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‘Maureen,’ George said soberly, ‘this is awfully hard to believe.’
I said nothing.
‘I don’t see how they could be made to work.’
‘As a starter, try multiplying a thousand miles by two hundred yards, to get square
yards, then call it horsepower. Use a ten per cent efficiency factor. Save the
surplus power in Shipstones when the Sun is high and bright; use that surplus to
keep the roads rolling when the Sun doesn’t shine.’ (I could be glib about it; I had
done the arithmetic many times in thirty-four years.)
‘I’m not an engineer.’
‘Then discuss it with your best engineer – Mr Ferguson? when you get home.’
‘You stand by this?’
‘It’s my prophecy. It won’t happen quickly – the first roadcity – Cleveland to
Cincinatti – won’t roll for several years. I’m telling you now so that Harriman
Industries can get in on the ground floor.’
‘I’ll talk to Ferguson.’
‘Good. And now let me be nice to you because you have been so very nice to me.’
I returned on Wednesday and stopped at the office of Argus Patrol before I went
Nome. I spoke to Colonel Frisby, the president of the company. I’m back; you can
take the special watch off my home. Do you have a report for me?’
‘Yes, Mrs Johnson. Your house is still there, no fires, no burglars, no intruders,
nothing but a noisy party on Monday night, and one not quite so noisy last night –
kids will be kids. Your daughter did not go to school yesterday – slept in, we
think; the party Monday night ran quite late. But she’s at school today and looks
none the worse. Shall we put this on your bill or do you want to pay for this
special service now?’
I paid it and went home, feeling relieved.
I let myself in and sniffed; the place needed airing.
And a thorough house cleaning. But those were minor matters.
Priscilla got Nome a little after four, looking apprehensive, but smiled when I did.
I ignored the mess the house was in, took her out to dinner, and told her about my
trip. Some off it.
On Friday I picked her up at school and we went to Jim Rumsey’s office, by
appointment. Priscilla wanted to know why?
‘Dr Rumsey wanted to see you again after a couple of months. It has been just two
months.’
‘Do I have to be poked?’
‘Probably.’
‘I won’t!’
‘Say that again. Say it loud enough to be heard in Dallas. Because, if you mean
that, then I’ll have to bring your father into it. He still has legal custody of
you. Now say it’
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She shut up.
About an hour later Jim called me into his private office. ‘First, the good news.
She doesn’t have crabs. Now the bad news. She does have syphilis and clap:
I used a heartwarming expletive.
Jim tut-tutted. ‘Ladies don’t talk that way.’
‘I’m not a lady. I’m an old bag with an incorrigible daughter. Have you told her?’
‘I always tell the parent first’
‘All right, let’s tell her.’
‘Slow down. Maureen, I recommend putting her into a hospital. Not just for
gonorrhoea and syphilis, but for what her emotional condition will be after we tell
her. She’s cocky at the moment, almost arrogant. I don’t know what she’ll be ten
minutes from now.’
‘I’m in your hands, Jim.’
‘Let me call Bell Memorial, see if I can get an immediate admission.’
Chapter 22 – The Better-Dead List
A noise woke me up. I was still in that pitch-dark lorry, clutching Pixel to me.
‘Pixel, where are we?’
‘Kuhbleeert!’ (How would I know?)
‘Hush!’ Someone was unlocking the lorry.
‘Meeroow?’
‘I don’t know. But don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes.’
A side door rolled back. Someone was silhouetted against the open door. I blinked.
‘Maureen Long?’
‘I think so. Yes.’
‘I am sorry to have left you in the dark so long. But we had a visit from the
Supreme Bishop’s proctors and we have just finished bribing them. And now we must