Dust to Dust Read Online Free PDF

thanking fate that he hadn’t driven down to Oxford but had opted for the train instead. He wondered how people who lunched like that regularly could possibly function in the afternoon, although he had to admit that Harvey seemed perfectly alert. One thing was still intriguing him, so he asked, ‘What made you decide to approach me?’
    Harvey smiled. ‘We didn’t pick your name out of a hat, if that’s what you’re wondering,’ he said. ‘When the papers from the house in the Borders came into our possession, we did some research to find out who might best benefit from the new finding. Your reputation and expertise – not to mention the publicity given to the current academic argument – put you at the top of the list. I have to admit that the appearance of the Hotspur Foundation on the scene was something we hadn’t anticipated, but why knock serendipity? Bringing all these factors together for mutual benefit is, well … what I do.’
    ‘And very well too,’ said Motram. ‘I must say I’m intrigued by the Hotspur Foundation.’
    ‘As I said, individual benefactors are by no means unusual, although I understand that in this case the funds are really quite substantial.’
    ‘Perhaps those sorts of benefactors are not unusual in Oxford University.’ Motram deliberately accentuated his northern accent. ‘For us folk up north it’s quite a different matter. How does it work? I mean, who makes the decisions? Who holds the purse strings?’
    ‘In this instance, I understand it’s a firm of London solicitors, although it would be naive to imagine that they actually make the decisions. They’ll be charged with maintaining their client’s anonymity while relaying their instructions and advice.’
    ‘I seem to remember you saying that funding was being provided for researchers in “certain fields”,’ said Motram. ‘Can you be more precise?’
    Harvey nodded. ‘Broadly speaking, within the compass of viral infection, immune response, transplantation technology and post-operative care.’
    ‘Sexy science,’ said Motram. ‘No one ever puts up funding for research into arthritis, deafness or the stuff that makes life a misery for so many in later life. Unfortunately, old age is usually a case of never mind the quality, count the years.’
    ‘Sadly true,’ nodded Harvey. ‘Death is seen as the great enemy.’
    ‘And we’ll all live for ever if only we can wipe out killer disease. It’s a peculiar mindset.’
    ‘Born out of fear,’ said Harvey. ‘Fear of the great unknown: it’s the way it’s always been. The grave’s a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace .’
    ‘About sums it up,’ said Motram.
    Harvey replenished their glasses from a crystal decanter that had a Latin inscription on it which Motram kept trying to see in its entirety but fate kept denying him. ‘Tell me more about your belief that Black Death was caused by a virus and not plague,’ he said. ‘I’m led to believe that you know more than perhaps anyone else about how viruses attack us. I read one of your papers as part of my homework on you and was most impressed. As I said, I’m not a scientist, but I came away knowing a lot more than I had before. That says much about your abilities as a teacher. You are more concerned with imparting knowledge than achieving self-promotion through complexity, a curse that afflicts so many.’
    ‘Kind of you to say so.’
    ‘One thing worries me, though …’
    ‘What’s that?’
    ‘A short while ago you mentioned the possibility of Black Death’s having been caused by a virus unknown to us today?’
    ‘Just as a possibility,’ said Motram.
    ‘All the same, if that did turn out to be the case, wouldn’t there be a chance of opening Pandora’s box when it comes to breaching this vault in the Scottish Borders and bringing a killer back to life? I’d hate the college to be responsible for unleashing a new pandemic on the world.’
    ‘I really don’t think