Appointment with Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

interested.

Chapter 6
    Sarah King stood in the precincts of the Temple—the Haramesh-Sherif. Her back was to the Dome of the Rock. The splashing of fountains sounded in her ears. Little groups of tourists passed by without disturbing the peace of the oriental atmosphere.
    Strange, thought Sarah, that once a Jebusite should have made this rocky summit into a threshing floor and that David should have purchased it for six hundred shekels of gold and made it a Holy Place. And now the loud chattering tongues of sightseers of all nations could be heard.
    She turned and looked at the Mosque which now covered the shrine and wondered if Solomon’s temple would have looked half as beautiful.
    There was a clatter of footsteps and a little party came out from the interior of the Mosque. It was the Boyntons escorted by a voluble dragoman. Mrs Boyntonwas supported between Lennox and Raymond. Nadine and Mr Cope walked behind. Carol came last. As they were moving off, the latter caught sight of Sarah.
    She hesitated, then, on a sudden decision, she wheeled round and ran swiftly and noiselessly across the courtyard.
    â€˜Excuse me,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I must—I—I felt I must speak to you.’
    â€˜Yes?’ said Sarah.
    Carol was trembling violently. Her face was quite white.
    â€˜It’s about—my brother. When you—you spoke to him last night you must have thought him very rude. But he didn’t mean to be—he—he couldn’t help it. Oh, do please believe me.’
    Sarah felt that the whole scene was ridiculous. Both her pride and her good taste were offended. Why should a strange girl suddenly rush up and tender a ridiculous apology for a boorish brother?
    An off-hand reply trembled on her lips—and then, quickly, her mood changed.
    There was something out of the ordinary here. This girl was in deadly earnest. That something in Sarah which had led her to adopt a medical career reacted to the girl’s need. Her instinct told her there was something badly wrong.
    She said encouragingly: ‘Tell me about it.’
    â€˜He spoke to you on the train, didn’t he?’ began Carol.
    Sarah nodded. ‘Yes; at least, I spoke to him.’
    â€˜Oh, of course. It would be that way round. But, you see, last night Ray was afraid—’
    She stopped.
    â€˜Afraid?’
    Carol’s white face crimsoned.
    â€˜Oh, I know it sounds absurd—mad. You see, my mother—she’s—she’s not well—and she doesn’t like us making friends outside. But—but I know Ray would—would like to be friends with you.’
    Sarah was interested. Before she could speak, Carol went on: ‘I—I know what I’m saying sounds very silly, but we are—rather an odd family.’ She cast a quick look round—it was a look of fear.
    â€˜I—I mustn’t stay,’ she murmured. ‘They may miss me.’
    Sarah made up her mind. She spoke.
    â€˜Why shouldn’t you stay—if you want to? We might walk back together.’
    â€˜Oh, no.’ Carol drew back. ‘I—I couldn’t do that.’
    â€˜Why not?’ said Sarah.
    â€˜I couldn’t really. My mother would be—would be—’
    Sarah said clearly and calmly:
    â€˜I know it’s awfully difficult sometimes for parents torealize that their children are grown up. They will go on trying to run their lives for them. But it’s a pity, you know, to give in! One must stand up for one’s rights.’
    Carol murmured: ‘You don’t understand—you don’t understand in the least…’
    Her hands twisted together nervously.
    Sarah went on: ‘One gives in sometimes because one is afraid of rows. Rows are very unpleasant, but I think freedom of action is always worth fighting for.’
    â€˜Freedom?’ Carol stared at her. ‘None of us have ever been free. We never will be.’
    â€˜Nonsense!’