The Blasphemer: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

asked her yourself, Dad. There was no need to call me in here like …’
    His father looked at him.
    ‘Sure,’ Daniel said, backing down. ‘I’ll ask her to have a look at them.’
    ‘But only if you think we should.’
    It was Daniel’s turn to frown. ‘Meaning?’
    ‘Sometimes it’s best not to disturb the past.’
    ‘Disturb? What are you getting at?’
    Philip swallowed. His mouth groped for an answer. ‘I … I don’tknow. My French is not … I think there was a reason your aunt Hillary never had them translated.’
    ‘How do you know she didn’t?’
    ‘She told me … When she was dying. She said there was a tin in the garage she wanted me to have. Said she had never read the letters. I feel …’ He searched for the right word. ‘I don’t know … Superstitious about them. Once opened. Once read …’ He repacked the wallet, hip flask, lock of hair and copy of Punch in the tin.
    ‘Dad, you worry too much.’ Daniel’s voice had softened. ‘You should definitely get the letters translated.’
    ‘So you don’t mind?’
    ‘Why should I mind?’
    ‘I have your agreement?’
    Daniel’s brow puckered again. ‘Don’t get weird on me, Dad. Of course you … Do whatever you think best.’ He took the letters, slipped them into his jacket and, for a moment, panicked as he felt for the passports. Remembering he had put them in the glove compartment of the car, he said: ‘Anyway, we’d better shift. Thanks for looking after Martha and Kevin. I’ll ring from the airport. Tell you …’ He looked around and lowered his voice: ‘Tell you how it went.’
    Kevin trotted in, followed by Martha licking her fingers as she finished a doughnut. When Philip saw her, he clapped his papery hands together and opened them slowly to inspect. ‘Missed,’ he said with mock gloominess. ‘Damn and blast.’
    ‘Missed what?’ Martha asked.
    ‘A fairy. Been having trouble with them. They make holes in my clothes.’
    Martha laughed indulgently. ‘Fairies don’t exist, Grampy. You’re thinking of moths.’
    ‘Of course fairies exist. What’s this then?’ He reached in his pocket. Martha’s eyes widened and, despite herself, she walked over for a better look. Philip pulled out his pocket lining and showed Martha a hole in it. ‘See?’ he said.
    Martha laughed again and punched her grandfather’s leg.
    Daniel shook his head. How could the old bugger be so at easewith his granddaughter, yet so awkward with his own son? He headed back out into the hall and called through to Nancy, who was talking to Amanda in the kitchen. With her rheumy eyes, soft cheeks and reserved manner, Daniel’s stepmother gave the impression to strangers of being a passive and tolerant person. Nancy knew better. ‘Amanda was telling me that your cousin Thomas is getting married,’ she said pointedly as she emerged from the kitchen. A thin smile was playing on Amanda’s granite lips.
    ‘Mum,’ Martha said. ‘Grampy was pretending that he had a fairy in his pocket, but I know there aren’t any fairies – Daniel told me.’
    ‘Call me Daddy.’
    Martha took her father’s hand. ‘He told me at the same time he told me there is no God and no Father Christmas.’ Philip, Amanda and Nancy looked at Daniel accusingly.
    ‘What?’ Daniel said, pointing at himself. ‘ What? … Well, there isn’t.’ He kissed Martha on the forehead. ‘Bye, darling. Keep Grampy out of trouble.’
    ‘ Auf Wiedersehen ,’ the nine-year-old said with a grin. This was a game of theirs.
    ‘ Au revoir ,’ Daniel said.
    ‘ Arrivederci .’
    ‘ Sayonara .’
    ‘ Do svidaniya .’
    ‘We’ll be back in a couple of hours,’ Nancy interrupted.
    The snow had turned to sleet. ‘ ¡Chao! ,’ Daniel said in a stage whisper, pulling a guilty face as he turned his collar up, jogged to the car and opened the door. As he was reaching for his seat belt, arthritic knuckles rapped on the window. Daniel wound it down. Philip reached in and tucked a poppy