Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Itwasnowgettingonforeighto’clock,andIwentbackandsawScaifetogivehimhisinstructions.Iarrangedwithhimhowtoplacehismen,andthenIwentforawalk,forIdidn’tfeeluptoanydinner.Iwentroundthedesertedgolf-course,andthentoapointonthecliffsfarthernorthbeyondthelineofthevillas.

           Onthelittletrimnewly-maderoadsImetpeopleinflannelscomingbackfromtennisandthebeach,andacoastguardfromthewirelessstation,anddonkeysandpierrotspaddinghomewards.OutatseaintheblueduskIsawlightsappearontheAriadneandonthedestroyerawaytothesouth,andbeyondtheCocksandsthebiggerlightsofsteamersmakingfortheThames.ThewholescenewassopeacefulandordinarythatIgotmoredashedinspiritseverysecond.IttookallmyresolutiontostrolltowardsTrafalgarLodgeabouthalf-pastnine.

           OnthewayIgotapieceofsolidcomfortfromthesightofagreyhoundthatwasswingingalongatanursemaid’sheels.HeremindedmeofadogIusedtohaveinRhodesia,andofthetimewhenItookhimhuntingwithmeinthePalihills.Wewereafterrhebok,thedunkind,andIrecollectedhowwehadfollowedonebeast,andbothheandIhadcleanlostit.Agreyhoundworksbysight,andmyeyesaregoodenough,butthatbucksimplyleakedoutofthelandscape.AfterwardsIfoundouthowitmanagedit.Againstthegreyrockofthekopjesitshowednomorethanacrowagainstathundercloud.Itdidn’tneedtorunaway;allithadtodowastostandstillandmeltintothebackground.