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Mama would have had no qualms at all in interrupting a private conversation. But even she might have drawn back when she realised that there was a row going on. Brother Alex was getting really ratty.

„But I tell you, she thought she‟d seen an idol of the Skang!‟

„And how, may I ask, do you know that?‟

„I found out where she lived and...‟

„That was most imprudent!‟ Mother Hilda‟s voice was stern, like Nanny‟s when Jeremy had forgotten to wash his hands before tea.

„It was bloody stupid!‟

At the big man‟s intervention, Mother Hilda raised a hand.

Thank you, Brother Will. Leave this to me.‟

Of course! That‟s who the other man was. Will Cabot, the boxer, who‟d won a gold medal in the Munich Olympics and then turned professional. What was he doing here?

Alex changed to a more placatory tone. „Do you think I didn‟t take precautions, Mother? I promise you, she couldn‟t have had any idea that I‟d been there. But I found the photo graph, and I read her notes. It was quite clear.‟

„Mm. Well, if you‟re sure...‟ Her voice was a little gentler.

Why didn‟t he say sorry?

„I do see now that it was foolish of me. Please forgive me.‟

That was the way. It always worked with Nanny.

But the big man wasn‟t going to let him off so easily. „And have you nothing more to tell Mother Hilda?‟

A long pause.

„I don‟t know what you mean,‟ Alex replied at last.

„It‟s no good denying it,‟ said Cabot. „See for yourself. It‟s even made the headlines in The Times of India.’

As Alex picked up the paper, Jeremy shrank into the shadows, creeping under the floor of the veranda. What did he think he was doing? The boxer fellow looked dangerous -

and what about the guards? What if he were to be handed over to them? Nobody knew where he was. He could just disappear...

His paranoid musings were interrupted by Brother Alex speaking in a very different tone to the one he‟d used to address Hilda. It was the way Mama would speak to an impertinent servant. „And why do you think that I‟m responsible, Cabot?‟

Will Cabot laughed. But he didn‟t sound amused. „Come off it, Alex!‟ he said. Three of them - on Hampstead Heath? The next nearest centre is in Cardiff, for God‟s sake.‟

But Alex was not going to give in easily. „Even if you could lay these incidents at my door, it would be irrelevant. You know very well that I have never agreed with Mother Hilda‟s basic strategy. From the very first...‟

The boxer‟s voice was harsh. „And you know very well that she has the authority to overrule your stupid suggestions!‟

„And, what‟s more,‟ broke in Hilda, my way forward has the consensus of the group.‟ Her gentle voice couldn‟t have been more different from that of the boxer.

„That remains to be seen,‟ said Alex. „Things can change.‟

There was some sort of creepy-crawly climbing up Jeremy‟s leg. He could feel it under his trousers. What was that thing... like a sort of prawn that had a curly tail with a nasty sting at the end of it? He tried to roll up his trouser leg without making a noise, but found he couldn‟t stop himself from letting out a tiny whimper of fear.

He became aware that none of them had spoken for quite a long time. Now he was for it! Then Cabot spoke again.

„Mother! We can‟t let this go!‟

She sighed. „I‟m afraid you‟re right.‟

They hadn‟t heard him...

„Meaning?‟

„What do you think she means?‟ said Cabot. „You‟ve blown it Whitbread. It‟s about time you got what‟s coming to you.‟

„Now, look here, Cabot...‟

„The whole question - and your crass behaviour with the journalist girl - will have to be brought to a full meeting.‟

„I‟m afraid he‟s right,‟ said the little old lady.

„I hardly think that will be necessary,‟ replied Alex.

„I do. And that‟s my final word on the matter.‟ The gentleness had quite gone.

„But...‟

„You can come out now,‟ she went on, raising her voice -

though it had quickly lost its steely tone. „Yes, you under the veranda. Let‟s have a look at you.‟

Jeremy, only too pleased to be able to move,