Dialogues of the Dead

On the day of Percy Follows' funeral, the library was closed. Officially this was to permit his colleagues to attend the ceremony. 'Wrong,' said Charley Penn to Dick Dee. 'It's to force his colleagues to attend the ceremony.' 'I think for once your cynicism misses the mark, Charley,' said Dee. 'Percy had many good qualities, both as a man and a librarian. He'll be genuinely missed.' 'Yeah?' said Penn. 'Either way, it's fucking inconvenient. I can't work in my place with all those hairy workmen banging and shouting and competing whose ghetto-blaster is the loudest. Any road, with the funeral at one, I don't see why the place needs to be shut all afternoon.' 'It was felt that as a mark of respect. ..' He saw he wasn't impressing the writer so quickly added, 'Also there will be some light refreshment on offer afterwards at the Lichen Hotel, a chance to talk about Percy and celebrate his life. By the time that's over ...' 'Everyone'll be well pissed. But you'll be coming back, I would have thought. A glutton for punishment but not for lunchtime booze. So why don't I come round about three, say ...' 'No,' said Dee firmly. 'I've got things to do.' 'What?' 'If you must know, I thought I'd go out to Stangdale and clear my stuff out of the cottage.' 'Why? New landlord giving you grief?' 'Hardly, as they're still looking for him, it seems. Some cousin who went out to America in the sixties looks the best bet. No, I just haven't felt any desire to go back there since ... since what happened happened. It might wear off, of course, but until it does,

399 it's silly to leave all my gear lying around for some passing ramblej to nick. I wouldn't mind some company. Fancy an outing?' is 'You must be joking!' said Penn. 'You know what I feel aboiri the rucking countryside. Once was enough. No, it'll have to be the Uni library, I suppose. All those gabby undergrads. I may run amuck.' Dee sighed and said, 'All right, Charley, you can use my fla(^ But you don't touch my espresso machine, is that understood? Last time you left me with the choice of brown water or solids;* 'Cross my heart,' said Penn. ':| ''! '''