Free The Unbegotten by John Creasey Page B

in the Council Chamber at eight o’clock that evening. They sat at one of the biggest oval tables Palfrey had ever seen, within easy earshot of each other. The table, of mahogany, had a beautiful lustre; the chairs, with padded seats and arms, were of the same rich wood. Palfrey sat at one end of the table and the Chairman of the Council sat opposite him, some twenty feet away. Maddern was next to Palfrey, and a shiny-headed young man was on the Chairman’s right. King, huge and looming large above the others was on the Chairman’s other side. The Chairman was a broad- shouldered man with a big, reddish-brown face, short-cut hair, and a thick grey tweed suit which was in sharp contrast to his narrow black tie.
    His voice had a pleasant West Country burr.
    â€˜Well, gentlemen and Dr. Palfrey,’ he said, ‘each of us knows what we’re here for, there’s no need for me to say it all over again. Or, as there are some among us who are not familiar with everyone present I’ll ask everyone who speaks to state his position. Save a lot of time if we did that. Mr. Cobb,’ he repeated.
    A small, almost wizened man, dressed in a russet-brown suit, stood up.
    â€˜Benjamin Cobb, Borough Engineer,’ he announced crisply. ‘I immediately checked the water supplies, sir. We take a daily sample and have a full analysis each day at twelve noon—have done since that typhoid scare in 1937. Nothing abnormal has been reported which appears related to the present emergency. Copies of each analysis are being made and will be available early tomorrow morning.’ He glanced at Palfrey, obviously for approval. ‘Tests have also been made at Combe Weir Plant—the reservoir plant and at the one sewage disposal plant. It should perhaps be stated that all the water for the area comes from the Weir Plant. No water enters the public mains, except from there, until after the most stringent tests.’
    â€˜What would you do if the water became contaminated?’ asked Palfrey.
    â€˜Switch to supplies from the South Wales and Gloucestershire plants.
    â€˜Has there been any such switch in the past nine months?’
    â€˜No, Dr. Palfrey.’
    â€˜Perhaps it would be better if you addressed your remarks to the Chair,’ the Chairman murmured, half-apologetically.
    Palfrey said, ‘Mr. Chairman, through you may I ask if there are any wells in the rural district area?’
    â€˜Wells?’ echoed the Chairman. ‘Well, yes, I’ve got one at my farm. There are quite a lot in the district, Mr. Cobb, aren’t there?’
    â€˜Seventy-three,’ replied Cobb promptly. ‘But none connects with the mains supply. Each is confined to its own private grounds. There is no independent town or village supply. Although the local well-water is good it contains an excessive supply of chalk, making it very hard, and the mains water is of course softened.’
    â€˜By chemicals?’ asked Palfrey.
    â€˜Yes. You seem to be—I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman, I must say that Dr. Palfrey appears to be implying—’
    â€˜Surely he’s not implying anything,’ soothed the Chairman. ‘We’re just establishing the facts.’
    â€˜And I am giving the facts.’ The nut-cracker face was flushed, the Chief Engineer seemed very put out.
    â€˜Thank you, Mr. Chairman,’ Palfrey said. ‘One or two things emerge very clearly. There is a daily test, which is admirable. There are chemicals added to the water for purification and softening—do you use fluoride in Middlecombe?’
    â€˜Not so far as I know,’ said the Chairman. ‘Eh, Benjamin?’
    â€˜We do not.’
    â€˜Any other additives?’ asked Palfrey.
    â€˜There is a complete list beginning with chlorine,’ began Cobb, only to break off as Palfrey asked the Chairman, ‘Can we be told how often these additives are put in?’
    â€˜Daily !’ Cobb