Books by Clive Barker Galilee Forms of Heaven Sacrament ...

"Who the hell is this?" he demanded, and this time an impeccably spoken man re?plied, albeit with
another question.
"Am I speaking to John Zacharias?"
Gentle didn't hear himself called that too often. "Who is this?" he said again.
"We've only met once. You probably don't rememberme. Charles Estabrook?"
Some people lingered longer in the memory than others.Estabrook was one. The man who'd caught
Jude whenshe'd dropped from the high wire. A classic inbred English?man, member of the minor
aristocracy, pompous, conde?scending and—
"I'd like very much to meet with you, if that's possible."
"1 don't think we've got anything to say to each other."
"It's about Judith, Mr. Zacharias. A matter I'm obligedto keep in the strictest confidence but is, I cannot
stress toostrongly, of the profoundest importance,"
The tortured syntax made Gentle blunt. "Spit it out,then," he said.
"Not on the telephone. I realize this request comes with?out warning, but I beg you to consider it."
"I have. And no. I'm not interested in meeting you."
"Even to gloat?"
"Over what?"
IMAJICA 47
"Over the fact that I've lost her," Estabrook said. "Sheleft me, Mr. Zacharias, just as she left you.
Thirty-three days ago." The precision of that spoke volumes. Was hecounting the hours as well as the
days? Perhaps the minutestoo? "You needn't come to the house if you don't wish to. In fact, to be
honest, I'd be happier if you didn't."
He was speaking as if Gentle would agree to the rendez?vous, which, though he hadn't said so yet, he
would.
2
It was cruel, of course, to bring someone of Estabrook'sage out on a cold day and make him climb a hill,
but Gentleknew from experience you took whatever satisfactions youcould along the way. And
Parliament Hill had a fine viewof London, even on a day of lowering cloud. The wind wasbrisk, and as
usual on a Sunday the hill had a host of kiteflyers on its back, their toys like multicolored candies sus?
pended in the wintry sky. The hike made Estabrookbreathless, but he seemed glad that Gentle had
picked thespot.
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