Second Sight (7 page)
Authors: Neil M. Gunn
Alick looked at Harry. “I am sorry I could not turn up.”
Harry answered as quietly: “All right, Alick. You may go. To-morrow morning sharp.”
Geoffrey could not resist a parting shot: “You did not manage to follow the bullet in its flight, by any chance?”
Alick turned at the door. “The bullet
was
low. You should have raised the sightâ
as you thought of doing in your mind
âanother hundred yards.” Then he went out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Geoffrey, staring at the door, became aware that Harry and Helen were looking at him.
“God, he has all the tricks of the business,” said Geoffrey, laughing blusteringly rather than with his usual hilarity. “He has practised his stuff. Yes! I don't quite get the trick of it. Hm! But leave it to me. I'll get at it. Yes, I'll get him! I'll go into this. I'll expose him. You wait. Pfff!” He poured himself a whisky and, just about to drink it, paused as if a sudden thought had occurred to him. “Perhapsâuhm.” His eyes seemed to light up. He drank. “Well, I'm getting out of these cold togs.” He was smiling. “You wait, That's only the first move.” But feeling he was not acting very convincingly he could hardly go, and when at last he went it was awkwardly, helped by the entrance of Mairi to light the lamps.
“Phew!” whistled Harry softly to Helen.
“I wonder?” breathed Helen.
“Heaven knows!” said Harry, shaking his head.
They were both charged with wonder, thrilled by the end to the strange encounter. And though Mairi's back was to them, as she unscrewed and lifted the chimney and mantle of the bracket lamp, preparatory to lighting it, they felt constrained in her presence. They expanded their chests, too, as if they were being choked.
“I feel I could do with some fresh air,” said Helen.
“Yes.” Harry nodded. “What about a stroll out to meet the car coming back? We could crowd in.”
“Oh splendid! Wait till I get on some shoes.”
As they went out, their faces were eager and excited.
Mairi looked after them, the white glass shade in her hand, and listened, her tongue-tip against her top lip. Then she put the bulbous shade down over the chimney and turned up the light just far enough to do away with the flickering sound. With the standard lamp, she went through the same performance, but raising the light until the mantle was fully incandescent; then she went to the window and, before drawing the curtains, stood a few seconds staring out into the rapidly gathering dark. Anyone interested in the house could not fail to see her. When there was a noise at the outside door of the gun-room, she rapidly drew the curtains and became the efficient maid. The light must not burn too high. She put one or two things straight in the room, hesitated, listened, looked at the gun-room door and went towards it. As she opened it, Alick said, “Hallo!”
“It's you, is it?” she remarked coolly.
“More or less,” he said, coming towards her.
She backed a pace into the room before holding her ground.
“What do you want?”
“What about a drinkâto begin with?”
“I should have thought you had enough of that last night. You can't come in here.”
“Why not? I can't see you in the kitchen alone. Where am I to see you?”
Before his advance, she backed a few paces, saying intensely, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
“You think so?” he asked lightly, looking around. He saw the decanter. “Now if you had only given me a drink last night.”
She appeared desperate but kept control. “You can't stay here. They may come in.” She listened, the blood burning in her cheeks.
He smiled sardonically. “I've given one of them enough to keep him out for a few minutes. He thought himself very cleverâso I went one better.”
“If I give you a drink, will you go home?”
“All right.”
“You promise?”
“I'd promise you anything,” he said, smiling to her with a measuring humour.
“You'll get the sackâthat's what you'll get.”
“If you come with me, I shouldn't mind.”
She ignored him, listened a moment, then went quickly to the decanter and was about to pour some whisky into Geoffrey's glass, when Alick suggested, “What about a clean glass?”
It was no time for argument. She tried to replace the decanter quietly, and as her hand lifted a clean glass, it shook. She was breathing in little gulps. The decanter's neck was clinking against the glass, as the door opened hurriedly and Harry came in.
But Mairi miraculously saved the decanter from falling, and Harry, taking in the unexpected situation in one swift glance, went towards her, saying in a pleasant voice, “Good! I'm glad you held that one!” He took the decanter from her and the glass. “I'm sorry I did not think of this before, Alick.” He poured out a stiff drink and went over with it to Alick, in his normal friendly way.
Alick took the glass automatically, looking not so much confused as darkly angry. He stared at the glass but made no effort to drink.
“All right, Mairi.” Harry nodded to her, indicating that everything was all right and that she could go.
She hesitated, then went out at the hall door and drew it shut behind her.
“I suppose you feel like a good oneâafter last night,” said Harry in the tone of one man to another. “I know the feeling. Drink up.”
Alick's eyes narrowed on the glass. Harry saw he was in a dangerous mood. Without word or look, Alick got up, set his glass on the cabinet, and turned to walk out.
“No need to take it like that,” said Harry.
Alick turned. “No?”
But Harry went and companionably poured himself a small whisky. “Like some soda in yours?â¦No?” Then he faced Alick and said frankly, “Well, here's
slà inte!
”
It was the friendly courtesy of the flask and the hill. His dangerous humour recognising its naturalness, Alick dropped his eyes, flushed a trifle, and, with a touch of awkwardness, took up his glass. Harry drank. “
Slà inte!
” muttered Alick, and drank his off neat.
“You'll feel the better of that. Andâdon't take it amiss, Alick, if I say you were on my mind last night. It is difficult to talk about. When I couldn't find you to-day, I went along to the inn. I never mentioned your name, but I could see the landlord thought I was doing the detective. Gave me rather an unpleasant feeling for a minute.”
“I heard you,” said Alick.
“Howâdo you mean?”
“I was there.”
“Oh!”
“I went there last night. Thenââ”
As he hesitated, Harry said, “You need not tell me anything, you know, unless you like.” He finished his drink. “It's entirely as you like. I myself didn't want toââ” He put his glass away.
Alick's manner eased. “Early this morning, I found myself on the hill. It was the first grey of the dawn, and, when my eyes opened, ten yards away from me was King Brude, looking at me. I believed it after a moment or two, for when I sat up he trotted back to our forest. It brought me to my senses and I found my way back to Corr Inn.” The faint smile faded and he said in an almost natural voice: “Don't know what he was doing so low down. Hope he's not in the mind to leave us so soon.”
“That would be a pity,” said Harry. “Sit down.” And as he motioned Alick to a chair, he sat down himself.
“Oh, I'll be going,” said Alick, taking the chair reluctantly.
“So you were on the hill this morning?”
“At that time, yes. But not later.”
Harry looked at him.
Alick's smile became faintly confused and he swung half round as if for his glass.
“Just a tiny spot more,” said Harry, jumping up.
“No, please!”
“It won't do us any harm.” And he also poured a small one for himself.
“I didn't mean that,” said Alick.
“I know. Reflex action,” and Harry smiled companionably.
“Thanks very much,” said Alick. “IâI'm afraid I played a bit of a joke on Mr. Smith.”
“You what?” Harry sat up.
“A bit of a joke on him.”
“Really!⦠You did it pretty efficiently!”
“Oh well, it was easy.”
Harry laughed abruptly. “Excuse me, butâhe is not the one who would think it easy.”
“I could see that. So I thought it wouldn't matter.”
Harry laughed again. “Tell me. Go on.”
“Oh, I was just talking to Angus for a few minutes on the way in. Mr. Smith had said a word or two to Angus, after he missed. He did not mean them against Angus. He was just upset. Angus had remained behind the ridge, because there was no point in two of them crawling in full view. Angus said he would wait for him. And when Mr. Smith came back, right enough he found Angus where he had left him. So naturally enough Mr. Smith thinks that no one in the world could have seen what he actually didâexcept from Benuain oppositeâand that of course was out of the question. Now what happened was that Angus decided to crawl a little bit forward to get his glass on the stag and see what the shot did, for sometimes a man will wound a beast without knowing it. Then as he felt Mr. Smith was taking a bit too long, he crawled a yard or two moreâand saw him aiming at another beast over four hundred yards away.”
“Four hundred!” exclaimed Harry. “Impossible!”
“Angus was very astonished, too,” said Alick. “So when Mr. Smith fired, Angus doubled back at once to the place he had left, because he knew fine Mr. Smith would hate to think that anyone had seen him fire at a living beast over such a long range.”
“King Brude, was it?”
“I wasn't there,” said Alick.
Harry, appreciating this reticence, nodded to himself in thoughtful astonishment. Then he looked at Alick again. “Explain this. You told us what passed in Mr. Smith's own mindâabout the distance. How could you know that?”
“I had a glance at his rifle. I noticed the sight was still at over three hundred. Angus, as I say, had let drop that the distance was over four hundred. Mr. Smith has a good eye. He would have been troubled.”
“Iâsee! So having sighted for three hundred, he was bound to be low.”
“It was very likely, I think, because he is a good shot.”
Harry's eyes glimmered, for it was a humour too deep for laughter. Then he impulsively got up. “Have another drink.” He began to chuckle as he got hold of the decanter.
“Please, I don't think so, honestly.”
But Harry was saying to himself, “Well, I'm blowed!”
Alick stopped the flow of whisky into his glass.
“You don't want to start off again, eh? Had a heavy night at the inn.”
Alick gave a shake of his head. “It was pretty thick,” he confessed.
“Was it?” Harry laughed softly. “I caused some trouble here myself last night. I hadn't meant, you know, to say a wordâbut, well, I did. GeoffreyâMr. Smith does not believe in what he calls âsuperstition'. So it was a temptation. Just as you were tempted by him when you came in here. You can understand?”
Alick nodded, withdrew his eyes to his glass, and then drank.
Harry's eyes narrowed on his face secretly, then he looked away. “To tell the truth,” he said, “I can't quite forget it. I could wishâit had not been quite so real.”
His eyes on his empty glass, Alick said quietly, “You don't wish it as much as I do. If you hadn't been with meââ”
“Yes?”
“No one would ever have known.”
Harry looked at him keenly again. Alick, lifting his eyes, met the look and gave a wry smile, then removed his eyes, wearily.
Harry stirred, uncomfortable. “Couldn't weâcan't weâdo something?”
“Against what?”
“Oh, I don't know. Fate, if you like.”
“You could try,” said Alick sardonically.
“I can't help thinking about it. I wish you could help me. Really I do. Supposing one of us went away from hereâso that the vision you saw could not beâcould not take place. You know what I mean. Which one of us would you suggest?”
“I think I'll be going,” said Alick, after a small gulp from the stomach. He got up.
“Not feeling sick, are you? Sit down.”
“Too much drink likely,” said Alick, with a tired humour. “I'll be going.” He stopped near the door, but did not turn round. “Thank you for your kindness,” he said. “I cannot answer your question surelyâbut I don't think it was you.”
“Was it Mr. Smith?” The words came from Harry before he could stop them.
Alick stood silent, until his body gave a short convulsive heave, and he went through the gun-room like a half-drunk man making for discreet refuge.
As the outside door slammed, Harry damned himself, and felt a trifle sick out of his own excitement. He was still staring into the unlit gun-room when the door behind him opened and Helen entered, saying, “Is he gone?”
“Yes.” Then he realised she had her coat on ready to go out. “Oh, I'm sorry. Have you been waiting for me?”
“I thought you had gone outside. So I went out, and met Mairi, and she told me you were in conference.”
“Forgive me, Helen. But I'm hanged if I know where I am or what to do. I somehow feel rotten about it. He's a queer chap.”
“Anything more happened?”
“Bagfuls. You felt, didn't you, that there was something supernatural in the way he shut up Geoffrey? It was a pure leg-pull.”
“No!”
“Yes. And when I think it out, he never even told a direct lie. Sheer detective work. And Geoffrey must have felt filthy. You see, Geoffrey tried a long impossible shot at, of all beasts, King Brude. He should never have done it, should never have fired over two hundred yards, because of the danger of wounding the beast. It's simply not done. Over four hundred yards! He was just caught in temptation andânow he knows it. Hence all the eager talk about downhill, for Geoffrey is a good shot and had to justify missing the stag they had been stalking, which wouldn't have been more than a hundred and fifty yards away. And he had to keep on talking, keep the thought of it away from himselfâand vaguely frightened, too, possibly as one is when one has done something wrongâand he found a diversion in the idea of baiting Alick! And he found it, by heaven!”
Harry answered as quietly: “All right, Alick. You may go. To-morrow morning sharp.”
Geoffrey could not resist a parting shot: “You did not manage to follow the bullet in its flight, by any chance?”
Alick turned at the door. “The bullet
was
low. You should have raised the sightâ
as you thought of doing in your mind
âanother hundred yards.” Then he went out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Geoffrey, staring at the door, became aware that Harry and Helen were looking at him.
“God, he has all the tricks of the business,” said Geoffrey, laughing blusteringly rather than with his usual hilarity. “He has practised his stuff. Yes! I don't quite get the trick of it. Hm! But leave it to me. I'll get at it. Yes, I'll get him! I'll go into this. I'll expose him. You wait. Pfff!” He poured himself a whisky and, just about to drink it, paused as if a sudden thought had occurred to him. “Perhapsâuhm.” His eyes seemed to light up. He drank. “Well, I'm getting out of these cold togs.” He was smiling. “You wait, That's only the first move.” But feeling he was not acting very convincingly he could hardly go, and when at last he went it was awkwardly, helped by the entrance of Mairi to light the lamps.
“Phew!” whistled Harry softly to Helen.
“I wonder?” breathed Helen.
“Heaven knows!” said Harry, shaking his head.
They were both charged with wonder, thrilled by the end to the strange encounter. And though Mairi's back was to them, as she unscrewed and lifted the chimney and mantle of the bracket lamp, preparatory to lighting it, they felt constrained in her presence. They expanded their chests, too, as if they were being choked.
“I feel I could do with some fresh air,” said Helen.
“Yes.” Harry nodded. “What about a stroll out to meet the car coming back? We could crowd in.”
“Oh splendid! Wait till I get on some shoes.”
As they went out, their faces were eager and excited.
Mairi looked after them, the white glass shade in her hand, and listened, her tongue-tip against her top lip. Then she put the bulbous shade down over the chimney and turned up the light just far enough to do away with the flickering sound. With the standard lamp, she went through the same performance, but raising the light until the mantle was fully incandescent; then she went to the window and, before drawing the curtains, stood a few seconds staring out into the rapidly gathering dark. Anyone interested in the house could not fail to see her. When there was a noise at the outside door of the gun-room, she rapidly drew the curtains and became the efficient maid. The light must not burn too high. She put one or two things straight in the room, hesitated, listened, looked at the gun-room door and went towards it. As she opened it, Alick said, “Hallo!”
“It's you, is it?” she remarked coolly.
“More or less,” he said, coming towards her.
She backed a pace into the room before holding her ground.
“What do you want?”
“What about a drinkâto begin with?”
“I should have thought you had enough of that last night. You can't come in here.”
“Why not? I can't see you in the kitchen alone. Where am I to see you?”
Before his advance, she backed a few paces, saying intensely, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
“You think so?” he asked lightly, looking around. He saw the decanter. “Now if you had only given me a drink last night.”
She appeared desperate but kept control. “You can't stay here. They may come in.” She listened, the blood burning in her cheeks.
He smiled sardonically. “I've given one of them enough to keep him out for a few minutes. He thought himself very cleverâso I went one better.”
“If I give you a drink, will you go home?”
“All right.”
“You promise?”
“I'd promise you anything,” he said, smiling to her with a measuring humour.
“You'll get the sackâthat's what you'll get.”
“If you come with me, I shouldn't mind.”
She ignored him, listened a moment, then went quickly to the decanter and was about to pour some whisky into Geoffrey's glass, when Alick suggested, “What about a clean glass?”
It was no time for argument. She tried to replace the decanter quietly, and as her hand lifted a clean glass, it shook. She was breathing in little gulps. The decanter's neck was clinking against the glass, as the door opened hurriedly and Harry came in.
But Mairi miraculously saved the decanter from falling, and Harry, taking in the unexpected situation in one swift glance, went towards her, saying in a pleasant voice, “Good! I'm glad you held that one!” He took the decanter from her and the glass. “I'm sorry I did not think of this before, Alick.” He poured out a stiff drink and went over with it to Alick, in his normal friendly way.
Alick took the glass automatically, looking not so much confused as darkly angry. He stared at the glass but made no effort to drink.
“All right, Mairi.” Harry nodded to her, indicating that everything was all right and that she could go.
She hesitated, then went out at the hall door and drew it shut behind her.
“I suppose you feel like a good oneâafter last night,” said Harry in the tone of one man to another. “I know the feeling. Drink up.”
Alick's eyes narrowed on the glass. Harry saw he was in a dangerous mood. Without word or look, Alick got up, set his glass on the cabinet, and turned to walk out.
“No need to take it like that,” said Harry.
Alick turned. “No?”
But Harry went and companionably poured himself a small whisky. “Like some soda in yours?â¦No?” Then he faced Alick and said frankly, “Well, here's
slà inte!
”
It was the friendly courtesy of the flask and the hill. His dangerous humour recognising its naturalness, Alick dropped his eyes, flushed a trifle, and, with a touch of awkwardness, took up his glass. Harry drank. “
Slà inte!
” muttered Alick, and drank his off neat.
“You'll feel the better of that. Andâdon't take it amiss, Alick, if I say you were on my mind last night. It is difficult to talk about. When I couldn't find you to-day, I went along to the inn. I never mentioned your name, but I could see the landlord thought I was doing the detective. Gave me rather an unpleasant feeling for a minute.”
“I heard you,” said Alick.
“Howâdo you mean?”
“I was there.”
“Oh!”
“I went there last night. Thenââ”
As he hesitated, Harry said, “You need not tell me anything, you know, unless you like.” He finished his drink. “It's entirely as you like. I myself didn't want toââ” He put his glass away.
Alick's manner eased. “Early this morning, I found myself on the hill. It was the first grey of the dawn, and, when my eyes opened, ten yards away from me was King Brude, looking at me. I believed it after a moment or two, for when I sat up he trotted back to our forest. It brought me to my senses and I found my way back to Corr Inn.” The faint smile faded and he said in an almost natural voice: “Don't know what he was doing so low down. Hope he's not in the mind to leave us so soon.”
“That would be a pity,” said Harry. “Sit down.” And as he motioned Alick to a chair, he sat down himself.
“Oh, I'll be going,” said Alick, taking the chair reluctantly.
“So you were on the hill this morning?”
“At that time, yes. But not later.”
Harry looked at him.
Alick's smile became faintly confused and he swung half round as if for his glass.
“Just a tiny spot more,” said Harry, jumping up.
“No, please!”
“It won't do us any harm.” And he also poured a small one for himself.
“I didn't mean that,” said Alick.
“I know. Reflex action,” and Harry smiled companionably.
“Thanks very much,” said Alick. “IâI'm afraid I played a bit of a joke on Mr. Smith.”
“You what?” Harry sat up.
“A bit of a joke on him.”
“Really!⦠You did it pretty efficiently!”
“Oh well, it was easy.”
Harry laughed abruptly. “Excuse me, butâhe is not the one who would think it easy.”
“I could see that. So I thought it wouldn't matter.”
Harry laughed again. “Tell me. Go on.”
“Oh, I was just talking to Angus for a few minutes on the way in. Mr. Smith had said a word or two to Angus, after he missed. He did not mean them against Angus. He was just upset. Angus had remained behind the ridge, because there was no point in two of them crawling in full view. Angus said he would wait for him. And when Mr. Smith came back, right enough he found Angus where he had left him. So naturally enough Mr. Smith thinks that no one in the world could have seen what he actually didâexcept from Benuain oppositeâand that of course was out of the question. Now what happened was that Angus decided to crawl a little bit forward to get his glass on the stag and see what the shot did, for sometimes a man will wound a beast without knowing it. Then as he felt Mr. Smith was taking a bit too long, he crawled a yard or two moreâand saw him aiming at another beast over four hundred yards away.”
“Four hundred!” exclaimed Harry. “Impossible!”
“Angus was very astonished, too,” said Alick. “So when Mr. Smith fired, Angus doubled back at once to the place he had left, because he knew fine Mr. Smith would hate to think that anyone had seen him fire at a living beast over such a long range.”
“King Brude, was it?”
“I wasn't there,” said Alick.
Harry, appreciating this reticence, nodded to himself in thoughtful astonishment. Then he looked at Alick again. “Explain this. You told us what passed in Mr. Smith's own mindâabout the distance. How could you know that?”
“I had a glance at his rifle. I noticed the sight was still at over three hundred. Angus, as I say, had let drop that the distance was over four hundred. Mr. Smith has a good eye. He would have been troubled.”
“Iâsee! So having sighted for three hundred, he was bound to be low.”
“It was very likely, I think, because he is a good shot.”
Harry's eyes glimmered, for it was a humour too deep for laughter. Then he impulsively got up. “Have another drink.” He began to chuckle as he got hold of the decanter.
“Please, I don't think so, honestly.”
But Harry was saying to himself, “Well, I'm blowed!”
Alick stopped the flow of whisky into his glass.
“You don't want to start off again, eh? Had a heavy night at the inn.”
Alick gave a shake of his head. “It was pretty thick,” he confessed.
“Was it?” Harry laughed softly. “I caused some trouble here myself last night. I hadn't meant, you know, to say a wordâbut, well, I did. GeoffreyâMr. Smith does not believe in what he calls âsuperstition'. So it was a temptation. Just as you were tempted by him when you came in here. You can understand?”
Alick nodded, withdrew his eyes to his glass, and then drank.
Harry's eyes narrowed on his face secretly, then he looked away. “To tell the truth,” he said, “I can't quite forget it. I could wishâit had not been quite so real.”
His eyes on his empty glass, Alick said quietly, “You don't wish it as much as I do. If you hadn't been with meââ”
“Yes?”
“No one would ever have known.”
Harry looked at him keenly again. Alick, lifting his eyes, met the look and gave a wry smile, then removed his eyes, wearily.
Harry stirred, uncomfortable. “Couldn't weâcan't weâdo something?”
“Against what?”
“Oh, I don't know. Fate, if you like.”
“You could try,” said Alick sardonically.
“I can't help thinking about it. I wish you could help me. Really I do. Supposing one of us went away from hereâso that the vision you saw could not beâcould not take place. You know what I mean. Which one of us would you suggest?”
“I think I'll be going,” said Alick, after a small gulp from the stomach. He got up.
“Not feeling sick, are you? Sit down.”
“Too much drink likely,” said Alick, with a tired humour. “I'll be going.” He stopped near the door, but did not turn round. “Thank you for your kindness,” he said. “I cannot answer your question surelyâbut I don't think it was you.”
“Was it Mr. Smith?” The words came from Harry before he could stop them.
Alick stood silent, until his body gave a short convulsive heave, and he went through the gun-room like a half-drunk man making for discreet refuge.
As the outside door slammed, Harry damned himself, and felt a trifle sick out of his own excitement. He was still staring into the unlit gun-room when the door behind him opened and Helen entered, saying, “Is he gone?”
“Yes.” Then he realised she had her coat on ready to go out. “Oh, I'm sorry. Have you been waiting for me?”
“I thought you had gone outside. So I went out, and met Mairi, and she told me you were in conference.”
“Forgive me, Helen. But I'm hanged if I know where I am or what to do. I somehow feel rotten about it. He's a queer chap.”
“Anything more happened?”
“Bagfuls. You felt, didn't you, that there was something supernatural in the way he shut up Geoffrey? It was a pure leg-pull.”
“No!”
“Yes. And when I think it out, he never even told a direct lie. Sheer detective work. And Geoffrey must have felt filthy. You see, Geoffrey tried a long impossible shot at, of all beasts, King Brude. He should never have done it, should never have fired over two hundred yards, because of the danger of wounding the beast. It's simply not done. Over four hundred yards! He was just caught in temptation andânow he knows it. Hence all the eager talk about downhill, for Geoffrey is a good shot and had to justify missing the stag they had been stalking, which wouldn't have been more than a hundred and fifty yards away. And he had to keep on talking, keep the thought of it away from himselfâand vaguely frightened, too, possibly as one is when one has done something wrongâand he found a diversion in the idea of baiting Alick! And he found it, by heaven!”
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