Crown Phoenix: Night Watchman Express

by Alison DeLuca

  ***

  arbara and her brother took the afternoon train into town so she could pick up some things that she needed for her stay. Simon watched as the motorcar bore them away to the station.

  He turned away from the window. The house, in the late sun, was immensely quiet, and he wondered where Neil was. In fact, he suddenly realized he had been neglecting Neil lately.

  He ran upstairs, calling for him, but no one answered. Simon tried the schoolroom, but that was vacant as well – the books were put away, and Miriam’s work was in a neat pile on the table. He frowned. They must have all gone out without him – they might at least have asked him, he thought angrily, forgetting his recent fascination with Miss Cantwell.

  Grabbing a pullover, he dashed outside, still calling Neil’s name. He pushed through the woods, went over to the steps and looked down. Sure enough, there they all were – Neil, Miriam and Mana, grouped around a basket and deep in conversation. Beasts! Idiots! Simon said to himself and flew down the steps.

  “I didn’t know you were down here!” he shouted with pent-up rage when he reached the bottom. The group instantly stopped talking and turned to him.

  “No, why should you?” Miriam said. “You were too busy with Baaaaarbaraaaaa.”

  “You might have at least asked me!” Simon shouted.

  “You only came down here to see us because the Cantwells went to town, didn’t you! Go on, admit it!” Miriam shouted back.

  Neil looked at Mana. This was usually the point in Simon and Miriam’s conversation at which she intervened, but she merely poured another glass of lemonade and handed it to Simon without comment. “Thanks,” he said gruffly, observing that he was desperately thirsty. Somehow it didn’t do to bellow at Mana.

  Miriam made a disgusted noise and sat back down beside Neil, who looked uncertainly at Simon. “Er, how are you?” he asked.

  “Fine, thanks,” Simon grunted and sat on one far edge of the rug Mana had spread out. “What were you doing?”

  Neil and Miriam looked at each other guiltily, and Neil answered, “Nothing.”

  “Oh, come on!” Simon exploded. “I can tell that you were doing something! Don’t even try it! What were you talking about?”

  “We were talking about that cup of coffee,” Miriam shot back, “and how it was meant for Neil.”

  “Oh, that,” Simon replied, relaxing. He pushed up his sleeves and leaned back to feel the sun on his face. “Nothing really happened; I told Neil that at breakfast. Miss Postulate probably just tripped.”

  “Tripped!” Miriam was speechless.

  “I didn’t trip,” Mana supplied.

  “Well, that’s what Barb – my parents said, and Mr. Cantwell agreed.”

  “Of course he did,” Miriam said, regaining her power of speech. “He could hardly say anything else, since he probably engineered the whole thing.”

  “Oh, stop,” Simon groaned. “I know we talked about some silly plot before, but I realize now the Cantwells are really just involved in company business with Father.”

  “You’re right in one respect,” Mana said. “Have a sandwich? It does have to do with the business, but it’s not ordinary. Far from it.”

  Simon hesitated, and took the sandwich. Biting into it, he chewed thoughtfully, watched by Neil and Miriam. He stopped, swallowed, and said, “Stop looking at me as if I were in the zoological gardens! I’m just eating a sandwich!”

  “Sorry,” Neil said at once. “But I have to agree with Miriam and Miss Postulate. Something strange happened last night, and Miss Cantwell was part of it.”

  Simon threw down the remains of his sandwich. “Don’t ever accuse her again to me,” he said in a choked voice. He stood up and marched to the steps, not looking back.

  “That didn’t go very well,” Miriam said, screwing up her eyes and looking at Simon’s retreating back.

  “That’s what I meant,” Mana replied. “Miss Cantwell is the most dangerous person I have ever met, and it looks as though she has won the first round.”