N or M_ - Agatha Christie [67]
Outside the station a car was waiting. A good-looking young man was driving it. He touched his peaked cap to Tuppence, but the gesture seemed hardly natural.
Tuppence kicked the off-side tyre dubiously.
‘Isn’t this rather flat?’
‘We haven’t got far to go, madam.’
She nodded and got in.
They drove, not towards the village, but towards the downs. After winding up over a hill, they took a side-track that dropped sharply into a deep cleft. From the shadow of a small copse of trees a figure stepped out to meet them.
The car stopped and Tuppence, getting out, went to meet Anthony Marsdon.
‘Beresford’s all right,’ he said quickly. ‘We located him yesterday. He’s a prisoner–the other side got him–and for good reasons he’s remaining put for another twelve hours. You see, there’s a small boat due in at a certain spot–and we want to catch her badly. That’s why Beresford’s lying low–we don’t want to give the show away until the last minute.’
He looked at her anxiously.
‘You do understand, don’t you?’
‘Oh, yes!’ Tuppence was staring at a curious tangled mass of canvas material half-hidden by the trees.
‘He’ll be absolutely all right,’ continued the young man earnestly.
‘Of course Tommy will be all right,’ said Tuppence impatiently. ‘You needn’t talk to me as though I were a child of two. We’re both ready to run a few risks. What’s that thing over there?’
‘Well–’ The young man hesitated. ‘That’s just it. I’ve been ordered to put a certain proposition before you. But–but well, frankly, I don’t like doing it. You see–’
Tuppence treated him to a cold stare.
‘Why don’t you like doing it?’
‘Well–dash it–you’re Deborah’s mother. And I mean–what would Deb say to me if–if–’
‘If I got it in the neck?’ inquired Tuppence. ‘Personally, if I were you, I shouldn’t mention it to her. The man who said explanations were a mistake was quite right.’
Then she smiled kindly at him.
‘My dear boy, I know exactly how you feel. That it’s all very well for you and Deborah and the young generally to run risks, but that the mere middle-aged must be shielded. All complete nonsense, because if anyone is going to be liquidated it is much better it should be the middle-aged, who have had the best part of their lives. Anyway, stop looking upon me as that sacred object, Deborah’s mother, and just tell me what dangerous and unpleasant job there is for me to do.’
‘You know,’ said the young man with enthusiasm, ‘I think you’re splendid, simply splendid.’
‘Cut out the compliments,’ said Tuppence. ‘I’m admiring myself a good deal, so there’s no need for you to chime in. What exactly is the big idea?’
Tony indicated the mass of crumpled material with a gesture.
‘That,’ he said, ‘is the remains of a parachute.’
‘Aha,’ said Tuppence. Her eyes sparkled.
‘There was just an isolated parachutist,’ went on Marsdon. ‘Fortunately the LDVs around here are quite a bright lot. The descent was spotted, and they got her.’
‘Her?’
‘Yes, her! Woman dressed as a hospital nurse.’
‘I’m sorry she wasn’t a nun,’ said Tuppence. ‘There have been so many good stories going around about nuns paying their fares in buses with hairy muscular arms.’ ‘Well, she wasn’t a nun and she wasn’t a man in disguise. She was a woman of medium height, middle-aged, with dark hair and of slight build.’
‘In fact,’ said Tuppence, ‘a woman not unlike me?’
‘You’ve hit it exactly,’ said Tony.
‘Well?’ said Tuppence.
Marsdon said slowly:
‘The next part of it is up to you.’
Tuppence smiled. She said:
‘I’m on all right. Where do I go and what do I do?’
‘I say, Mrs Beresford, you really are a sport. Magnificent nerve you’ve got.’
‘Where do I go and what do I do?’ repeated Tuppence, impatiently.
‘The instructions are very meagre, unfortunately. In the woman’s pocket there was a piece of paper with these words on it in German. “Walk to Leatherbarrow–due east from the stone cross. 14 St Asalph’s Rd. Dr Binion.”’
Tuppence looked up. On the hilltop nearby was a stone cross.
‘That’s it,’ said Tony. ‘Signposts have been removed, of course. But Leatherbarrow’s a biggish place, and walking