Dialogues of the Dead

sergius: You're right. She liked you; and she felt extremely randy; and being a modem young woman, saw no reason not to enjoy herself. But naturally on seeing the approach of the young man she really loved, she changed her mind. She's not that modem! Then she saw you naked, and that was it. But I'm afraid it wasn 't your rampant loblance that so compelled her gaze, Mr Dee, it was the rather large reddy-grey birthmark running across your belly. If ever a man was haswed, it was you. This was a sign from Serge, she thought. Time stopped for her. Which meant, of course, that very soon time had to stop for you also. Don't take it personally. Do take it as a comfort, if you will, that your death affected her more than anyone else's. And, of course, it had the bonus of giving the constabulary the best kind of ready-made culprit, a dead one who spared them the inconvenience and expense of a trial. dick; Oh God. You mean that's what Pm going to be remembered for? Being a serial killer? sergius: Well, it was always your ambition to make your mark as a wordman, wasn't it? And you did contribute to your own downfall. She wouldn't have come to the cottage if you hadn't asked her. And she

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wouldn 't have seen your birthmark if you hadn 't set out to seduce her. And the police wouldn't have had you so firmly in the frame if you'd come forward to admit you'd been in bed with Miss Ripley the day she died. That was an amusing irony, really. Rye had actually covered up your presence there by removing your watch which you 'd left under the pillow! She did it out of affection for you. But if the police had found' it and therefore questioned you earlier about your relationship with Miss Ripley, who knows? Perhaps the whole course of events may have been changed. Well, that's fate. Now, unless there are any more questions, ^ let's start getting you aboard. You first, Messrs Bird and Follows, as .^ you are potentially the most awkward. ..'

percy; We will get separated on the other side, won't we? '! sergius: Oh yes. Nothing Dante-esque about the place where you're ^ going. Now, Miss Ripley ... excellent .. . Mr Ainstable, perhaps you, '| could give Mr Pitman a hand ... he's a bit broken up . .. you'll lovf, it over there, Mr Pitman. Very Greek. Mr Steel... stuffer; What's the nosh like, mate? sergius: Ambrosia. With chips. Drjohnson ... sam; I don't know about this... sergius.-^w think of it as sailing to the rock in the ancient waves,..,. Doctor. And there's a young friend of yours waiting to see you. That's ;! right. He may have a couple of things to tell you which you 'II find surprising. There we go. Now, Mr Dee .. . dick: Do I gather that we'll get the chance to meet people we once knew ... ?

sergius: Don't worry. Young Johnny knows you're coming. He's very p excited. Last but not least, you, my lord. ,;| !^ geoff: Oh gosh, not so much of that lord stuff, eh? Not the place ft» 'i| be putting on the style from the sound of it. ' sergius: You may be surprised how hierarchical we are. And of course when you 're connected. .. geoff: So long as there's a bit of good sport. Shall I push off then? Right. Here we go. Just one thing that bothers me, as they say in the tec novels. Has all this worked out for Rye? I mean, was it really you leading her on all the time? And if her motive was getting in touch with you, why can't we hear her? Or did she have to get right through the whole twenty volumes of OED before she wrapped it up? In which case, sounds like she's got a long way to go? And won't the police get a bit suspicious when the Wordman killings carry on even with Dick here dead? Left hand down a bit, I think, old thing. Don't want to hit that rock or whatever it is out there . .. can't see a thing in this mist ... oh yes, I can . . . it's getting a bit clearer ... it's . .. it's . .. Oh my God...'.