Читать книгу The Crooked Olive Branch - Frederick Munn - Страница 30

Chapter 22

The taxi finally pulled into a side road and stopped in front of a small hotel.

“Mr. Barnes, we have arrived. This is the hotel.”

Peter took out his wallet to pay Andre, but he faced a problem; he had only one ten Franc note and one traveller’s cheque.

“Andre, will the hotel change a traveller’s cheque?”

Andre was already out of the car. He turned around and looked back in.

Peter was aware that the cost of the journey would far exceed his ability to pay.

Andre was thinking only of the night’s bill.

“It is a small hotel, Mr. Barnes. They will accept your personal cheque against your passport.”

He turned and went to the back to collect the luggage. Peter realising Andre had misunderstood hurriedly climbed out and joined him.

“I need to pay you for the journey,” said Peter, looking at the same time for the attaché case.

He moved Mim’s other case out of the way and picked it up.

Andre already had Peter’s and Henry’s cases, one in each hand. He stopped, looked pointedly at Peter as if to say something, then turned and walked into the hotel. Peter followed carrying just the small case. Andre placed the two cases in the foyer then went back to collect Mim’s other case from the taxi. He returned to find Peter conversing with the owner.

“Do I wake your friend and the little girl? They are still sleeping.”

“Sorry Andre, I’ll go get them shortly but first we must discuss your fare. I can only pay you in foreign notes plus just ten francs, sorry.”

“Ten francs will do.”

Peter, unused to being without funds and knowing that ten francs was ridiculous, muttered.

“I can give you a cheque in sterling. Will that do?”

Peter had, as was his won’t, shut off from reality and immersed himself in the problem of Hal and Mim. Not really taking the question of adoption seriously but originally as a kind of exercise.

As time progressed, he had come to realise that he was dealing with a potential tragedy and the high emotions attached to this nigh impossible task. This began his intention to try his best if only for the sake of appearances. Then there was the added complication of his responsibility as guardian to the little girl. With all these thoughts crowding his mind no matter how he tried to push them away.

The problem of paying Andre a reasonable fare for the journey from Paris caused him worry.

He thought of taking the Swiss francs from Mim’s case to compensate. This was however in Peter’s confused mind tantamount to stealing. He could think of no other solution. He took the Swiss francs from the case and handed the lot over to Andre.

“Take this please, Andre and continue to look for Miss Firth.”

Andre took the notes picked out the ten franc note, returning the rest to Peter.

“Mr. Barnes, there’s going to be another war.”

He put his hand on Peter’s arm “Please keep Miss Firth in England. She can be mother to the little girl and you can look for her. If she is mother to the little girl, then perhaps she will not get drunk.” Peter was stunned by this sudden passionate plea from Andre and the return of the Swiss francs.

At first, he was lost for a reply until finally he whispered as much to himself rather than asking the question.

“You love her, don’t you? You really do love her?”

Andre didn’t answer. He put a hand in his pocket and took out a coin. He began to whistle and toss it from hand to hand. He turned away and walked up to the reception desk. He had a brief discussion with the proprietor before going into the bar and sitting down. Peter went out to the taxi and stood watching trying to gather his wits. He took a deep breath reached into the car and picked up the little girl who was lying on Hal’s lap. This woke his friend.

“Come on fellas, just one last big push.”

Peter returned to the foyer looking for Andre, who had disappeared.

He went to the door and the taxi was still outside. Returning he saw him leaving one of two small booths to one side of the bar. Peter went to him and took the hand of this young man who’d he known for less than one day.

“Andre, thank you for everything and I promise to do all I can to persuade Miss Firth to remain in England.”

The young Frenchman didn’t speak but the pressure of his hand said it all.

He then embraced Peter and ‘spoke’ again through the tears in his eyes and the urgent nodding of the head before turning and returning to the car. Peter watched him drive away and thought ‘How little we know about Margaret Firth, Peggy, Peg, Tussy, Tuss. A woman of many names all of them respected and loved yet seemingly so frail and vulnerable.’

He had promised to give this woman, an alcoholic, the responsibility for a three-year old refugee girl. The thought of this was too much for his already overcrowded mind. Typically, Peter pushed it away and returned his thoughts to his master plan: The adoption of Mim. This was still hovering between an exercise in thwarting his father and gaining some control of his own destiny and also helping, or appearing to help, his friend. Returning to the hotel lounge he found Hal and the little girl tucking into tea, milk and biscuits.

“Shouldn’t we be checking into our rooms first?”

“You’re forgetting Pete we’ve not eaten since a very pushed breakfast.”

Hal was aware that his mother would not have approved of his behaviour, neither the pushed breakfast nor a cookie snack mid-day.

“Stomach’s all over the place as is the rest of our lives. The kid’s coping well, better than me. I figure it’s O. K. to give her a break.”

“Chocolate biscuits, Hal? My thoughts are that we will regret the choice.”

Peter looked to exert some control. Hal looked genuinely puzzled.

“Why so buddy?”

“Mim doesn’t have a change of clothing.”

“She’s has another dress in the case, hasn’t she?” Hal’s answer sounded tetchy.

“Hal my old friend, that dress is already soiled. In any event, it is too big.”

“You’re sure? Why pack a dress that’s too big?”

“Think about it, Hal, her mother didn’t have time to pack a bag. I suppose she was passed over to Helga with what she was dressed in on the day. The dress in the case is one that Gerda or someone found for her. It probably belonged to one of the older children. Her smalls, the ladies washed and dried overnight.”

Peter looked at his friend who was still looking blank.

“We don’t have any ladies to see to her things tonight and we need her to look presentable tomorrow.”

“We do?” Hal, now aware he was not making sense, seemed incapable of controlling his thoughts. Peter sighed.

“If immigration pass her on to local social services for opinion, she needs to appear cared for.

I don’t think two chaps and a dirty appearance is going to help.”

Peter replied, keeping up the pretence that they could be given control. At the same time, he was reminding Hal to be prepared to part with Miriam.

Meanwhile Mim, who would otherwise have taken notice of the conversation at the mention of her name, finished off the biscuits. Peter looked at the damage.

“See what I mean Hal?”

Hal did see what Peter meant.

“I’ll try and clean this up, maybe we could buy another dress in Calais or find a laundry.”

Peter picked up his case and Mim’s attaché case.

“It is Sunday, Hal. Remember the Sabbath. See you down here in half an hour and maybe we can have lunch proper.”

Later, after lunch, they were sitting in the bar with coffee when the receptionist called from the doorway.

“Your call to Bendesbury, England, Monsieur Barnes, Bureau one.”

Peter left his coffee cup on the table, stood up and looked at his friend.

“This is it Hal, wish me luck.”

Hal, still unsure of Peter’s intentions, wanted to know more, beinguncertain of his role in this plan.

At least it was a plan.

“Sure Pete, do your best.”

Hal was left wondering what it was that Peter really intended.

Mim, who had been playing make believe with a napkin wrapped around a bread stick, picked up on the importance of this exchange and climbed on to Papa Yo’s lap. She sat there sucking her thumb as they watched Peter disappear into the booth.

Twenty minutes later Peter replaced the receiver in shock. Sir George’s response to his suggestions had taken his breath away. It was almost as if his father-in-law had been sat waiting to hear this very proposal so immediate was his acceptance, to take over over the planning from Peter.

Peter, from a position of expecting a rejection of support from his future in-laws, and expecting to tell his friend, ‘No deal.’ now had to reassess the situation, stillunsure of the real reason why he had embarked on this unlikely venture when he picked up the telephone.

He was now left with having to think through the discussion of the last minutes as a probable outcome. Peter’s suggestion of adopting a refugee child carried with it kudos to be seized upon. That plus the fact that she was probably an heiress, was indeed manna from heaven to Sir George.

Well versed in the intrigues of government and the Civil Service, he took control.

Peter returned to the bar in a daze. Hal anxiously awaiting, picked up on this.

“Please Pete, don’t pitch me a curve. Not now.”

Peter didn’t have an answer ready, at least one that he was prepared to give. He tried desperately to sort out his emotions. From a position of expecting to have acquired the credit for trying to sort out his friend’s problem then failing and waiting for their relationship to return to where it had been for the last few years, he was now having to consider that his unlikely plan was far from dead.

“Well?” Hal prompted.

Mim, who in the meantime had returned to her game once more climbed on Hal’s lap and stared at Peter. Another time, another day, Peter would have marvelled at her ability to pick up so easily on the importance of events. Today he just grappled with the need to reply intelligently.

“Plans are now in place but please Hal, don’t expect too much.”

Feeling pleased with this reply he did his best to appear in control. Peter was desperate to ignore the obvious import of the relationship, the bonding of Hal and this tiny refugee. He was keenly aware of the potential distress caused by the failure of this plan.

“The best laid plans …”

Hal interrupted him. “Don’t give me that Pete, just do your best. Please help us.”

Peter didn’t have an answer. Unable to cope with the following silence, he went outside the hotel to get some space and take time to think. Hours later he still hadn’t returned. Tired of walking and of turning the problem over and over in his mind he was sitting in the waiting area of the ferry terminal.

He had tried to tell his friend that his hopes of adoption were just pipe dreams. He knew also that Sir George had powerful friends in Whitehall and that anything could happen. Alongside these thoughts was his own wish that the whole trauma could end. They could then return to where they were just one week ago.

“Hi there, Peter. Thank you.”

A familiar voice penetrated his thoughts. He looked up at the familiar toothy smile shrouded in a blue haze.

“Thank you?”

“I guess you are here to save me the journey into Paris. Didn’t Andre tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Peg looked long and hard at Peter. “You all right?”

Peter at last gathered his wits. “You came back.”

Peg realised that Peter was not there to meet her.

“We decided that it would be best if I came across with you. The immigration chaps will be more amenable if I am around as Mim’s carer.” Peggy Firth looked around.

“Where are Hal and the little girl? At Andre’s uncle’s place?”

Peter was still staring at the floor and trembling as he tried to recover his wits, not understanding what was happening to him, trying to control his limbs and failing. He wanted his old life back even though it was less than perfect. He wanted above all Hal back in his life. Peg realised that all was not well tossed her cigarette on the floor and blew a lung full of blue smoke away from Peter then began to waft the air around him as if to blow away any evil spirits. Peg didn’t ask questions she just sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders.

“Shall we go and find the other two?”

Peter was warmed and comforted by Peggy’s presence. Surprised by his emotions, he was unable to speak and just nodded. Together they walked back to the hotel.