Death Drop

He didn't know what he was apologising for. For insisting on doing his duty now when it was too late. For ru

Durrant, summoned to the Headmaster's study, went with a quick and buoyant step. He was still jubilant after the inquest. His role had been more brief than he would have liked. There had been no real pitting of wits. The coroner, as spineless as a jellyfish, had oozed concern over the proceedings. The only rock had been Fleming himself and he hadn't uttered. To pit his wits against Fleming would have been a joy.

"Yes, Headmaster?"

He noticed Corley sitting over in the leather chair – the same chair that he had sat in himself when he had spoken to his mother on the telephone. The association caused a blending of shock and remembered pain. He winced.

Bra

"I know."

"How do you know?"

"They were together on sports day."

And neither of your parents were there, Bra

"Do you know why Mr. Corley is here?"

"Yes." In lucid moments he had known that this meeting now was inevitable. Ever since Neville Corley had gone he knew that there could be only one outcome. When his mind played the games he wanted it to play anxiety was programmed out. Corley wouldn't arrive home. He would arrive home and say nothing.

Now, briefly lucid, he accepted the situation for what it was.

Bra

The gentleness was puzzling. Durrant declined to sit. He held the back of the chair. If you tried to trap a tiger you laid a bait of meat, you didn't make pussy-cat noises at it. What did the old fool think he was – a backyard moggie? Now that the shock was receding, he was begi

He turned back to Bra

"And so- •›"

"He woke up twice – by my bedroom "

"Go on "

"He saw Bruin Bruin didn't see him I didn't tell Bruin "'

"Bruin – Mr I

"Yes I thought Fleming was still asleep when he walked into my room He walked in very quietly and he walked out very quietly On the Mariana he called Bruin Woolly Bear On D's bed My bed I killed him "

A perfectly good reason, Durrant thought He looked at the two men and wondered why they should look at him as they did He had never intended shopping I

He left the room before they could stop him and ran across the main hall The quickest way to the gym was through the kitchen garden He vaulted rows of cabbages and left a trail of leaves With a sudden burst of amusement he kicked at an upstanding onion and sent it spi

The line straggled out of the gym and then once through the door broke up They ran in silence Durrant, breathing fast, was leaning against the horse. "I didn't mean to shop you You could always say it wasn't true "

"What wasn't true?" I

"That you and I – what?"

"David Fleming knew about us – he saw us – that's why I killed him. I killed him for you "

The supreme gesture, he thought, what more could I do for you? He taunted you – Woolly Bear – and I closed his sodding mouth for ever Be kind to me, Bruin Be pleased He wondered why I

Durrant said in a very normal voice, "I love you "

"Crap!"

"Please. " Durrant took a couple of steps towards him.

"Get the hell away from me." He put his hand out to stop Durrant getting any closer. His fingers touched Durrani's forehead and he withdrew them as if the contact had made him unclean.

The gesture was as final and as wounding as it could be.

Durrant said, "All right. I'll get the hell away from you As far as anyone can get away from anyone " His stomach felt like a coil of scorpions and his extremities were leaden. He doubted if he could move.

There was sufficient rapport between them for I