"Great,"shesaid;then,reflectively,"Johnsoundedpleased,youknow,that MirandaandDominicwouldbeoutofthehouse.He"ssoodd.You"dthinkhe"dbe deliriouswithjoy,havinghis...o...b..ck,andhealmostseemed...annoyed."
"Thinkofyourownfather"sstateafteryougothome."
"Yes,but..."Shebrokeoff."Howverystrange."
"JohnNerrity,"Isaidneutrally,"islikeoneofthosesnowstormpaperweights, allshakenup,withbitsofguiltandfearandreliefandmeannessallfloating aroundinaturmoil.Ittakesawhileaftersomethingastraumaticasthelast fewdaysforeverythinginsomeone"scharactertosettle,likethesnowstorm,so tospeak,andforalltheoldpatterntorea.s.sert."
"I"dneverthoughtofitlikethat."
"Didherealize,"Iasked,"thatthepresswilldescendonhim,astheydidon you?"
"No,Idon"tthinkso.Willthey?"
""Fraidso.Sureto.SomeonedowninSuss.e.xwillhavetippedthemoff."
"PoorMiranda."
"She"llbefine.Ifyouringheragain,tellhertoholdontoDominictight throughalltheinterviewsandkeeptellinghiminhisearthathe"ssafeand thatallthepeoplewillgoawaysoon."
"Yes."
"Seeyoutomorrow,"Isaid.
Dominicwasabignewsitemonbreakfasttelevisionandnear-headlinesinthe newspapers.Miranda,Iwasgladtosee,hadmetthecameraswithcontroland happiness,thewordlesschildseemingmerelyshy.JohnNerrity,headback, moustachebristling,hadconfirmedthatthesaleofhisDerbywinnerwouldgo throughasplanned,thoughheinsistedhewasnowherenearbankruptcy;thatthe storyhadbeenmerelyaploytoconfoundthekidnappers.
Theyallaskedwh.o.r.escuedhisson.
Thepolice,JohnNerritysaid.Nopraisewastoohigh.
Mostpeopleintheoffice,havingseenthecoverage,readTony"sandmyreport withinterest,andwebothansweredquestionsattheMondaysession.Gerry Clayton"seyebrowsroseacoupleoftimes,butonthewholenooneseemedto wanttoinquiretoocloselyintowhatwehaddonebesidesadvise.Thechairman concludedthatevenifNerritystucktohisgunsandrefusedtopayafeeit shouldn"tworryus.ThedeliveranceofDominic,hesaidcontentedly,hadbeen tidilyandrapidlycarriedoutatlittlecosttothefirm.Liaisonwiththe policehadbeenexcellent.Welldone,youtwochaps.Anymorebusiness?Ifnot, we"lladjourn.
TonyadjournedtothenearestpubandItoLambourn,arrivinglaterthanIwould haveliked.
"Thankgoodness,"Alessiasaid,comingoutofthehousetomeetme."Wethought you"dgotlost."
"Heldupintheoffice."Ihuggedherwithaffection.
"Noexcuse."
Therewasanewlightnessabouther:mostencouraging.Sheledmethroughthe kitchentothemoreformaldrawingroomwhereDominicsat.w.a.tchfullyon Miranda"slapandPopsywaspouringwine.
"h.e.l.lo,"Popsysaid,givingmeawelcomingkiss,bottleinonehand,gla.s.sin theother."Outwiththewand,it"sbadlyneeded."
Ismiledathergreeneyesandtookthefilledgla.s.s."PityI"mnottwentyyears younger,"shesaid.Igaveheran"oh,yeah"glanceandturnedtoMiranda.
"h.e.l.lo,"Isaid.
"h.e.l.lo."Shewasquietandshaky,asifill.
"h.e.l.lo,Dominic."
Thechildstaredatmegravelywiththebigwideeyes.Blueeyes,Isawby daylight.Deepblueeyes.
"Youlookedterrificonthebox,"IsaidtoMiranda."Justright."
"Alessiatoldme...whattodo."
"Alessiatoldhertodresswell,tolookcalm,andtopretendeverythingwas normal,"Popsysaid."Iheardher.Shesaiditwasagoodlessonshe"dlearned fromyou,andMirandamightaswellbenefit."
Popsyhadmadeaninformallunchinthekitchen,ofwhichMirandaatelittleand Dominicnothing,andafterwardsshedroveusalluptotheDownsinherLand Rover,thinkinginstinctively,Ireckoned,thatasitwastherethatAlessia feltmostreleased,sowouldDominicalso.
"HasDominiceatenanythingatallsincewebroughthimback?"Iaskedonthe way.
"Onlymilk,"Mirandasaid."Hewouldn"ttoucheventhatuntilItriedhimwith oneofhisoldbottles."Shekissedhimgently."Healwaysusedtohavehis bedtimemilkinabottle,didn"tyou,poppet?Heonlygaveitupsixmonths ago."
WeallinsilencecontemplatedDominic"sregressiontobabyhood,andPopsyput thebrakesonupbytheschoolingfences.
"Ibroughtarug,"shesaid."Let"ssitonthegra.s.s."
Thethreesat,withDominicstillclingingtohismother,andIleanedagainst theLandRoverandthoughtthatPopsywasprobablyright:thepeaceofthe rollinghillswa.s.sopotent.i.talmoststretchedoutandtouchedyou.
Mirandahadbroughtatoycar,andAlessiaplayedwithit,wheelingitacross therug,upMiranda"slegandontoDominic"s.Hewatchedhergravelyforawhile withoutsmilingandfinallyhidhisfaceinhismother"sneck.
Mirandasaid,hermouthtrembling,"Didthey...didtheyhurthim?Hehasn"tany badbruises,justlittleones...but...whatdidtheydo,whatdidtheydotomake himlikethis?"
Isquattedbesideherandputanarmroundhershoulder,embracingDominicalso.
Helookedatmewithoneeyefromunderhismother"sear,butdidn"ttryto squirmaway.
"Theyapparentlykepthimfastenedtoabedwiththesortofharnessyougetin prams.Ididn"tseeit,butIwastold.Idon"tthinktheharnessitselfwould havehurthim.Hewouldhavebeenabletomovealittle-situp,kneel,liedown.
Herefusedtoeatanyfoodandhecriedsometimesbecausehewaslonely."I paused."It"spossibletheydeliberatelyfrightenedhimmorethantheyhadto, tokeephimquiet."Ipausedagain."Therewasaholeinthefloorboards.Abig hole,bigenoughforachildtofallthrough."Ipausedagain."Theymighthave toldDominicthatifhemadealotofnoisethey"dputhimdownthathole."
Miranda"swholebodyshudderedandDominicletoutawailandclungtohis motherwithfrenzy.ItwasthefirstsoundI"dheardhimutter,andIwasn"t goingtowasteit.
"Dominic,"Isaidfirmly."Somenicepolicemenhavefilledupthatholesothat nolittleboyscanfalldownit.Thethreemenwhotookyouawayinaboatare notcomingback.Thepolicemenhavelockedthemupinprison.Nooneisgoingto takeyoutotheseaside."Ipaused."Nooneisgoingtostickanymoretapeon yourmouth.Nooneisgoingtobeangrywithyouandcallyouhorridnames."
"Oh,darling,"Mirandasaidindistress,hugginghim.
"Thatholeisallfilledin,"Isaid."Thereisnoholeanymoreinthefloor.
n.o.bodycanfalldownit."
Thepoorlittlewretchwouldhavenightmaresabout.i.tperhapsallhislife.Any personwhocouldfindapreventionfornightmares,Ioftenthought,would deservean.o.belprize.
IstoodupandsaidtoAlessiaandPopsy,"Let"sgoforastroll,"andwhenthey stoodupIsaidtoDominic,"Giveyourmummylotsofkisses.Shecriedallthe time,whenthosehorridmentookyou.Sheneedsalotofkisses."
Sheneededthekissesherhusbandhadn"tgivenher,Ithought.Sheneededthe comfortofstrongadultarms.Shewashavingtogeneratestrengthenoughtosee herselfandDominicthroughalone,anditstillseemedtomeatossupwhether she"dsurvivetriumphantlyorendinbreakdown.
Popsy,Alessia,andIwalkedslowlyovertooneoftheschoolingfencesand stoodtheretalking.
"Doyouthinkyoudidright,remindinghimoftheholeinthefloor?"Popsy asked.
"Splintershavetocomeout,"Isaid.
"Orthewoundfesters?"
"Yes."
"Howdidyouknowwhattheythreatened?"
"Ididn"tknow.Ijustguessed.Itwa.s.solikely,wasn"t.i.t?Theholewasthere.
Hewascrying.Shutupyoulittlebleederorwe"llputyoudownit."
Popsyblinked.Alessiaswallowed."TellMiranda,"Isaidtoher,"that.i.ttakes alongtimetogetoversomethingasawfulasbeingkidnapped.Don"tlether worryifDominicwetsthebedandclingstoher.Tellherhowit"sbeenwith you.Howinsecureitmadeyoufeel.Thenshe"llbepatientwithDominiconcethe firstjoyofhavinghimbackhascooleddown."
"Yes,I"lltellher."
PopsylookedfromAlessiatomeandbackagain,butsaidnothing,anditwas AlessiaherselfwhohalfsmiledandgavevoicetoPopsy"sthought.
"I"veclungtoyouallright,"shesaidtome,lookingbrieflyovertoMiranda andthenback."Whenyouaren"there,andIfeelpanicky,Ithinkofyou,and it"sasupport.I"lltellMirandathattoo.Sheneedssomeonetoclingto, herself,poorgirl."
"YoumakeAndrewsoundlikeasortoftrellisforclimbingplants,"Popsysaid.
Wewalkedagain,asfarasthenextschoolingfence,andstopped,lookingout acrossthehills.Highcirruscloudscurledinfeatheryfrondsnearthesun, omenofbadweathertocome.We"dneverhavefoundDominic,Ithought,ifithad rainedthedayafterhewastakenandtherehadbeennoca.n.a.ldiggerwithhis grandmotheronthebeach.
"Youknow,"Alessiasaid,suddenlystirring,"it"stimeformetogobackto racing."Thewordscameoutasifunpremeditatedandseemedtosurpriseher.
"Mydarling!"Popsyexclaimed."Doyoumeanit?"
"IthinkImeanitatthismoment,"Alessiasaidhesitantly,smilingnervously.
"WhetherImeanittomorrowmorningisanyone"sguess."
Weallsaw,however,that.i.twasthefirsttricklethroughthedike.Iputmy armsroundAlessiaandkissedher:andinaninstant.i.twasn"tjustagestureof congratulationbutsomethingmuchfiercer,somethingwhollydifferent.Ifelt thefirerunthroughherinreturnandthendrainaway,andIletgoofher thinkingthatthebas.e.m.e.nthadtakenchargeofmerightandproper.
Ismiled.Shruggedmyshoulders,Madenocomment.
"Didyoumeanthat?"Alessiademanded.
"Notexactly,"Isaid."Itwasasurprise."
"Itsurewas."Shelookedatmea.s.sessinglyandthenwanderedawayonherown, notlookingback.
"You"veprunedheroffthetrellis,"Popsysaid,amused."Thedoctorkissedthe patient;mostunprofessional."
"I"llkissDominictooifitwillmakeyoufeelbetter."
ShetookmyarmandwestrolledincomradelyfashionbacktotheLandRoverand therug.Mirandawaslyingonherback,dozing,withDominiclooselysprawled overherstomach.Hiseyes,too,wereshut,hissmallfacerelaxed,thecontours roundedandappealing.
"Poorlittlesweetheart,"Popsymurmured."Pitytowakethem.
MirandawokenaturallywhenAlessiareturned,andwithDominiestillasleepwe setoffontheshortdrivehome.Oneoftheb.u.mpsintheruttedDownstrackmust haverousedhim,though,becauseIsawhimhalfsitupinMiranda"sarmsand thenlieback,withMiranda"sheadbentoverhimasiftolisten.
Alessiagavemeawildlookandshetoobentherheadtolisten,butIcould hearnothingabovethesoundoftheengine,andanywayitdidn"tseemtomethat Dominic"slipsweremoving.
"Stopthecar,"AlessiasaidtoPopsy,andPopsy,hearingtheurgency,obeyed.
Dominicwashumming.
Forafewsecondsthelownoisewenton:randomly,Ithoughtatfirst,though certainlynotononenote.
"Doyouknowwhatthatis?"Alessiasaidincredulously,whenthechildstopped.
"Isimplydon"tbelieveit."
"What,then?"Isaid.
Foranswershehummedthephraseagain,exactlyasDominichaddone.Hesatup inMiranda"sarmsandlookedather,clearlyresponding.
"Heknowsit!"Alessiaexclaimed."Dominicknowsit."
"Yes,darling,"Popsysaidpatiently."Wecanseehedoes.Canwedriveonnow?"
"Youdon"tunderstand,"Alessiasaidbreathlessly."That"soutofIlTrovatore.
TheSoldiers"Chorus.""
Mygazesharpenedonherface."Doyoumean..."Ibegan.
Shenodded."Ihearditfivetimesadayforsixweeks."
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Mirandaasked."Dominicdoesn"tknowanyopera.
NeitherJohnnorIlikeit.Dominiconlyknowsnurseryrhymes.Hepicksthoseup likelightning.Iplaythemtohimonca.s.settes."
"Holyh.e.l.l,"Isaidinawe."Popsy,drivehome.Allisfine."
WithgoodhumorPopsyrestartedthecarandtookusbacktothehouse,andonce thereIwentovertomycartofetchmybriefcaseandcarryitintothekitchen.
"Miranda,"Isaid,"I"dlikeDominictolookatapicture."
Shewasapprehensivebutdidn"tobject.Shesatatthekitchentablewith Dominiconherlap,andItookoutoneofthephotostatsofGiuseppeandlaidit faceuponthetable.MirandawatchedDominicanxiouslyforafrightened reaction,butnonecame.Dominiclookedatthefacecalmlyforawhileandthen turnedawayandleanedagainstMiranda,hisfacetoherneck.
WithasmallsighIputthepicturebackinthecaseandacceptedPopsy"soffer ofauniversalcupoftea.
"Ciaobambino,"Dominicsaid.