Death Drop

"David gave it to the school matron " Je

The coroner knew that the school matron wasn't on the list of witnesses He could see her at the back of the courtroom sitting with Mrs Bra

"I would say so – yes "

"What is your opinion of the sketch he drew?"

Bra

"And would have been listened to sympathetically?"

"Of course "

"Did you – or any member of your staff-notice any change of mood in the boy recently?"

"No "

"Why do you suppose he had bandaged his eyes before the fall?" He had been about to say accident but checked himself in time "I don't know "

"Was he an imaginative child?"

"Yes He had a flair for visualising scenes He came up with some good ideas tor the school play He could have been acting out a fantasy at the time of the fall ' He caught Lessing's eye Lessing looked pleased The coroner showed no emotion whatsoever but his support was like a strong shorewards current in a treacherous sea Fleming thought, "That's right – heel your conscience into the mud, God damn you A grudging respect that had been growing slowly for Bra

"Yes – the responsibility is mine The boys were working on a shipping project Last year the school produced work on marine biology It's my policy to use the environment of the school as fully as possible "

"Did you inspect the Maritime Museum before arranging the boys' visit?"

"Yes It seemed to me no more hazardous than our visits to the beaches and caves of last year There is always some danger"

"Quite It's the degree of reasonable care that counts in a case of this kind How many boys were put in the care of one teacher?"

"Eight The boys ranged in age from eight to sixteen Their master, Mr Hammond, is a highly responsible man I had no qualms whatsoever "

The coroner leaned back in his chair satisfied "Mr. Hammond will be our next witness Before he is called have you anything to ask this witness?" The question was to both Lessing and Thirza Lessing said no Bra

Bra

"So you did notice it – and took no steps to have it covered "

Bra

Lessing without any formal request to speak rushed in with, "Not necessarily The accident could have occurred anywhere – off the harbour edge, off a gangplank It could equally have occurred crossing the road You can't wall boys up behind plate glass All living is dangerous The school has always taken every possible care of the boys Its degree of contractual care has always been of the highest "

The coroner stopped him "We're trying to determine why the child died in that particular way He spoke to Thirza "We know through hindsight that the uncovered hatch was dangerous Do you want Mr Bra

Thirza said crisply, "I'm sorry if I was pointing out the obvious There was danger A child died "

"Have you any other question for this witness?"

"No, sir "

Bra

The hot afternoon sun shining through the green curtains highlighted the sheen of sweat on Hammond's forehead He looked around(the courtroom and saw Fleming He spoke his evidence, looking at him "I boarded the ship with eight boys The three young ones stayed with me all the time, they were never out of my sight The five older ones – including David Fleming – were given jobs to do in different parts of the freighter. It was understood that they would stay at their posts and get on with the job The ship wasn't a playground My discipline isn't lax David Fleming was to have stayed on the poop deck and sketched the rudder machinery It seemed to me reasonable that he should stay there without my mounting a guard over him My eight-year-olds might conceivably have fooled around the hatch and fallen in I credited a twelve-year-old with more sense "

Ml

Fleming half rose in anger and then sat again as the coroner quickly interposed "Just stay with the facts, Mr Hammond and I'd be obliged if you'd look at me as you speak "