The Heart Of The Matter

lage in the night. The trees came down on either side smelling of heat and rain, and somewhere at the end of the column a dr

into a dream of perfect happiness and freedom. He was walking through a wide cool meadow with Ali at his heels: there was nobody else anywhere in his dream, and Ali never spoke. Birds went by far overhead, and once w

t the edge of the path with the mosquito-net tied from the branches overhead. ‘Two three hours,’ Ali said. ‘Plenty lorries.’ Scobie obeyed and lay down and was immediately b

rds the woods on the other side. The two ferrymen pulling on the rope wore nothing but girdles, as though they had left their clothes behind on the bank where life ended, an

: he ate some aspirin and hoped for the best He didn’t want a dose of fever when he was away from home. It was not Pemberton that worried him now - let the dead bury their dead - it was the promise he had mad

few goats’ eyes watched the headlamps of the convoy. 020 002 200 200 002 020. Ali squatting in the body of the van put an arm around his shoulder holding a mug of hot tea - somehow he had boiled another kettle in the lurching chassis. Louise was ri

ead humbug

take plent

2 trek we did twelve years ago in ten days, alo

rgot for the while what experience had taught him - that no human being can really understand another, and no one can arrange another’s happiness. ‘One hour more,’ Ali said, and he noticed that the darkness was thinning. ‘Another mug of tea, Ali, and put some whisky in it.’ The convoy had separated from them a quarter of an hour ago, when the police van had turned away from the main road and bumped alon

young freckled Liverpool face. He couldn’t sit still for more than a few minutes at a time, and then he would be up, pacing his tiny room from hideous oleograph to plaster statue and back to oleograph again. ‘I saw so little of him,’ he w

nged h

, but that was quite usual after a bout, you know, a bout. I told him to go to the poli

ou mind giving me a glass

errible.’ His eyes were red and sleepless: he seemed to Scobie one of those who are quite unsuited to loneliness. There were no books to be seen except a little shelf with his breviary and a few

‘Ho

too terrible. It puts a man outside merc

erhaps that makes a differenc

nly started and stepped aside as though he had encountered another on his tiny parad

you get down to the

for a night nine

s a change. Have you

that young Pemberton had time - time,

nd the sour grains stuck in his throat ‘If it was murder you’d simply change your mortal sinner, F

aid. He added wistfully, with nostalgia, ‘I

u any idea wh

im well enough. We di

hite men here. I

ut they weren’t at all the kind of books

do you re

Major Scobie. My great devot

t, didn’t he? Where

f’s store,

e may have b

now. It’s terri

.’ It was day now outside, and there was a peculiar innocence ab

me with you.

dly saluted, then immediately in his hollow unformed voice began to read his report. ‘At 3.

inside and have a look round.’ The chief

se were the volumes that Butterworth had left behind him - Scobie noted some titles and authors, Maitland’s Constitutional History, Sir Henry Maine, Bryce’s Holy Roman Empire, Hardy’s poems, and the Doomsday Records of Little Withington, privately printed. But imposed on all this were the traces of Pemberton - a gaudy

he shoulder he had the impression that he was looking at a child in a nightshirt quietly asleep: the pimples were the pimples of puberty and the dead face seemed to bear the trace of no experience beyond the class-room or

eiving missionaries under a State umbrella - leant against the wall and a cord remained twisted over the brass picture hanger. Who would have expected the flimsy contrivance not to col

clerk. ‘They usually do. Men who are going to die

sah, in t

ling cabinet was unlocked: the trays on the desk were filled by papers dusty with inattention

ble. There doesn’t seem anything else to do. It’s a pity I’m not in the army because then I might be killed. Don’t go and pay the money I owe - the fellow doesn’t deserve it. They may try and get it

thing unforgivable there, Father. If you or I did it, it would be despair - I grant

Church’s t

d look out for any bills he owed. I want to have a word with someone about this.’ When he turned towards the window the light dazzled him. He put his hand over his eyes and s

sweated with cold and sometimes were baked with heat. The door was open and Ali squatted on the step just outside whittling a piece of wood. Occasionally he chased awa

‘Dicky’ and sometimes ‘Ticki’; he had the sense of time passing and his own immobility between the blankets - mere was something he had to do, someone he had to save, Louise or Dicky or Ticki, but he was tied to the bed and they laid weigh

e feeling dry and cool and weak and c

come for to

was immediately asleep. In his sleep Louise wept silently beside him; he put out his hand and touched the sto

Major Scobie. I am very

y to see you a

u always mak

. What did you have t

nd noticing that his flies were open put down a large a

that you are here just at the

myself it is

d you money,

d my store-m

ressure were you put

here will be a first-class row. The Provincial Commissioner will find out. The D.C. will be sent home. If he does not stop selling, what happens then? The D.C. runs up more and more bills. My manager

y, Yusef.’ The pain was beginning again.

oo much quinine, Major Sco

ere for days. I want to kill this a

t, Major, and let me

en’t a bad c

t he could not find any. Here are IOU’s though. From my manage

t are you going

ghter and lit the corners. ‘There,’ Yusef said. ‘He has

did you co

rried. I was going to p

long spoon to su

my friends. I would do a

always call me

hair oil, ‘friendship is something in the soul. It is a thing one feels. It is n

turned his head away fro

say something a little different. I was quite overcome with astonishment, Major Scobie, to sit in a police court and hear true facts from the mouths of police

lk so much, Yusef. I’m not i

. You have made me feel secure. You will not frame me. You need facts, and I am sure the facts will always be in my favour

ng to make with Pemberton. This station controls one of the main routes a

s. I’m not inter

e apt to go back

, Major Scobie. Everybody has gone

f, that I won’t find something whe

shallow sleeps that last a few seconds and have only time to reflect a preoccupation. Louise was coming towards him with both hands held out and a smile that he hadn’t seen upon her face for years. She

e phrase ‘so happy’ to the phrase ‘do not trust’. He said, ‘What are you talking about, Yusef?’ He coul

here is the Co

ly, and thought, if I hadn’t fever I would

ial man they have s

earer, Yusef. I don’t know what

diamonds - they are crazy about diamonds - only the Commissioner

you talk, Yusef. Th

body guesse

ou shouldn’t listen

ing. Tallit says eve

ho believes wha

everywhere belie

ef. Why do you wan

my soul. That is true, Major Scobie, it is true.’ The reek of hair-oil come closer as he bent towards the

ness’ sake, keep a

Major Scobie, and if I can

Yusef,’ he said wearily and turned

can arrest me next day if you have facts. I want to be your friend. Major Scobie. You need not be my friend. There is a Syrian poet who wrote, "Of

ery bad poem to me.

In the town there are so many people watching. But here, Major Sc

o, just lea

of your characteristics, M

usef, when I shall need your pity. If you want to do

or ever out of his power - he couldn’t condemn himself for eternity - no cause was important enough. He tore up his letter and ran upstairs to tell Louise that after all everything was all right, but she had stopped crying and the silence welling out from inside the bedroom terrified him. He tried the door and the door was locked. He called out,

he fever to run its course and another two days befo

eet smell of flowers lay on the air. If he had been returning to an empty house he knew that he would have been contented. He was tired and he didn’t want to break the silence - it was too muc

: the table was laid for a late supper, the boys ran to and fro with his boxes: he smiled and talked and kept the bustle going. He talked of Pemberton and Father Cl

have things been here?’ He looked quickly up at her face and away again. There had been one chance in a thousand that she would have smiled and sa

it was to be - was delayed. She s

e’s a n

r his job. I can’t think why

told me h

g in her voice told him that the danger point was reached. Always, hopelessly, he tried to evade it. He stretched and said, ‘My God, I’m

cki, have you done

do you m

out the

rry. I’ll find

aven’t foun

orking on. It’s just a question of bor

ou’ve bad fever. I’m not going to bait you now.’ Her hand, her words broke through every defenc

n’t you c

ust one or two th

and that was a man he must not borrow from. It would have been safer to accept the Portuguese captain’s bribe. Slowly and drearily he had reached the decision to tell her that the money simply could not be found, that for the next six months at any rate, until his leave, she must stay. If he had not felt so tired he would have told her when she asked him and it would have been over now, but he had flinched away and she had been kind, and it would be harder now than it had ever been t

e had written nothing but a name. The winged ants beat against the light and dropped

at is it

whether something had happened. I had a bad dream abo

Nothing like that cou

d, putting his hand on her hair. Over her shoulder he r

r shoes on,’ she said. ‘Y

repeated and wondered whether the st

fever, you know. It comes and goes. Well, now it’s gone - for a while. I know you can’t raise the money.

all got to do wi

next ship and the other woman’s fallen out. She thought pe

n about a fort

ive up. Anyway, I had to let Mrs Halifax know tomorr

the words out beyond recall. ‘Wr

don’t promise something which can’t happen. I know you’re tired and afraid of

know where I can

you tell me whe

give you your ti

ed: she always saw a little farther than he hoped

rrying any more.

aid in a puzzled voi

, beyond the palms. They watched it with a sinking of the heart - happiness is never really so welcome as changelessne

e is over, I’ll be good to you again. I

ures took off from the roof, rattling the corrugated-iron as though they felt the tremor in the walls. Scobie said, ‘While you are sorting your things upstairs, I’ll pack your books.’ It w

i?’ He took a quick sideways glance at the fi

u this one of us wi

airs. One by one he took out the books and wiped them with a cloth: the Oxford Verse, the Woolfs,

was not separation. He thought: I’ve prayed for peace and now I’m getting it. It’s terrible the way that prayer is answ

, Ticki,

y as long as y

rd and settled down. I expect I shall drink a b

I prefer b

e to me ev

‘Of c

t be lazy about Mass? You

‘Of c

and anxiety. He said, ‘Are you really off? Ali told me a

d. ‘You never told me i

ouise said, ‘there

I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’

‘you and Henry will have to

ung there, between them and the house, not stirring to let them b

intances,’ Louise said. ‘You’ll have to

gave him a kindly wave - he looked so lost and unprotected and out of place o

e think

People like that become a nuisance in this cl

ee too much of him. I wouldn’t trust h

young and

e tells lies. Why does he

on’t thin

r. I saw him going up there th

just a way

hutney. They seemed to be sitting miles apart separated by a waste of dishes. The food chilled on their plates and there seemed nothing to talk about except, ‘I’m not hungry,’ ‘Try and eat a little,’ ‘I can’t touch a thing,’ ‘You ought to start off with a good meal,’ an endless friendly bicker about food. Ali came

nabled them to sit there not eating but occasionally picking at something e

ne bedroom. They’ll have to let

me out for a

write ev

cour

rgeant’s organized carriers at the wharf.’ They could say nothing now which wasn’t formal; unreality cloaked their movements. Although they could touch

ow-wows,’ he said. ‘First thing to go wrong on board ship are the bowwows. Plenty of gin at night and what will cover a sixpence in the morning.’ The two women took stock of their cabin. They stood there in the shadow like cave-dwel

d in the trial: it had been a dream: the condemnation had been a dream and the truck ride, and then suddenly here he was with his back to the b

ood-bye

Ticki, you’ll

‘Yes,

an awful

This isn’t the

en different if they’d

Let me know if you run short of m

ngs for me. Ticki, you’ll be

‘Nons

you love

at do yo

kes to hear it - eve

u, Louise. Of c

it down there alone, T

n the shadow of the great green swollen hills. ‘You are well escorted,’ Scobie said. The destroyers and the corvettes sat around like dogs: sign

e police launch, Scobie? Mary’s down in the cabin, Mrs Scobie, wi

ood-bye

land looking curiously on. As the launch moved away she was almost at once indistinguishable; perhaps she ha

Glad when it’s all over. Think I’ll go up to t

. I have to

er me now I’m alone,’ Halifax said. ‘However, faithful and

the bay. Scobie paused. He was touched by the plump sad boyish face. ‘Sor

arters and Ali was dozing on the steps of the house until the headlamps woke him, passin

ight, Ali.

: his ears had listened for, even though they could not catch, the faint rustle of another person’s breath, the tiny movement. Now there was nothing to listen for. He went upstairs and looked into the bedroom. Everything had been tidied aw

eepy - it had been a long day. Now that he was alone he could indulge in the most irrational act and sleep in a chair instead

r - that night he was the responsible officer and he thought that some urgent and probably unnecessary telegram had come in.

I have whisky or would you

ise, ‘This is very hospita

gh to borrow money from him, su

e beer then,

ophet doesn’

. We have to interpret his words in the modern light.’ He watched Scobie ta

re part - it will go on waiting ti

have several spare refrigerat

t, Yusef. I’ve managed for two

ted until I knew your boys were asleep, and I borrowed a car from a garage. My own car is so

hall never deny knowing a man f

transaction. Four per cent is a fair interest. I ask for more only when I h

d you want to

ortable cabin? Is there anything she requires? The ship calls at Lagos, and I c

she’s quite

I wanted to have a few wor

gently, ‘Yusef, I don’t want you to think I am the kind of man who borro

‘

retend that we haven’t in a way become colleagues in a business,

and I agree. I say again that I am never dreaming to ask yo

p you are, Yusef. I be

hich cut a sharp edge in his great expanding thighs: he was I’ll at ease in a

ire awa

down the coast: we even have one here - you know who, though nobody is supposed to know but the Commissioner: he spends money on every black or

ot nothing to do

u want to stop industrial diamonds going to Portugal and then to Germany, or across the border to the Vichy French. But all the time you are chas

other wor

y industrial diamonds that way. Only small men are interested in industrial diamonds. Why, for a whole match

nothing but four per cent. Tomorrow I’m giving a full confidential report of our business arrangement to the Commissioner.

wise thing to do

. Any kind of secret between

, I promise. I would like to give you things always. You will not take a

listening

his house. They say, ‘If there’s such a thing as an honest Syrian, then Tallit’s

‘Go

searched, of course, and nothing will be found. He will have a parrot with him in

let the

ou can easily say the parrot is suffering from a dis

the diamonds ar

‘

been used before on t

‘

me as if well have

on that informati

rmation, Yusef. I don’

ant to do you any harm at all. I shall be careful and you be careful too, and everything will be all right.’ It was as if they were in a conspiracy together to do no

’t know of

annot do that You could say, perhaps - no, better not. As long as you know, Major Scobie, that you have my best wishes -’ Stumbling on the narrow path, he made for his car. When he had turned on his lights he pressed his face a