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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION

PAWLEY'S PEEPHOLES (1951)

Book Information

PAWLEY'S PEEPHOLES

f ro m T HE B ES T O F J OH N W YN DH AM

John Wyndham

S P HE R E B O OK S

Published 1973

ISBN 0 7221 9369 6

C op yr ig ht © T he E xe cu to rs o f t he E st at e o f t he l at e J oh n W yn dh am 1 97 3

I N TR O D U C TI O N

A T a v er y t en de r a ge m y l at en t p as si on f or a ll f or ms o f f an ta sy s to ri es , h av in g b ee n s pa rk ed b y t he

B ro th er s G ri mm and t he m or e u nu su al o ff er in gs i n t he chi ld ren' s com ics and l at er t he b oy 's adv en t ur e

papers, was encouraged in the early 1930s by the occasional exciting find on the shelves of the publicl ib rary w it h B ur ro ug hs and T ho rn e S mi th v ar yi ng t he s tapl e d iet o f W el ls and V er ne.

But the decisive factor in establishing that exhilarating ‘sense of wonder’ in my youthful imagination

w as t he d is co very abo ut t hat t im e o f b ack n um bers o f A meri can s ci en ce f icti on m ag azin es t o b e b ou gh t

q ui te cheap ly i n s to res l ik e W oo l wo rt hs . T he h ap py chain o f eco no mi c cir cu m st an ces b y w hi ch

American newstand returns, sometimes sadly with the magic cover removed or mutilated, ballasted

car go s hi ps r et ur ni ng t o E ng li sh p or ts and t he col on ies, m us t h av e b een t he m ai ns pr in g o f m an y an

enthusiastic hobby devoted to reading, discussing, perhaps collecting and even writing, science fiction –

o r ‘ scient if icti on ’ as H ug o G er ns b ack coi ned t he t ag i n h is ear ly A mazi ng S to ri es m ag azin e.

G er ns ba ck w as a g re at b el ie ve r i n r ea de r p ar ti ci p at io n; i n 1 93 6 I b ec am e a t ee na ge m em be r o f t he

S ci en ce F icti on L eagu e s po ns or ed b y h isW o n der S t o ri es . E ar li er h e h ad r un a c om pe t it io n i n i ts

forerunner Air Wonder Stories t o f in d a s ui tabl e b an ner s lo gan, o ff er in g t he p ri ze o f ‘ On e H un dr ed

D ol lars i n G ol d’ w it h t ru e y an kee b ragg a daci o. D is co veri ng t he r es ul t s om e y ears l at er i n, I t hi nk , t he

S ep te mb er 1 93 0 i ss ue o f W o n der S t o ri es s ei ze d u po n f ro m t he b ar ga in -b in o f a c ha in s to re , w as a ki n t o

f in di ng a m es sa ge i n a b ot tl e c as t a dr if t b y s om e d is ta nt R ob in so n C ru so e, a nd I w el l r em em be r t he s ur ge

o f j in go i st ic p ri de ( an edu cat io nal t rait w el l- nu rt ur ed i n p re-w ar B ri tain ) i n n ot in g t hat t he w in ner w as an

Englishman, John Beynon Harris.

I h ad n ot t he s li gh te st a nt ic i pa ti on t he n t ha t I w ou ld l at er m ee t, a nd a ck no w le dg e a s a g oo d f ri en d a nd

m en to r, t hi s c on te st w in ne r w ho , a s J oh n W yn dh am , w as t o b ec om e o ne o f t he g re at es t E ng li shs to ry -t el le rs i n t he i di om . T he f ac t t ha t h e n ev er a ct ua ll y g ot p ai d i n g ol d w as a d is ap po in t me nt , h e o nc e

t ol d m e, t ha t m us t h av e a cc oun te d f or t he e le me nt o f ph il o so p hi ca l d ub ie ty i n s om e o f hi s w or k.


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Certainly his winning slogan ‘ Future Flying Fiction’ , a l th ou gh t oo l at e t o s av e t he m ag a zi ne f ro m

f ou nd er in g o n t he r ock o f eco n om ic d ep ress io n ( it h ad alr eady b een amalg a mat ed w it h i ts s tabl e mate

S c ie nc e W o nd er S to r ie s t o b ec om e j us t p la in , i f t ha t i s t he r ig ht w or d,W o n der S t o ri es ) , presaged the

firm stamp of credibility combined with imaginative flair that characterized JBH's writings.

John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (the abundance of forenames conveniently supplied his

various aliases) emerged in the 1950s as an important contemporary influence on speculative fiction, particularly in the exploration of the theme of realistic global catastrophe, with books such asT he D ay

of the Triffids andThe Kraken Wakes, and enj oy ed a p op ul ar it y, w hi ch con ti nu ed aft er h is s ad d eath i n

1 96 9, c om pa ra bl e t o t ha t o f h is i ll us t ri ou s p re d ec es so r a s m as te r o f t he s ci en ti fi c r om an ce , H . G .

Wells.

H ow ev er , h e w as t o s er ve h is w ri ti ng app rent ice sh ip i n t ho se s am e p ul p m ag a zi nes o f t he t hi rt ies,

com peti ng s uccess f ul ly w it h t heir n at iv e A meri can con tr ib ut or s, and i t i s t he p ur po se o f t hi s p resent

collection to highlight the chronological development of his short stories from those early beginnings to

t he l at er u rb an e and p ol is hed s ty le o f J oh n W yn dh am .

‘ Th e L os t M achi ne’ w as h is s econ d p ub li sh ed s to ry , app ear in g i n A mazi ng S to ri es , and w as p os si bl y

t he p ro to t yp e o f t he s en ti en t r ob ot l at er d ev el op ed b y s uc h w ri te rs a s I sa ac A si mo v. H e u se d a v ar ie ty

o f p lo ts d ur in g t hi s ear ly A meri can p er io d p ar ti cu larl y f av ou r in g t im e t ravel, and t he b es t o f t hese w as

u nd ou bt ed ly ‘ Th e M an F ro m B ey on d’ i n w hi ch t he p oi gn ancy o f a m an 's r eali za ti on , cag ed i n a zoo

o n V en us , t ha t f ar f ro m b ei ng a ba n do ne d b y h is f el lo w- ex pl or er s, h e i s t he v ic ti m o f a f ar s tr an ge r f at e, i s

r em ar k ab ly o ut l in ed f or i ts t im e. S om e t he me s h ad d ea lt w it h w ar , s uc h a s ‘ Th e T ro ja n B ea m’ , a nd h e

h ad s tr on g v ie ws t o e xp re ss o n i ts f ut il it y. S oo n h is o wn i nd uc t io n i nt o t he A rm y i n 1 94 0 p ro du ce d a

period of creative inactivity corresponding to World War II. He had, however, previously established

himself in England as a prominent science fiction writer with serials in major periodicals, subsequently

r ep ri nt ed i n h ar d c ov er s, a nd h e e ve n h ad a d et ec t iv e n ov el p ub li sh ed . H e h ad b ee n w el l r ep re s en te d

t oo – ‘ Perf ect C rea tu re’ i s an amu s in g examp le – i n t he v ar io us m ag a zi nes s temm in g f ro m f an act iv it y,despite the vicissitudes of their pre- and immediate post-war publishing insecurity.

B ut aft er t he w ar and i nt o t he f if ti es t he l ev el o f s ci en ce f icti on w ri ti ng i n g en er al h ad i ncreas ed

con si d er ab ly , and J oh n r os e t o t he chall en ge b y s el li ng s uccess f ul ly t o t he A meri can m ar ket again . I n

E ng la nd h is p ol is he d s ty le p ro ve d p op ul ar a nd a p re di l ec ti on f or t he p ar a do xe s o f t im e t ra ve l a s a

source of private amusement was perfectly exemplified in ‘Pawley's Peepholes’, in which the gawping

t ou ri st s f ro m t he f ut ur e are r ou ted b y v ul gar t acti cs . T hi s s to ry w as l at er s uccess f ul ly adapt ed f or r ad io

a nd b ro ad c as t b y t he B .B .C .

A bo ut t hi s t im e h is f ir st p os t- war n ov el b ur st u po n an u ns us p ecti ng w or ld , and b y u ti li zin g a cou pl e o f unoriginal ideas with his Gernsback-trained attention to logically based explanatory detail and realistic

background, together with his now strongly developed narrative style, ‘The Day of the Triffids’

became one of the classics of modern speculative fiction, surviving even a mediocre movie treatment.

I t w as t he f or e ru nn er o f a s er ies o f equ al ly i mp ress iv e and enj oy ab le n ov el s i nclu d in g ‘ Th e C hr ys al id s’

and ‘ Th e M id w ich C ucko os ’ w hi ch w as s uccess f ul ly f il med as ‘ Vi ll ag e o f t he D am ned’ . ( A s eq uel

‘ Ch il dr en o f t he D am ned’ w as m ar kedl y i nf er io r, and J oh n w as car e fu l t o d is claim any r es po ns i bi li ty

for the writing.)

I w as s oo n t o b eg in a n e nj oy a bl e a ss o ci at io n w it h J oh n W yn dh am t ha t h ad i ts o ri gi ns i n t he e ar ly d ay s

o f t he New Worlds magazine-publishing venture, and was later to result in much kindly and essential

a ss is t an ce e na bl in g m e t o b ec om e a s pe ci a li st d ea le r i n t he g en re . T hi s w as a t t he F an ta sy B oo k C en tr e

i n B lo om s bu ry , an area o f s ui tabl y ass o ci at ed l it er ar y act i vi ti es w here J oh n l iv ed f or m an y y ears , and

which provided many pleasurable meetings at a renowned local coffee establishment, Cawardine's,


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w he re w e w er e o ft en j oi ne d b y s uc h p er so n al it ie s a s J oh n C ar ne ll , J oh n C hr is t op he r a nd A rt hu r C .

Clarke.

I n b et we en t he n ov el s t wo c ol le c ti on s o f h is n ow w id el y p ub l is he d s ho rt s to ri es w er e i ss ue d a s ‘ Th e

S ee ds o f Ti me ’ a nd ‘ Co ns id er H er Wa ys ’; o th er s a re r e pr int ed he re f or t he f ir st t im e. H e w as n ev er t oo

g ra nd t o r ef us e m at er i al f or o ur o wn New Worlds a nd i n 1 95 8 w rot e a s er ie s o f f ou r n ov el e tt es a bo ut

t he T ro on f am il y' s c on tr i bu ti on t o s pa ce e xp lo r at io n – a k in d o f F or sy te s ag a o f t he s ol ar s ys te m l at er col lect ed u nd er t he t it le ‘ Th e O ut ward U rg e’ . H is f ict i ti ou s col la bo rato r ‘ Lu cas P ar kes ’ w as a s ub tl e

ploy in the book version to explain Wyndham's apparent deviation into solid science-based fiction. The

l as t s to ry i n t hi s c ol le ct io n ‘ Th e E mp ti n es s o f S pa ce ’ w as w ri tt en a s a k in d o f p os t sc ri pt t o t ha t s er ie s,

esp eciall y f or t he 1 00 th ann i vers ar y i ss ue o f New Worlds .

J oh n W yn dh am 's l as t n ov el w asC h o cky , p ubl is he d i n 1 96 8. I t wa s a n e xpa n si on o f a s ho rt s to ry

following a theme similar toT h e C h r ys a l i ds andT he M id wi c h C uc k oo s . I t wa s a t he me pe cu l ia rl y

app ro p ri at e f or h im i n h is adv an ci ng m at u ri ty . W hen, w it h charac teri st ic r et i cence and m od es ty , h e

a nn ou nc ed t o a f ew o f h is f ri en ds t ha t h e w as m ar ry in g h is b el ov ed G ra ce a nd m ov in g t o t he

cou nt ry s id e, w e all f el t t hat t hi s w as a w el l- deserv ed r et ir e ment f or t hem b ot h.

B ut i ro ni call y t im e – alw ay s a f as ci n at in g s ub ject f or s pecu l at io n b y h im – w as r un ni ng o ut f or t hi s

typical English gentleman. Amiable, erudite, astringently humorous on occasion, he was, in the same

w ay t hat t he g en tl e B or is K ar lo ff p or tr ay ed h is f il m m on st er s, abl e t o d ep ict t he n ig ht m ar es o f h um an it y

w it h f ri gh t en in g r eali sm , m ad e t he m or e d eadl y b y h is m as terl y p reci s io n o f d et ai l. T o h is g reat g if t f or

story-telling he brought a lively intellect and a fertile imagination.

I a m g la d t o b e n um be re d a mo ng t he m an y, m an y t ho u sa nd s o f h is r ea de rs w ho se ‘ se ns e o f w on de r’

h as b een s at is f acto r il y i nd ul ged b y a w ri ter w ho se g if t t o p os teri ty i s t he com pu l si ve r eadab il it y o f h is

s to ri es o f w hi ch t hi s p resent v ol um e i s an ess en t ial p ar t.

— L ES LI E F LO OD

P AW LE Y' S P EE PH O LE S ( 1 95 1)

W he nI c al le d r ou nd a t S al ly 's I s ho we d h er t he p ar ag ra ph i n t heWestwich Evening News.

“W ha t d o yo u t hi nk of t ha t? ” I a ske d he r.

S he r ea d i t, s ta nd in g, a nd w it h a n i mp at ie nt f ro wn o n h er p re tt y f ac e.

“I d on 't b el ieve i t, ” s he s ai d, f in al ly .

S al ly' s p ri nc ip le s of b el ie f a nd di sbe li ef a re a t hi ng I 'v e ne ve r g ot q ui te l in ed u p. H ow a g ir l c an d is mi ss a

pack of solid evidence as though it were kettle steam, and then go and fall for some advertisement

t ha t' s ph one y f rom t he f ir st wor d a s t hou gh i t we re ho ly w ri t, I j us t d on' t .. . Oh we ll , i t ke eps on

happening, anyway.

This paragraph read:

MU SI C W IT H A K IC K

P at ro ns o f t he c on ce rt a t t he A da ms H al l l as t n ig ht w er e a st on is he d t o s ee a p ai r o f l eg s d an gl in g


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k ne e- de ep f ro m t he c ei li ng d ur in g o ne o f t he i te ms . T he w ho le a ud ie nc e s aw t he m, a nd a ll r ep or ts a gr ee

t ha t t he y w er e b ar e l eg s, w it h s om e k in d o f s an da ls o n t he f ee t. T he y r em ai ne d v is ib le f or s om e t hr ee o r

f ou r m in ut es , d ur in g w hi ch t im e t hey s ev er al t im es m ov ed b ack and f or th acr os s t he cei li ng . F in al ly , aft er

m ak in g a k icki ng m ov e ment , t hey d is ap p eared u p ward s, and w er e s een n o m or e. E xami n at i on o f t he

r oo f s ho ws n o t ra ce s, a nd t he o wn er s o f t he H al l a re a t a l os s t o a cc oun t f or t he p he n om en on.

“ It 's j us t o ne m or e t hi ng ,” I s ai d.

“Wh at d oes i t p ro ve, any way?” s ai d S al ly , app ar en tl y f or get fu l t hat s he w as n ot b el ievi ng i t.

“ I d on 't kn ow t ha t — y et ,” I a dmi tt ed.

“ We ll , t he re y ou a re , t he n, ” s he s ai d.

S om et im es I g et t he f ee li ng t ha t S al ly h as n o r ea l r es pe ct f or l og ic .

H ow ev er , m os t p eo pl e w er e t hi nk in g t he w ay S al ly w as , m or e o r l es s, b ec au se m os t p eo pl e l ik e t hi ng st o s ta y ni ce a nd nor ma l. But i t ha d a lre ady be gun t o lo ok t o m e a s i f t he re we re thi ngs ha ppe n ing t ha t

o ug ht t o b e a dd ed t og et he r a nd m ak e s om et hi ng .

T he f ir st ma n t o bum p up a ga in st i t — t he f ir st I c an f ind on r ec or d, t ha t i s — wa s one Cons ta bl e W al sh.

I t m ay be th at ot he rs be for e hi m s aw t hi ngs , a nd j us t put t he m dow n a s a ne w ki nd of pi nk e le pha nt; but

C ons ta bl e W al sh' s i de a of a t op -not ch c el ebr at ion w as a mu g of s tr ong t ea w it h a l ot o f s uga r, s o w he n

he ca me a cross a hea d s itt ing up on the pave ment on wha t the re was of its ne ck, he s topped to look at i t

pretty hard. The thing that really upset him, according to the report he turned in when he had run half a

m il e b ac k t o t he s ta ti on a nd s to pp ed g ib be ri ng , w as t ha t i t h ad l oo ke d b ac k a t h im .

W el l, i t i sn 't g oo d t o f in d a h ea d on a pa ve m en t a t a ny t im e, a nd 2 a .m . do es s om e ho w m ak e i t wo rs e, but as for the rest, well, you can get what looks like a reproachful glance from a cod on a slab if your

m in d h ap pe ns t o b e o n s om e th in g e ls e. C on st ab le W al sh d id n ot s to p t he re , h ow ev er . He r epo r ted t h at

t he t hi ng o pe ne d i ts m ou th “ as i f i t w as t ry in g t o s ay s om e thi ng ”. I f i t di d, h e s ho ul d n ot h av e m ent io ne d

i t; i t j us t n at ur al ly b ro ug ht t he p ink e le ph an ts t o m in d. H ow ev er , h e s tu ck t o i t, s o a ft er t he y h ad e xa mi ne d

h im a nd t ak en di sa p po int i ng s ni ff s a t hi s b re at h, t he y s en t h im b ac k w it h a no th er m an t o s ho w j us t

w he re h e h ad f ou nd t he t hi ng . O f c ou rs e, t he re w as n' t a ny h ea d, n or b lo od , n or s ig ns o f c le an i ng u p.

A nd t ha t' s a bou t a ll t he re w as t o t he i nc ide nt — s ave , do ub t le ss , a f ew c ur t r em ar ks o n a c ond uc t- sh ee t

t o d og C on st abl e W al s h' s f ut ur e career.

B ut t he C on st ab le h ad n' t a b ig l ea d. T wo e ve ni ng s l at er a b lo ck o f f la ts w as c ur dl ed b y s ea ri ng s hr ie ksf ro m a M rs . R ou rk e i n N o. 3 5, a nd s im ul t a ne ou s ly f ro m a M is s F ar re ll w ho l iv ed a bo ve h er . W he n

t he n ei gh b ou rs a rr iv ed , M rs . R ou rk e w as h ys te ri ca l a bo ut a p ai r o f l eg s t ha t h ad b ee n d an g li ng f ro m h er

bedroom ceiling, and Miss Farrell the same about an arm and shoulder that had stretched out from under

h er b ed . B ut t he re w as n ot h in g t o b e s ee n o n t he c ei li ng , a nd n ot h in g m or e t ha n a d is c re di t ab le

a mo un t o f d us t t o b e f ou nd u nd er M is s F ar re ll 's b ed . A nd t he re w er e a n um be r o f o th er i nc i de nt s, t oo .

I t wa s J immy Lindl en who w or ks , i f t ha t i sn't t oo s tr ong a w or d f or i t, i n the of fi ce ne xt to m ine who dre w

m y att en t io n t o t hem i n t he f ir st p lace. J im my col lect s f acts . H is d ef i ni t io n o f a f act i s any th in g t hat g et s

printed in a newspaper — poor fellow. He doesn't mind a lot what subjects his facts cover as long as

t he y l oo k que er . I s us pe ct t ha t he on ce he ar d t ha t t he t ru th i s ne ve r s im pl e, a nd d edu ce d f ro m t ha t t ha t

every th in g t hat' s n ot s im pl e m us t b e t ru e. I w as u sed t o h im com in g i nt o m y r oo m, f ul l o f i n sp i rat io n,

a nd d id n' t t ak e m uc h a cc ou nt o f i t, s o w he n h e b ro ug ht i n h is f ir st b at ch o f c ut ti ng s a bo ut C on s ta bl e

W al sh a nd t he r es t I d idn 't i gn it e m uc h.


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But a f ew days l ater he wa s bac k wit h some more . I was, a bit surprise d by Ms pl aying the same kind

o f p heno m en a t wi ce r un ni ng , s o I g av e i t a l it tl e m or e att en t io n t han u su al .

“ Yo u s ee . A rm s, h ea ds , l eg s, t or so s, a ll o ve r t he p la ce . I t' s a n e pi de mi c. T he re 's s om e th in g b eh in d i t.

S o m e- t h i ng 's h a p pen i ng ” he s ai d, a s ne ar a s one c an vo ca l iz e i ta li cs .”

When I had read a few of them I had to admit that this time he had got hold of something where thev ei n o f q ueer nes s w as p ret ty con st an t.

A bus driver had seen the upper hal f of a body set up verti cally in the roa d before him — but a bit too

l at e. W he n h e s to pp ed a nd c li mb ed o ut , s we at i ng , t o e xa m in e t he m es s, t he re w as n ot h in g t he re . A

w om an h an g in g o ut o f a w in do w, w at ch i ng t he s tr ee t, s aw a no th er h ea d b el ow h er d oi ng t he s am e, b ut

t hi s on e wa s pr o je ct i ng o ut of t he s ol id b ri ck w or k. T he n t he re wa s a pa ir of a rms t ha t h ad r is en o ut of

t he f loor of a bu tc he r' s s ho p a nd s ee me d t o gr op e f or s om e th ing ; a ft er a mi nut e or t wo t he y h ad

w it h dr aw n i nt o t he s ol id c em en t w it h ou t t ra ce — u nl es s o ne w er e t o c ou nt s om e d et ri m en t t o t he

butcher's trade. There was the man on a building job who had become aware of a strangely dressed

f ig ur e s ta nd in g c lo se t o h im , b ut s up po rt ed b y e mp ty a ir — af te r w hi ch h e h ad t o b e h el pe d d ow n a nds en t h om e. A no th er f ig ur e w as n ot ic ed b et we en t he r ai ls i n t he p at h o f a h ea vy g oo ds t ra m, b ut w as

f ou nd t o h av e v an is he d w it h ou t t ra ce w he n t he t ra in h ad p as se d.

W hi le I s ki mm ed t hr ou gh t he se a nd s om e o th er s, J im my s too d w ai ti ng , l ik e a s od a s ip ho n. I d id n' t h av e

t o s ay m or e t han, “Hu h! ”

“Yo u s ee,” h e s ai d. “So meth in gis happening.”

“Su pp os in g i t i s, ” I con ceded cau ti ou sl y, “th en w hat i s i t?”

“Th e m an if es tati on zon e i s l im it ed ,” J im my t ol d m e i mp ress iv el y, and p ro du ced a t ow n p lan. “If y ou l oo k w he re I 'v e m ar ke d t he i nc id en ts y ou 'l l s ee t ha t t he y' re g ro up ed . S om ew he re i n t ha t c ir cl e i s ‘ th e f oc us o f

d is tu rb an ce’. ” T hi s t im e h e m an ag ed t o v ocal ize t he i nv er ted com mas, and w ai ted f or m e t o r eg is ter

amazement.

“So ?” I s ai d. “Di st ur bance o f j us t w hat?”

H e d od ge d t ha t o ne .

“ I' ve a p re tt y g oo d i de a n ow o f t he c au se ,” h e t ol d m e w ei gh ti ly .

T ha t wa s no rm al , t ho ug h i t m ig ht b e a d if fe re nt i de a a n h our l at er .

“I' ll b uy i t, ” I o ff er ed .

“ Te le po rt at io n! ” h e a nn ou nc ed . “ Th at 's w ha t i t i s. B ou nd t o c om e s oo ne r o r l at er . N ow s om e on e' s o n

t o i t. ”

“H 'm ,” I s ai d.

“But itm u s t b e. ” H e l ea ne d f or wa rd e ar ne st ly . “ Ho w e ls e' d y ou a cc ou nt f or i t? ”

“ We ll , i f t he re c ou ld b e t el e po r ta t io n, o r t el e po rt a ge , o r w ha te ve r i t i s, s ur el y t he re w ou ld h av e t o

be a transmitter and some sort of reassembly station,” I pointed out. “You couldn't expect a person or


6/19

ob je ct t o be ki nd o f br oa d ca st a nd t he n c ome t og et he r a ga in i n a ny o ld pl ac e.”

“Bu t y ou d on 'tk n o w t ha t, ” h e s ai d. “ Be si de s, t ha t' s p ar t o f w ha t I w as m ea n in g b y ‘ fo cu s’ . T he

t rans mi t ter i s s om e wh er e el se, b ut f ocus ed o n t hat ar ea.”

“ If i t i s, ” I s ai d, “ he s ee ms to ha ve got hi s l eve ls a nd po si ti ons a ll to he ll . I w onde r j us t wh at ha ppe ns t o

a f el lo w w ho ge ts hi ms el f r e as se m bl ed h al f i n a nd ha lf ou t o f a br ic k w al l? ”

I t' s d et ai ls l ik e t hat t hat g et J im my i mp at ient .

“Obviously its early stages. Experimental,” he said.

I t s ti ll s ee me d t o m e u n co m fo rt a bl e f or t he s ub je ct , e ar ly s ta ge s o r n ot , b ut I d id n' t p re ss i t.

Th at e ve ni ng w as t he f ir st t im e I m en ti on ed i t t o S al ly , a nd , o n t he w ho le , i t w as a m is t ak e. A ft er m ak in g

i t q ui te c le ar t ha t s he d idn' t b el ie ve i t, s he we nt on t o s ay t ha t i f i t wa s t rue i t wa s pr o ba bl y j us t a not he r

invention.

“W hat d o y ou m ean, ” ‘ ju st ano th er i nv en ti on ’? W hy , i t' d b e r ev ol ut io nary !” I t ol d h er .

“ Th e w ro ng k in d o f r ev ol ut io n, t he w ay w e' d u se i t. ”

“Meaning?” I asked.

S al ly w as i n o ne o f h er w it her in g m oo ds . S he t ur ned o n h er d is i ll u si on ed v oi ce:

“ We 'v e g ot t wo w ay s o f u si ng i nv en t io ns ,” s he s ai d. “ On e i s t o ki ll m or e p eo pl e m or e e as il y: t he o th er i s

t o e na bl e q ui ck -t ur n ov er s pi vs t o m ak e e as y m on ey o ut o f s uc ke rs . M ay be t he re a re a f ew e xc ep t io nsl ik e X -r ay s, b ut n ot m an y. I nv ent i on s! W ha t w e d o w it h t he p ro du ct o f g en iu s i s f ir st o f a ll r am i t d ow n

t o t he l ow es t com mo n d en o mi n at or and t hen m ul ti pl y i t b y t he v ul garest p os si bl e f rac ti on . W hat a

c en tur y! Wh at a wo rl d! W he n I t hi nk w ha t o the r c en tu ri es a re g oi ng t o s ay a bou t ou rs i t ma ke s me go

h ot all o ver. ”

“ I s ho ul dn 't w or ry . Y ou w on 't b e h ea ri ng t he m, ” I s ai d.

T h e w it he ri ng e ye w as o n m e.

“I s ho ul d h av e k no wn . T hat i s a r em ar k w el l u p t o t he T went ieth -C en tu ry s tand ar d. ”

“ You' re a f unny gi rl ,” I tol d he r. “I me an, the wa y you t hi nk ma y be c ra zy, but youdo do it, in your own

w ay . N ow m os t g ir l' s f ut ur es a re a ll c lo ud -c uc ko o b ey on d n ex t s ea so n' s h at o r n ex t y ea r' s b ab y. O ut si de

o f t ha t i t m ig ht b e g oi ng t o s no w s pl it a tom s f or a ll t he y c ar e — t he y' ve g ot a c om f or t in g f ee li ng d ee p

d ow n t hat n ot hi ng 's ever chang ed m uch, o r ever w il l. ”

“ A l ot y ou kn ow a bo ut w ha t m os t gi rl s t hi nk ,” s ai d S al ly.

“ Th at 's w ha t I w as m ea ni ng . H ow c ou ld I ?” I s ai d.

S he s ee me d t o h av e s et h er m in d s o f ir ml y a ga in st t he w ho le b us i ne ss t ha t I d ro pp ed i t f or t he e ve ni ng .

A c ou pl e o f d ay s l at er J im my l oo ke d i nt o m y r oom a ga in.


7/19

“ He 's l ai d o ff ,” h e s ai d.

“Wh o' s l ai d o ff w hat?”

“ Th is t el e po rt i ng f el lo w. N ot a r ep or t l at er t ha n T ue sd ay . M ay be h e k no ws s om e bo dy 's o n t o h im .”

“M eani ng y ou ?” I ask ed .

“Maybe.”

“Well , are y ou ?”

H e f ro wne d. “ I' ve s ta rt ed . I t ook t he be ar ings on t he m ap of a ll t he i nc i de nt s, a nd t he f ix c ame on Al l

Sa int s' Chur ch. I ha d a l ook a ll ove r t he pl ac e, but I di dn' t f ind a ny thi ng. St il l, I mus t be c los e — why

e ls e' d h e s to p? ”

I c ou ld n' t t el l h im t ha t. N or c ou ld a ny o ne e ls e. B ut t ha t v er y e ve n in g t he re w as a p ar a gr ap h a bo ut a n

a rm a nd a l eg t ha t s om e w om an h ad w at ch ed t ra ve l a lo ng h er k it ch en w al l. I s ho we d i t t o S al ly .

“ I e xp ec t i t w il l t ur n o ut t o b e s om e n ew k in d o f a dv er ti se me nt ,” s he s ai d.

“A k in d o f s ecret adv er t is in g?” I s ug gest ed . T hen, s eein g t he w it heri ng l oo k w or ki ng u p again : “Ho w

a bo ut g oi ng t o a p ic tu re ?” I s ug ge st ed .

I t wa s ove rc as t w he n w e we nt i n; w he n we c am e ou t i t w as r ai ni ng ha rd. Se ei ng t ha t t he re wa s l es s t ha n

a m ile t o he r pl ac e, a nd a ll the t axi s i n t he tow n we re a ppa re nt ly bus y, we de ci de d t o wa lk i t. Sa ll y p ull ed

on t he hood of h er m ac ki n to sh, put he r a rm t hr ough mi ne a nd we s et out t hr ough t he r ai n. For a b it wedidn't talk, then:

“ Da rl in g, ” I s ai d, “ I k no w t ha t I c an b e r eg ar de d a s a f ri vo lo us p er so n w it h l ow e th ic al s ta nd ar ds , b ut

ha s i t e ve r oc cur re d t o yo u w ha t a f ie ld t he re i s t he re f or r ef or m? ”

“Yes, ” s he s ai d, d ecis iv el y, b ut n ot i n t he r ig ht t on e.

“ Wh at I me an i s,” I t ol d he r pa ti ent ly, “ if yo u h appe ne d t o b e l ooki ng f or a go od wor k t o de vot e your

l if e t o, w ha t c ou ld b e b et te r t ha n a r ec la m a ti on j ob o n s uc h a c ha ra ct er . T he s co pe i s t re me nd ou s,

just—”

“Is t hi s a p ro po sal o f s om e k in d?” S al ly i nq ui red.

“Somekind! I 'd ha ve you know — Good God! ” I br oke off .

W e w er e i n T yl er S tr ee t. A s ho rt s tr ee t, r ai n sw ep t n ow , a nd e mp ty , e xc ep t f or o ur s el ve s. W ha t

s to pp ed m e w as t he s ud de n a pp ea ra nc e o f s om e k in d o f v eh ic le , f ar th er a lo ng . I c ou ld n' t m ak e i t o ut

v er y c le ar ly o n a cc ou nt o f t he r ai n, b ut I h ad t he i m pr es s io n o f a s ma ll , l ow -b ui lt l or ry w it h s ev e ra l

figures in light clothes on it driving across Tyler Street quite quickly, and vanishing. That wouldn't have

been so bad if there were any street crossing Tyler Street, but there isn't; it had just come out of one side

a nd g on e i nt o t he o th er .

“ Did you s ee wha t I s aw? ” I a ske d.


8/19

“ B ut h ow o n e ar th —? ” s he b eg an .

We w al ke d a l it tl e f ar the r u nt il we c ame t o t he p la ce wh er e t he t hi ng ha d c ros se d, a nd l ook ed a t t he

s ol id b ri ck w al l o n o ne s id e a nd t he h ou se f ro nt s o n t he o th er .

“Yo u m us t h av e b een m is taken, ” s ai d S al ly .

“ We ll , f or — I m us t h av e b ee n m is ta ke n! ”

“B ut i t j us t cou ld n' t h av e h ap pened, cou ld i t?”

“Now, listen, darling—” I began.

Bu t a t t ha t m ome nt a g ir l s te ppe d ou t f ro m t he s ol id br ic k a bo ut t en f ee t a he ad of u s. We s to pp ed, a nd

g ap ed a t h er .

I do n' t k no w w he the r he r ha ir wo ul d be h er ow n, a rt a nd s ci enc e t o ge the r c an do s o m uc h f or a g ir l,

but the way she was wearing it, it was like a great golden chrysanthemum a good foot and a half

a cr os s, a nd wi th a r ed f low er s et i n i t a l it tl e l ef t of c ent re . I t l ooke d s or t o f t op -he avy . Sh e wa s w ea r in g

s om e k in d o f b ri ef p in k t un ic , s il k p er ha ps , a nd m or e a pp ro p ri at e t o o ne o f t ho se e ld er ly g en tl e ma n

f lo or -s ho ws t ha n T yl er S tr ee t o n a f il th y w et n ig ht . W ha t m ad e i t a r ea l s ho ck er w as t he t hi ng s t ha t h ad

been achieved by embroidery. I never would have believed that any girl could — oh well, anyway,

t he re s he s to od , a nd t he re w e s to od .. .

W he n I s ay ‘ sh e s to od ’, s he c er ta in ly d id , b ut s om e ho w s he d id i t a bo ut s ix i nc he s a bo ve g ro un d l ev el .

S he l oo ke d a t u s bo th , t he n s he s ta re d b ac k a t S al ly j us t a s ha rd a s S al ly w as s ta ri ng a t h er . I t m us t h av e

been some seconds before any of us moved. The girl opened her mouth as if she were speaking, but nos ou nd c am e. T he n s he s ho ok h er h ea d, m ad e a f or ge t- it g es tu re a nd t ur ne d a nd w al ke d b ac k i nt o t he

wall.

S al ly d id n' t m ove . W it h t he r ai n s hi ni ng o n h er m ac ki n to sh s he l oo ke d l ik e a b la ck s ta tu e. W he n s he

t ur ne d s o t ha t I c ou ld s ee h er f ac e un de r t he h oo d i t h ad a n e xp re s si on I h ad n ev er s ee n t he re be fo re . I

put my arm round her, and found that she was trembling.

“ I' m s ca re d, J er ry ,” s he s ai d.

“ No n ee d f or t ha t, S al . T he re 's b ou nd t o b e a s im pl e e xp la na ti on o f s om e k in d, ” I s ai d, f al se ly .

“ Bu t i t' s m or e t ha n t ha t, J er ry . D id n' t . yo u s ee h er f ac e? S he w as e xa ct ly l ik e m e! ”

“ Sh e w as p re tt y m uc h l ik e— ” I c on ce de d.

“ J er ry , s he w asexa ct l y l ike — I 'm — I 'm s ca re d.”

“M us t h av e b ee n s om e t ri ck o f t he l ig ht . A ny w ay , s he 's g on e n ow ,” I s ai d.

A ll t he s am e, S al ly w as r ig ht . T ha t g ir l w as t he i ma ge o f he rs el f. I 'v e w on de re d a bo ut t ha t q ui te a b it

since...

J im my b ro ug ht a c op y o f t he m or n in g p ap er i nt o m y r oo m n ex t d ay . I t c ar ri ed a b ri ef , f ac e ti ou s l ea de r


9/19

o n t he n um ber o f l ocal cit i zens w ho h ad b een s eein g t hi ng s l at el y.

“Th ey 'r e b eg in ni ng t o t ak e n ot ice, at l as t, ” h e p ro cl ai med.

“Ho w' s y ou r o wn l in e g oi ng ?” I ask ed .

H e f rown ed. “ I' m a fr ai d i t c an 't b e qu it e t he w ay I t hough t. I r ec kon i tis still in the experimental stage, allr ight , bu t t he t ra ns m it te r m ay not b e i n t he se pa rt s a t a ll . I t c oul d be t ha t t hi s i s j us t t he a re a he ha s

t ra in ed i t o n f or t es ts .”

“But why here?”

“ How wo ul d I kn ow ? I t h as t o be s om e wh er e — a nd t he t ra ns m it te r i ts el f c ou ld b e a ny wh er e.” H e

paused, struck by a portentous thought. “It might be really serious. Suppose the Russians had a

t ra ns mi tt er w hi ch c ou ld p ro je ct p eo pl e — o r b om bs — h er e b y t el e po rt a ti on .. . ? ”

“ Wh y he re ?” I s ai d a ga in. “ I s ho ul d ha ve t ho ug ht t ha t H ar we ll o r a R oya l A rs en al —”

“Experimental, so far,” he reminded me.

“ Oh, ” I s ai d, a ba she d. I we nt on t o t el l hi m w ha t Sa ll y a nd I h ad s ee n t he p re v ious ni gh t. “ She s or t of

d id n' t l oo k m uc h l ik e t he w ay I t hi nk o f R us si an s, ” I a dd ed .

J im my s ho ok h is h ead. “Mi gh t b e cam ou f lage. A ft er all , b eh in d t hat cur tain t hey h av e t o g et t heir i dea o f

t he w ay o ur g ir ls l oo k m os tl y f ro m m ag a zi nes and p ictu re p ap er s, ” h e p oi nt ed o ut .

T he n ex t d ay , a ft er a bo ut s ev en ty -f iv e pe r c en t o f i ts r ea de rs ha d w ri tt en i n t o t el l a bo ut t he f un ny t hi ngs

t he y h ad b ee n s ee in g, t he News d ro pp ed t he f ac e ti ou s a ng le . I n t wo d ay s m or e, t he t hi ng h ad b ec om ef act io nal, d iv id i ng s harp ly i nt o w hat y ou m ig ht cal l t he C lass ical and M od er n cam ps . I n t he l at ter,

schismatic groups argued the claims of teleportage against three-dimensional projection, or some

t heor y o f s po n tan eo us m ol ecul ar ass em bl y: i n t he f or mer, o pi n io ns cou ld b e s or ted as b el iefs i n a

ghostly invasion, a suddenly acquired visibility of habitually wandering spirits, or the imminence of

J ud ge m en t D ay . I n t he h ea t of d eb at e i t w as r ap id ly b ec om i ng d if fi c ul t t o t el l w ho h ad s ee n h ow m uc h

o f w ha t, a nd w ho w as e nt hu s ia st i ca ll y b en t o n i m pr ov in g h is c as e a t s om e e xp en se o f f ac t.

O n S at ur da y S al ly a nd I m et f or l un ch . A ft er w ar ds , w e s ta rt ed o ff i n t he c ar f or a l it tl e p la ce i n t he h il ls

whi ch s ee me d t o me a n i de al s pot f or a pr o pos al . B ut a t t he m ai n c ros si ng i n a Hi gh St re et t he ma n i n

f ro nt j um pe d o n h is b ra ke s. S o d id I , a nd t he m an b eh in d m e. T he o ne b eh in d h im d id n' t q ui te . T he rewa s a n i nt er es ti ng c runc h of me ta l goi ng on on t he ot he r s ide of t he c ros si ng, t oo. I s to od up t o s ee wh at

i t w as a ll a bou t, a nd t he n p ul le d S al ly u p b es id e m e.

“H er e w e g o a ga in ,” I s ai d. “ Lo ok !”

S la p in the mi ddl e of t he c ros si ng wa s — we ll, you coul d s car ce ly ca ll it a ve hi cl e — it wa s mor e l ike a

f la t t rol le y or p la tf or m, a bout a f oot of f t he gr ound. And whe n I s ay of f t he gr ound, I me an j us t t ha t. No

w heel s, o r l eg s. I t k in d o f h un g t here, f ro m n ot hi ng . S tand in g o n i t, d ress ed i n col ou red t hi ng s l ik e l on g

s hi rt s o r s mo ck s, w er e h al f a d oz en m en l oo ki ng i nt er es te dl y a ro un d t he m. A lo ng t he e dg e o f t he

platform was lettered:pawley's peepholes . One of the men was pointing out All Saints' Church to

a no th er ; t he r es t w er e p ay in g m or e a tt en ti on t o t he c ar s a nd t he p eo pl e. T he p ol ic e ma n o n d ut y w as

h an gi ng a g og gl in g f ace o ver t he edg e o f h is t raff ic-con tr ol b ox . T hen h e p ul led h im s el f t og et her. H e

s ho ut ed , h e b le w h is w hi st le , t he n h e s ho ut ed a ga in . T he m en o n t he p la t fo rm t oo k n o n ot ic e a t a ll . T he


10/19

policeman got out of his box and went across the road looking like a volcano that had seen a nice place

t o e ru pt .

“Hey! ” h e s ho ut ed t o t hem.

I t d id n' t w or ry t he m, b ut w he n h e g ot w it hi n a y ar d o r t wo o f t he m t he y n ot ic ed h im , a nd t he y n ud ge d

o ne ano th er , and g ri nn ed . T he p ol ice man' s f ace w as p ur pl is h, h e s po ke t o t hem l ur id ly , b ut t hey j us tw en t o n w at ch i ng h im w it h a mu se d i nt er es t. H e r ea ch ed a t ru nc he on o ut o f h is b ac k p oc ke t, a nd w en t

c lo se r. H e gr abb ed a t a f el lo w i n a ye ll ow s hi rt — a nd h is a rm w en t r ig ht t hr oug h h im .

T he po li ce ma n s te ppe d b ac k. Y ou c ou ld s ee h is no st ri ls s or t o f s pr ea d, t he w ay a h or se 's do . Th en he

t ook a fi rme r hol d of hi s t runc he on an d ma de a f in e c irc ul ar s we ep a t t he l ot of the m. T he y ke pt on

g ri nn in g b ack at h im as t he s ti ck w en t t hr ou gh t hem.

I t ak e of f m y h at t o t ha t po li ce m an. H e d idn' t r un. H e s ta re d a t t he m f or a mom ent wi th a ve ry qu ee r

e xp re s si on o n h is f ac e, t he n h e t ur ne d a nd w al ke d d el i be r at el y b ac k t o h is b ox ; j us t a s d el i be r at el y

h e s ig na ll ed t he n or th -s ou th t ra ff ic a cr os s. T he m an a he ad o f m e w as r ea dy f or i t. H e d ro ve r ig ht a t, a ndt hr ou gh , t he p la t fo rm . I t b eg an t o m ov e, b ut I 'd h av e n ic ke d i t m ys el f, h ad i t b ee n n ic k ab le . S al ly ,

l oo ki ng b ac k, s ai d t ha t i t s li d a wa y o n a c ur ve a nd d is ap p ea re d t hr ou gh t he f ro nt o f t he P en ny S av in gs

Bank.

When we got to the spot I' d ha d i n mi nd t he wea the r had come over bad to make t he pla ce look dre ary

a nd u n pr o pi t io us , s o w e d ro ve a bo ut a b it , a nd t he n b ac k t o a n ic e q ui et r oa d si de r es t au r an t j us t

o ut s id e W es t wi ch . I w as g et ti ng t he c on v er s a ti on r ou nd t o t he m oo d w he re I w an te d i t w he n w ho

s ho ul d c om e a cr os s t o o ur t ab le b ut J im my .

“Fancy m eeti ng y ou t wo !” h e s ai d. “Di d y ou h ear w hat h ap pened at t he C ro ss in g t hi s aft er no on , J er ry ?”

“ We w er e t he re ,” I t ol d h im .

“Yo u k no w, J er ry , t hi s i s s om e th in g b ig ger t han w e t ho ug ht — a w ho le l ot b ig ger. T hat p lat fo rm t hi ng .

T he se p eo pl e a re a wa y a he ad of u s t ec h ni c al ly. D o yo u k no w w ha t I r ec ko n t he y a re ?”

“Martians?” I suggested.

H e s ta re d a t m e, t ake n a ba ck. ' Now, h ow on e ar th d id you g ues s t hat ?' h e s ai d, amazedl y.

“ I s or t of s aw i t ha d t o c ome ,” I a dm it te d. “ But ,” I a dde d, “ I do h ave a ki nd of f ee l ing t ha t M ar ti answouldn't be labelled ‘Pawley's Peepholes’.”

“ Oh , w er e t he y? N ob od y t ol d m e t ha t, ” s ai d J im my .

H e we nt a wa y s adl y, b ut e ve n by br ea ki ng i n a t a ll he ha d w re cke d t he m ood I 'd be en b ui ldi ng up .

O n M on day m or ni ng o ur t yp is t, A nn a, arr iv ed even m or e s catt er ed t han com mo nl y.

“ Th e m os t t er ri bl e t hi ng h app ene d t o m e, ” s he t ol d u s a s s oon a s s he w as i ns id e t he d oor . “ Oh de ar .

A nd d id I b lu sh a ll ov er !”


11/19

“ All over?” inquired Jimmy interestedly.

S h e s co rn ed h im .

“ The re I wa s i n my b at h, a nd w he n I ha ppe ne d t o l ook up t he re w as a m an i n a g re en s hi rt , s ta nd in g

w at ch i ng m e. O f c ou rs e, I s cr ea me d, a t o nc e. ”

“Of cou rs e, ” agr eed J im my . “Very p ro per. A nd w hat h ap pened t hen, o r s ho ul dn 't w e— ”

“ He j us t s to od t he re ,” s ai d A nn a. “ Th en h e s ni gg er ed , a nd w al ke d a wa ythrough the wall . Was I

mortified!”

“Very mortifying thing, a snigger,” Jimmy agreed.

A nn a e xp la in ed t ha t i t w as n ot e nt ir el y t he s ni gg er t ha t h ad m or ti f ie d h er . “ Wh at I m ea n i s, ” s he s ai d,

“ thi ng s l ike t ha t o ug ht n' t t o b e a ll ow ed . I f a m an i s g oi ng t o b e a bl e t o w al k t hr ou gh a g ir l' s b at h ro om

w al l, w he re i s h e g oi ng t o s to p? ”

W hi ch s eemed a p rett y f ai r q uest io n.

T he b os s a rr iv ed j us t t he n. I f ol lo we d h im i nt o h is r oo m. H e w as n' t l oo ki ng ha pp y.

“Wh at t he h el l' s g oi ng o n i n t hi s d am ned t ow n, J er ry ?” h e d em an ded. “Wi fe com es h om e y es ter day.

F in ds t wo i ncredi bl e g ir ls i n t he s it ti ng -r oo m. T hi nk s i t' s s om e th in g t o d o w it h m e. F ir st b us t- up i n t went y

y ears . I n t he m id dl e o f i t g ir ls v an is h, ” h e s ai d s ucci nctl y.

O ne c ou ld n' t d o m or e t ha n m ak e a f ew s ym pa th et ic s ou nd s.

T ha t e ve ni ng w he n I w ent t o s ee S al ly I f ou nd he r s it ti ng o n t he s te ps o f t he h ou se , i n t he d ri zz le .

“ Wh at o n e ar th —? ” I b eg an .

She ga ve me a ble ak l ook.

“ Tw o o f t he m c am e i nt o m y r oo m. A m an a nd a g ir l. T he y w ou ld n' t go . T he y j us t l au gh ed a t m e. T he n

t he y s ta rt ed t o b eh av e j us t a s t hou gh I w er en' t t he re . I t got — w el l, I j us t c oul dn' t s ta y, J er ry. ”

S he w en t o n l oo ki ng m is er abl e, and t hen s ud denl y b ur st i nt o t ears .

F ro m t he n o n i t w as s te pp ed u p. T he re w as a b ri sk , i f o ne -s id ed , e ng ag e me nt i n t he H ig h S tr ee t n ex t

m or n in g. M is s D ot herb y, w ho com es o f o ne o f W es t wi ch 's m os t r esp ected f am il ies, w as o ut r aged i n

every l if e lo ng p ri n ci pl e b y t he app ear an ce o f f ou r m op -h eaded g ir ls w ho s to od g ig gl in g o n t he cor ner

o f N or th ga te . O nc e s he h ad r et ra ct ed h er e ye s a nd g ot h er b re at h ba ck , s he k ne w h er d ut y. S he g ri pp ed

h er u mb rell a as i f i t h ad b een h er g rand f at her' s s wo rd , and ad vanced . S he s ai led t hr ou gh t hem, s mi ti ng

r ig ht a nd l ef t — a nd wh en s he t ur ne d r oun d t he y w er e l au gh in g a t h er . S he s wi pe d w il dl y t hr oug h t he m

a ga in , a nd t he y k ep t o n l au gh i ng . T he n s he s ta rt ed b ab bl in g, s o s om eo ne c al le d a n a mb u la nc e t o t ak e

h er away.

B y t he e nd o f t he d ay t he t ow n w as f ul l of m ot he rs c ry in g s ha me a nd m en l oo ki ng s ta gg er ed , a nd t he

T ow n C le rk a nd t he p ol ic e w er e s no we d u nd er w it h d em an ds f or s om e bo dy t o d o s om e th in g a bo ut i t.


12/19

T he t ro ub le s eemed t o com e t hi ck es t i n t he d is tr ict t hat J im my h ad o ri gi n al ly m ar ked o ut . Y oucould

m eet t hem els ew here, b ut i n t hat area y ou cou ld n' t h el p en co un t er in g g an gs o f t hem, t he m en i n

col ou red s hi rt s, t he g ir ls w it h t heir amaz in g h ai r- do 's and even m or e amazi ng d eco rat io ns o n t heir

shirts, sauntering arm-in-arm out of walls, and wandering indifferently through cars and people alike.

T he y' d p au se a ny w he re t o p oi nt t hi ng s o ut t o o ne a no th er a nd g o o ff i nt o h el p le ss r oa rs o f s il en t

l au gh te r. W ha t t ic kl ed t he m m os t w as w he n p eo pl e g ot a ng ry w it h t he m. T he y' d m ak e s ig ns a nd f ac es a t

t he s tu ff ie r s or t u nt il t he y go t t he m t ea ri ng m ad — a nd t he m ad de r, t he f un ni er . T he y a mb le d a s t he s pi ri tt oo k t he m, t hr ou gh s ho ps a nd b an ks , a nd o ff ic es , a nd h om es , w it ho ut a c ar e f or t he r ag in g o cc u pa nt s.

E ve ry b od y s ta rt ed p ut ti ng u p ‘ Ke ep O ut ’ s ig ns ; t ha t a mu se d t he m a l ot , t oo .

I t di dn 't s ee m a s i f yo u c oul d be f re e o f t he m a ny whe re i n t he c ent ra l a re a, t hou gh t he y a pp ea re d t o be

o pe ra t in g o n l ev el s t ha t w er en 't a lw ay s t he s am e a s o ur s. I n s om e p la ce s t he y d id h av e t he l oo k o f

w al k in g o n t he g ro un d o r f lo or , b ut e ls e wh er e t he y' d b e i nc he s a bo ve i t, a nd t he n i n s om e p la ce s y ou

w ou ld encou nt er t hem m ov in g alo ng as t ho ug h t hey w er e w ad in g t hr ou gh t he s ol id s ur f ace. I t w as v er y

s oo n c le ar t ha t t he y c ou ld no mo re he ar us t ha n we c ou ld he ar t he m, s o t ha t t he re w as no us e a ppe al ing

t o t he m or t hr ea te ni ng t he m i n t ha t w ay, a nd n one of t he n ot ic es t ha t pe opl e put up s ee me d t o do

anything but whet their curiosity.

Af te r t hr ee da ys o f i t t he re w as c ha os . I n t he w or st a ff ec te d p ar ts t he re j us t w as n' t p ri va cy a ny mo re . A t

the most intimate moments they were liable to wander through, visibly sniggering or guffawing. It was

a ll v er y w el l f or t he p ol ic e t o a nn ou nc e t ha t t he re w as n o d an ge r, t ha t t he v is it a nt s a pp ea re d u na bl e

actually todo a ny t hi ng , s o t he b es t w ay w as t o i gn or e t he m. Th er e a re t im es a nd p la ce s w he n g ig gl in g

bunches of youths and maidens demand more ignore-power than the average person has got. It could

s en d e ve n a p la ci d- f el lo w l ik e m e w il d a t t im es , w hi le t he w om en 's l ea gue s o f t hi s- an d- th at , a nd t he

w at ch -com mi tt ee-m in ded w er e l iv in g i n a con st an t s tate o f b lo wn t op s.

T he n ew s h ad b eg un t o g et a bo ut , a nd t ha t d id n' t h el p, e it he r. N ew s c ol le ct or s o f a ll k in ds c am e

s tr eam i ng i n. T hey o ver f lo wed t he p lace. T he s tr eet s w er e s naked w it h l ead s t o m ov ie cam er as ,television cameras and microphones, while the press-photographers were having the snappy-picture

t im e o f t heir l iv es , and , b ei ng s ol id , t hey w er e alm os t as m uch o f a n ui sance as t he v is it ant s t hem selv es .

Bu t w e ha dn 't r ea che d t he p ea k of i t ye t. J im my a nd I h ap pe ne d t o b e p re se nt a t t he i nc ep ti on of t he

n ex t s ta ge . W e w er e o n o ur w ay t o l un ch , d oi ng o ur b es t t o i gn or e v is it a nt s, a s i ns tr uc te d, b y w al ki ng

t hr ou gh t he m. J im my w as s ub d ue d. H e h ad h ad t o g iv e u p t he or ie s b ec au se t he f ac ts h ad l ar ge ly

s ub me rg ed h im . J us t s ho rt o f t he c af e w e n ot ic ed t ha t t he re w as s om e c om mo t io n f ar th er u p t he H ig h

S tr ee t, a nd s ee mi ng ly i t w as c om in g o ur w ay , s o , we w ai te d f or i t. A ft er a b it i t e me rg ed t hr ou gh a t an gl e

o f h al te d c ar s f ar th er d ow n, a nd a pp ro ac he d a t a r at e o f s om e s ix o r s ev en m il es a n h ou r. E ss en t ia ll y i t

w as a p la t fo rm l ik e t he on e t ha t Sa ll y a nd I ha d s ee n a t t he c ro ss r oa ds t he p re vi ous S at ur da y, b ut t hi sw as a d el ux e m od el . T here w er e s id es t o i t, g li st en i ng w it h n ew p ai nt , r ed , y el lo w and b lu e, enclo si ng

s ea ts s et f ou r a br ea st . M os t o f t he p as se ng er s w er e y ou ng , t ho ug h t he re w as a s pr in k li ng o f

m id dl e- ag ed m en a nd w om en d re ss ed i n a s ob er er v er si on o f t he s am e f as h io ns . B eh in d t he f ir st

platform followed half a dozen others. We read the lettering on their sides and backs as they went by:

P aw le y' s P ee ph ol es o n t he P as t

— G re at es t i nv en ti on o f t he a ge

History Without Tears

— f or £ 1 S ee H ow G re at G re at G ra nd ma L iv ed

Y e Q uai nt e O ld e 2 0t h C en tu ry E xp res se


13/19

See Living History in Comfort

— Q ua in t D re ss es , O ld C us to ms

Educational! Learn Primitive Folkways

— Living conditions

Visit Romantic 20th Century — S af ety G uar an teed

K no w Y ou r H is to ry

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B ig M on ey P ri ze i f y ou I dent if y O wn G rand ad /M a

Mo st o f t he p eo pl e o n t he v eh ic le s w er e t ur ni ng t he ir h ea ds t hi s w ay a nd t ha t i n g og -e ye d w on de r

i nt er s pe rs ed w it h s pa sm s o f g ig gl es . S om e o f t he y ou ng m en w av ed t he ir a rm s a t u s a nd p ro du ce d s il en t

witticisms which sent their companions into inaudible shrieks of laughter. Others leant back com f or t ab ly , b it i nt o l ar ge, y el lo w f ru it s and m un ch ed . T hey cas t o cca si on al g lances at t he s cene, b ut

r es er ve d m os t o f t he ir a tt en ti on f or t he l ad ie s w ho se w ai st s t he y c la sp ed . O n t he b ac k o f t he n ex t- to -l as t

c ar w e r ea d:

W as G re at Gr ea t G ra ndm a a s G ood a s s he Ma de Ou t? Se e t he T hi ng s Y ou r F am il y H is to ry N eve r

Told You

a nd on t he f in al o ne :

W as G re at G re at S pot t he F am ous be for e t he y got C ar ef ul — Th e R ea l I ns ide D ope m ay wi n you a Bi g

Prize!

A s t he p ro ce ss io n m ov ed a wa y, i t l ef t t he r es t o f u s l oo ki ng a t o ne a no th er k in d o f s tu nn ed . N ob od y

s ee me d t o ha ve muc h l eft to s ay j us t t he n.

Th e s ho w m us t h av e b ee n s om e th in g i n t he n at ur e o f a g ra nd p re mi er e, I f an cy , f or a ft er y ou w er e l ia bl e

any w here i n t he t ow n t o com e acr os s a p lat fo rm l ab el l ed s om e th in g l ik e:

W as G re at G re at H is to ry i s C ul tu re — B ro ad en Y ou r M in d T od ay f or o nl y £ 1!

or:

Wa s G re at G re at K no w t he A ns we rs A bo ut Y ou r A nc es to rs

w it h f ul l , g oo d- ti m e l oads abo ar d, b ut I n ev er h ear d o f an ot her r egu l ar p ro ces s i on .

I n t he C oun ci l O ff ic es t he y we re t ea ri ng w ha t w as l ef t o f t he ir h ai r, a nd p ut ti ng u p no ti ce s l ef t, r ig ht a nd

c en tr e a bo ut w ha t w as n ot a ll ow ed t o t he ‘ to ur is ts ’ — a nd g iv in g t he m m or e g oo d l au gh s — b ut a ll t he

w hi le t he t hi ng g ot m or e e m ba r ra s si ng . T ho se ‘ to ur is ts ’ w ho w er e o n f oo t t oo k t o c om in g c lo se u p

a nd p ee ri ng i nt o y ou r f ac e, a nd c om pa ri ng i t w it h s om e b oo k o r p ie ce o f p ap er t he y w er e c ar ry in g —

a ft er w hi ch t he y l oo ke d d is ap p oi nt ed a nd a nn oy ed w it h y ou , a nd m ov ed o n t o s om e on e e ls e. I c am e t o

t he c on cl u si on t he re w as n o p ri ze a t a ll f or f in di ng m e.


14/19

W ell , wor k ha s t o go on: we c oul dn' t t hi nk of a ny wa y of de ali ng wi th i t, s o we had t o put up wi th i t.

Q ui te a n um be r o f f am il ie s m ov ed o ut o f t he t ow n f or p ri v ac y a nd t o s to p t he ir da ug ht er s f ro m c at ch in g

t he ne w ide as a bout dr ess , a nd s o on, but most of us jus t ha d to ke ep a long as be st we could. Pr et ty

n ea rl y e ve ry on e o ne m et t ho se d ay s l oo ke d e it he r d az ed o r s co wl in g — e xc ep t, o f c ou rs e, t he ‘ to ur is ts ’.

I c al le d f or S al ly o ne e ve ni ng a bo ut a f or t ni gh t a ft er t he p la tf or m p ro c es s io n. W he n w e c am e o ut o f t he h ou se t he re w as a d in g- do ng g oi ng o n f ar th er d ow n t he r oa d. A c ou pl e o f g ir ls w it h h ea ds t ha t

l oo ke d l ik e g lo be s o f g il de d b as ke t- wo rk w er e s cr at ch i ng t he d ay l ig ht s o ut o f o ne a no th er . O ne o f t he

f el lo ws s ta nd i ng b y w as l oo ki ng p ro ud o f h im s el f, t he r es t o f t he p ar ty w as w ho op i ng t hi ng s o n. W e

w en t t he o th er w ay .

“ It j us t i sn 't l ik e o ur t ow n a ny m or e, ” s ai d S al ly . “ Ev en o ur h om es a re n' t o ur s a ny m or e. W hy c an 't t he y

a ll go aw ay a nd l ea ve us in pea ce ? Oh, da mn t he m, al l of t hem ! I ha te t he m! ”

B ut j us t o ut si de t he p ar k w e cam e u po n o ne l it tl e chr ys an th em um -h ead s it ti ng o n app ar en tl y n ot h in g at

all , and cry i ng h er h eart o ut . S al ly s of tened a l it tl e.

“P er ha ps t he y a re h um an , s om e o f t he m. B ut w ha t r ig ht h av e t he y t o t ur n o ur t ow n i nt o a ho rr ibl e

fun-fair?”

We found a be nch and sa t on i t, l ooking at t he s unset . I wanted to get he r away out of the pl ace .

“ It 'd be gr and a wa y in t he hi ll s now ,” I s ai d.

“ It 'd b e l ov el y t o b e t he re , J er ry ,” s he s ig he d.

I t ook h er ha nd, a nd s he di dn' t pu ll i t a wa y.

“Sally, darling—” I began.

A nd t he n, be for e I c ou ld ge t a ny f ur th er , t wo t our is ts , a m an a nd a gi rl ha d t o c ome a lon g a nd a nc hor

t hem selv es i n f ro nt o f u s. T hat t im e I w as ang ry .Y O U m ig ht s ee t he p lat fo rm s alm os t any w here, b ut

y ou d id r ec ko n t o b e f re e o f t he w al k in g t ou ri st s i n t he p ar k w he re t he re w as n ot hi ng t o i nt er es t t he m,

a ny w ay — o r s ho ul d n ot h av e b ee n. T he se t wo , h ow e ve r, h ad f ou nd s om et hi ng . I t w as S al ly , a nd t he y

s to od s ta ri ng a t h er , u na ba sh ed . S he t oo k h er h an d o ut o f m in e. T he y c on fe rr ed . T he m an o pe ne d a

f ol de r h e w as c ar ry i ng , a nd t oo k a p ie ce of p ap er o ut of i t. Th ey l oo ke d a t t he p ap er , t he n a t S al ly , t he n

back to the paper. It was too much to ignore. I got up and walked through them to see what the paper was. There I had a surprise. It was a piece of theWestwich Evening News , o bv io us ly t ak en f ro m a v er y

a nc ie nt c op y i nd ee d. I t w as b ad ly b ro wn ed a nd t at te re d, a nd t o k ee p i t f ro m f al li ng t o b it s e nt ir el y i t h ad

been mounted inside some thin, transparent plastic. I wish I had noticed the date, but naturally enough I

l oo ke d w he re t he y w er e l oo ki ng — a nd S al ly 's f ac e l oo ke d b ac k a t m e f ro m a s mi li ng p ho to g ra ph . S he

ha d he r a rm s s pr ea d w id e, a nd a ba by i n t he c roo k of e ac h. I h ad j us t t im e t o s ee t he he ad l in e: ‘ Tw ins

f or T ow n C ou nc il lo r' s W if e, ’ w he n t he y f ol de d u p t he p ap er , a nd m ad e o ff a lo ng t he p at h, r un ni ng . I

r ec kone d t he y w oul d be hot on t he t ra il of o ne o f t he ir d amne d p ri ze s — a nd I hope d i t wou ld t ur n r ound

and b it e t hem.

I w en t b ack and s at d ow n again b es id e S al ly . T hat p ictu re cer tain ly h ad s po il t t hi ng s — “Co un ci ll or 's

Wif e”! Na tural ly s he wa nte d to know wha t I'd se en on the paper, and I had to s ha rpen up a f ew lie s to

cut my way out of that one.


15/19

We sat on awhile, feeling gloomy, saying nothing.

A platform went by, labelled:

W as G re at G re at T ro ub le -f re e C ul tu re — G et E du ca te d i n M od er n C om fo rt

W e w at ch ed i t g li de away t hr ou gh t he r ai li ng s and i nt o t he t raff ic.

“Mayb e i t' s t im e w e m ov ed ,” I s ug gest ed .

“ Ye s, ” a gr ee d S al ly , d ul ly . W e w al ke d b ac k t ow ar ds h er p la ce , m e s ti ll w is hi ng t ha t I h ad b ee n a bl e t o

s ee t he d at e on t ha t pa pe r.

“Yo u w ou ld n' t, ” I ask ed h er cas uall y, “yo u w ou ld n' t h ap pen t o k no w any C ou ncil lo rs ?”

S he l oo ked s u rp r is ed.

“W el l — t here's M r P al mer, ” s he s ai d, r at her d ou bt fu ll y.

“He'd b e a — a y ou ng is h m an ?” I i nq ui red, o ff -h an dedl y.

“Why, no. He's eve r s o old — a s a matter of fa ct, it' s r eally hi s wife I know.”

“A h! ” I s ai d. “ Yo u d on 't k no w a ny o f t he y ou ng er o ne s? ”

“I' m afr ai d n ot . W hy ?”

I pu t ov er a l in e a bo ut a s it ua ti on l ik e t hi s n ee di ng y ou ng m en o f i de as .

“ Yo u m en o f i de as d on 't h av e t o b e c ou nc il lo rs ,” s he r em ar ke d, l oo ki ng a t m e.

M ay be , a s I s ai d, s he do es n' t go mu ch on l ogi c, b ut s he ha s he r own wa ys of m aki ng a f el lo w f ee l be tt er .

I 'd h av e f el t b et te r s ti ll i f I h ad h ad s om e i de as , t ho ug h.

T he n ex t d ay f ou nd p ub li c i nd ig n at io n r ig ht u p t he s cale again . I t s eems t here h ad b een an eveni ng

s er vi ce g oi ng o n i n A ll S ai nt s' C hur ch . T he v ic ar h ad a sc en de d h is pu lp it a nd w as j us t dr aw in g b re at h f or

a b ri ef s er mo n w hen a p latf or m l ab el led:

Wa s Gr eat Gr ea t Was Gt Gt Gr anda d one of t he Boys? — Our £1 Tr ip ma y Show you

f loa te d i n t hrou gh t he nor th wa ll a nd s lid to a s top i n f ront of t he l ect er n. The vi car st ar ed a t i t f or s ome

s ec on ds i n s il en ce , t he n h e c ra sh ed h is f is t d ow n o n h is r ea di ng d es k.

“Th is ,” h e b oo med. “Th is i sintolerable! W e s hall w ai t u nt il t hi sobject is removed.”

He remained motionless, glaring at it. The congregation glared with him.

T he t our is ts o n t he p la t fo rm h ad a n a ir o f w ai ti ng f or t he s ho w t o be gi n. W he n n ot hi ng h ap pe ne d t he y

s tart ed p as si ng r ou nd b ot tl es and f ru it t o w hi le away t he t im e. T he v icar m ai nt ai ned h is s to ny g lare. W hen

s ti ll n ot h in g h ap pened t he t ou ri st s b eg an t o g et b or ed . T he y ou ng m en t ickl ed t he g ir ls , and t he g ir ls

gi ggle d t he m on. Se ve ra l of t he m be ga n t o ur ge t he ma n a t t he f ront e nd of t hei r c raf t. Af te r a bit he


16/19

n od ded, and t he p latf or m s li d away t hr ou gh t he s ou th w al l.

I t w as t he f ir st po int o ur s ide h ad e ve r s cor ed. Th e vi ca r m op pe d hi s b ro w, c le ar ed hi s t hr oa t a nd t he n

e xt em p or i ze d t he a dd re ss o f h is l if e, o n t he s ub je ct o f ‘ Th e C it ie s o f t he P la in ’.

Bu t n o m at ter h ow i nf lu en ti al t he t op s t hat w er e b lo wi ng , t here w as s ti ll n ot hi ng g et ti ng d on e abo ut i t.

T here w er e s ch em es , o f cou rs e. J im my h ad o ne o f t hem: i t con cern ed eit her u lt ra-h ig h o r i nf ra-l owf requ en ci es t hat w er e g oi ng t o s hu dd er t he p ro ject io ns o f t he t ou ri st s t o b it s. P er haps s om e th in g alo ng

t hos e l ine s mi gh t ha ve be en wo rke d out s ome t ime , but i t w as a qui ck er ki nd of c ur e t ha t w e w er e

n eedi ng ; and i t i s d am ned d if fi cu lt t o k no w w hat y ou can d o abo ut s om et hi ng w hi ch i s v ir tu al ly n o m or e

t han a t hr ee-d im en s io nal m ov ie p or tr ai t u nl es s y ou can t hi nk u p s om e w ay o f f ou li ng i ts t rans m is si on .

A ll i ts f un ct io ns a re go ing o n n ot w he re y ou s ee i t, b ut i n s om e un kn ow n p la ce w he re t he o ri gi n i s — s o

h ow d o y ou g et a t i t? W ha t y ou a re a ct ua ll y s ee in g d oe sn 't f ee l, d oe sn 't e at , d oe sn 't b re at he , d oe sn 't

s le ep . .. I t wa s wh il e I wa s c on si de ri ng w ha t i t a ct ua ll y doe s do t ha t I ha d m y i de a. I t s tr uc k m e a ll of a

he ap — s o s im pl e. I g ra bb ed my ha t a nd t ook o ff f or t he Tow n Ha ll .

B y t hi s t im e t he d ai ly p ro ces si on s o f s izzl in g cit izen s, t hr eateners and crank s h ad m ad e t hem p rett yc au t io us a bo ut c al le rs t he re , b ut I w or ke d t hr ou gh a t l as t t o a m an w ho g ot i nt er es te d, t ho ug h d ou bt f ul .

“N o o ne 's g oi ng t o l ik e t ha t m uc h, ” h e s ai d.

“ No on e' s m ea nt t o l ike i t. But i t c oul dn' t be m uc h wor se t ha n t hi s — and it 's l ike ly t o do l oc al t ra de a b it

o f g oo d, t oo ,” I p oi nt ed o ut .

He br ig ht en ed a b it a t t ha t. I pr es se d o n:

“ Af te r a ll , t he M ay or h as h is r es ta ur an ts , a nd t he p ub s' ll b e a ll f or i t, t oo .”

“ Yo u' ve g ot a p oi nt t he re ,” h e a dm it te d. “ Ve ry w el l, w e' ll p ut i t t o t he m. C om e a lo ng .”

Fo r t he wh ol e of t hr ee da ys w e w or ke d ha rd o n i t. O n t he f our th w e w ent i nt o a ct io n. So on a ft er

d ay l ig ht t here w er e g an gs o ut o n all t he r oads f ix in g b ar ri er s at t he m un i ci pal l im it s, and w hen t hey' d

d on e t ha t t he y p ut u p b ig w hi te b oa rd s l et te re d i n r ed :

W ES TW IC H T HE C IT Y T HA T L OO KS A HE AD

C OM E A ND S EE I T' S B EY ON D T HE M IN UT E — N EW ER T HA N T OM OR RO W

S EE T HE W OND ER C IT Y O F T HE A GE

T O LL ( N ON - RE S ID E NT S ) 2 / 6

T he s am e m or ni ng t he t el ev is io n p er mi ss io n w as r ev ok ed , and t he n at io nal p ap er s car ri ed l ar ge d is pl ay

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C OM E T O W ES TW IC H A ND S EE F OR Y OU RS EL F

T HE O FF ER OF T HE A GE S

T HE F UT UR E F OR 2 /6


17/19

W e r ec ko ne d t ha t w it h t he p ub li ci ty t he re h ad b ee n a lr ea dy t he re 'd b e n o n ee d f or m or e d et ai l t ha n t ha t

— though we ran some more specialized advertisements in the picture dailies:

WESTWICH GIRLS! GIRLS!! GIRLS!!!

T HE S HA PE S T O C OM E

S AU CY F AS HI ON S — C UT E W AY SA S TO N IS H IN G — A U TH E NT I C — U N CE N SO R ED

G LA MO UR G AL OR E F OR 2 /6

a nd s o on. W e b ought e noug h s pa ce t o ge t i t m ent ione d i n t he ne ws c ol umn s i n or de r t o he lp t ho se w ho

like to think they are doing things for sociological, psychological and other intellectual reasons.

An d t hey came.

T he re h ad b ee n q ui te a f ew l oo ki ng i n t o s ee t he s ig ht s b ef or e, b ut n ow t he y l ea rn t t ha t i t w as s om et hi ng

w or th c ha rgi ng m on ey f or t he f igu re s j um pe d r ig ht up — a nd t he m or e t he y w en t u p, t he g lo om ie r t heC ou ncil T reas ur er g ot b ecau se w e h ad n' t m ad e i t f iv e s hi ll in gs , o r even t en .

A ft er a c ou pl e of d ay s w e h ad t o t ak e ov er a ll v ac an t l ot s, a nd s ome f ie ld s f ar th er ou t, f or c ar pa rk s, a nd

people were parking far enough out to need a special bus service to bring them in. The streets became so

f ul l o f cro wd s s to og in g aro un d g reet in g any o f P aw ley' s p lat fo rm s o r t ou ri st s w it h w hi st les, j eers and

catcalls, that local citizens simply stayed indoors and did their smouldering there.

T he T re as ur er b eg an t o w or ry n ow o ve r w he th er w e' d b e l ia bl e f or E nt er ta in m en t T ax . T he l is t o f

protests to the Mayor grew longer each day, but he was so busy arranging special convoys of food and

beer for his restaurants that he had little time to worry about them. Nevertheless, after a few days of it I

s ta rt ed t o w on de r w he th er P aw le y w as n' t g oi ng t o s ee u s o ut , a ft er a ll . T he t ou ri st s d id n' t c ar e f or i tm uc h, o ne c ou ld s ee , a nd i t m us t h av e i nt er f er ed a l ot w it h t he ir p ri ze -h un ts , b ut i t h ad n' t c ur ed t he m o f

w an de ri ng a bo ut a ll o ve r t he p la ce , a nd n ow w e h ad t he a dd it io n o f t ho us an ds o f t ri pp er s w ho op i ng i t

u p w it h p an d e mo n iu m f or m os t o f t he n ig ht . T em pers all r ou nd w er e g et ti ng s ho rt eno ug h f or r eal

t ro ub le t o b re ak o ut .

T he n, on t he s ixt h ni gh t, w he n s ev er al o f u s we re j us t b egi nn ing t o w ond er w he the r i t m ig ht no t b e w is er

to cle ar out of Westwich for a bit, the f irst crac k showed — a man at the Town Hal l ra ng me up to say

h e h ad s ee n s ev er al p la tf or ms w it h e mp ty s ea ts o n t he m.

The ne xt night I we nt down t o one of t he ir re gul ar r out es t o s ee f or mys el f. I f ound a l arge ,w el l- lu br icat ed cro wd alr eady t here, exchang in g crack s and j os tl in g and s ho vi ng , b ut w e h ad n' t l on g t o

w ai t. A p la tf or m s li d o ut o n a s la nt t hr ou gh t he f ro nt o f t he C or on at io n C af e, a nd t he l ab el o n i t r ea d:

C HA RM & R OM AN CE OF 20 TH C EN TU RY — 1 5£

a nd t he re w er e ha lf a do ze n e mp ty s ea ts , a t t ha t.

T he arr iv al o f t he p latf or m b ro ug ht a w el l- su pp or ted B ro nx cheer , and a s hr il li ng o f w hi st les. T he d ri ver

r em ai ned i nd if ferent as h e s teer ed s tr ai gh t t hr ou gh t he cro wd s. H is p as seng er s l oo ked l es s cer tain o f

t hem selv es . S om e o f t hem d id t heir b es t t o p lay u p; t hey g ig gl ed , m ad e m ot io ns o f r et ur ni ng s lap f or s lap

a nd g ri ma ce f or g ri ma ce w it h t he c ro wd t o s ta rt w it h. P os si bl y i t w as a s w el l t ha t t he t our is t g ir ls c ou ld n' t

h ea r t he t hi ng s t he c ro wd w as s ho ut in g t o t he m, b ut s om e o f t he g es tu re s w er e c le ar e no ug h. I t c ou ld n' t

h av e be en a l ot o f f un g li di ng s tr ai ght i nt o t he m en wh o w er e m aki ng t he m. B y t he t im e t he p la t for m w as


18/19

c le ar o f t he c ro wd a nd d is ap p ea ri ng t hr ou gh t he f ro nt o f t he B on M ar ch é p re tt y w el l a ll t he t ou ri st s h ad

g ive n u p p re te n di ng t ha t i t w as ; s om e of t he m w er e l oo ki ng a l it tl e s ic k. B y t he e xp re ss io n o n s ev er al o f

t he f ac es I r ec ko ne d t ha t P aw le y m igh t b e g oi ng t o ha ve a t ou gh t un e e xp la in in g t he c ul tu re a sp ec t o f i t t o

a deputation somewhere.

T he n ex t n ig ht t he re w er e m or e e mp ty s ea ts t ha n f ul l o ne s, a nd s om eo ne r ep or te d t ha t t he p ri ce h ad

c om e d ow n t o 1 0s .

T he night af te r t ha t t he y di d not show up a t a ll , a nd we a ll ha d a busy t ime wit h t he j ob of r etur ning t he

half-crowns, and refusing claims for wasted petrol.

A nd t he ne xt ni ght t he y di dn 't c ome , e it he r; or t he one a ft er t ha t; s o t he n a ll we ha d t o do wa s t o pi tc h

i nt o t he j ob o f c le an in g u p W es t wi ch , a nd t he a ff ai r w as p ra ct ic al ly o ve r — a pa rt f ro m t he l on ge r t er m

business of living down the reputation the place had been getting lately.

A t l ea st , w e s ay i t' s o ve r. J im my , h ow ev er , m ai nt ai ns t ha t t ha t i s p ro ba bl y o nl y t he w ay i t l oo ks f ro m

h er e. A cc or di ng t o h im , a ll t he y ha d t o do w as t o m od if y o ut t he v is ib il it y f ac tor t ha t w as c aus in g t het ro ub le , s o i t' s p os si bl e t ha t t he y a re s ti ll t ou ri ng a ro un d h er e — a nd o th er p la ce s.

W el l, I s uppos e he c oul d be r ight . Pe rh aps t ha t f el lo w P awl ey, w hoe ve r he i s, or w il l be , ha s a c ha in of

h is f un fair s o perati ng all r ou nd t he w or ld and all t hr ou gh h is to ry at t hi s v er y m om en t. B ut w e d on 't k no w

— and, as long as he keeps them out of sight, I don't know that we care a lot, either.

P aw le y ha s b ee n d ea lt w it h a s f ar a s w e a re c on ce rne d. H e w as a c as e f or de spe ra te m ea su re s; e ve n t he

v ic ar o f A ll S ai nt s' a pp re ci at ed t ha t; a nd u nd ou bt ed ly h e h ad a p oi nt t o m ak e w he n h e b eg an h is a dd re ss

of thanksgiving with: “Paradoxical, my friends, paradoxical can be the workings of vulgarity...”

O nc e i t w as s et tl ed I wa s a bl e t o ma ke t im e t o go r oun d a nd s ee S al ly a ga in. I f ound he r l ooki ng br ight er

t ha n s he 'd b ee n f or w ee ks , a nd l ov el ie r o n a cc oun t o f i t. S he s ee me d p le as ed t o s ee m e, t oo .

“ Hu ll o, J er ry ,” s he s ai d. “ I' ve j us t b ee n r ea di ng i n t he p ap er h ow y ou o rg an iz ed t he p la n f or g et ti ng r id o f

t he m. I t hi nk i t w as j us t w on de rf ul of y ou. ”

A litt le time ago I' d probably ha ve taken that for a cue, but it wa s no tri gge r now. I sort of kept on

s ee ing h er w it h h er a rm s f ul l o f t wi ns , a nd w on de ri ng i n a d ea d- in si de w ay h ow t he y g ot t he re .

“ The re w as n' t a l ot t o i t, da rl in g, ” I t ol d h er m od es tl y. “ An yo ne e ls e m ig ht ha ve hi t on t he i de a. ”

“ Tha t' s a s ma ybe — but a w hol e l ot of p eopl e do n' t t hi nk s o. And I 'l l t el l you a not he r t hi ng I he ar d

t od ay . T he y' re g oi ng t o a sk y ou t o s ta nd f or t he C ou nc il , J er ry .”

“ Me on t he C ounc il . T ha t' d be a bi g l aug h— ” I be ga n. T he n I s top pe d s udde nl y. “ If — I m ea n, wo ul d

t ha t m ea n I 'd b e c al le d ‘ Co un ci ll or ’? ” I a sk ed h er .

“ W hy — w el l, y es , I s up po se s o, ” s he s ai d, l oo ki ng p uz zl ed .

Things shimmered a bit.

“ Er — Sa ll y, d ar li ng — e r, s we et he ar t, t he re 's — e r — s om et hi ng I 've b ee n t ry ing t o ge t r ound t o


19/19

s ay in g t o yo u f or q ui te a t im e. .. ” I b eg an .

BO O K I N FO R M A TI O N

T HE B ES T O F J OH N W YN DH AM

S P H ER E B OO K S L I MI T ED3 0/ 32 G ra y' s I nn R oa d, L on do n W CI X 8 JL

F ir st p ub li sh ed i n G re at B ri ta in b y S ph er e B oo ks L td 1 97 3

C op yr ig ht © T he E xe cu to rs o f t he E st at e o f t he l at e J oh n W yn dh am 1 97 3

A nt ho lo gy cop yr ig ht © S ph er e B oo ks L td 1 97 3

Introduction copyright © Leslie Flood 1973

Bibliography copyright © Gerald Bishop 1973

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Lost Machine: Amazing Stories , 1932

T he M an f ro m B ey on d:W o nd er S t o ri es , 1934Perfect Creature:T al es o f W on de r , 1937

The Trojan Beam: Fantasy , 1939

Vengeance by Proxy:S t ra n ge S t or i e s , 1940

Adaptation: Astounding Science Fiction , 1949

Pawley's Peepholes:S c ie n ce F a nt a sy , 1951

The Red Stuff: Marvel Science Stories , 19 51

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down:S t a r tl i n g S t o r i es , 1951

Dumb Martian:G a la x y S c ie n ce F i ct i on , 1952

Close Behind Him: Fantastic, 1953

T he E mp ti ness o f S pace: New Worlds, 1960

Th is bo ok i s s ol d s ubj ec t t o t he c on di ti on t ha t i t s ha ll no t, b y wa y o f t ra de or ot he rw is e, be l ent , r e- sol d,

h ir ed o ut o r o th er wi se cir cu l at ed w it ho ut t he p ub li sh er 's p ri or con sent i n any f or m o f b in di ng o r cov er

other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being

i mp os ed o n t he s ub sequ en t p ur ch as er.

Set in Linotype Times

P ri nt ed i n G reat B ri tain b y

R ichard C lay ( Th e C haucer P ress ) L td , B un gay, S uf fo lk .

ISBN 0 7221 9369 6

01 - pawley's peephole - john wyndham_8560

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