A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

again. But I had no idea one could tell. You must have unbelievably good eyesight.’

‘It’s a trick of the light. You have to know where to stand.’

Fergus’s face froze. ‘Don’t go showing me. If this house was once haunted, I’d hate for it to become so again. You really cannot tell Zoe either, it took a bit of convincing to get her up here.’ He raised his eyebrows. He must be serious.

‘You didn’t notice anything funny about the Landseers, did you?’

Fergus has cracked. Why would he ever jump to the Landseers unless he’d just had a call alerting him that they might be copies? Poor man; his face fell as he waited for an answer.

‘No,’ I smiled, ‘nothing other than how wonderful they are.’

‘Goodie.’ His lips remained firm and he tapped my shoulder. ‘Right, I must have a quick word with my wife. Zoe, darling, Zoe,’ he called out, and from Haggis’s bark it sounded as if she was upstairs.

I went to the music room to count up the easels.

‘Susie,’ said Minty, who was in there too, ‘would it be okay if I paint this morning rather than draw?’

‘Of course, it’s entirely up to you.’

‘Mummy wants me to make the most of painting this week. I’m out of practice, you see.’

‘It’s important you get what you want from the residency. I hope you’re finding it useful so far?’

‘Oh yes, very. I like the routine. It’s good to have no distractions. If I was at home I’d be forever out riding, but here I’m quite happy being arty all day.’

‘It’s a good group, don’t you think?’

‘Yes, for a week. Turns out Giles and I have lots of friends in common. What a small world it is.’

There was a noise at the door. ‘Ah Susie, there you are,’ said Zoe. ‘I just wanted to say…’ She stopped as soon as she saw Minty.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Minty, ‘I’m leaving.’

Oh heck, is Zoe going to confront me about Oliver’s visit?

‘Susie, the Mahafi field…’

‘Mahafi field?’

‘Yes, all the fields have names.’

‘Ah, okay.’ My nerves settled.

‘It’s where the Highland cows are and it’s reasonably near our keeper Stuart’s house. Now, I don’t want any of the class taking themselves off for a wander anywhere near his house.’

I swallowed, hard.

She elaborated. ‘There was an incident on Tuesday morning, a roe deer was found in the woods.’

‘Dead?’

‘Yes, Stuart thinks a car hit it and the driver dragged it off the road. But I can’t think who would’ve behaved like that. Anyway, my point being the gralloched deer is hanging in the game larder and it’s not a pleasant sight if you’ve never seen one before. I’d hate to end up with a formal complaint.’

‘Understood.’

‘Thank you.’

Giles practically walked into me as I left the room. ‘Whoops, sorry, Susie.’

‘Don’t worry.’ I put my hand on his shoulder. ‘Would you do me a favour and make sure everyone’s taken an easel and a drawing board to the bus?’

‘Certainly.’

‘I’m going to put on my outdoor kit. I’ll meet you outside in a bit.’

Rupert has taken charge of driving again and is following Fergus’s directions to the field. We’re bumping down the front drive, dry weather in our favour, and a lot of excited chitter chatter about the beasts we’re off to draw.

‘Right here?’ said Rupert, putting his foot on the brake as we approached a track.

‘Yes.’

‘Look at that,’ squawked Jane.

‘Oh yes,’ said Rupert, ‘there’s a buzzard on the fence post.’

‘It’s gigantic,’ said Lianne.

Shane banged on the glass and the enormous bird drew up its heavy wings and launched into flight.

‘Damn,’ said Louis. ‘I knew I should have brought my camera.’

‘You haven’t brought your camera out at all,’ said Jane.

‘I’m too busy being a good student. Though I might do this afternoon.’

‘All you need is a mobile,’ said Shane. ‘Slip it in your pocket and make videos wherever you go.’

‘Nah,’ said Lianne. ‘The quality’s turd.’

‘C’est vrai,’ said Louis.

I do like it when he breaks into a bit of French.

‘Ah, here’s the bridge Fergus mentioned,’ said Rupert. ‘Did he say we go over it?’

‘Yes,’ shouted Jane and we joined another off-road track.

‘There they are,’ squealed Felicity.

‘Where?’ said Shane.

‘Over there.’

‘Over where?’ said Giles.

‘Duh,’ said Lianne. ‘In the far distance, look, there’s something orange.’

‘That’s far too small to be a cow.’

‘It’s a sheep feeder,’ said Minty.

‘It ain’t got no horns,’ said Shane.

We drove straight into a clump of trees and the discussion ended.

‘Whose house is that, Miss?’

‘The keeper’s,’ said Giles.

‘Keeper like gate keeper?’

‘No, game keeper.’

‘How do you know?’

‘All those antlers gave it away.’

We left the wood and Rupert announced, ‘Here they are.’

He’d stopped the bus in front of a gate.

‘Where?’ said Lianne.

‘There,’ he pointed through the windscreen, ‘in the next field. Susie, get the gate, will you?’

‘Wow,’ said Minty. ‘They’re huge.’

‘Sick,’ said Shane.

‘We’re not going in the field,’ ordered Jane.

‘No, no,’ screeched Felicity.

‘Calm down.’ I was a little impatient. ‘There’s an electric fence around them. The farmer put it up specially so we can get close to them.’

‘Susie,’ said Rupert, ‘the gate?’

I opened my door and put one foot on the ground. ‘It’s very wet here.’

‘We mustn’t get the bus stuck, what do you think?’

‘I think we should walk from here,’ said Giles, encouraging everyone to get out.

‘Susie’s in charge,’ said Louis. ‘Let her decide.’

‘Yes, let’s walk, it’s not far. But leave your things here for now. I want to talk you through the class first.’

The closer we got to the cows the tighter they grouped together. Some were stamping their hooves and all had hot breath steaming out of flared nostrils. It’s a bit intimidating but I must stay strong.

‘Not very pleased to see us, are they?’ said Giles.

‘They’ll settle down once they get used to it, just don’t make any sudden movements for the time being.’

‘I’m scared,’ said Felicity, hanging back in the field.

‘Don’t worry.’ I moved closer to her. ‘They’re not dangerous and I promise they won’t cross this fence.’ I coaxed her forwards to join the others.

‘If we had a dog it would be a different matter,’ said Minty. ‘I’m