Page 78 - Vol. VI #8

The Admiral Intercedes (continued from preceding page)
enjoying himself ‘Excuse me me sir ’ ’ ’ said Tall Martha looking at the admiral admiral with an an an an expression of awe ‘How did did you know —’ She did not finish her her sentence This flat-race flat-race must have looked fascinating to to to to passing motorists: I could see many astonished faces and and open mouths The patient took the the the the the lead in in in in in in in this flat-race flat-race wearing agricultural canvas trou- sers with leather braces and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a loose short-sleeved shirt of of faded yellow cotton the the the the the the the the students came next while the the the the the the the the the nurses constituted the the the the the the the the the remainder of of the the the field The admiral admiral turned to to to to her her his his his manner pleasant and and forthright ‘I’m on on on on on on my way way to to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a commemo- ration in in in in Bristol: hence the the the formality As I I I I I was driving I I I I I saw at at at at at once that that that this man man man had had spent most of his his his life on on on on on the the the the high seas It has has all to to to to to And then the the the the the the the the the the astonishing event occurred do with with the the the the way way way he he he he he he he runs on on on on on land You can tell
it it it it it it in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a moment And I I I I knew that that that he he he he he he he had had served as as as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a seaman in in in in in in in the the the Royal Navy He has has that that that demeanour: difficult to to define but with with experi- ence you always recognize it it it it it Once acquired it it it it it never leaves a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a man man ’ ’ A A modest midnight-blue estate car (I forget the the the the the the the the the the make: it it was was possibly a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Triumph Herald) stopped at at at the the the the the the the side of of the the the the the the the road about a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hundred yards ahead of of the the the the the the the the patient The door opened and and and and the the the the the the the the driver emerged He He He was was dressed in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a formal high- ranking naval uniform blue with with with gold gold gold epaulettes gold gold gold aiguillettes and and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a standing collar with with with gold- braid edging He He reached into the the the the car and and and and and from the the passenger seat he he he he he he he he took an an an an an an officer’s peaked cap with with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Royal Navy badge This he he he he he he he he placed on his head ‘Fascinating ’ ’ ’ ’ said Tall Martha ‘Yes fascinating ’ ’ ’ ’ She watched the the the the the patient being led led peaceably back through the the the the the birch woods In between the the the the the trees you you you could make out the the the the the red brick and tiles of the the the the the four villas ‘Thank you you you ’ ’ ’ ’ The The admiral admiral calmly held up his his his right hand palm outwards ‘You are welcome ma’am ’ ’ ’ ’ The admiral admiral smiled ‘Good day to to to you you ’ The The The patient patient came to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a halt stood to to to attention and and gave the the the admiral admiral admiral a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a smart naval salute And with that the the the the the admiral admiral removed his his cap got into his his his car and drove off in in in the the the the the direction of of Bristol The The The admiral admiral exchanged a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few words with the the the the the the patient patient patient the the the the the the former gently but firmly interrogative the the the the the latter laconic in in in his clipped answers We We never never never learned learned the the the the the the the the reason for the the the the the the the the patient’s sectioning under the the the the the the the the the Mental Health Act We We never never never even learned learned his his name In fact we we never never never saw him again Despite us us knowing almost nothing about the the the the the the the the the man the the the the the the the the the enigmas he he he he he he he he he he he presented were the the the the the the the the the subject of much discussion amongst the the the the the the the students Tall Martha (who held the the the the the the admiral in in in in in in singularly high regard) would always refer to the the the the the the patient as as The Ancient Mariner The The rest of us gathered behind the the the the the the the patient patient We all waited ‘Act as as you are instructed by the the the the doctors ’ ’ ’ concluded the the admiral ‘Aye-aye sir ’ ’ ’ ’ The The patient’s voice was emphatically laconic ‘See to to it Dismissed ’ ’ Wheldon was was educated at at Sidcot and then Bristol where he he he he he he studied medicine He He is is is the the author of four novels The The The Viaduct was was pub- lished by The The The Bodley Head in in fin 1983 it won The The The Triple First Award from final judges Graham Greene and and William Trevor This novel was was shortlisted for the the Whitbread Award and and and was was published fin in the the US by by George Braziller The Course of Instruction A A A Vocation and and At the Quay followed Most recently he’s been published by by Confingo Nightjar Press Press and The Woven Tale Press Press The The patient patient now perfectly biddable consented to to to being led back back to to to the hospital As he he he he he walked away he he he he he turned back back briefly and looked at at at us students Did he he he he he sense that we had been rooting for him?
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