Jake was not a religious man but he felt the presence of God in Nature and it was there that he prayed. He prayed that God would forgive him and begged him to preserve both Toby’s and Julian’s lives so that he could make it up to them.
When he returned home Polly noticed that his expression had changed. Somewhere out there in the wind he had slain the dragon that tormented him. Now he was ready to join the rest of the family in hope.
Helena knew she should be strong for her son, but her misery was all
consuming. She sat watching her tears send ripples across the surface of her cup of coffee and allowed the drama to engulf her completely. When Arthur arrived she managed to raise her swollen eyes to indicate that she needed comforting. Arthur put down his briefcase and stood in the centre of the kitchen.
‘Right,’ he said in a commanding tone, placing his hands on his hips. ‘I’ve spoken to the emergency services on site and so far there’s no sign of them. At least we can be thankful that they don’t feature among the dead.’
Helena began to wail. Polly clamped her pale lips together in an effort to contain her distress. She had to be strong for the rest of her family.
‘Now, there’s nothing we can do but wait. I suggest I put a call through every fifteen minutes. Jake, keep the radio on for bulletins. Helena, don’t mourn them prematurely, while there’s no news there’s hope, at least give them that courtesy.’
Helena was stunned. She had never heard her husband speak with such authority. She blinked up at him with admiration.
‘We all have to be strong for each other. It’s not over until it’s over,’ he continued and watched his wife straighten up obediently.
‘Right, anyone for another cup of tea?’ said Polly, filling the kettle.
Federica wished she were in Polperro with the rest of her family. She lay on Torquil’s large bed in The Little Boltons and stared unblinking out of the window, willing the telephone to ring with good news. She had called Torquil’s office and left a message for him with his secretary. She strained her ears for the key in the lock until her senses were so acute that her heart leapt at the smallest sound.
Helena had telephoned her with the terrible news. But while there was no evidence of their deaths there was still hope that they were alive. She had turned on the television and watched the various reports. The train looked like a toy made out of tin that had been carelessly scrunched up by an overbearing child. She had watched the firemen struggle with the bodies of the dead and searched behind them for those of the living. But she couldn’t see Toby or Julian in the blur of unfamiliar faces. When it became too much she had turned it off, lain on the bed and waited for news from her mother.
When the telephone finally did ring she picked up the receiver with a trembling hand and was barely able to hear the voice for the squealing of her nerves in her ears. ‘Fede, it’s Hester.’
Federica’s heart plummeted. ‘Oh, Hester, hi,’ she replied in disappointment.
‘I got your number from your mother. I’m so sorry. We’re all thinking about you,’ she said. ‘Molly and I are sitting in the flat praying they’re all right.’
Thank you, Hester,’ she mumbled weakly. ‘I’m praying too.’
Hester had heard about Federica’s engagement to Torquil but felt it wasn’t the time to mention it. ‘I’ll leave the line free now, but we’re here if you need us,’ she added sympathetically before hanging up.
When the key finally turned in the lock Federica’s hearing was too concentrated on the telephone to notice. Torquil found her curled up on the bed in a tight ball. He walked over to her and drew her into his arms where she sobbed against his chest. ‘I thought you’d never come,’ she choked, wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘They might be dead.’
‘You don’t know they’re dead,’ he replied. ‘What’s the latest news?’
‘That’s the worst, there is no news.’
‘Have you been watching the television?’
‘I couldn’t bear to look. I’m waiting for Mama to call. They keep ringing that family line they give out.’
‘Right, that’s all we can do for the moment. That and pray,’ he said, stroking her hot forehead. ‘They’re going to be all right, sweetness, I just know they are.’
But Federica felt nothing but doom.
After a while Torquil stood up and paced the room. ‘Moping around isn’t going to change anything and it’s making me feel claustrophobic. Why don’t you have a bath, get dressed and we can go out for lunch to take your mind off it.’