"Campbell, Ramsey - The Parasite 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Campbell Ramsey)

`I'll see if I can do something - that is, if you don't mind. I'd like to share. I'm used to people who are neighbourly.' After a pause she said, `You left the country before we had a chance to meet you,' but she'd seemed about to say something else.

`That's right.' Rose poured the coffee. `I felt strange for days after we came back, as though I was dreaming. The Englishness of everything seemed so unfamiliar. You aren't from England originally, are you?'

'No.' Gladys was delving into her bag; papers rustled, objects chinked. `I carry all my things about with me -I'm afraid they might be stolen. It's a compulsion, Colin says.' She produced a tube of green and brown capsules. `Excuse me if I take these for my nerves.'

Was she avoiding Rose's question? Her accent went with the stamp on the envelope. `You're from South Africa,' Rose said.

`Yes, we are.' She sounded ready to defend herself, though Rose wasn't about to attack: her books sold in South Africa, her bank invested there; life was compromises. `I wish we were still there,' Gladys said.

She mustn't have meant to sound so defiant, for she hurried on: `Don't think I'm ungrateful for England. We came here through America and Canada, but I couldn't have stayed. If there's any security left in the world, it's here. People are starting to realize that now. But I can't help it - I feel I was driven out of my home, that my parents made for me.'

Had the tranquillizers made her confiding? `When my parents died I couldn't believe they were gone. I can't believe that people of their character can be lost to the world. But I've learned to be patient. That's the right way to feel, don't you think so?'

'I'm sure you're right to feel that way, Gladys.'

`I hoped you'd say so.' Gladys's smile wavered. `But at the time I felt my life was meaningless, except for Colin. If I ever lost him I don't know what I'd do. He made me see I shouldn't waste my life. We built a new life together, and then the blacks began to turn on us, on our way of life. The things they do now to their victims in Africa - no grievance can justify that.' Her face was red with anger now. `I would never have believed I could say this, but I'm glad we left while we were still able to.'

Rose felt it safest to change the subject. `What is Colin?'

'A psychiatrist. Just for the moment he's working at home. He'll have an office in Rodney Street - someone told us that's where doctors go.' Reluctantly she added `You may have seen some of his patients.'

`Why, he doesn't treat mental deficiency, does he?'

'Oh, you mean Mrs. Kimber and her son. Colin isn't treating the son, he's treating the mother.'

`I have a friend in psychiatry. She works in a sort of psychiatric commune down South. Their ideas are based on Laing, R. D. Laing.' Gladys looked baffled and unimpressed, and Rose went on, `They're opposed to orthodox methods - no drugs, no ECT, no forcible treatment.'

`I couldn't trust that kind of thing, communes and the rest of it. It's all part of the way everything is sliding towards chaos.' She seemed to be nerving herself to change the subject. Was she daunted by all strangers, or only by writers? `Really, the reason why I called,' she blurted, `was that I wanted to invite you to our party next week. Next Friday.'

`I believe we're free then,' Rose said, a little warily. `I'll mention it to Bill when he comes home.'

`Oh, I'm so pleased. Who else should we invite?'

'I really wouldn't know, Gladys. We know hardly anyone round here by name.'

`We'll have to be friends, then.' Perhaps the tranquillizers were wearing off; all at once she seemed more nervous. `I mustn't keep you any longer,' she said.

Nevertheless she dodged into the living-room for a last murmur of awe at Shared Nightmares. As she scurried out she said `That looks as though it ought to be one of a pair.'

A porcelain Chinaman squatted on the sideboard. His right hand, delicate as a squirrel's, ought to be introducing his companion, a mirror image of himself, but he was alone.

`There should be another one. Where is it?' Dismay made Rose sound accusing.

`Is it on the floor?' Gladys scuttled about like a mime of panic. `I'm sorry,' she wailed. `I didn't mean to upset you.'

`Don't be silly, Gladys. You aren't to blame.' Still, Rose found her nerve-racking. As quickly as she could without hurting her feelings, she ushered Gladys out.

Miss Prince must have broken the figurine while she was supposed to be looking after the house. The old bitch probably thought it was too cheap to be worth mentioning. Uncle Wilfred and Auntie Vi had given Rose the figurines, all that she had of theirs - they hadn't had much to give.