Island-in-Waiting by Anthea Fraser Page A

gripped my arm.
    â€œCome on, now. You’ll not be going without a goodnight kiss.”
    I bent forward swiftly and kissed him on the mouth.
    â€œGood-night, Ray. Thanks for showing me round.” And before he could stop me, I slid quickly out of the car.
    He leaned across the passenger seat and looked up at me. “The truce is over Chloe. From now on it’s each of us for himself. O.K.?”
    â€œO.K.”
    He started the car and I stood looking after him until the red tail-light turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

Nine
    We went to the college chapel the next morning as Martha had promised, and sitting with the staff in the gallery were able to look down on the serried rows of unusually tidy boys in their Sunday uniform. The building was Gothic in style and the stained glass window above the altar reminded me of Holman Hunt’s famous picture The Light of the World.
    But despite the deep peacefulness of the atmosphere and the sweetness of the boys’ voices, I found it impossible to anchor my thoughts. There was too much in my mind of pre-Christian folklore on this sunny morning for the comfortable words of the Prayer Book to reach me, and though I joined in the familiar hymns my thoughts continued to circle round Celtic burial grounds, sun-worship and the lovely hillside above St John’s, where the atmosphere was still charged with terror after three hundred long years.
    I was also aware that several of those near us had been giving me curious looks, and I wasn’t anxious to linger after the service but a group had gathered at the door and as we passed Simon Fenton called, “Shall we be seeing you all at the King Orry this evening?”
    Hugo paused. “Possibly. We haven’t really thought about it yet.”
    â€œWell, the gang will be there, if you can make it. You coming, Pam?”
    Pam Beecham flung me a spiteful glance. “Yes, Neil and I’ll probably go along as usual.”
    And it happened again. I heard myself say urgently, “Don’t go out this evening, Pam, please!”
    Everyone turned to me in surprise and Pam regarded me open-mouthed.
    â€œWell, I must say –!”
    â€œI mean it. Whatever happens, please stay in. It’s desperately important.”
    â€œI’ve heard some things in my time, but really!”
    â€œListen, there’ll be a phone call – a vital one. You’ll never forgive yourself if you’re not there.”
    She continued to stare at me and I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. After a moment she said jerkily, “You’re turning into a regular little sybil, aren’t you? And what is this phone call, may I ask? Tell me now and I needn’t bother staying in!”
    The urgency drained out of me as suddenly as it had arisen. “I don’t know,” I said dully. “I just know it’s terribly important.”
    â€œBetter listen to her, Pam!” Carol said with an uneasy laugh. “She was right about John.”
    â€œNonsense, it was just a fluke. I don’t believe a word of it.”
    I shrugged and turned away, anxious now to escape from the curiosity on their faces. Pam came after me and said in a low voice, “I suppose you think if I cry off this evening Neil’ll ask you instead? Sorry, my dear, you’ll have to be a bit less obvious than that!”
    I said wearily, “You’re wrong, Pam, but it’s up to you. I’ve tried to warn you, that’s all. If you won’t listen there’s nothing more I can do.”
    Martha came up and took my arm. “Come on, love, we left a joint in the oven, don’t forget!” And she guided me swiftly back to the car.
    â€œYou really meant that, didn’t you?” Hugo said as we drove out of the gates.
    â€œIt just suddenly came into my head.”
    â€œAnd you don’t know what this phone call would be about?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, you’re certainly