Dark Waters(24)

Nevertheless, the hall erupted in applause as Col strode to the podium, his kilt swinging proudly round him. He seemed to get an even bigger cheer because of it.

The band looked even younger when he got close to them. Not much older than Col himself.

‘If there’s ever anything we can do for you, Col …’ one of them said in a soft, lilting, Irish accent as he gave him the award, a silver plaque set in midnight blue velvet.

‘And don’t say, stop singing!’ one of the others yelled leading to more applause.

‘Something you could do for me?’ Col thought for a second. He was in such a wonderful mood, he didn’t have to think for long.

He pointed towards his table. ‘See that girl sitting over there, the right miserable looking one? Could you give her your autograph?’

Ella’s jaw actually did fall open. Now she really looked stupid.

The lead singer held his hand over his eyes as if he was scanning the horizon. ‘Ah yes, I see her … is that your girlfriend?’

Now, Col’s jaw dropped open. He began to protest so strongly he was making the whole audience laugh.

‘Is she, heck!’ he yelled.

The applause and the laughter continued until he got back to his table. He expected Ella to be raging with anger for embarrassing her. But she was too delighted to be getting her own heroes’ autographs.

After the awards had been presented, the real celebrations began. There was music, dancing, and cameras flashing as photographs were taken to mark the event.

Ella was in heaven as her band came and led her away, laughing and joking. Mrs Sampson, sipping champagne, edged over to Col and congratulated him again. ‘Would you like to go and phone your mother?’

Col nodded. ‘I’d like that.’ He checked his watch. ‘She’s bound to be home from bingo by now.’

Mrs Sampson laughed. ‘Phone from your room then.’

But Col didn’t want to go back to his room. He didn’t want to leave the atmosphere of this night for a second. Mrs Sampson pointed out the phone booths in the foyer and even gave him a handful of coins.

His mother was in. Lifting the phone before the second ring as if she’d been sitting there just waiting. He babbled out everything that had happened as fast as he could. Told her, too, how much he wished she was there with him.

‘But it’s all right, Mam,’ he went on, not wanting her to feel guilty. ‘I understand, and I’ll have plenty of stories to tell you when I get back. And plenty of photographs. There’s even gonna be a video.’

‘I’ll look forward to seeing that,’ she said.

‘Is Mungo in?’ he asked. He was desperate to tell his brother about the night, hoped he, too, might have been sitting by the phone waiting for his call.

Some hope. Nothing kept his brother in.

‘You’ll be back tomorrow, son, and you can tell him all about it then.’

Col put the phone down, trying not to feel homesick. He was trying not to wish so hard that his mother and his brother were here with him to share the night.

And that’s when he saw him. He was sure of it.

Klaus.

Somewhere by the hotel entrance, among a throng of people milling around the foyer.

Klaus?

He pushed his way forward, jumping up and down to get a clearer view.

‘Klaus!’ he shouted. ‘Klaus!’

And there he was again. This time he saw Col too, and waited, smiling.

Col couldn’t hide his surprise. ‘What are you doing here?’

Klaus shrugged. ‘Thought you would like someone here, just for you.’

‘You came all this way … just for me?’

‘You brought me food. You thought about me when no one else did. So I came.’

Col eyed him as if he were crazy. He thought he was crazy. And yet, he was so pleased to see him, so pleased he actually had come all this way for him. ‘But how did you get here?’

He didn’t wait for his answer. ‘Did you hitch all the way here?’

Klaus nodded.

Col couldn’t believe it. ‘All this way, just for me?’ He was truly touched.

Klaus sighed. He looked even paler than usual. In fact, he looked sick. Dark circles under his eyes, white ashen face.

He’s going to die if I don’t help him, Col thought. And he knew he didn’t want that.

‘You are my only friend, Col. You’re going to help me, aren’t you?’

But how could he help him? What could he do? Yet, he knew he had to do something. In a flash, he knew what that something might be.

Mr Sampson. He could help Klaus. He would know what to do. Mr Sampson was a good man. Col almost blurted it out to Klaus, but held his tongue. Time enough when they were home again. No point building up Klaus’s hopes.