A Summer in Amber

by C. Litka

  Chapter 17: Friday 12 July

  01

  Friday dawned, still misty, which turned into a steady rain by mid-morning. It was ideal working weather and I spent the morning working in the dim cottage at the kitchen table in a pool of light from the lantern on the table. I'd finished all the photographic enhancements last night, and was now determined to put the pages in something like their proper order before setting up the document on the computer. After spending the last week going over every page with a fine tooth comb, I can pick out strings of words in TTR's handwriting at a glance. By concentrating on deciphering the last and first lines of every page, I tried to get them to make some sort of sense before I entered them into the two paged document file on the computer. It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. I'd pages scattered across the kitchen table and by reading the lines at the top and bottom of the pages, moved them from this pile to that one until I'd just one pile. It was a rough sort, but it'd do until I could read all the lines. I cleared off the table and made myself lunch.

  I was just washing the last of my lunch dishes when there was a knock at the door.

  'Come in,' I called out.

  The door opened and Willie and Watt bounded in.

  'Hi guys,' I said as they eagerly greeted me, eyeing the kitchen counter top at the same time.

  Nesta followed them in, closing her umbrella.

  'Hello Say, we're seeking asylum.'

  'Hi Doc. Make yourself at home. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?' I asked drying my hands.

  'The natives are restless. Everyone's over from the Lodge and, trapped by the rain, they're surging about the place. I've had no peace this morning and when I heard the aunts were organizing a scavenger hunt for everyone – with a list a mile long, I knew I'd not find place to hide in the house and that I'd have to make my escape quickly if I was to avoid being roped into the hunt as well. And even if I wasn't included, knowing my aunts, I'm probably on their list to find and collect, so here I am. I won't disturb your work if I just sit quietly and read?'

  'Not at all. I just have busy work to do this afternoon, so any distraction is welcomed. As I said, make yourself at home... You too, guys,' the last to the dogs.

  'I've no intention of distracting you. Just work. As for the hounds, they insisted on coming along,' she added. 'We can turn them out if you like.'

  'No, no, everyone's welcome,' I said as I padded their rather damp heads as they milled about at our feet. 'I was just going to put on some water for tea. I'll make us a pot.'

  'That sounds grand,' she said, tossing her jacket and hat over the back of the sofa, 'And if a cousin shows up at the door looking for me, you've not seen me all day...'

  The dogs, finding the counter top bare and soapstone stove cold, gave me a rather reproachful look, but settled down beside it nevertheless.

  We chatted while I made tea. Then we settled in to work and read. She curled up in the club chair with her big reader on her lap to catch up on her medical journals. I sat at the desk with the pile of pages I'd organized ready to begin setting up the digital version. I'd have the photos on the left page and, save the right page for the transcription. The dogs just napped by the cold stove and the rain pattered against the window pane across the desk from me.

  A little after 3:00 there was a pounding on the door, waking the dogs up and getting them barking.

  I glanced behind me and Nesta shrugged and scrunched down in the chair. I got up and opened the door.

  It was Lord Learmonte. And here we go again.

  'Can I come in?' he asked, as I stared at him.

  'Of course, sir. Come in. I didn't expect you this early,' I said stepping back. 'Can I take your coat?'

  The dogs bounded about him in greeting, which puzzled him for a second before he spied Nesta slowly straightening up in the club chair under the stairway.

  'What are you doing here?' he demanded.

  'I'm catching up on some journals,' she said, lifting her reader to show him.

  'Why are you doing that here?'

  'There was no quiet place to read at the house,' she replied. 'Everyone's there and full of cooped-up energy. Scavenger hunt, this afternoon. Consider yourself warned. Dr Say was kind enough to let me hide out here so I could get some work done. And how are you, Father?'

  He gave her a look, started to say something, and then thinking better of it, turned to me. 'What do you have to report?'

  'I've finishing processing the last of the page photos and have organized the pages into something like their correct order. I'm now entering them in the word processing app, after which I'll begin transcribing the handwritten notes,' I replied.

  'Which is what I hired you to do in the first place,' he said.

  'Exactly,' I said, 'All the prep work is out of the way and we can get to the heart of the matter,' I added, cheerfully, determined not to start anything.

  He didn't say anything, so I continued, 'I've got about a dozen pages to record and then you can have all the originals back. Everything I need will be on the computer. Give me a second to write down the page order and you can take them with you.'

  'I don't see that as necessary,' he said after giving it some thought. 'They're as secure here, as anywhere else, if you take the proper precautions.'

  'Your choice, but why risk everything in one basket, now that it's no longer necessary?'

  'Okay. Get them ready. Nesta, we should be going. I'll give you a ride up to the house.'

  Nesta climbed to her feet without a protest. Everyone was being agreeable today. I returned the last of the papers to the box and Learmonte took it and left with a curt 'Thanks.'

  Her 'Thanks, Sandy.' was delivered with a sly smile, adding as she slipped out of the door into the rain. 'I doubt I'll be fishing tonight.'

  I nodded, 'Then good night, Nesta.'