Dark Waters(25)

But Mr Sampson could help Klaus get a passport. He could help him get home. And he wouldn’t have to go to prison. Maybe, Col thought, happy at the prospect, Klaus had been right. He was going to help him to get home after all.

Another good deed?

Col grinned to himself – any more of those and he’d begin to believe he really was a superhero.

‘Why do you smile?’ Klaus asked him, smiling himself.

‘Nothing,’ Col said. ‘I’m just happy.’

And he was. He felt good about himself, and about the world. ‘I will help you get home, Klaus. You see if I don’t. That’s a promise.’

‘I believe you,’ Klaus said, as if it had been just what he expected of him. Suddenly, another thought occurred to Col. ‘You come in and join us, Klaus. The Sampsons wouldn’t mind. They’re dead nice.’

Klaus looked into the warm, bustling hotel, into the warm glow of the foyer. He shook his head. ‘No, Col. This is your night. And anyway, if I go in …’ He shook his head again. ‘Too many questions I can’t answer.’

No amount of coaxing would convince him otherwise.

‘Have you got something to eat? I could get you a carryout. There’s bags of food in there.’

Klaus laughed. ‘You worry about me too much. I am fine. Go. Enjoy yourself. I have to go back.’

Col thought of him on a lonely dark road, waiting, hoping for someone to give him a lift. It was a sad, miserable picture. Yet, at least he was safe from Mungo. Mungo wouldn’t find him tonight.

Col watched him go. He felt really moved that Klaus had come all this way just for him.

‘Who were you speaking to?’ Mrs Sampson touched his shoulder.

Col turned quickly. His face grew red. He knew he must look guilty. ‘No one,’ he said.

She followed his quick, furtive glance almost as if she could see Klaus. But she couldn’t possibly, Col was sure of it. Klaus had already disappeared into the night, swallowed up by the crowds of London.

Col could have told her the whole story then, but he didn’t. Tonight, he would forget about Klaus. Forget about everything. Just enjoy himself. Tonight was his night.

But when they were back home, then he would do everything he could to help Klaus.





Chapter Fifteen


It was pouring with rain when they landed at Glasgow airport. But nothing could dampen their high spirits – well, almost nothing.

As Mr Sampson picked up his car at the airport car park all they could talk about was their ‘London Adventure’, as Dominic called it. Sitting into the back seat with the boys even Miserella was laughing.

‘You’ll have to lose weight, Miserella,’ Dominic shouted as she shoved him over with her backside. ‘This is like sharing the back of the car with an elephant.’

Col let out a yell. ‘That’s what she reminds me of. I’ve been trying to figure it out for ages. I mean, the resemblance is amazing.’

For that he was elbowed hard in the ribs. But her smile remained. Nothing could wipe that smile off her face after last night. She not only had the autographs of every member of her favourite boy band, but she’d actually had her photograph taken with them, too. No, nothing could wipe that smile off her face.

Well, almost nothing.

‘You know, Columba McCann, I think I could even get to like you … eventually … maybe in three or four hundred years time.’

At that, Col pretended to faint in the back seat while Dominic started to choke as if he was about to be sick.

‘Suicide time!’ he shouted, and started a series of jumps and kicks that made everybody yell and Ella start to slap and shake him back.

‘Enough!’ Mr Sampson shouted. ‘I’m trying to drive here.’

But he was still smiling, too. He flicked a glance in the mirror at Col. ‘I’ll take this lot home, Col. Dump our luggage and then take you home. All right with you?’

‘I’ll get a taxi, Mr Sampson. I’ve got the money.’

Mrs Sampson looked shocked. ‘Over my dead body. Get a taxi indeed!’ She tutted. ‘As if I’d allow that. In this weather. Your mother would kill me.’

It occurred to him again that Mrs Sampson was a fine woman. Thoughtful, caring, almost as good a woman as his own mother. She was loyal. Here with the Sampsons he could see a lot of loyalty. A different kind of loyalty to that of his family, but it was there just the same.

They turned into the tree-lined avenue with the windscreen wipers still struggling to clear a view of the road ahead. Mrs Sampson promised them all soup and sandwiches as soon as they went in. It was bucketing down as they hauled the cases out of the boot and struggled with them to the front door. Mr Sampson turned as he opened it. ‘Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but all I can say is there really is no place like home.’