I think perhaps you do not come into The Taing but go direct to Scalloway. In case, this is to tell you that a Detective-Sergeant from Hull came to the house this morning. He is asking for you, but will not say why. His name is Gorse and he is waiting for you at the hotel in Scalloway. I think you may like to know so I am leaving this note for Terry McIver of Dun Croft to give you as soon as you arrive. It is more trouble for you, I think, so let me know if there is anything I can do. G. And she had added a PS: Sand-ford now has the Star-Trion contract. He is providing two Shetland boats to replace the Duchess.
I looked across at the lights of the little port, thinking there wasn't much time now to do what I had to do. Any moment a boat would put out from the pier and I had no doubts as to why Gorse was here. 'Do you have a car?' I asked the old man. But he shook his head. 'Know anybody who could run me over to Taing?'
'Aye. My son. He's got a Ford van.'
I told him to wait and went to my cabin, hurriedly stuffing the things I'd need into my grip. I took my anorak, and sea boots as well, shouted to Johan that he was in charge now, and a moment later I was in the boat and being rowed ashore. Money and a vehicle, and I didn't wait for the inevitable questions, but ducked into the chart recess to lose myself for a moment in the practicalities of working out the course for Scalloway. Johan followed me shortly afterwards. 'So we get compensation and Gertrude pays off the mortgage, then we go fishing, ja?' He was smiling and I guessed what he was thinking. That close positive relations between them would be resumed and everything would go on as it had before. He put a great paw on my arm. 'What will you do then?' To my surprise there was real concern in his voice.
'I haven't thought about that,' I said.
He nodded. 'Well, time you think about it.' He hesitated, his head turned away from me, staring out through the doorway as he said, 'You are a good captain, a good seaman, ja — but for you it is not enough to fish.' He spoke slowly, awkwardly, as though afraid of giving offence. 'Fishing is a good life. But not for you. You need something bigger. Politics per'aps, or oil.'
'You may be right,' I said and gave him the course. He didn't say anything after that. For him it had been a long speech. We had moved into the bridge and we were silent, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts, the only sounds the sounds of the sea and the hum of the engines.
The evening was deepening into twilight as we steamed through the Middle Channel into Scalloway, and we had barely dropped our anchor under the castle ruins when a boat put out from the shore and came alongside. The old man at the oars wore a fisherman's cap. He said his name was McIver and that he had a note for me from Gertrude Petersen. All this in a high piping voice like the call of a curlew. I bent over the bulwarks and took the note from his outstretched hand, ripping open the envelope and reading it by the light of the deck light. It was dated 23rd June at 14.15:
I think perhaps you do not come into The Taing but go direct to Scalloway. In case, this is to tell you that a Detective-Sergeant from Hull came to the house this morning. He is asking for you, but will not say why. His name is Gorse and he is waiting for you at the hotel in Scalloway. I think you may like to know so I am leaving this note for Terry McIver of Dun Croft to give you as soon as you arrive. It is more trouble for you, I think, so let me know if there is anything I can do. G. And she had added a PS: Sand-ford now has the Star-Trion contract. He is providing two Shetland boats to replace the Duchess.
I looked across at the lights of the little port, thinking there wasn't much time now to do what I had to do. Any moment a boat would put out from the pier and I had no doubts as to why Gorse was here. 'Do you have a car?' I asked the old man. But he shook his head. 'Know anybody who' could run me over to Taing?'
'Aye. My son. He's got a Ford van.'
I told him to wait and went to my cabin, hurriedly stuffing the things I'd need into my grip. I took my anorak, and sea boots as well, shouted to Johan that he was in charge now, and a moment later I was in the boat and being rowed ashore. Money and a vehicle, standing uncertainly, looking up at that lighted window. The night was very still, the fine drizzle soft on my face, and I was suddenly seeing it from her point of view, the contract cancelled and myself coming like a fugitive out of the night. I dumped my things in the Land Rover and then moved hesitantly towards the door, no longer sure of my reception and conscious of Robbie watching me curiously. My knock sounded loud in the stillness: Light streamed out as the bedroom curtains were whisked back. Then the window opened and Gertrude's voice called down to enquire who it was.
'Mike Randall,' I said. 'Can I talk to you a moment? I want to borrow the Land Rover.'
There was a pause. Then she said, 'Wait a minute and I'll come down.'
She came to the door in her dressing gown. Her hair was held with a band of ribbon and she had an oil lamp in her hands. 'It's very late.' She was staring past me at the van. 'Is that Robbie?'
'Yes, Mrs Petersen,' he answered.
Her gaze came back to me. 'You put in to Scalloway then.' There was a long pause, her eyes looking directly at me, a puzzled expression, as though she couldn't make up her mind. And then suddenly she was smiling, to herself, as though at some private joke. 'So that's why you've come — for the Land Rover.'
I nodded.
'How long do you want it for?'
'Three or four days,' I said.
I could see her working that out and then she standing uncertainly, looking up at that lighted window. The night was very still, the fine drizzle soft on my face, and I was suddenly seeing it from her point of view, the contract cancelled and myself coming like a fugitive out of the night. I dumped my things in the Land Rover and then moved hesitantly towards the door, no longer sure of my reception and conscious of Robbie watching me curiously. My knock sounded loud in the stillness. Light streamed out as the bedroom curtains were whisked back. Then the window opened and Gertrude's voice called down to enquire who it was.
'Mike Randall,' I said. 'Can I talk to you a moment? I want to borrow the Land Rover.'
There was a pause. Then she said, 'Wait a minute and I'll come down.'
She came to the door in her dressing gown. Her hair was held with a band of ribbon and she had an oil lamp in her hands. 'It's very late.' She was staring past me at the van. 'Is that Robbie?'
'Yes, Mrs Petersen,' he answered.
Her gaze came back to me. 'You put in to Scalloway then.' There was a long pause, her eyes looking directly at me, a puzzled expression, as though she couldn't make up her mind. And then suddenly she was smiling, to herself, as though at some private joke. 'So that's why you've come — for the Land Rover.'
I nodded.
'How long do you want it for?'
'Three or four days,' I said.
I could see her working that out and then she nodded. 'All right. You'd better come in then.' She pushed the door open wide and called to Robbie that he needn't wait. 'Captain Randall will take the Land Rover and I will settle with your father.'
'Okay, Mrs Petersen.'
'Thank him, will you please,' she called as the van's engines started up again. I raised my hand, but he was already backing and turning. I watched as the red tail lights climbed the hill and disappeared over the top. Everything was still then and we were alone. 'Are you coming in, or do you want just to take the Land Rover and go?' She sounded uncertain of herself, her voice sharp and trembling slightly.
'I need some money,' I said. 'For petrol.'
'Then you'd better come in. You need to explain, too.'
'All right.' I went in then and she slammed the door behind me. 'You like some coffee or something 'stronger?'