首发偶发空缺 (临时空缺)-第76部分

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‘It　was　a　good　party；　wasn’t　it？’　said　Lexie。

‘Yes；　lovely；’　said　Shirley；　with　a　tempest　building　inside　her。

After　a　while；　her　granddaughter’s　prattling　wore　Shirley　down。

‘Let’s　have　lunch　at　the　café；’　she　suggested。　‘Howard；’　she　called　through　the　closed　bedroom　door；　‘I’m　taking　Lexie　for　lunch　at　the　Copper　Kettle。’

He　sounded　worried；　and　she　was　glad。　She　was　not　afraid　of　Maureen。　She　would　look　Maureen　right　in　the　face　…

But　it　occurred　to　Shirley；　as　she　walked；　that　Howard　might　have　telephoned　Maureen　the　moment　she　had　left　the　bungalow。　She　was　so　stupid　…　somehow；　she　had　thought　that；　in　calling　Maureen　herself　about　Howard’s　illness；　she　had　stopped　them　municating　…　she　was　forgetting　…

The　familiar；　well…loved　streets　seemed　different；　strange。　She　had　taken　a　regular　inventory　of　the　window　she　presented　to　this　lovely　little　world：　wife　and　mother；　hospital　volunteer；　secretary　to　the　Parish　Council；　First　Citizeness；　and　Pagford　had　been　her　mirror；　reflecting；　in　its　polite　respect；　her　value　and　her　worth。　But　the　Ghost　had　taken　a　rubber　stamp　and　smeared　across　the　pristine　surface　of　her　life　a　revelation　that　would　nullify　it　all：　‘her　husband　was　sleeping　with　his　business　partner；　and　she　never　knew　…’

It　would　be　all　that　anyone　said；　when　she　was　mentioned；　all　that　they　ever　remembered　about　her。

She　pushed　open　the　door　of　the　café；　the　bell　tinkled；　and　Lexie　said；　‘There’s　Peanut　Price。’

‘Howard　all　right？’　croaked　Maureen。

‘Just　tired；’　said　Shirley；　moving　smoothly　to　a　table　and　sitting　down；　her　heart　beating　so　fast　that　she　wondered　whether　she　might　have　a　coronary　herself。

‘Tell　him　neither　of　the　girls　has　turned　up；’　said　Maureen　crossly；　lingering　by　their　table；　‘and　neither　of　them　bothered　to　call　in　either。　It’s　lucky　we’re　not　busy。’

Lexie　went　to　the　counter　to　talk　to　Andrew；　who　had　been　put　on　waiter　duty。　Conscious　of　her　unusual　solitude；　as　she　sat　alone　at　the　table；　Shirley　remembered　Mary　Fairbrother；　erect　and　gaunt　at　Barry’s　funeral；　widowhood　draped　around　her　like　a　queen’s　train；　the　pity；　the　admiration。　In　losing　her　husband；　Mary　had　bee　the　silent　passive　recipient　of　admiration；　whereas　she；　shackled　to　a　man　who　had　betrayed　her；　was　cloaked　in　grubbiness；　a　target　of　derision　…

（Long　ago；　in　Yarvil；　men　had　subjected　Shirley　to　smutty　jokes　because　of　her　mother’s　reputation；　even　though　she；　Shirley；　had　been　as　pure　as　it　was　possible　to　be。）

‘Grandad’s　feeling　ill；’　Lexie　was　telling　Andrew。　‘What’s　in　those　cakes？’

He　bent　down　behind　the　counter；　hiding　his　red　face。

I　snogged　your　mum。

Andrew　had　almost　skived　off　work。　He　had　been　afraid　that　Howard　might　sack　him　on　the　spot　for　kissing　his　daughter…in…law；　and　was　downright　terrified　that　Miles　Mollison　might　storm　in；　looking　for　him。　At　the　same　time；　he　was　not　so　naive　that　he　did　not　know　that　Samantha；　who　must；　he　thought　ruthlessly；　be　well　over　forty；　would　figure　as　the　villain　of　the　piece。　His　defence　was　simple。　‘She　was　pissed　and　she　grabbed　me。’

There　was　a　tiny　glimmer　of　pride　in　his　embarrassment。　He　had　been　anxious　to　see　Gaia；　he　wanted　to　tell　her　that　a　grown　woman　had　pounced　on　him。　He　had　hoped　that　they　might　laugh　about　it；　the　way　that　they　laughed　about　Maureen；　but　that　she　might　be　secretly　impressed；　and　also　that　in　the　course　of　laughing；　he　might　find　out　exactly　what　she　had　done　with　Fats；　how　far　she　had　let　him　go。　He　was　prepared　to　forgive　her。　She　had　been　pissed　too。　But　she　had　not　turned　up。

He　went　to　fetch　a　napkin　for　Lexie　and　almost　collided　with　his　boss’s　wife；　who　was　standing　behind　the　counter；　holding　his　EpiPen。

‘Howard　wanted　me　to　check　something；’　Shirley　told　him。　‘And　this　needle　shouldn’t　be　kept　in　here。　I’ll　put　it　in　the　back。’

XII
Halfway　down　his　packet　of　Rolos；　Robbie　became　extremely　thirsty。　Krystal　had　not　bought　him　a　drink。　He　climbed　off　the　bench　and　crouched　down　in　the　warm　grass；　where　he　could　still　see　her　outline　in　the　bushes　with　the　stranger。　After　a　while；　he　scrambled　down　the　bank　towards　them。

‘’M　thirsty；’　he　whined。

‘Robbie；　get　out　of　it！’　screamed　Krystal。　‘Go　an’　sit　on　the　bench！’

‘Wanna　drink！’

‘Fuckin’　–　go　an’　wai’　by　the　bench；　an’　I’ll　gerra　drink　in　a　minute！　Go　’way；　Robbie！’

Crying；　he　climbed　back　up　the　slippery　bank　to　the　bench。　He　was　accustomed　to　not　being　given　what　he　wanted；　and　disobedient　by　habit；　because　grown…ups　were　arbitrary　in　their　wrath　and　their　rules；　so　he　had　learned　to　seize　his　tiny　pleasures　wherever　and　whenever　he　could。

Angry　at　Krystal；　he　wandered　a　little　way　from　the　bench　along　the　road。　A　man　in　sunglasses　was　walking　along　the　pavement　towards　him。

（Gavin　had　forgotten　where　he　had　parked　the　car。　He　had　marched　out　of　Mary’s　and　walked　straight　down　Church　Row；　only　realizing　that　he　was　heading　in　the　wrong　direction　when　he　drew　level　with　Miles　and　Samantha’s　house。　Not　wanting　to　pass　the　Fairbrothers’　again；　he　had　taken　a　circuitous　route　back　to　the　bridge。

He　saw　the　boy；　chocolate…stained；　ill…kempt　and　unappealing；　and　walked　past；　with　his　happiness　in　tatters；　half　wishing　that　he　could　have　gone　to　Kay’s　house　and　been　silently　cradled　…　she　had　always　been　nicest　to　him　when　he　was　miserable；　it　was　what　had　attracted　him　to　her　in　the　first　place。）

The　rushing　of　the　river　increased　Robbie’s　thirst。　He　cried　a　bit　more　as　he　changed　direction　and　headed　away　from　the　bridge；　back　past　the　place　where　Krystal　was　hidden。　The　bushes　had　started　shaking。　He　walked　on；　wanting　a　drink；　then　noticed　a　hole　in　a　long　hedge　on　the　left　of　the　road。　When　he　drew　level；　he　spotted　a　playing　field　beyond。

Robbie　wriggled　through　the　hole　and　contemplated　the　wide　green　space　with　its　spreading　chestnut　tree　and　goal　posts。　Robbie　knew　what　they　were；　because　his　cousin　Dane　had　showed　him　how　to　kick　a　football　at　the　play　park。　He　had　never　seen　so　much　greenness。

A　woman　came　striding　across　the　field；　with　her　arms　folded　and　her　head　bowed。

（Samantha　had　been　walking　at　random；　walking　and　walking；　anywhere　as　long　as　it　was　nowhere　near　Church　Row。　She　had　been　asking　herself　many　questions　and　ing　up　with　few　answers；　and　one　of　the　questions　she　asked　herself　was　whether　she　might　not　have　gone　too　far　in　telling　Miles　about　that　stupid；　drunken　letter；　which　she　had　sent　out　of　spite；　and　which　seemed　much　less　clever　now　…

She　glanced　up　and　her　eyes　met　Robbie’s。　Children　often　wriggled　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge　to　play　in　the　field　at　weekends。　Her　own　girls　had　done　it　when　they　were　younger。

She　climbed　over　the　gate　and　turned　away　from　the　river　towards　the　Square。　Self…disgust　clung　to　her；　no　matter　how　hard　she　tried　to　outrun　it。）

Robbie　went　back　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge　and　walked　a　little　way　along　the　road　after　the　striding　lady；　but　she　was　soon　out　of　sight。　The　half…packet　of　remaining　Rolos　were　melting　in　his　hand；　and　he　did　not　want　to　put　them　down；　but　he　was　so　thirsty。　Maybe　Krystal　had　finished。　He　wandered　back　in　the　opposite　direction。

When　he　reached　the　first　patch　of　bushes　on　the　bank；　he　saw　that　they　were　not　moving；　so　he　thought　it　was　all　right　to　approach。

‘Krystal；’　he　said。

But　the　bushes　were　empty。　Krystal　was　gone。

Robbie　started　to　wail　and　shout　for　Krystal。　He　clambered　back　up　the　bank　and　looked　wildly　up　and　down　the　road；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　her。

‘Krystal！’　he　yelled。

A　woman　with　short　silver　hair　glanced　at　him；　frowning；　as　she　trotted　briskly　along　the　opposite　pavement。

Shirley　had　left　Lexie　at　the　Copper　Kettle；　where　she　seemed　happy；　but　a　short　way　across　the　Square　she　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　Samantha；　who　was　the　very　last　person　she　wanted　to　meet；　so　she　had　taken　off　in　the　opposite　direction。

The　boy’s　wails　and　squawks　echoed　behind　her　as　she　hurried　along。　Shirley’s　fist　was　clutched　tightly　around　the　EpiPen　in　her　pocket。　She　would　not　be　a　dirty　joke。　She　wanted　to　be　pure　and　pitied；　like　Mary　Fairbrother。　Her　rage　was　so　enormous；　so　dangerous；　that　she　could　not　think　coherently：　she　wanted　to　act；　to　punish；　to　finish。

Just　before　the　old　stone　bridge；　a　patch　of　bushes　shivered　to　Shirley’s　left。　She　glanced　down　and　caught　a　disgusting　glimpse　of　something　sordid　and　vile；　and　it　drove　her　on。

XIII
Sukhvinder　had　been　walking　around　Pagford　longer　than　Samantha。　She　had　left　the　Old　Vicarage　shortly　after　her　mother　had　told　her　she　must　go　to　work；　and　since　then　had　been　wandering　the　streets；　observing　invisible　exclusion　zones　around　Church　Row；　Hope　Street　and　the　Square。

She　had　nearly　fifty　pounds　in　her　pocket；　which　represented　her　wages　from　the　café　and　the　party；　and　the　razor　blade。　She　had　wanted　to　take　her　building　society　pass　book；　which　resided　in　a　little　filing　cabi　in　her　father’s　study；　but　Vikram　had　been　at　his　desk。　She　had　waited　for　a　while　at　the　bus　stop　where　you　could　catch　a　bus　into　Yarvil；　but　then　she　had　spotted　Shirley　and　Lexie　Mollison　ing　down　the　road；　and　dived　out　of　sight。

Gaia’s　betrayal　had　been　brutal　and　unexpected。　Pulling　Fats　Wall　…　he　would　drop　Krystal　now　that　he　had　Gaia。　Any　boy　would　drop　any　girl　for　Gaia；　she　knew　that。　But　she　could　not　bear　to　go　to　work　and　hear　her　one　ally　trying　to　tell　her　that　Fats　was　all　right；　really。

Her　mobile　buzzed。　Gaia　had　already　texted　her　twice。

How　pissed　was　I　last　nite？

R　u　going　2　work？

Nothing　about　Fats　Wall。　Nothing　about　snogging　Sukhvinder’s　torturer。　The　new　message　said；　R　u　OK？

Sukhvinder　put　the　mobile　back　into　her　pocket。　She　might　walk　towards　Yarvil　and　catch　a　bus　outside　town；　where　nobody　would　see　her。　Her　parents　would　not　miss　her　until　five　thirty；　when　they　expected　her　home　from　the　café。

A　desperate　plan　formed　as　she　walked；　hot　and　tired：　if　she　could　find　a　place　to　stay　that　cost　less　than　fifty　pounds　…　all　she　wanted　was　to　be　alone　and　ply　her　razor　blade。

She　was　on　the　river　road　with　the　Orr　flowing　beside　her。　If　she　crossed　the　bridge；　she　would　be　able　to　take　a　back　street　all　the　way　round　to　the　start　of　the　bypass。

‘Robbie！　Robbie！　Where　are　you？’

It　was　Krystal　Weedon；　running　up　and　down　the　river　bank。　Fats　Wall　was　smoking；　with　one　hand　in　his　pocket；　watching　Krystal　run。

Sukhvinder　took　a　sharp　right　onto　the　bridge；　terrified　that　one　of　them　might　notice　her。　Krystal’s　yells　were　echoing　off　the　rushing　water。

Sukhvinder　caught　sight　of　something　in　the　river　below。

Her　hands　were　already　on　the　hot　stone　ledge　before　she　had　thought　about　what　she　was　doing；　and　then　she　had　hoisted　herself　onto　the　edge　of　the　bridge；　she　yelled；　‘He’s　in　the　river；　Krys！’　and　dropped；　feet　first；　into　the　water。　Her　leg　was　sliced　open　by　a　broken　puter　monitor　as　she　was　pulled　under　by　the　current。

XIV
When　Shirley　opened　the　bedroom　door；　she　saw　nothing　but　two　empty　beds。　Justice　required　a　sleeping　Howard；　she　would　have　to　advise　him　to　return　to　bed。

But　there　was　no　sound　from　either　the　kitchen　or　the　bathroom。　Shirley　was　worrie