"Guy N. Smith - Night Of The Crabs 1 - Night of the Crabs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Guy N)

using helicopters. They, er, they haven't found anything yet. It appears that
. . . your nephew and his lady friend have been washed out to sea whilst
bathing.'

Cliff Davenport sat down on a nearby chair. His face was ashen. His whole body
trembled.

'Impossible! ' His dry croak lacked conviction.

'I'm afraid ...' the sergeant began, but stopped as he saw the look in the
other's eye.

'Thank you, Sergeant.' Cliff was on his feet as though he had instantly
shrugged off the sudden shock, 'Perhaps you will let me know at once if you
find anything.'

The two policemen stepped outside into the bright sunlight. Both heaved sighs
of relief. It had been easier than they had anticipated. The Professor had
taken the news admirably.

Inside the house Cliff Davenport stood with his back to the closed door. He
knew in his heart that he would never see either Ian Wright or Julie Coles
again.




Chapter Two



CLIFF DAVENPORT remained at his West Hampstead home for three days. He did no
work, and he ate little. He consumed on average an ounce of tobacco a day.
Those lines on his face deepened. He was hardened to grief, but it was the
very fact of not knowing that troubled him. If Ian and Julie were dead, then
for a short while he would succumb to grief. If they were discovered alive,
then he would rejoice. Until then he would endure untold mental agony.

Each day he rang the police headquarters at Harlech. The answer was always the
same. In the end the Inspector there told him that they would telephone him
the moment they had any news. That meant they were not hopeful of finding the
couple alive.

By Saturday morning the telephone had still not rung. Cliff roused himself
from the armchair which had, by now, been his sleeping place for five nights.
He knew that he could not endure another night of waiting, the restless pacing
up and down, of the feeling of utter helplessness. He went upstairs to his
small, untidy bedroom and dragged a dusty suitcase from beneath the bed.
Pulling open drawers at random he began throwing items of clothing into it.