffed　up　the　hill。　The　next　time　Simon　said　‘got　a　job；　Pizza　Face？’　he　would　be　able　to　say　‘yes’。　He　was　going　to　be　Gaia　Bawden’s　weekend　workmate。

And；　to　cap　it　all；　he　knew　at　last　exactly　how　he　might　plunge　an　anonymous　dagger　straight　between　his　father’s　shoulder　blades。

VII
Once　the　first　impulse　of　spite　had　worn　off；　Samantha　bitterly　regretted　inviting　Gavin　and　Kay　to　dinner。　She　spent　Friday　morning　joking　with　her　assistant　about　the　dreadful　evening　she　was　bound　to　have；　but　her　mood　plummeted　once　she　had　left　Carly　in　charge　of　Over　the　Shoulder　Boulder　Holders　（a　name　that　had　made　Howard　laugh　so　hard　the　first　time　he　had　heard　it　that　it