Part 34 (1/2)

'I think we should definitely keep this to ourselves,' he said at last, 'and take great care what we do. If Deane is about and had anything to do with Perkins' death, he might be after you or me next.'

Havisham agreed, told me to go and see Professor Plum to ascertain whether he could shed any more light on the failed Eject-O-Hat and vanished after telling me she had an urgent appointment to keep.

When she had gone, Harris said to me: 'Keep an eye on the old girl, won't you?'

I promised I would and made my way back towards the elevators, deep in thought.

25.

Havisham: the final bow '/ / / ../ / ../ / / / / ....../ / / / / .../ ./ ......./ / ../ ../ ./ / / .../ / / / / / ....../ / / ./ / / ./ / / / / / / / /.

Macbeth Retold for Yeast, translated by ../ / / / ../ / / ..

'Ah!' said Plum as I walked into his office. 'Miss Next good news and bad news.'

'Better give me the bad news first.'

Plum took off his spectacles and polished them.

'The Eject-O-Hat. I've pulled the records and traced the manufacturing process all the way back to the original milliner; it seems that over a hundred people have been involved in its manufacture, modification and overhaul schedules. Fifteen years is a long service life for an Eject-O-Hat. Add the people with the know-how and we've got a short list of about six hundred.'

'A broad net.'

'I'm afraid so.'

I went to the window and looked out. Two peac.o.c.ks were strutting across the lawn.

'What was the good news?'

'You know Miss Scarlett at Records?'

'Yes?'

'We're getting married on Tuesday.'

' Congratulations.'

'Thank you. Was there anything else?'

'I don't think so,' I replied, walking to the door. 'Thanks for your help, Plum.'

'My pleasure!' he replied kindly. 'Tell Miss Havisham she should get a new Eject-O-Hat this one is quite beyond repair.'

'It wasn't Havisham's,' I told him, 'it was mine.'

He raised his eyebrows.

'You're mistaken,' he said after a pause. 'Look.'

He pulled the battered Homburg from his desk and showed me Havisham's name etched on the sweatband with a number, manufacturing details and size.

'But,' I said slowly, 'I was wearing this hat in-'

The awful truth dawned. There must have been a mix-up with the hats. They hadn't been trying to kill me that day they had been after Miss Havisham they had been after Miss Havisham!

'Problems?' said Plum.

'Of the worst sort,' I muttered. 'Can I use your footnoterphone?'

I didn't wait for a reply; I picked up the bra.s.s horn and asked for Miss Havisham. She wasn't in the Well, nor Great Expectations Great Expectations. I replaced the speaking horn and jumped to the lobby of the Great Library where the general stores were situated; if anyone knew what Havisham was up to, it would be Wemmick.

Mr Wemmick wasn't busy; he was reading a newspaper with his feet on the counter.

'Miss Next!' he said happily, getting up to shake me warmly by the hand. 'What can I do for you?'

'Miss Havisham,' I blurted out, 'do you know where she is?'

Wemmick squirmed inwardly.

'I'm not sure she'd like me to tell-'

'Wemmick!' I cried. 'Someone tried to kill Miss Havisham and they may try again!'

He looked shocked and bit his lip.

'I don't know where where she is,' he said slowly, 'but I know what she's doing.' she is,' he said slowly, 'but I know what she's doing.'

My heart sank.

'It's another land speed attempt, isn't it?'

He nodded miserably.

'Where?'

'I don't know. She said the Higham wasn't powerful enough. She signed out for the Bluebird, a twin-engined, 2,500-horsepower brute of a car it almost didn't fit in the storeroom.'

'Do you have any idea where she's going to drive it?'