‘Well no harmin seeing your doctor about that, it’s important to get thingschecked out, we’ll make an appointment when we get back, you mustremind me. Anyway, let me heat up the shepherd’s pie I’ve broughtand we’ll get going after. I thought I’d take the car up to thestation, park it there and leave it for the night. You know, I’mlooking forward to it too: I haven’t been to London for a whilenow. It’ll be a pleasure – and you do look bloody good, by theway.’
He parked upjust after half five and they settled into their seats on thetrain. Mark got himself a beer and Anne a gin and tonic; it mighthelp take the edge off any pain or stomach cramps from themushrooms. He watched the suburbs of South East London flash by:Woking, Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames and Surbiton. He really wasquite good at this – older women certainly took to him, and notjust older ones, he’d like to think. Waterloo station was heavingwith commuters going the opposite way to them; they battled throughto the underground and took the tube up to Bond Street. It was ashort walk to Ruth’s and they picked up the key she had left forher flat from the downstairs neighbour. Apparently, she was out forthe afternoon and probably wouldn’t get to see them before tomorrowmorning if they were back too late that night.
‘Let’s get ourselvessettled in at Ruth’s first then we’ll head up to Wardour Street andthe Marquee in a bit, it’s just a couple of stops on the CentralLine up to Tottenham Court Road and then just round thecorner.’
***
As Mark andAnne emerged from the tube into the London night there was anunmistakable air of anticipation as the Soho area was beginning tospring to life. They walked a short way up Oxford Street beforeturning down Dean Street and cutting through to the Marquee partway down Wardour Street. They picked up their tickets at the doorand Mark ushered Anne to a table as near to the back of the club ashe could find; although it was pretty dark inside he still felt alittle uncomfortable and obvious, as if he was either a gigolo orelse reduced to having to take his mother out for company. Hewasn’t going to overdo things but intended to get Anne reasonablydrunk and to add some of the thallium he’d acquired to her drinkswhenever he could. Fortunately thallium salt was still easy enoughto get from most chemists; although best known as a rat poison itwas still widely used to treat skin infections such as ringworm.The big advantage was that its effects didn’t become noticeable forat least a week or so; however, one of its known side effects washair loss and he didn’t want to risk raising any suspicions toosoon. He had only brought about half a teaspoon’s worth with himand knew he had to be careful; apparently a gram was close to afatal dose. His plan was to add a little to a couple of drinks andthen a bit more when he prepared breakfast, or coffee at least, thenext morning at Ruth’s. Mark had been trying to get hold of somepolonium which he’d found out had been the cause of a number ofdeaths by poisoning in the 1960s, particularly at laboratories inIsrael, and which was just about untraceable, but had had no luckso far. The two chemists he had tried had given him rather oddlooks when he’d enquired about it – it was obviously a longshot.
The band thatnight were doing the usual sound checks as Mark returned from thebar with a double G & T and a Southern Comfort; after all, hemight as well enjoy himself too or at least try to take the edgeoff things. He had chosen that particular night because the PrettyThings were scheduled to be playing but, annoyingly, there’dapparently been a late change. He hadn’t bothered to check thetickets at the door and only found out at the bar. He passed thenews on to Anne.
‘According to the barman there’s been a change tothe bill. The Pretty Things have cancelled, he didn’t know why, butMarillion are a new band who played their first gig here last week,as a support act, but because they were so good they’ve beeninvited straight back. They’re progressive rock with a bit of jazzthrown in apparently. Should be worth hearing, I’msure.’
All of thatmeant little to Anne, of course, and he was pleased to see that shelooked as if she was enjoying herself.
‘Thanks Mark,it’s been a while since I heard any live music. They do look veryyoung, I must say, and so do most of the crowd.’
Mark could see thatwas the case, he tried to play it down.
‘Well they doto me too, I guess it’s inevitable but I have seen a few otherolder people in the audience as well. Come on, drink up and I’llget another one in before they start.’
Mark had noticed agroup of what looked like students rolling joints at a nearby tableand the atmosphere in the club was already exhibiting thedistinctive sweet aroma of pot, mingling with that of cigarettes,sweat and alcohol. He wondered about trying to get something forhimself to help the evening along but thought better of it. Fromwhat he’d picked up from Anne over their recent meetings she waspretty much against drugs of the illegal variety and there was nopoint in antagonising her. Regular dope wouldn’t help much with theplan anyway.
As it turnedout the music was great and Marillion were certainly worthwatching. Given the reason he was there, it felt a little ironicthat Anne had slipped him a ten pound note which was more thanenough for the drinks and entry. He had kept the G & Ts flowingand had no trouble adding the extra ingredients he’d brought along.By the end of the set Anne was well away. They’d even got to theirfeet and swayed around a
