The Glimpses of the Moon Read Online Free

–even,’ he said in gentle wonderment, ‘me. So of course, that way it got fixed in my mind. And I can tell you one thing – Gobbo certainly did leave here that evening bang on time. I know because I looked at my watch because the afternoon seemed to have gone by in a flash, and I could hardly believe it was so late. And he did have his sit–down as usual under the old elm. But as to whether he talked to anyone, I can’t be sure. Because, look.’
    With deliberation, so as to avoid punishing his muscles needlessly, Jack Jones elevated himself an inch or two against the pillows. He pointed out of the window. Clustering round the bed–head, Fen and Padmore and the Major gazed intelligently in the direction indicated. There, sure enough, was the elm–tree, with the bench fixed round its bole. There too was the battered grey Morris 1000 which Padmore had hired in Glazebridge to take him round the neighbourhood. And there too was a much newer, larger shinier saloon, whimsically disfigured by the words Avgas Will Travel painted along its side. Hundreds of unidentifiable small birds sat in rows on the telephone wires, pecking sedulously at their armpits. A light breeze blew. In the centre of the lane beyond the car–park a couched cat was having a choking fit, trying to bring up a fur–ball.
    â€˜Because, look,’ said Jack Jones. ‘From where I am’ – and his inflection made it clear that where he was could be taken for all practical purposes as immutable – ‘from where I am you can see the tree. Bend closer.’ They bent closer. ‘You can see thetree – only not, of course,’ said Jack Jones, ‘if there’s anything in front of it.’
    The Major straightened up rather abruptly. ‘Yes, quite so, my dear fellow,’ he said. ‘One very seldom can see anything if there’s anything in front of it. Not properly, anyway. So there was something in front of it that evening, was there? A car, I suppose. But in that case, from up here, couldn’t you even so have seen if –’
    â€˜No, because it was a horse–box,’ Jack Jones said. ‘One of Clarence Tully’s. I’ve told him he can leave them here any time he wants, and that evening he did, and that’s what cut off my view of the old elm.’
    â€˜So actually, you couldn’t even see Gobbo?’
    â€˜Oh yes, I could see
Gobbo.
Well, part of him.’
    â€˜Well then, couldn’t you see if he was talking to anyone?’
    â€˜No, I couldn’t, I’m afraid. Anyone he was talking to would’ve been hidden completely by the horse–box.’
    â€˜Yes, quite, but what I mean is, you could see he was talking to
someone,
couldn’t you? You could see his mouth move and so forth.’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜But, my dear chap, why ever not?’
    â€˜Because it was only Gobbo’s back part I could see. I couldn’t see his face at all.’
    â€˜Well,’ said Fen, ‘but what about when Gobbo left, to go on home?’
    â€˜I wasn’t here, I’m afraid. I’d got up to go to the toilet. And then when I came back, Gobbo had left … I’m sorry,’ said Jack Jones sadly, ‘but there it is.’
    â€˜As a matter of interest, though,’ said Fen, ‘when you came back, was there anyone in the car–park at all?’
    â€˜No, no one. Nothing except for the horse–box. Mondays are always quiet. No, the only other – Wait, though!’ said Jack Jones in sudden excitement. ‘Wait! The Rector!’
    â€˜The Rector, my dear fellow? What about him?’
    â€˜He passed!’
    â€˜Passed? Where? When?’
    â€˜Just before I went to the toilet, it was,’ said Jack Jones, gratified at having at last found something positive to tell them.‘Coming up along the lane fast, the Rector was – you know, with that bandy–legged stride of his