Hestilldidn"tbelieveit,butashewasnowhappythatIshould,sinceitmeantthatIwouldgototheStates,heraisednomoreobjections.Withashrugandaruefulsmilehetossedmeadarnedbrownsweater,whichhungroundmelikeatent;andIpickedupmyownwetclothesandfollowedhimoutintothesunshine.
PeterandLynniebothgiggledatmybaggyappearance,thenervousshockstillsharpintheirvoices,especiallyLynnie"s.Igrinnedatherandruffledherhair,andmadeasiftokickPeteroverboard,andsomeofthetensionloosenedintheireyes.Inanotherhalfhourtheywouldhavereachedthecompulsivetalkingstageandanhourafterthattheywouldbebacktonormal.Nice,ordinarykids,withniceordinaryreactions.
Iclimbedwearilyupontothecabinroofandspreadoutmyclothestodry.MyshoeswerestilltherewhereIhadsteppedoutofthem,andabsent-mindedlyIputthemon.Then,standingup,Ilookedacrosstotheweir,andbacktotheheftypostwithitsnotice;DANGER,andattheinnocentemptypunttiedupbehindtheFlyingLinnet:andIfoundmyselfthinkingaboutthelegendoftheSirens,theseanymphswhosatonarocknearawhirlpoolandwiththeirprettyvoicesdrewpa.s.singsailorstowardsthem,tolurethemtotheirdeath.
CHAPTERTHREE.
Thepunthadthenameoftheownerscrewedontothesternonasmallmetalplate.Thelock-keeper,consulted,saidthat.i.tcamefromaboatyardaboutamiledowntheriver,nexttoapub;youcouldn"tmissit.
"That,"ImurmuredtoKeeble,"iswherewehadourdrinksthismorning."
Hiseyelidsflickered.Hesaidtothelock-keeper,"Isupposealotofpuntsfromtherecomeupthroughyourlock?"
"Theysuredo,onafineSundaylikethis,"heagreed.
"Didyouhappentonoticethisone,withagirlandayoungmaninit?Thegirlhadlongfairhair,whitetrousers,andapinkshirt,andtheboywaswearingtightpalebluejeansandaredandyellowcheckshirt."
"Ishouldsaytheycameupbeforemydinnerbreak.Ican"trememberanyonelikethatthisafternoon."
Thelock-keepereasedthewhite-toppedhatbackonhisheadandeyedtheboatslininguptogointothelock.Hewasayoungishmanwithanairoflong-sufferingpatience,theoccupationalresult,nodoubt,ofalifespent.w.a.tchinganendlessprocessionofincompetence.People,hehadsaidmatter-of-factly,fellintohislockeverydayoftheweek.Near-drownings,however,wereofnospecialinteresttohim:hetoooftenhadtodealwiththeunsaved.
"Wouldyouknowthemagain?"Keebleasked.
Thelock-keepershookhisheaddecisively."Notachance.AndifIdon"tgetbacktomylockthere"llbealotofbadtemperscomingthroughthegatesandaslikeasnotwe"llbefishingoutanotherone..."
Hegavemeasketchyfarewellsaluteasoneofthefewwhohadgonedownhisweirandwalkedaway,andstrolledunhurriedlybacktodealwithhisSundaygoinghometrafficproblem.
"Wemayaswelltowthepuntbacktotheboatyard,"Keeblesaidthoughtfully."We"vegottoG.o.downpastthereanyway,andtheywon"tbeabletospareanyonetocomeandfetchitonabusydaylikethis.Andmaybethey"llknowwheretheboyandgirlcamefrom..."
Andmaybetheywouldn"t,Ithought:buteventhemosthopelessquestionshavetobeasked.
"I"dliketolookatthepost,"Isaid.
Keeblewasagreeable,butLynnieandPeterandtheirmotherwerehorrifiedwhentheyfoundwherewewereproposingtogo,andsaidtheywouldwaitonthebank.Inarow,withanxiousfaces,theystoodguardoverthepunt,whileKeebleneatlymanoeuvredtheFlyingLinnetupstreamalittlewaythroughthedowncomingcruisers,andthendriftedgentlyacrosstowardsthepost.I,standingonthesternseat,caughtholdofthecrossbarwithitsemphaticwarningandclungontoitwhileKeebleputtheboatintoreverseagainstthedragoftheweirstream.
Oncetheenginewasthrustinghardenoughtoholditsown,sothatthetensiononmyarmsslackened,Ikneltdownontheseatandtriedtodowhatthegirlhadbeendoing,topa.s.saroperoundthepostfromonehandtotheother.ThetendencyofthetwotonFlyingLinnettodriftawaycouldn"thavebeenmuchlesstodealwiththantheweightofthepunt,butevenallowingalsoforthefactthatmyarmswerelongerandstronger,itwaseasy.IsecuredtheropeandgaveathumbsuptoKeeble,whostoppedtheengine.Thenwithonetoewedgedandthenarrowsideoftheboatundermypelvis,Ishovedupthesleevesofthebrownsweaterandleaneddownandovertoinspectthescenery.
"ForG.o.d"ssakebecareful,"Keeblesaid,hisvoicesharpoverthenoiseoftheweir.
Iturnedmyheadandlaughedathim.
"Wehaven"tanymoredryclothes,"hepointedoutscowling."Nonethatyoucangetinto.Ifyoufallinagainyou"llhavetogohomewet."
Smiling,Iturnedbacktothepost.Butfeelandlookhow Imight,therewasnothingoutoftheordinaryaboutthesquarest.u.r.dywhilepaintedbaulkoftimbersetrock-likeuponendintheThames"bed.
Keebleshruggedandsaid"Itoldyouso,"andsteeredhisboatbacktothebank.
"Howaboutfingerprintingthepunt?"Isaid.
"Youneverletup."
"Youshouldbegladofit."
Thelonglineofpastoccasionswhennotlettinguphadledtoausefulharvestroseupbetweenus,andIsawhisconvictionwaver.
"Allright,Gene,ifyou"resure."
"GetRabentodoit.He"sthebest."
"Allright.Tomorrow."
"Howaboutthepolice?"
Hepursedhislips."It"snotourusualterritory.MoretheirsIagree.b.u.t.they"renotlikelytotakeyourtheoryseriously,ortoactonit,unlesswetellthemwhatyourjobis...andimpressthemwithit.No,I"mnotinfavourofthat.Wecouldjustgoalongwiththisquietlyonourownforalittlewhile,Ithink."
"Sothatifnothingturnsup,wewon"thavemadeb.l.o.o.d.yfoolsofourselves?"
Allhisfacialmusclescontractedforasecond."Youarenotpaidtoturnyourperceptionsonyourboss."
"Iprobablyam."
"That"sapoint."
Theboatgroundedgentlyagainstthebank,andIhelpedJoanandLynniebackonboard.Peter,onhisfather"sdirections,steppedintothepuntandhandedhimupthemooringrope,whichKeeblefastenedtothecleatontheFlyingLinnet"sstern.Then,towingthepunt,wetookourturnintothelock,explainedwhatweweredoingtothelock-keeper,andcruiseddownstreamtothepubanditsnextdoorboatyard.
Afl.u.s.teredmiddle-agedboatmantherewastryingtocopewithreturningfamilypicnicpartiesandabunchofyouthsandgirlswhowantedtofillinthehalfhourbeforethepubopenedatseveno"clock.Thelateafternoonshoneredlyonhisbigsweatingfaceandhisfreckledbaldhead,andwehadtowaitwhilehejuggledhiscustomersprecariouslyinandoutofskiffsandpuntsandtooktheirmoneyandwarnedtheyoungcouplesthat.i.twasanoffencetobeontheriverwithoutlightsafterdarkandthattheboatyardclosedatnine-thirtyanyway.
WhenKeebleatlasthadachanceheaskedtheboatmanifhehadseenthegirlwithfairhairandtheboyinaredandyellowcheckshirtwhohadhiredapuntthatmorning.
"Seen"em?Isupposeso,I"vebeenhereallday."
"Imean,doyourememberthem?"Keeblesaidpatiently.
"Wherearetheythen?"Theboatmanlookedroundsuspiciously.
"They"vegone,"Keeblebegan.
"Thenwho"sgoingtosettleup?"saidtheboatmanbelligerently,thislastproblemlookingtobejustonetoomanyforhistemper.
"Oh,Iwill,"saidKeeblesoothingly.Hetookhiswalletoutofhisbackpocketandunfoldedittoshowtheusualthickishwad.Keebledidn"thavetoliveonHerMajesty"spayandworkedfromconviction,notneed;hisbeermoneyrepresentedaweek"swagetome,andhisboatayear"s.
"Howmuchdotheyoweyou?"Hehandedoverwhattheboatmanaskedandofferedafiverontop."I"dliketohirethispuntforthiseveningandtomorrow."Hesaid."Isthatallright?"
Theboatmantookthemoneywithouthesitationandmadeafewhalf-heartedeffortstoappearcautious.
"Where"llyoubetakingit?"
"Henley,"Keeblesaid.
"Youwon"tleavethecushionsoutifitrains?"
Keebleshookhishead.
"Allrightthen."Theboatmanhadalreadytuckedthenotesaway."Andyou"llbringitbacktomorrow?"
Tomorrowafternoon,"Keebleagreed."Now,aboutthoseyoungpeoplewhotookitthismorning..."
Unexpectedlytheboatmansuddenlyleered."Iremember"em,"hesaid,"cometothinkofit,theywasthetwowhohadn.o.businesstobeouttogether."
"Whatdoyoumean?"Keebleasked.
"Well,see,thisgirl,shesaidlike,whatifheroldmanhadputdetectivesonher,whatwouldtheysayifshewentoffalldaywithhiminapunt,andhowshe"dsaidshe"donlycomeoutaslongasitwasnothinganyonecoulduseinadivorce.Andthefellowinthecheckshirtturnedroundandsaidoldmoneybags,meaningheroldman,see,wouldneverfindoutwherethey"dbeen,hewasinFranceonbusinesswasn"the,orsomesuch,andthentheytooknotethatIwa.s.standingtherehearingandtheysortofnudgedeachotherandshutup.ButIreckonastheywereoffforabitonthesidesee,anddidn"twantnoonetocatch"em."
"Exactly,"saidKeebletomewithanothertouchofI-told-you-so.
"Andverynicelydone,"Iagreed."Artistic."
"Youhaven"tseenthemsincethismorning,Isuppose?"Keeblesaidtotheboatman."Doyouhappentoknowhowtheygothere?"
"Car,"saidboatman,wavinganarm."Theycamefromthecarparkbackthere."
"Whichcar,doyouknow?"
HegaveKeebleapityingstare."Look,there"scarsinandoutallday,whatwiththepubandus.AndI"mlookingattheriver,see,withmyhandsfullan"all,andIcouldn"ttellyounoonewho"scomeandgonenorwhattheycamein,b.u.t.theymusthavecomeinacar,becausetheycomeinthemorning,andthere"sn.o.busesalonghereonSundaysbeforehalf-twointheafternoon."
"Thankyouanyway,"saidKeeble,sighing."You"vebeenveryhelpful."Headdedanotherpoundtohisoverpaymentandtheboatman"seyesswivelledrapidlyfromthepubtotheclockovertheboathousedoor.Stilltenminutesuntilthebaropened.Iproceededtofillthem.
"Didtheyoungman,orthegirl,orbothofthem,speakwithanyspecialtypeofaccent?"Iasked.
SincehespokebroadBerkshirehimself,theboatman"shesitationwasunderstandable."Theytalked,"hesaid,considering,"liketheydoonthetelly."
"Notmuchhelp,"Keeblecommented.
"Howdoyoulashtheendofyourpunts"mooringropes?"Iasked.
"Eh?"saidtheboatman,puzzled.
"Doyoulashtheendoftheropestostopthemunravelling?"
"Oh,Igetyou.No,wesplice"em.Turntheendsbackandsortofweavethemin.Lashing"snogoodasitcomesundonetooeasily."
Iunwoundthepunt"smooringropefromtheFlyingLinnet"ssterncleat."Thisoneiscomingundone,though."
"Let"sseethat,"hesaidsuspiciously,andIgaveittohim.HetwistedthefrayedunravellingstrandsinhisstrongdirtyfingersandhoveredinwhatIguessedtobeafairlyusualmixtureoffuryandresignation.
"Thesebleedingvandals...excuseme,ma"am,"heapologisedtoJoan."
"Thesesoandso"s,theytieuptoatree,see,orsomething,andcometheywanttopushon,theycan"tundotheknotsiftherope"swet,andtheyjustdon"tbother,theycutthroughtheropeandofftheygo."
"Doesthatoftenhappen?"
"Everysummer,wehasthistroublenowandthen."Hepulledtheropeupstraight,measuringitslengthwithhiseye."There"sagoodfourorfivefeetgoneoffthisone,Ishouldn"twonder.We"vebeentalkingofswitchingtochains,b.u.t.theycangetintoholyterrorsofknots,chainscan.Here,"headdedtoKeeble,"you"dbetterhaveanotherpunt,onewithabetterrope."
"Thisonewillbefine,"Keeblesaid,fasteningitonagain."We"llseeyoutomorrow."
HetowedthepuntdowntoHenleyandrightintothegarage-likeboathousewhichkepttheEnglishsummerofftheFlyingLinnet.Thepuntwa.s.securedalongsidebyPeterandhisfatherandeveryonedisembarkedalonganarrowboardwalkcarryingthingsliketheremainsfromlunch,newspapers,bathingtowels,andinmycasewetclothesandaloadedjacket,outthroughtheboathouseandintoKeeble"sRover,whichwasparkedonaneatsquareofgra.s.sattheback.
Peter"smaincarewasforhispreciouscamera,againhangingroundhisneckonitscord.
"Isuppose,"Isaididly,"youdidn"thappentotakeaphotographuptherebytheweir?Youdidn"thappentogetashotofthosepeopleinthepunt?"
Heshookhishead,blinkinglikehisfather.
"Gosh,no,Ididn"t.Idon"tsupposeactuallyIwouldhavethoughtoftakingone,notwheneverythingwashappening,doyouthink?Imean,itwouldhavelookedabitoffifyouandMrTellerhadbeendrowningandIwasjuststandingtheretakingpicturesandsoon."
"You"llneverbeanewspaperman,"Isaid,grinningathim.
"Wouldn"tyouhaveminded,then?"
"Idon"tthinkso."
"But,anyway,"hesaidmournfully,"Icouldn"t,yousee,becauseIfinishedthefilmatlunch-timeandIdidn"thaveanotherone,soeveniftherehadbeenafireorsomethingIcouldn"thavetakenit."Helookedathiscamerathoughtfully."Iwon"tfinishupanymorefilmsinthemiddleoftheday,justincase."
"Afire,"Iagreedseriously,"wouldanywaymakeamuchbetterpicturethanjustpeopledrowning,whichtheymostlydooutofsight."
Peternodded,consideringme."Youknow,you"requitesensible,aren"tyou?"
"Peter!"exclaimedhismotherinunnecessaryapology."That"snotthewaytotalk."Andshewasn"tmuchpleasedwhenIsaidasfarasIwasconcernedhecouldsaywhatheliked.
Keebledroveroundtothestationcarpark,whereLynnieandItransferredtotheAustin.
"I"llringinthemorning."Keeblesaid,standinghalfoutofhisrespectablecar.
"Right."
"TakecareofLynnie."
"I"lldothat."
Lynniekissedherparentsgood-bye,butherfathermorewarmly,andmadeafaceatPeterastheRoverrolledawayoutofthegate.ThensheclimbedintotheAustin,waiteduntilIwa.s.sittingbesideher,andstretchedoutherhandtotheignition.
Shewastremblingagain.