Part 14 (1/2)
”No, darling. Just make sure that you don't.”
Sat.u.r.day morning found him in Oxford at The Lion. The pub was crammed with students and Percy was already there, a pint of beer in front of him.
Rupert paused beside him. ”I'll just get a drink.”
He pushed through the crowd and saw Helen Quinn and young Grant at the end of the bar. He smiled and went over and ordered a large Jack Daniel's from the barman.
”h.e.l.lo, there,” he said. ”You're going to the rally, then?”
Grant stopped smiling and became aggressive. ”What's it got to do with you?”
”Alan, shut up.” She smiled at Dauncey. ”Yes, we're going on the bus.”
”I wish you wouldn't. It could get very nasty. The more I've read about it, the more likely it sounds that there'll be violence, and we simply couldn't condone anything like that.”
Students nearby were listening and Percy, coming forward, had also heard. Grant said, ”You don't approve?”
”Not of riots, and police trying to crack your skull with a baton.”
”Afraid, are you? A ponce like you would be. Rupert Dauncey. What kind of a name is that?”
Students standing around laughed and Helen said, ”Stop it, Alan.”
He ignored her. ”I know what it is, it's a ponce's name.”
Rupert smiled gently. ”If you say so,” picked up his drink, and returned to Percy.
The professor said, ”I'm sorry about that.”
”That's okay. He's young. But I meant what I said. I think it's all too dangerous. I want you to get on that bus and tell them not to go.”
”Get on the bus? But I told you. I've other plans. I-”
”You can forget them. Listen to me. The Countess and the Ras.h.i.+d Educational Trust acted in good faith in supporting Act of Cla.s.s Warfare. We believed in its philosophy-but we do not not believe in violent protest.” believe in violent protest.”
”But I can't control their behavior.”
”I realize that. But you can tell them how you feel when they're on the bus.”
”No, I-”
”Professor.” Dauncey leaned close. ”We've put a lot of trust in you. Also a lot of money. Wouldn't it be a shame if it should come out that there is a discrepancy of fifty thousand pounds in the ACW accounts?”
Percy seemed to shrivel up. ”I don't know anything about that,” he whispered.
”Oh, yes, you do. Imagine what it would be like at Wandsworth, someone like you, sharing the showers with murderers and s.e.x offenders. Not a pretty picture, Professor.”
Percy had turned white. ”For G.o.d's sake, no.”
”We wouldn't appreciate the scandal ourselves. It would damage our reputation. But it would damage you much more, wouldn't it?”
”All right,” Percy moaned. ”Whatever you say. But they'll go anyway, no matter what I say.”
”Oh, I'll back you up. You can introduce me as representing Ras.h.i.+d. n.o.body can say afterwards that we didn't do our best.” He looked across the room and saw Grant making for the men's room and got up. ”I'll be back.”
When he went into the toilet, Grant was just finis.h.i.+ng. He turned, pulling up his zipper. For the moment, they were alone.
”What do you want, ponce?”
Rupert kicked him on the right s.h.i.+n, doubled him over with a blow to the stomach, then grabbed the left wrist and twisted the arm straight. He raised a clenched fist.
”How'd you like me to break it for you?”
Grant moaned with pain. ”No, please, stop.”
Rupert exerted more pressure. Grant cried out and Rupert swung him around and slapped his face. ”Now listen to me. I happen to know you're here at Oxford only because all your expenses are paid by an outside scholars.h.i.+p. Do you know who's behind that scholars.h.i.+p? Do you?”
Grant moaned again and shook his head.
”We are. The Ras.h.i.+d Educational Trust. And we can take it away so fast it'll make your head spin. So, step out of line with me again and you'll be out of Oxford and working at McDonald's. Understand?” are. The Ras.h.i.+d Educational Trust. And we can take it away so fast it'll make your head spin. So, step out of line with me again and you'll be out of Oxford and working at McDonald's. Understand?”
”Yes,” Grant rubbed his arm, tears in his eyes.
Rupert lit a Marlboro. ”So this is what I want you to do.”
Alan Grant fumbled in his pocket for a tissue, and his fingers brushed against the pen his brother had sent him. Something, a bad feeling, made him switch it on now.
Rupert took a paper bag from his pocket.
”There are three pieces of candy in there, chocolates. Each has an Ecstasy tablet inside. I want you to offer the girl one during the demonstration.”
”Why-why should I do that?”
”Because there's a fair chance you'll be busted by the police when the riot starts, which it will. A drug bust would be very embarra.s.sing for her father, you understand?”
”What happens if the s.h.i.+t doesn't hit the fan? If she takes the pill and doesn't get arrested?”
”There'll be other times. Just get her back to that bus in one piece.”
”We aren't coming back tonight.”
”Why?”
”My brother's working in Germany. He's got a one-room flat in Wapping. He said I could spend the weekend there.”
”And she agreed?”
”Yes.”
Rupert shook his head. ”She must be hard up. What's the address?”