In the Bleak Midwinter

Stan Mason

Description

The story is divided into two sections which meet in the latter part of the work but both relate to the Botallack mine in South Cornwall. The first involves a group of Russian students who defect to the West seeking political asylum from the British Government. However the incident causes international dissent from the Russian government, to the embarrassment of the British government and the students are hidden away in a remote spot in Cornwall until the dust dies down. Ivan becomes their leader of the group and he goes to Plymouth to meet with a Member of Parliament but after being given a load of political nonsense, he storms off and decides to go his own way. However, on the night before he went to Plymouth Ivan slept with Anna. She becomes pregnant and has a son but Ivan knows nothing about it until she writes to him to tell him. In the meantime, he comes into contact with Elsie, a widow living in a slum property, and he lives there with her and her son but he treats her badly, takes all her savings and eventually leaves her. He meets up with James, a mining consultant, who employs him to help him buy Botallack mine through the Stannary Court.On the other side of the story, Sadler, a bank manager, is visited by Wesley Morris, a trader who looks like a tramp with an old fur coat and a battered trilby hat. Morris wants to buy the mine and has come for a bank loan. Sadler becomes interested in being a part of it but when negotiations occur for the sale, he discovers that Morris won an option to buy the mine in a poker game. There are numerous discussions with various parties and lots of negotiation until Morris reveals that the Government is interested in using a half-mile long tunnel at the mine, which goes out under the Atlantic Ocean, to deposit nuclear waste. The knowledge of this upsets the local miners and a plan to ensure that it happens takes place. Sadler has no money so he decided to steal it from dormant accounts at the bank in the hope that he can pay it all back before it's discovered. The Russian students are sent to the mine to clear the levels which they resent it very much. However, an explosion takes place and they are all drowned in the mine. Many years later, Anna dies and contact is made with Ivan for him to go and see his son. He agrees to do so and is nervous all the way on the journey to Cornwall but they eventually meet each other.

Sujets

• Thriller

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 28 octobre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781785380259
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Conens

Fron Maer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . î Tile Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i PublisHer Informaion . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

ïn e Beak Mîdwîner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CHaper One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CHaper Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 CHaper hree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 CHaper Four. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 CHaper Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 CHaper Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 CHaper Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 CHaper EigH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 CHaper Nine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 CHaper Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 CHaper Eleven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 CHaper Twelve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 CHaper hireen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 CHaper Foureen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 CHaper Fiteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 CHaper Sixeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 CHaper Seveneen. . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 CHaper EigHeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 CHaper Nineeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Back Maer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Also Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

by San Mason

Publiser Informaion

Pubîsed în 2014 by Andrews UK îmîed www.andrewsuk.com

he rîg o San Mason o be îdenîIed as e Auor o îs work as been assered by îm în accordance wî e Copyrîg, Desîgns and Paens Ac 1998

Copyrîg © 2014 San Mason

A rîgs reserved. No par o îs pubîcaîon may be reproduced, sored în a rerîeva sysem, or ransmîed, în any orm or by any means wîou e prîor wrîen permîssîon o e pubîser, nor be oerwîse cîrcuaed în any orm o bîndîng or cover oer an a în wîc î îs pubîsed and wîou a sîmîar condîîon beîng împosed on e subsequen purcaser. Any person wo does so may be îabe o crîmîna prosecuîon and cîvî caîms or damages.

A caracers appearîng în îs work are Icîîous. Any resembance o rea persons, îvîng or dead, îs purey coîncîdena.

Caper One

On e mornîng o e en o June 1784, Mr. James Maddern and îs co-advenurers, a group o eîgeen cenury busînessmen, ook conro o e Boaack în mîne a S. Jus near and’s End în Cornwa. he and, known as Roscommon Cît Bounds on e cîf and waseands beween Boaack and Wea Cock cos Iteen dues o e ord and a en o e bounders. Fîty-one years aer, în 1835, Sepen Harvey James rescued e dereîc mîne în e srong beîe î woud make îm a orune... a maer a was îgy debaabe a e îme! On e sîxeen o May, 1964, amos one undred-and-eîgy years on , ïvan Obsîovîc, a îgy îneîgen It year engîneerîng suden, waked ou o Mînsk Unîversîy or e as îme în îs bîd or reedom aoug e ad a urer year o sudy beore e coud acîeve îs quaîIcaîons. He was desîue, ungry or advenure bored wî oaîarîan docrîne, and eager o Ind a means by wîc e coud make îs orune. hese încîdens and desîres, despîe e span o îme and e geograpîca dîsance, were cosey înked wî e Boaack mîne. ï was no 1984... weny more years ad passed sînce ïvan vîsîed e mîne on a geograpîca survey reaîng o e rîse and a o în. To a înens and purposes î ad become a memory o e pas. However e new înormaîon e ad receîved opened a door o e uure. ï overook îs ougs îke a ragîng avaance orcîng îs memory o reca pas evens wîc osensîby were ong orgoen he very essence o Boaack coursed roug îs veîns as we as weîgîng eavîy on îs conscîence. ï ad învaded îs mînd, possessed îs ougs, auned îs dreams, and pagued îs îe remorseessy unî îs subconscîous mînd suppressed e pas. Now î ad suraced agaîn. He waked o e wîndow o îs we-urnîsed oice reLecîng en pas wo decades wî a sorrowu expressîon on îs ace, He was quîe aluen now... a resîden în e capîa cîy... ar rom e povery

and vîcîousy cod wîners e ad experîenced în Mînsk. Boaack was aso undreds o mîes away... cod, we, sark, pary resîng înnocuousy under e Aanîc Oceans wî srong waves baerîng î a îs wesern edge. he door opened and Baker enered, snappîng îs Ingers a îs remînîscen coeague. ‘Consanîne!’ e barked arsy amos în e orm o an order. ‘Try o ocus your mînd on prîorîîes ïvan!’ he Russîan urned sowy as oug în a daydream, ‘Wa?’ e uered aconîcay beore oferîng e oer man îs u aenîon, ‘Consanîne!’ came e rapîd repy. ‘ï’s goîng o ake us Ive or sîx ours o ge ere în e dark. ï we don’ sar soon,’ ‘You don’ ave o remînd me,!’ reored ïvan sarpy, înerrupîng e oer man. ‘ï’m ready... ï’m ready!’ Baker sared a îm dîrecy or a ew momens, ‘ook,’ e saîd ouguy. ‘Wy don’ you jus orge î and e seepîng dogs îe?’ ‘Because e’s my son, dammî,’ came e quîck response. ‘;ï owe î o îm o e îm know e îdenîy o îs aer.’, He’s your son a rîg,’ saed Baker Lay. ‘Bu e’s eîgeen years od and you’ve never seen îm. He’s grown up. You mîssed a e un years. Wa’s e poîn o meeîng îm now?’ he Russîan înaed deepy. ‘He’s sî my son... my Les and bood,’ e responded camy. ‘ï wasn’ possî e o do îs beore bu now se’s dead... ‘ He aîed of, aowîng e senence o vanîs îno obscurîy. ‘ï suppose you wan o vîsî Boaack a e same îme. ‘Wa do you înk? Baker regreed avîng menîoned e în mîne bu ere was noîng a e coud do o rerac e words. ‘ï’ ge e car,’ e saîd as e et e room. From îs poîn o vîew, e quîcker ey sared e journey, e aser î woud be over. ï coudn’ end swîty enoug!

***

ï was an îcy wîner evenîng as e arge back saoon car urned of e maîn road, afeced by severe engîne roube., soppîng g a e orecour o an od garage în Cornwa. he wo men însîde e car eased emseves back în e comorabe seas o reax eîr acîng musces, Baker cosed îs eyes îgy beore runnîng a and over îs ace and yawnîng îredy, ‘e’s see î ere’s anyone abou,’ e muered. He sared o open e door wen e noîced a e oer man was abou o do e same. ‘No ïvan!’ e urged, pusîng îs companîon back îno e we-sprung eaer. ‘ ‘You say ere în e warm,’ he Russîan srugged of e gesure subborny, and opened e car door. ‘ï may as we srec my egs,’ e responded îredy. ‘Fîve ours în e dark îs a ong îme,’ Baker smîed, îs eyes a cosîng wî aîgue. ‘he roube wî you, moî droog, îs a you’re so used o sîîng on your a derrîere în e oice you’ve os e ar o raveîng ong dîsances,’ hey aîged rom e car, sammîng e doors oudy beînd em. ‘You’re rîg,’ admîed Obsîovîc. ‘ï’m no used o raveîng any more. here was a îme wen... ‘ He was înerruped as îs companîon poîned o a îg în an oice a e rear o e garage. ‘Maybe we’re în uck,’ suggesed Baker opeuy. ‘Come on!’ He waked owards e îg as ïvan pued up e coar o îs overcoa and capped îs ands ogeer o keep warm, ‘You go on aead,’ e od Baker îredy. ‘ï’ waî ere. Bu be quîck abou î, ï’s cod... damned cod! He waced Baker reac . oice and en sared o sadow boxîng în e orecour, weavîng and duckîng as î Igîng an îmagînary opponen. Ater a sor wîe e grew weary and samped îs ee on e ground. Hîs îred a body move mecanîcay în an aemp o keep îs bood cîrcuaîng aser, owever îs obesîy denîed îm e pysîca acîvîy requîred so a îs efors were în vaîn. hîs was an awu pace o sufer car engîne probems. ï was mîes rom e neares own... mîes

rom anywere! Hîs coeague was rîg! He ad become oo accusomed o a pus execuîve caîr în îs eseemed corporae oice. A sat o îg was cas beore îm as e door opened and Baker consored wî a man wo conînuay rubbed îs greasy ands on e îgs o îs dîry bue denîms, hey waked over o e car were e mecanîc opened e bonne and sone a orc însîde. hen e sîd îno e drîvîng sea and rîed o sar e engîne, îîng îs ead o one sîde as e soug o Ind e core o e probem, ‘ï’ need more îme o do a proper job,’ e od em wî a dîsînc Cornîs accen. ‘E’d beer come back o e oice and ‘ave some ea wîe us works on a repaîr.’ here was a vesîge o îg as e wîner moon sowed îse beween paces o couds. he ree men urrîed o e oice were e mecanîc Ied up e kee wî waer and paced î on îged gas rîng. ‘Servîce and înscruabîîy,’ auged Baker. ‘ï’s nîce o know a ese peope aren’ on e make. No îke mos own peope.’ ïvan pued of îs goves o warm îs ands on e od oî eaer burnîng în a corner o e room, ‘How muc urer now.?’ ‘Abou weny mîes or so,’ repîed Baker. ‘ï’m no reay sure.’ Baker sared ou o e wîndow a e sroud o darkness. ‘ï ope e can Ix î quîcky. ï don’ wan o spend e nîg în îs mîsbegoen pace. No î ï can ep î!’ he Russîan rubbed îs ands ogeer vîgorousy begînnîng o ee e cîrcuaîon reurnîng, ‘hey’re usuay good mecanîcs în ese remoe paces. hey’ve go o be.’ ‘here’s sî îme o e seepîng dogs îe,’ counered Baker ardy o e împac o îs words as îs îred braîn curned ou oug wîc ad nagged îm a day. ‘We coud go back... even now.’ ïvan umbed în îs pocke o produce a packe o cîgarees. He î one and ossed e dead mac careessy on e L.oor. here was sîence beore Baker conînued.

‘You never ever od me wa se was îke.’ he Russîan gared a îm sueny, ‘Wa’s any woman îke?’ e reurned acuey, he cynîca response orced îs coeague o drop e maer. Funny ow you can sme e counrysîde,’ e conînued cangîng e subjec. ‘here’s a swee odour în e aîr... a kînd o resness,’ He empîed e dregs o îs mug îno e îny sînk în e3 corner o e room beore gancîng ou o e wîndow o observe e mecanîc workîng under e arge porabe eecrîc îg. ‘ï don’ îke e ook o ose couds,’ e grumbed as e moon dîsappeared beînd em. ‘ooks îke a sorm’s brewîng. ha’s e as îng we wan.’ he Russîan Inîsed îs drînk and ed îs goves owards e oî eaer. ‘We soud ave drîven on regardess,’ e compaîned bîery, ‘You can’ drîve weny mîes wî an engîne makîng a kînd o noîse... ‘ He was înerruped rudey by an împaîen wave o a and. ‘A rîg, a rîg... ï’m no în a mood or a ecure.’ hey remaîned sîen unî e mecanîc reurned. ‘ï can probaby do î by omorrow aternoon a e earîes î ï can ge e pars, You can borrow one o my cars în e meanîme o ge on your way.’ hey oowed îm ousîde sulîng abou o keep warm and e mecanîc began o crank e engîne o a very od veîce. Baker sook îs ead în dîsbeîe as e sa în e drîvîng sea o e pre-1939 mode,. hîs soud ave been sen o e scrap eap years ago,’ e saîd, reaîsîng a e ad no conro over e maer. ‘ï’s e ony spare ï ave, reaed e mecanîc. ‘Take î or eave î!’ Baker gave îm a wry ook and drove of sruggîng wî e conros. He oug wî e gear sîck and e cuc or a wîe, aavîng o keep îg conro o e seerîng wee, and even onger o become accusomed o e noîsy one o e engîne and e consan rae o e bodywork., Pressîng îmse îno

e sma bucke sea as ard as possîbe, e squîned a e road aead î ony by e dîm eadîgs wîc cas eîr îgs în a poo în ron o e veîce. ïvan sa quîe sî, îs egs drawn up îgy owards îs cîn în e sma space aocaed o e passenger. Hîs eyes opened and cosed spasmodîcay as aîgued began o overcome îm. Peraps Baker ad been rîg. Maybe e soud ave e seepîng dogs îe. He began o înk back abou îs îe în Russîa în e pas. To îs credî, e ad been e boy cosen o ave îs poograp depîced on a Sovîe posage samp, wavîng e Lag o îs naîon parîoîcay wî bo ands. A a îme e beîeved a e Sae reîgned supreme and îs înîîa aîm was o dedîcae îmse o e oaîarîan cause unî word revouîon wîc woud înevîaby ree a ose wo were în împerîaîsîc capîvîy. Howwever, îs aer mînd, and îs unquencabe curîosîy aered îno one o exreme seIsness as e grew oder, ïn due course, î dawned on îm a, wî e bes wî în e word, îs moer counry wî îs îdeoogy woud never reward îm adequaey and e woud be ar beer of o spread îs wîngs o acîeve someîng beer în îe. he Irs ask en was o dîvorce îmse rom e Sovîe îdeoogy. As ar as e was concerned, e ad o escape o a corrup, asîdîous, împerîaîsîc word în e Wes în wîc e mîg acîeve îs ambîîon and make îs orune. He recaed a book once smugged by anoer boy îno e scoo wîc od o e srees o ondon beîng paved wî god. He consîdered î o be a capîaîsîc rîck by a Wesern auor and e dîsbeîeved î o be rue, However ere was no arm în ceckîng ou e boas o see weer ere was an eemen o ru în î, O one îng e was ceraîn, ï e sîmpy sa back and aîed o ac, îs you, enusîasm and îs prospecs woud înexoraby ade away o înInîy,

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