The Killing of Katie Steelstock Read Online Free PDF Page A

it.”
    “The same again, Sam,” said Vigors. The round had reached him for the second time. Five drinks had inflated them all, but they were far from drunk.
    “The real problem of today,” said Mariner, “is mindless violence. The sort of violence that ruins football matches, breaks unoffending shop windows and wrecks railway carriages. It’d be easier to forgive if there was some point to it.”
    “Like hijacking and kidnapping, you mean?” said Vigors.
    “I don’t condone that sort of thing, of course. But the people who do it do at least have an objective.”
    “Even if it’s only money.”
    “Certainly. But they’re not doing it because they’re bored. And they’re not doing it because they enjoy violence for its own sake.”
    “Doing it for kicks. Isn’t that the modern expression?” said Gonville. “There was a case in the papers the other day. A girl of fifteen and a boy of twelve— twelve, mind you—got their evening’s entertainment out of kicking an old woman to death. What can you do with people like that?”
    “Half the trouble is our attitude,” said Mariner. “The Government positively encourages us to be weak-kneed. That White Paper they put out, ‘Children in Trouble.’ What a load of drip! It’s not the children who are in trouble, for God’s sake, it’s their victims. The women and old people they beat up and rob.”
    “It’s not only the Government. The newspapers play the same game.”
    “Some of them.”
    “Including,” said Vigors, “that outstanding example of progressive pink journalism, the Hannington Gazette.”
    “You mean the gospel according to Jonathan Limbery,” said Gonville. “I thought that last article of his was practically contempt of court.”
    “I read it,” said Mariner. His face, which was normally a placid and unrevealing mask, had sharpened into more than mere disapproval. Looking at him, Vigors thought, Something personal there, I fancy. “In my view, for what it’s worth, that young man should have been prosecuted. Isn’t it a crime to advocate the destruction of our existing institutions by force?”
    “Sedition,” said Vigors doubtfully. “You’d need a very strong case to carry a jury in these libertarian days.”
    “It was the savagery of the article that appalled me. The sort of gloating pleasure about the prospect of anybody with more money or position than him having their faces stamped on.”
    “He’s a savage young man,” agreed Gonville.
    “A few years ago it wouldn’t have been so dangerous, because people would have laughed at him. Now one isn’t sure any longer.”
    “One can’t be sure of anything these days,” said Vigors. “Except that if the price of drink goes up much further we shall all have to take the pledge. Cheers.”
    “Cheers,” said Gonville.
    Mariner was still angry. He said, “Mark my words, there could be trouble coming, and if it does come that young man and people like him will be to blame for it.”
     
    Noel Vigors was dancing with Katie. He was describing the strategy which had led the firm of Vigors and Dibden to an unexpected decision in their favour in the Reading County Court (“with costs”) when Katie said, “I’m sorry, Noel. I’ve simply got to get out.”
    “Get out? Where to?”
    “Out of this place.”
    “You’re not feeling ill, are you?”
    “No. I’m perfectly well. And all I’ve had to drink tonight is one glass of gin and lime – without much gin in it. Be a dear. I think this dance is nearly over. Steer me close to the door, so that I can slip out the moment it stops.”
    This was the main entrance and exit of the hall. The inner door led into a small lobby, with a gentlemen’s cloakroom on one side and a ladies’ cloakroom on the other, and then to the outer door, which gave onto Church Lane.
    Noel said, “O.K. If that’s what you want.” The floor was now crowded. He timed his manoeuvre with precision, reaching the door as a roll of drums marked the