Free Little Grey Mice by Brian Freemantle Page A

The offer had been made before and always refused. There was no reason for Ursula to be dressed in second-hand clothes because she was in an institution she rarely left and where her appearance was unimportant, either to herself or to the staff. Like not bothering to knock on her door, it deprived the child of dignity.
    They gave their order and as the waiter left Ida smiled and said: ‘He called.’
    â€˜Who?’ said Elke, momentarily forgetting.
    â€˜Kurt. He called.’
    â€˜What did you do?’
    â€˜Talked, of course.’
    â€˜About what?’
    â€˜He said he hoped he hadn’t offended me, at the dinner party.’
    â€˜Which was an ideal opportunity to say that he had and put the phone down,’ Elke declared.
    â€˜Prig!’ accused Ida, laughing.
    â€˜What did you say?’
    â€˜That he hadn’t.’
    â€˜Idiot! You’re encouraging him!’
    â€˜It’s harmless.’
    â€˜Don’t be ridiculous! How can it be harmless?’
    â€˜Nothing’s happened!’ Ida’s lightness was going, although there was no anger.
    â€˜What about the risk of hurting Horst? And Doris? And Georg?’ Was it another attempt of Ida’s to shock?
    â€˜No one’s going to get…’ started Ida, and stopped. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’
    â€˜Did you arrange to see him?’ Elke persisted.
    â€˜Not really.’
    â€˜What does “not really” mean?’
    â€˜The conversation kind of drifted off. I think he lost his nerve. He certainly stuttered more than I remembered.’
    â€˜Perhaps he came to his senses.’
    â€˜Whatever,’ dismissed Ida. ‘That was it! No plans, no nothing.’
    Elke wondered if her sister was telling the truth. If she was lying it would be the first time: at least the first time that she’d suspected or found out.
    â€˜Would you have met him, if he had asked?’
    â€˜This is an inquisition!’ Ida protested, but still without anger.
    â€˜It’s meant to be.’
    Ida sighed. ‘Maybe. Maybe not.’
    â€˜That’s not an answer. You must have thought about it as soon as you realized who it was on the phone: made up your mind!’
    The waiter’s return gave Ida a few moments’ respite before she conceded: ‘I hadn’t, not really. Sure I thought about it. First I thought I might and then I thought I wouldn’t and in the end I didn’t know what to do.’
    Again Elke wondered whether her sister was lying and an assignation really was arranged. ‘Don’t see him!’ she pleaded. ‘Please don’t.’ It frightened her to confront how important Ida was to her. She supposed she’d always known it, subconsciously – of course she had! – but now she was positively examining how it was between them and was scared. Embarrassed, too, because she conceded at once and with utter honesty that her concern wasn’t for Kissel or Doris or Georg or even Ida. It was for herself. Ida was her security: the only person upon whom she could rely. She’d always felt reassured, knowing Ida was there: knowing ineffectual Horst was there. She didn’t want the danger of everything being upset because Ida was bored and flattered by the attentions of another man. By the lust of another man, Elke corrected. How she hated and despised sex!
    â€˜You’re not eating your salad,’ said Ida, avoiding the plea.
    â€˜I don’t want to eat my salad.’
    â€˜I said I’m sorry: I shouldn’t have talked about it.’
    â€˜Why shouldn’t you? We don’t have any secrets, do we?’ It was as if Ida were aware of the fears, but Elke knew that wasn’t so.
    â€˜No,’ agreed Ida. ‘We don’t have any secrets.’
    Perhaps her sister wasn’t lying, after all. Elke said: ‘There isn’t anything else to say, not without going around in