Death in Zanzibar Read Online Free PDF Page A

Harriet,’ gasped Dany, made literal by shock.
    â€˜She the one who taught you to tote a gun?’ inquired Mr Holden, interested.
    â€˜No, of course not! I — it isn’t mine.’
    â€˜Just borrowed it, I guess. Now, look, I know it’s none of my business, but are you in some sort of a jam?’
    â€˜N-no,’ said Dany uncertainly. ‘There isn’t anything — I mean…’ She looked down at the gun that she still held clutched in her hand, and said: ‘Is this an automatic?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Mr Holden.
    Dany shuddered suddenly and uncontrollably, and he reached out, and taking it from her, jerked back the cocking-piece. She saw his eyebrows go up in surprise and he said in a startled voice: ‘Loaded, by golly!’
    He removed the magazine and counted the rounds, and finding these one short, sniffed the barrel. ‘And fired! Say, look sister — you haven’t by any chance been taking a shot at someone, have you?’
    Dany said: ‘ Has it been fired? Are you sure?’
    â€˜Yep. And fairly recently, I’d say.’
    He clicked the magazine back into place and, laying the little gun on the dressing-table, thrust his hands into his pockets and stood looking down at her with a crease between his brows. She looked, he thought, very young and scared and helpless, and he wished that his head felt a bit clearer. He had an uncomfortable suspicion that he was about to become involved in something that he would regret, and that were he in full possession of his faculties he would collect his bathrobe and leave the room without loss of time. But he did not go. He picked up the empty tooth-glass instead, and having poured out a second and larger tot from the flask, swallowed it and felt better.
    â€˜Now,’ said Mr Holden bracingly, drawing up a chair and disposing himself in comfort, ‘let’s get down to cases. Go ahead — tell me what’s the trouble.’
    Dany had not previously come into contact with anything stronger than cider cup, and four fingers of rye whisky were beginning to have their effect. The fact that Mr Holden was a stranger to her, and should therefore be treated with proper reserve, did not seem to be of the slightest importance. And anyway he knew her current step-father and was going to marry one of her mother’s oldest friends, and perhaps he would be able to tell her what to do.
    She said haltingly: ‘I — I don’t know where to start.’
    â€˜Try starting at the beginning,’ suggested Mr Holden sensibly.
    Dany looked at the gun, and shivered again. She said: ‘I found this — the gun — in that drawer just now. Someone must have put it in there while I was at breakfast, or — some time. And I — know it’s silly, but I suddenly wondered if it were the gun. The papers say it was a small automatic, and though I know it can’t possibly be, I thought ____ ’
    â€˜Hey, wait a minute,’ intervened Mr Holden, pardonably confused. ‘What gun, and what papers? You’ll have to do better than that, sister. My wits are not all that sharp this morning. And by the way, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you “hey” or “you” or “whatsername”.’
    â€˜Ashton. Dany Ashton.’
    â€˜Delighted to meet you, Miss Ashton. I’m Lash Holden, from ____ ’
    â€˜I know,’ said Dany, cutting him short. ‘You’re going to Kivulimi too, aren’t you?’
    â€˜What’s that?’ Lash sat bolt upright, and the movement appeared to be painful, for he screwed up his eyes and winced. ‘Say, do you know Tyson?’
    â€˜He’s my step-father.’
    â€˜Well, whatdoyouknow?’ demanded Lash in pleased surprise. ‘That makes us practically relations. My Pop is a life-long pal of the old reprobate. They used to infest the speakeasies back in the old days when the States