The Longer Bodies Read Online Free PDF Page B

fifth-century Greeks themselves, Hilary Yeomond was in the act of throwing the discus.
    The obstruction over which the wheel of the bathchair had passed proved to be a javelin of the kind that is used in athletics. The bathchair halted. Its occupant and her satellite investigated. The Scrounger, always thankful for any respite from his duties, stood back and let his eyes rove over the now familiar scene. Hilary Yeomond, having finished his throw, and being disinclined to walk after the discus and retrieve it, strolled across to his elderly relative and bent to see what was lying half-hidden in the grass by the wheel of her chariot.
    â€˜Pick it up, boy! Pick it up!’ squealed old Mrs Puddequet, leaning forward in the bathchair and dealing him a swipe across the legs with her umbrella.
    It was the angular Miss Caddick, however, who stooped and gingerly raised the long shaft of the javelin from the ground. She held it out so that its discoloured point came within ten inches of Great-aunt Puddequet’s face.
    â€˜Blood,’ said Miss Caddick, with great pleasure. She licked her thin lips hungrily, and touched the stained end of the spear delicately with her fingertips.
    â€˜Repulsive,’ said old Mrs Puddequet. ‘Prod the attendant.’
    Miss Caddick, however, discovered a more tactful method of attracting Joseph’s attention. She walked forward until she blocked his line of vision, and then spoke. Joe, who was preparing to expectorate, less from necessity than as an expression of opinion on Malpas Yeomond’s performance over the high jump, which he had been watching in growing disgust during the past moment or so, recollected himself hastily and stood to attention.
    â€˜Mam?’ said he, turning smartly towards Great-aunt Puddequet.
    â€˜Remove this implement.’
    â€˜This ’ere javelin, mam?’
    â€˜Certainly.’
    â€˜Where to, mam?’
    â€˜Attendant,’ said Great-aunt Puddequet irritably, ‘don’t be a fool!’ She clicked her tongue in annoyance as Malpas Yeomond failed for the third time to clear five feet eleven inches.
    â€˜Up, Grandnephew, up!’ she squawked angrily. Malpas replaced the high-jump bar and smiled at her.
    Joseph Herring took the javelin which Miss Caddick handed him and walked away in the direction of the house.
    â€˜And, attendant,’ screamed Great-aunt Puddequet at his retreating back, ‘discover, if possible, how it came to be lying there on the grass.’
    Joe lifted his left eyebrow comically, and observed:
    â€˜Beg pardon, mam, but I expect it was left on the grass be one of the young gents after practice yesterday and ’as gorn rusty. Steel what is left on the damp grass, mam, ’as an ’abit of going rusty.’
    He wheeled smartly, and, pursued by a screamed objurgation to which he paid no attention whatsoever, skirted one of the huts and made his way round to the kitchen garden.
    Great-aunt Puddequet raised her field-glasses and watched another abortive attempt by Clive Brown-Jenkins to clear the bar of the pole vault.
    â€˜Very poor, Grandnephew,’ screamed his elderly relative unnecessarily. Clive, who had fallen awkwardly with his leg doubled under him, looked round. Then, slowly, he stood up and came limping towards her.
    â€˜What did you say?’ he enquired.
    Great-aunt Puddequet ignored him. She snapped her fingers and motioned Miss Caddick to take up the duties of the absent Joseph. Clive picked up his pole, and prepared to try again, while Great-aunt Puddequet looked grimly on.
    At this moment the fair-haired trainer, Kost, came up to Clive.
    â€˜You’ll never do yourself justice, Mr Jenkins, while you hold the pole so low,’ he remonstrated briefly. ‘Look here, perhaps. Now watch me.’
    â€˜Blasted acrobat,’ said Clive Brown-Jenkins pithily, as the trainer concluded a finished exhibition.
    â€˜It is not a case of acrobatics, Mr Jenkins,’