‘Perfectly,’ she replied. ‘Fabulous. I am asking myself questions as well, so you can’t bother me at the moment.’
‘I’m afraid I must insist.’
‘On your head be it, then.’
‘Are you ill? You look very odd.’
‘Oh. No. It’s a sort of...’ She waved vaguely at her head. ‘Comes on me, every now and then. Nothing serious. Did you say you wanted something?’
‘I need to ask you about the man who vanished.’
Angela wrinkled her nose in disappointment.
‘Eh? Oh, him. An extraneous factor, doesn’t really affect the outcome. Just a data store, really.’
‘Do you know who he was?’
‘I have never seen him before.’ She giggled. ‘That is the truth, because “before” is such a useful word. Germanic roots, I think.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I’m so sorry. Mind all over the place today.’
‘I have been going through your files.’
‘I didn’t know I had any.’
‘There is no trace of you whatsoever before 1937. We have been unable to track down your parents, old addresses, anything.’
‘Not very good files, then.’
‘We have established that information you gave when you became a translator in 1940 was false. Schools, addresses and so on: none checked out.’
‘Doesn’t say much for your vetting procedure.’
‘The form was, in fact, filled in for you by Henry Lytten, who also acted as your referee and sponsor.’
‘Because of my languages, you see. There was a war on. All hands to the pump, he said.’
‘We also noted that between 1945 and 1952 you came to England for a brief stay, then went on trips — to Vienna, Berlin on one occasion, Stockholm and Geneva. Why?’
‘Henry asked me to deliver manuscripts for him. He didn’t trust the post and he was keen to rebuild the academic community. I helped out, and always took a little holiday while I was at it.’
‘I see. Let me ask about yesterday. This mysterious stranger. Bringing him to the house was your idea, so the policeman says. Did he say why he was watching Henry’s house?’
‘I didn’t ask him. It was none of my business.’
‘How did he escape?’
‘You were the one guarding the place. Now, are there any more questions? Is that what you came for?’
Angela moved close to him. Her eyes cleared and she held him by the chin as she studied him, then tittered in a high, slightly hysterical laugh. ‘Oh, I see what you are getting at.’ She let him go, then pushed him away and leaned back against the wall. ‘Of course. That’s how it might work. You are such a silly man, Sam Wind. Has anyone ever told you that?’
55
‘We must go to the circle soon, so that we may welcome the suppliants,’ Henary said to Rosalind the following morning.
‘You said there must be someone to preside. Who will that be?’
‘The spirit of Esilio presides,’ he said with a smile, ‘but as this procedure has not been employed for a very long time, I really do not know how it will work. I have read as much as possible in the last day, but there is little to discover. For Jay even to think of it was very ingenious and unorthodox. I suspect it will take the form of an ordinary trial, which would mean that the spirit will move through the most qualified. I’m afraid that will probably be Gontal, now that I am bound to Pamarchon.’
‘That’s no good,’ Rosalind said.
‘Perhaps it will not be so bad. He has an interest in seeing both of them found guilty. As that is not an option, he will have no choice but to be scrupulously fair. He is not a bad man, really, although he is full of his name and greatly desires power. He is generally saved by his reverence for the Story.’
The pair walked out of a side door, through the courtyards used mainly by stable boys and those who worked in the kitchens; Henary was concerned to ensure that Gontal did not notice them, lest he intercept Pamarchon before he could claim the protection of the Shrine.
‘Tell me about this Shrine,’ Rosalind said as they walked. ‘Why is it so special?’
‘It is the grave of Esilio.’
‘He’s the man I read about. Who was he?’
‘There are many opinions. Some hold that he was simply a courageous leader who brought us back from exile to settle the land. Others think that he was — or is — a god. The god, perhaps, who created us then abandoned us. This view holds that he will return and judge whether we have lived well enough to be forgiven the sins of our ancestors.’
‘Which sins are those?’
‘They are said to be so grave that they were hidden, lest we despair of redeeming ourselves.’
They walked round a curve in the track and there before them was the stone circle — more an oval, really, Rosalind thought — with the monument inside where she had first encountered Pamarchon. Only what? Five days ago? It seemed like an age to her.
As they entered the circle there was a movement in the bushes at the far end, and three figures emerged. They hurriedly crossed over the line into the sanctuary.
‘Done it,’ said one. ‘That’s a relief.’
There they all were. Jay, Pamarchon, Kate, and Henary looking at them. The four people, Rosalind realised, she liked most in the world. This world, anyway. They were all safe, for the time being.
She gave every one of them an enormous hug, leaving the last and biggest for Pamarchon, who wrapped his arms around her and nestled his head against hers. ‘I’m so happy to see you again.’
‘As am I.’
They were interrupted by a discreet cough in the background.
‘Oh, yes. Introductions. If you don’t mind I will dispense with your formalities. I don’t like them, and I’m not in the mood. Pamarchon, son of — someone or other. Henary, scholar of Ossenfud.’
‘Welcome back, my Lady,’ Henary said. ‘You have led us a merry dance for the past few days. I am glad to see you looking so well.’
Catherine acknowledged Henary with a warm smile, then turned to Pamarchon.
‘I no longer need your protection, Pamarchon, son of Isenwar,’ she said. ‘Our truce is at an end. When I came to you first, you thought me a mere servant, yet you treated me with consideration. You not only followed the dictates of kindness but went far beyond them. You have given protection according to your position. I offer you my thanks. What must happen here cannot be changed. But I will not fulfil my part in hatred.’
‘It seems that I am not very good at seeing the truth in women’s hearts, or am too trusting of their words,’ Pamarchon replied. ‘I briefly thought the woman I loved most in the world was a mere boy; I thought the woman I hated most in the world was a mere servant. One I love because of who she is, the other I hate only because of what she has done. Separate person and deeds, and my hatred dies like a plant deprived of water.’
Rosalind sighed. They were off again. But the others seemed highly satisfied.
‘The deeds and the person will be separated at the end.’
‘Deeds and those who commit them are not always the same.’
‘One can be many and yet—’
‘Enough. Enough, you two,’ Rosalind interrupted. ‘I know you enjoy it, but don’t we have more urgent things to do?’
They scowled at her, but Henary came to her support. ‘She is right; we must summon the domain. You are aware, Catherine, that time is short. The assembly begins at dusk.’
‘I will take care of it,’ she said.
‘By what right? You are no longer the Lady of this place. You have no more authority than the servant you were not so long ago.’
Catherine gave him what Rosalind thought was a very nasty look.
‘Jay! Go as quickly as you can to the Chamberlain. Say he is to ring the bell for a trial. Tell him who and where, and say it must begin within the hour. Then go to Gontal and tell him. You will not get a good reception, but I’m afraid you will have to put up with that.’