Previews Dangerous Echoes by Mai Griffin | Page 26

Dangerous Echoes
experience of his life! He had promised to collect Amy as
usual from her nearby home, but was delayed. She grew
impatient and walked round to meet him but at least had
the good sense to wait by the car – if only it had not been
locked she would have been sitting inside, out of sight.
They were going dancing; in her flowing, silver evening
gown she shimmered from head to toe in the warm porch
light. He stopped and caught his breath... she was so
beautiful, so utterly desirable! Then he became aware of
his father behind him. His one thought was to get away –
to escape with Amy – time enough for explanations and
recriminations later. Thrusting his glasses into his pocket
he rushed out and ushered her quickly into the passenger
seat and sat beside her. Just before he turned his head to
back out of the driveway, he saw his father running
towards them and as he frantically pushed the gear lever
gear into reverse, to race away, the old man’s howl rang
in his ears: “NO! …Oh my God! NO...!”
He did not stop. Nothing would have made him give up
Amy. His father’s violent reaction was sick and, even after
all these years, beyond his comprehension: screaming as
he had! At the time he’d thought he was crazy! Demented!
So agitated was he that he took a curve too fast and
crashed. Three weeks later when he regained
consciousness in hospital he discovered how right he had
been.
That terrible strangled cry had been John senior’s last
sensible utterance. It was as if he had gone wholly out of
his mind... His mother had rushed out just in time to see
her husband fling himself to the ground, with glazed
unseeing eyes. She watched in dismay and disbelief,
unable to help, while he bashed his forehead repeatedly
on the sharp gravel until blood poured down his
anguished face.
The doctor, a family friend of long standing, came
immediately Dorothea telephoned and administered a
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