Death in Kashmir by M. M. Kaye Page B

assisted her husband to remove the dead girl’s clothing, so that he and Major McKay could conduct a thorough examination to eliminate any possibility of foul play—that nothing unusual had been found. Which could only mean that the holster and its sling had also been taken, since its discovery would certainly have aroused a good deal of curiosity and speculation.

5
    â€˜Where are you going, Sarah?’ Ian’s voice sounded as cheerful as ever.
    â€˜Out,’ said Sarah briefly. She pulled on her skiing gloves, and picking up her ski-sticks, stepped out of the over-heated atmosphere of the hotel lounge into the chill of the darkening afternoon.
    â€˜Then I’ll come with you and keep an eye on you.’
    â€˜No thank you, Ian,’ said Sarah, allowing him to adjust and buckle on her skis. ‘I’m only going across the marg, and I’d rather go by myself if you don’t mind.’ She drew the loops of her ski-sticks over her wrists as Ian fastened the last strap and stood up, dusting the snow off his knees.
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Sarah. I know this business has been a bit of a jolt for you, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t behave in a rational manner. There’s a hell of a storm coming up, and it isn’t going to help the situation if you get yourself lost in it. At least let me come with you if you feel you must go mooching about the marg. ’
    Sarah said: ‘But I don’t want you, Ian. And don’t worry, I won’t get lost. See you at tea-time—and thanks for your help.’
    She slid swiftly away down the snow-covered path, gaining momentum as it dipped sharply downwards, and vanished round a curve of the hill, leaving Ian Kelly to mutter evil words and return moodily to the hotel and the subdued groups of skiers discussing the latest tragedy in the lounge.
    At the bottom of the hill Sarah swung to the right, and skirting it, made for the end of the Red Run and turned up into the forest.
    The sky was by now completely overcast and, although it was barely two o’clock, the day had darkened to a twilight dimness. Little gusts of wind were blowing across the open marg, but under the snow-ladened boughs of the forest trees the air was cold and still, as Sarah picked her way carefully between the tree trunks and presently reached the junction of the two runs where the twins had stopped that morning. Brushing the snow from a tree stump she unfastened her skis and sat down facing the slope of Blue Run, and propping her chin on her hand, thought deeply.
    Of one thing only she was completely sure. Janet, like Mrs Matthews, had been murdered. Not for one moment did she believe the doctor’s diagnosis of accidental death due to a fall at speed and the striking of her head against a rock. She was certain that the blow that had killed Janet had been deliberately inflicted, for to prove it, as in the case of Mrs Matthews, there was the missing gun.
    The question was how? Sarah went back once more over that conversation with Janet in the moonlight outside the Khilanmarg hut, and once again she seemed to hear Janet’s low confident laugh as she said: ‘It’s all right Sarah. Don’t look so horrified. I’ll keep to the edge of the run, and I know the route like the back of my hand. Don’t worry. There won’t be a murderer waiting down there for me at this time of night.’
    The edge of the run …
    Sarah stood up, and carrying her skis, walked up the side of the Blue Run, keeping among the trees. Presently she crossd to the other side, and less than a minute later came upon what she was looking for: the track of a single skier on the extreme right-hand side of the run, among the tree trunks.
    Turning she followed the track downhill, and at the junction of the runs stopped to fasten on her skis before picking up the trail again. It ran down the hill following the line of Blue Run, passed without pause the