Now we must do what we can to fix things before anyone else sees you like this.”
“You have to stay out of sight, Jenny,” I said.
“For just how long must I be cooped up here like a misbehaving chicken?” asked Jenny sulkily. “This is my vacation day. I wish to enjoy it.”
“You can enjoy it after I bring you some proper clothes,” Bridget replied, “though it’s tempting to leave you locked up all day. That way I could enjoy the celebrations myself without worrying about you getting into trouble again.”
“Not all day—” I began.
“Of course not, Ted,” snapped Bridget. “That would be cruel. But Jenny mustn’t be seen until she looks like herself again. We’ll keep her safely here until I have her properly dressed.”
“But, Cousin, I’ve already missed the opening celebrations—”
“I also missed them, Jenny, thanks to your foolishness,” Bridget said. “So I’ll hear no complaints from you. You almost caused a great deal of trouble today. The least you can do is be patient for a while until I have you respectably clothed again. Perhaps you could fill the time until I return by removing that ridiculous paint, or bootblack, or whatever it is, from your face.”
“But, Bridget, I wanted to watch the races, and they’ve already begun! If I delay much longer, I shall nae see anything at all.”
“And whose fault would that be?” Bridget asked. “I’ll hurry, Jenny. The Hotel de France is only a few steps from here. I’ll be back in no time at all with some of my clothes for you to wear.”
“Thank you,” a subdued Jenny said, but I scarcely heard her.
The races! I had almost forgotten. I had to withdraw our entry in the Three-Legged Race! I didn’t want anyone else wondering who the mysterious Joseph Morrison was and why he hadn’t shown up. As far as I was concerned, the fewer people who heard his name, the better. Joseph was about to vanish for good, and I didn’t want anyone to ask about him. I had to tell the officials we wouldn’t be racing, but...
“What shall I say?” I asked Bridget. “How can I explain why we won’t be in the race?”
She laughed. “Just say your racing partner isn’t himself today.”
In spite of everything that had happened, I also laughed.
“No, ‘he’ most assuredly is not himself.” We both turned and stared at Jenny, who lowered her head.
“I hope never to see Joseph again,” Bridget said. “I’ve had enough of Master Morrison to last me the rest of my life.”
“I agree,” I said.
Jenny, for once, said nothing at all.
Eleven
I ran back to the main street, pushing through the crowd, trying to reach the officials at the starting line. “Excuse me, please, let me pass.”
“Good luck, sir...Ted.”
“Peter? What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you win the race. You and Joseph. Why are you so late?”
“I don’t have time to explain,” I said. “But we won’t be in the race.”
“Why? Where is Joseph?” Peter was now beside me, both of us trying to make our way politely through the street.
“I’ll tell you later. Excuse me, ma’am. My apologies, sir.”
“You will not get a refund of your entry fee,” Peter said, following me.
“I know that.”
We finally reached the starting line. The other contestants were ready, their legs bound. An official was calling my name. “Ted MacIntosh, come to the starting line with your partner at once. The Three-Legged Race is about to begin. Report immediately.”
There were five other sets of competitors, but at the end of the lineup there was an empty space with two pieces of cloth in front of it.
Peter was right. I wouldn’t get back the dollar entry fee. Even though I hadn’t paid it, now that I knew who had, I hated to see it lost. But if I won the race, then I could give Jenny back her dollar and...
“Peter! You’ll be my partner.”
“Me?”
“Yes. If you will.”
“I would enjoy that. Yes.”
“But your name isn’t Joseph. What if someone recognizes you?”
He stood still for a moment. “Joseph, Peter, Sing Kee, Kwok Leong—no one will recognize me, Ted. To most people one Chinese looks like every other one. Even those who know me as Peter will think I am Joseph if they are told that is my name.”
“Really?”
“Yes. To white people we all look the same.”
I didn’t have time to think about that, though I found it difficult to believe. “Then today you’ll be Joseph. He won’t complain at all if you borrow his name. Believe me, anyone can be Joseph.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
