Out of the Blackout (25 page)

‘Wife's an actress, isn't she? ‘Course she is. Seen her often. What was the name of that television show?
Three into Two.
That was it. Not bad. They made it sound funny even when it wasn't. Got any more series coming up, has she? . . .'

There were no flies on Sir Isaiah. As soon as they had ordered, he plunged straight into Zoo business—questioning, probing, suggesting, floating ideas and possibilities. ‘Remember, I'm an outsider'
he said several times; ‘I'm just trying to find out what can and what can't be done.' Simon applauded some of his ideas, expressed quiet scepticism about others, pointed to consequences and side-effects that Sir Isaiah had not taken into account. Sir Isaiah ate heartily, but did not let it interfere with his inquisition. He clearly did not go in for the type of business lunch where the only business aspect is that it is a business that pays the bill. Simon worked for his food. By the time they came to coffee and brandy Sir Isaiah was jotting down notes.

‘I'm new to animals,' he said. ‘Perhaps I make that all too obvious, do I? I'm a London boy. My parents didn't even encourage pets. Now I believe you're a countryman, aren't you?'

‘Pretty much,' said Simon. ‘I was born in London, but I was evacuated to Gloucestershire when I was about five. I stayed on and grew up there.'

‘I see. Parents killed, eh?'

‘No. I suppose you could say that they weren't really interested. As a matter of fact, I believe you once knew my mother. Her name is Connie Simmeter.'

Sir Isaiah wrinkled his forehead.

‘Don't think so . . . Can't say I recall . . . Wait a minute! Good heavens! Connie! Practically my first love. Only my second or third, anyway. Bit of a disaster, as it turned out . . . Good Lord! You don't mean to say that you—'

‘She only had the one child.'

‘Well, heavens above! What a coincidence!' A slightly roguish smile suddenly wreathed his face. ‘Things catch up with one, don't they? Quite like a Sunday newspaper story, isn't it? She was a sharp little thing, was Connie. Do you know, she screwed five pounds a week out of my parents for eighteen years? I never heard the last of that, I can tell you.' He banged his head, as a thought struck him. ‘And you say she didn't bring you up most of the time?'

‘Not after I was five. I'm afraid your parents were had.'

‘They were, weren't they? Well and truly fleeced. It wasn't often
that
happened. It all turned out pretty well, though, didn't it? For you, I mean?'

Sir Isaiah looked at his watch, and decided not to wait for an answer.

‘Good Lord, is that the time? I've got a meeting of the
governors of the Nat in half an hour's time. Well, it's been an interesting talk. You've given me lots of info, and a lot to think over. I expect our paths will cross at meetings and suchlike.' He got up, and waiters hovered around him. He hesitated, seeming to think that something more was required. He decided to shake Simon by the hand. ‘You must come to dinner some evening. Bring the wife. I'll get my secretary to ring and arrange a date.'

And he bustled out to a waiting taxi. Simon nodded to the manager, and walked briskly back to the Zoo. He had a busy afternoon ahead of him. A giraffe was arriving from a zoo in Southern France, to be mated with one at Regent's Park. Simon didn't anticipate any problems. These things arranged themselves with so much less fuss in the animal world.

First published in the United States by Charles Scribner's Sons 1985.

Copyright © Robert Barnard 1984

Copyright under the Berne Convention.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of Scribner.

www.SimonandSchuster.com

eISBN: 9781476737232