The Stranger by Norman Whitney audiobook Learn English Through Story with subtitles
[Music]
the stranger by norman whitney
chapter one a stranger in wood end
on saturday the 31st of october 1964
a man arrived in the village it was late
in the evening
he was looking for somewhere to stay the
night he knocked at a door
and a woman opened it good evening madam
the man said i’m sorry it’s so late
but can you help me please is there a
hotel in this village
i want to stay here tonight the woman
laughed
a hotel here him would end no sir i’m
afraid there isn’t
what a pity said the man i’m a stranger
here and i want to see your village
tomorrow
the stranger was very polite he was tall
and had dark hair and he had strange
green eyes
perhaps mrs harrison can help you the
woman said
she has a room perhaps you can stay with
her
wait a minute i’ll get my coat and i’ll
take you there
the woman took the stranger to mrs
harrison’s house mrs harrison gave him a
room for the night
he was very glad it was the last night
of october
and it was cold the next day was sunday
the man looked round the village he was
very interested in the history of the
village
he met some of the villagers and asked
them their names
but he did not visit the church that was
unusual
the church in wood end was the most
beautiful building in the village but
the stranger was not interested in it
he did not go to church that night with
all the villagers
it was the first sunday evening of
november
when the villagers came out of the
church the man had gone
they had all liked him the ladies had
thought he was very good looking
a few weeks later he came back it was
the first sunday in december
the villagers were coming out of church
it was cold
and dark hello he said
i’m back again it’s nice to see you all
once more
his next words surprised everyone
perhaps you can help me he said i’m
looking for a house
i want to buy a house here here
someone said but why here there’s no
work in wood end for a young man
all the young people leave the village
they find work in lidney
the nearest town i’ll get a job
somewhere
the stranger said perhaps in lidney
then one of the villagers told him about
old mr smith’s house
mr smith had died in the summer his
house was empty
it was for sale the house was on the
corner of main street
and church lane i’ll ask about the house
tomorrow
said the young man perhaps i’ll be lucky
goodbye i’ll see you soon
the villagers watched him leave they all
saw his car
it was very big and luxurious he looked
rich
a few days later mr smith’s house was
sold
and in the middle of december the young
stranger arrived
he moved into the house and worked very
hard
he fixed the roof he repaired broken
windows
he painted and decorated he changed the
whole house
but there was a big surprise for the
villagers
on the morning of monday the 21st of
december
they saw a big sign on the front of the
house
and on the sign were these words
the corner shop proprietor dave slayton
chapter 2 the village meeting
the villagers could not believe it a
shop in wood end
everybody talked about it there was once
a shop in wood end
but it had closed 20 years ago
some people wanted the shop but others
did not
the villagers met in the evening in the
village hall
everybody was there everybody was
interested in the new shop
the corner shop is a good idea someone
said
we need a village shop we won’t need to
go to libny
then mrs harrison spoke she liked the
stranger
dave slayton i agree she said
a village shop is a good idea it’s too
quiet here
wood end needs a shop nonsense
said miss brown she was the village
school teacher
lydney is not far away there are lots of
shops there
soon everybody was shouting then mr hart
spoke
he was a very big man with a loud voice
listen everybody he shouted we’ve never
had trouble in this village before
we’ve always been quiet and happy now
this shop is causing trouble
let mr slayton speak someone said it’s
his shop
let him speak ladies and gentlemen
said dave slayton i don’t want to cause
any trouble
i’m still a stranger in your village but
i want to be one of you
i want to be your friend i liked the
people of wood end
he smiled and a few people clapped
they liked him the corner shop will sell
lots of things he went on
it will sell food and things for the
house
everything will be cheap i promise
everybody was listening carefully and i
have another idea
he continued i’ll sell village products
what do you mean by village products
asked miss brown
i’ll tell you miss brown he said i know
that you make beautiful bread and cakes
miss brown smiled yes she did make bread
and cakes
everyone knew that and you mr heart
i’ve seen your flowers you grow
beautiful flowers
now mr hart smiled yes
his flowers were beautiful everyone knew
about them
and mr everett makes pots someone said
and mrs davis makes dolls said another
voice
and i do paintings of the village said
old miss lucy gray
yes said dave you can all do something
you villagers are clever you make lots
of things
we can sell them to the tourists in the
summer
wood end can make a lot of money
but what about the money said mr hart
how will you pay us
that’s a good question said dave and
here’s the answer
you’ll bring your things to me and i’ll
sell them for you
i’ll keep some of the profit you’ll have
the rest
what a good idea said miss brown
yes i agree said mr hart
all the villagers agreed everyone in the
village was happy with dave slaton’s
plan
the corner shop opened on monday the 4th
of january 1965.
soon the shop was busy and dave needed
an assistant
the new assistant in the corner shop was
anna
she started work in late january
chapter 3 the corner shop
dave slayton kept his promises things at
the shop were good
and cheap how does he do it
asked mrs harrison it’s winter but he’s
selling lots
of fruit and vegetables and they’re
cheap i never go to lidney now
the other villagers agreed the corner
shop was a success
and dave seemed happy he paid anna good
wages
sometimes her friend peter helped at the
shop
and dave gave him money too
dave advertised in newspapers and the
village products sold well
people from lydney came to the corner
shop
there were lots of visitors and wood end
became more interesting
the villagers were surprised but pleased
they were making a lot of money
dave lived alone in a flat above the
shop
he was very popular in the village but
no one ever went to his flat
no one ever saw inside it at the bottom
of the stairs there were two doors
one led into the stock room the other
door
had a notice on it special orders
only keep out the door was always locked
anna never went into the special orders
room
why’d you lock that room dave anna asked
one day
what’s in there it’s for special orders
he replied big orders but you won’t get
any big orders in wood end
said anna dave said nothing
he did not want to talk about that room
chapter 4 a beautiful customer
for three months everything was normal
then one day in april an unusual
customer came into the shop
the new customer was a very beautiful
woman
she was wearing expensive clothes and
arrived in a large
car is this the corner shop
the woman asked she looked round and
seemed a little surprised
yes replied anna this is the corner shop
it’s the only shop in the village i’m
looking for mr slaton
the owner of the shop said the woman
i think he’s upstairs said anna i’ll go
and get him
does he know your name yes i think so
was the reply tell him the woman stopped
tell him miss gordon is here miss
greater gordon
anna was amazed are you greta gordon the
film star
yes that’s right the woman smiled
but she was nervous wait a minute said
anna
i’ll tell mr slaton that you’re here
anna
ran to the bottom of the stairs and
called dave
dave there’s someone to see you
who is it asked dave from upstairs
miss greta gordon shouted anna it’s
greta gordon the film star
i’m coming he said and he came down
immediately
i’m pleased to meet you miss gordon he
said
good morning said greta gordon
she and dave shook hands she had
beautiful hands
and she was wearing beautiful diamond
rings
anna had never seen so many diamonds
before
miss gordon looked round is this where
you work
mr slayton she asked
once again she seemed nervous yes
said dave it’s a small place but it’s
big enough for me
please follow me miss gordon anna was
surprised
dave and greta gordon did not know each
other
he did not call her greta and she did
not call him
dave he seemed to be in a hurry
and she seemed to be frightened anna
watched them dave and greta gordon went
to the back of the shop
and into the special orders room
greta gordon was a special order
customer
anna thought that was very strange she
wanted to tell someone about greta
gordon
anna loved films she wanted to tell
peter about the film star
but she had to stay in the shop
ten minutes later greta gordon came out
of the special orders room
dave went straight upstairs and greta
gordon came to the front of the shop
the film star looked terrible she was
pale
she was crying her eyes were red with
tears
what’s wrong asked anna can i help you
miss gordon
no thanks i’m all right said greta
gordon
do you want to sit down said anna she
got a chair
and the film star sat down shall i get
the doctor
said anna no no said greta
please tell no one about my visit here
please
tell no one anna was disappointed
she wanted to tell everyone about greta
gordon
she wanted to tell everyone about her
famous customer
i want to give you something said greta
gordon
here’s a photograph of me i’ll sign it
she signed the photograph and gave it to
anna
please keep this said greta and please
keep our secret please don’t tell anyone
alright said anna i promise
the film star kissed anna she held
anna’s hands
what a beautiful woman thought anna and
what
beautiful hands then anna noticed
something
the diamond rings were gone
chapter 5 a page in film news
dave never talked about greta gordon
he never talked about her visit to the
corner shop
one day anna asked him about the film
star
how do you know greta gordon said anna
is she a friend of yours
i don’t want to talk about her dave
replied
she was a special order customer don’t
ask any more questions about her anna
so anna did not ask any more questions
she did not ask about greta gordon’s
special order
and she did not ask about the rings
anna kept her promise she never told
anyone about the film star
soon it was spring anna and dave were
busy
mr hart brought lots of flowers to the
corner shop
and anna sold them to the tourists there
were lots of tourists that year
in may peter asked anna to marry him
she said yes they became engaged
they planned to get married in the
following year
now they needed money so they worked
hard and they
saved they were very much in love
on saturdays peter played football or
cricket
and anna often went to the cinema in
lidney
he enjoyed sports and she loved watching
films
one day anna was reading film news this
was a magazine about film stars
she turned the pages there was a picture
of greta gordon
anna was pleased what a surprise
beautiful woman was going to be a big
film
and now greta gordon had the star part
anna wanted to tell peter about greta
but she kept her promise she did not
tell anyone
but she did show film news to dave
slaton
look dave she said here’s a story about
greta gordon
isn’t it great she’s got the big part in
beautiful woman
dave looked at the magazine greta gordon
will star
in beautiful woman the star of beautiful
woman was
joanna lee but miss lee has broken her
arm
i don’t know what happened said miss lee
i was in my bedroom
i slipped and fell greta gordon will now
be the star of beautiful woman
i’m so lucky greta told us yesterday
i’ve always wanted the part i can’t
believe it
i don’t know anything about films he
said
is greta gordon a big star anna laughed
big star yes she is she’s terrific
dave didn’t seem interested i hope she’s
happy with her big part
was all he said
chapter 6 a quick kiss
summer tourists were arriving in wood
end
the weather was beautiful and the shop
was doing well
but anna was not very happy she often
thought about greta gordon’s visit
why had she come to see dave what had
happened to the diamond rings on her
fingers
there was another problem anna loved
peter
and she was going to marry him but she
liked
dave too dave was older but she liked
him all the women liked him
but anna was very close to him all day
in the daytime anna was with dave in the
evening
she was with peter anna was living two
lives
one life was with dave the other life
with peter
then one friday dave surprised anna
what are you doing tomorrow he asked her
would you like to spend the day with me
we can go anywhere you like we can go in
my car
i’m sorry dave said anna but peter
wouldn’t like it
don’t be silly said dave we won’t go far
i’ll close the shop at lunchtime
and we can go to lidney anna wanted to
go with dave
but she was worried about peter don’t
worry about
peter said dave he’s always busy on
saturday
anna thought for a moment all right
she said you take me to the best cinema
and to the best restaurant then i’ll
come with you
of course laugh dave anything you want
anna
so the next afternoon dave and anna went
together to lidny
they had a good time dave bought anna a
new
expensive dress then they went to a
cinema
and afterwards to a restaurant
peter played cricket that saturday he
never knew about anna’s day with dave
he was playing in another village and
returned to wood end very late
dave and anna were also very late
dave stopped his car near the corner
shop
the night was warm thanks dave
said anna it was a lovely day
i enjoyed it too said dave
he put his arm around her shoulders and
kissed her
it was a quick kiss but for anna
it was wonderful
chapter 7 another special order
the summer passed the corner shop was
always busy
sometimes dave opened the shop on
sundays too
anna earned a lot of money everyone
thought that she was happy
but life was difficult for her she liked
dave he was her boss
and he was older than her but peter was
her fiance
and he was about the same age dave was
quite rich
but peter had no money dave bought anna
clothes
and he took her out peter did not buy
her clothes and never took her anywhere
he was more interested in football anna
did not like
football now it was september
peter played football every saturday
one saturday there was a big football
match on television
mr hart had the biggest television in
the village
and he invited some people to his house
he invited peter and anna
on friday the day before the match anna
was working in the shop all day
at five o’clock she locked the shop door
two minutes later the bell rang and anna
went to the door
there was a young man outside he was
carrying a small case
hello she said can i help you
i hope so said the young man i want to
see mr slaton
i’m afraid that the shop is closed now
said anna
we’re open tomorrow morning but i’ve got
an appointment
said the young man then dave spoke
behind anna
she hadn’t seen him yes i’ve been
waiting for you
said dave you’re late i’m very sorry mr
slaton
said the young man i was never mind
never mind
said dave rudely his rudeness surprised
anna
the young man seemed afraid but
can you see me now he asked
yes said dave come in
dave turned to anna anna it’s after five
o’clock
you can go home now i won’t be long said
anna
dave was angry hurry up and go home
he said but anna wanted to stay
she wanted to know about the young man
the young man followed dave to the back
of the shop
and into the special orders room another
special order
another special customer anna waited
but soon it was half past five anna put
her coat on and left the shop
she closed the door very loudly then she
went round the corner
and waited soon there was a noise
the young man was leaving the shop anna
could not see him
but she could hear him he was speaking
to dave
are you sure said the young man what do
you mean
asked dave is this the only way
said the young man yes it is said dave
don’t worry
everything will be all right goodbye
anna heard the shop door close she came
around the corner
and saw the young man he was walking
quickly to his car
anna noticed immediately that he was not
carrying his case
she followed him excuse me she said
you’ve forgotten something you’ve left
something behind
the young man turned round anna stopped
suddenly she was frightened the young
man’s face was
white it was white with fear
please go away said the young man leave
me alone
i want to go home leave me alone he got
into his car and drove off
anna stood in the street and watched him
she was thinking why had the young man
come to the corner shop
what was his special order and why had
he left his small case
with dave slaton
chapter 8 the football match
the next day was the day of the big
football match
mr hart had invited about 10 people
anna did not watch the game she was
helping mrs hart in the kitchen
they were making tea it was a good game
and everyone was enjoying it at half
time
peter went into the kitchen why don’t
you come and watch the match anna
he said it’s really good come on
anna laughed no thanks she said i’m
helping mrs hart
look here’s the t can you take it into
the others
okay said peter it’s a terrific match
mike bailey scored a great goal
peter took the tea into the sitting room
and the second half of the match started
the second half was very exciting mike
bailey scored another goal after 20
minutes
the score was two nil then the other
side scored two quick goals
it was two two there were only five
minutes of the match
left come on shouted peter come on mike
let’s have another goal
in the last seconds of the match mike
bailey scored the winner
it was his third goal of the match
but something was wrong the other team’s
goalkeeper was injured
bailly had been very near the goalkeeper
and he had kicked the ball
very hard the ball had hit the
goalkeeper’s neck
mrs hart and anna came in from the
kitchen
what’s happened said anna what’s wrong
it’s brian thomas the goalkeeper said
peter
he’s injured it was serious
the goalkeeper had broken his neck
later they all watched the news on tv
they saw pictures of mike bailey’s third
goal
it was a great goal they saw the ball
hit the goalkeeper
it was an accident the tv announcer said
and now over to our sports studio for an
interview with mike bailey
they all watched the interview the tv
showed a picture of mike bailey
and the interviewer mike said the
interviewer
three goals in one match how do you feel
about that
but mike bailey said nothing he could
not speak
he tried to speak but he could not it
was terrible
the interviewer tried another question
let me ask you about the third goal mike
it was a great goal but how do you feel
about the injury to brian thomas
it was a silly question the injured
goalkeeper would never play football
again
mike bailey said nothing he looked very
ill
when the interview ended mr hart turned
off the tv
no one noticed that anna had left the
room
mike bailey had looked frightened anna
was frightened too
mike bailey and anna had met before
the day before at the corner shop
chapter nine a secret weekend
anna did not know what to do she was
only 17
but sometimes she felt much older
she wanted to ask dave about mike bailey
and greta gordon
she wanted to know about special orders
she decided to wait one day
dave and anna were alone in the shop
how’s peter
ask dave he’s fine thanks said anna
dave smiled is he still playing football
of course he is said anna dave laughed
you don’t see him very much do you anna
i see him three or four times a week
said anna
what about weekends dave asked
anna replied quickly i don’t see him
much at weekends he plays football then
when are you getting married ask dave
i don’t know she replied we haven’t
decided yet
perhaps next year that’s a long time
dave smiled at anna anna felt afraid
she also felt excited she didn’t know
why
sometimes you’re bored anna aren’t you
said dave
he looked into her eyes yes
said anna that’s true
why don’t you come away with me for a
weekend said dave
we can go to london a weekend in london
anna had only been to london once for a
day
anna was excited but she was also afraid
i don’t know she said i must think of
peter
oh forget him said dave he’ll never know
come with me and we’ll go to the best
shops will go to the best
cinema will you come with me
anna said nothing suddenly she had an
idea
she looked at dave perhaps i’ll come
with you
she said good said dave that’s
great but first said anna
i want to ask you something
what do you want to know he said quietly
i want to know about your special orders
very clever said dave you’re a village
girl
but you’re very clever anna village
girls aren’t stupid
said anna now tell me about your special
orders
then i’ll come to london with you dave
was angry
one question you can ask me one question
he said quickly anna asked
why do people come to you why one
question
only one shouted dave all right
said anna but don’t shout tell me
why do people come to see you dave
thought about his answer
he spoke quietly they come for help
he said they need help
and i give no i
sell help to them that’s all
anna didn’t understand what sort of help
she asked one question shouted dave i’ve
answered your question
anna said no more she and dave had made
an agreement
anna had asked her question dave had
answered it
dave had invited anna to london for the
weekend
and anna went with him
chapter 10 a quarrel
anna enjoyed the weekend they arrived in
london
late on friday evening and stayed at a
big hotel
on saturday they went shopping and in
the evening
they went to a cinema on sunday they
went to a park
they came back to wood end on sunday
evening
it was the last sunday in september
on monday anna went to the shop
it was not so busy now summer was over
most of the customers were villagers it
was a cold autumn
on monday evening peter came to see anna
hello said anna did you win on saturday
no said peter we didn’t win and i didn’t
play
anna was surprised you didn’t play why
not
what was wrong i didn’t feel very well
on saturday morning
i stayed in wood end i was in the
village all weekend
anna’s face was red her voice was quiet
are you feeling better now she asked
no said peter and you know why
anna tried to look surprised me
she said oh anna said peter you know
what’s wrong
it’s you and dave slayton what do you
mean me and dave slayton
said anna quickly you went away with him
on friday evening
someone saw you in dave’s car anna tried
to explain
oh it’s nothing she said dave and i went
shut up said peter i don’t want to know
anna
don’t talk about it but peter said anna
peter didn’t listen i know he’s got a
lot of money
he can take you to places he’s from a
big city
i’m a poor village boy anna but you must
choose
you must choose between dave and me you
can’t have both of us
i know that peter said anna and i don’t
want both of you
but listen peter i want to tell you
about dave there’s something very
strange about him
dave dave dave peter shouted you talk
about him all the time
i don’t want to hear his name again
peter turned round
and walked out of the room he left
anna’s house
now anna was alone she was very unhappy
she wanted to talk to peter she wanted
to tell him about dave
she wanted to tell him about greta
gordon and about mike bailey
but peter had left her
chapter 11 arthur reisman
it was october it was cold and wet
anna was not very busy at the shop she
was very unhappy
she was a different girl she seemed
older
she didn’t go out much she looked ill
most of the villagers knew that anna had
quarreled with peter
they also knew that she had been to
london with dave
but no one was able to help anna she did
not talk to anyone
before she had been a happy smiling girl
now she was sad and lonely
she went to the shop every day she was
waiting for another special customer
anna did not wait long it was the middle
of the month
anna was alone in the shop it was almost
lunchtime
a middle-aged gentleman came in he was a
big man with a very large moustache
he was well dressed and he was carrying
a large briefcase
good morning miss he said politely
good morning sir said anna can i help
you
anna was very polite too she was
interested in this man
i’m looking for mr david slayton said
the man
anna smiled are you a salesman she asked
she knew that he was not a salesman he
didn’t look like a salesman
but she wanted to talk to the man
the man smiled yes i am a salesman
he said that was not true
anna knew that the man was lying then
she said
perhaps i can help you sir i usually
speak to the salesman
she looked at the man’s case it had the
letters
a r i c s printed on it
thank you said the man very politely
but i have a private appointment i have
come from london
and i must see mr slaton i’m sorry
said anna he’s very busy at the moment
but i’ll tell him you’re here
what’s your name please the man smiled
robert he said arthur roberts
anna went to the back of the shop dave
was coming down the stairs
there’s a man in the shop said anna he
wants to speak to you
thanks said dave and he went to the
front of the shop
good morning mr reisman said dave i’m
pleased to meet you
anna listened riseman the man’s name was
reisman not roberts
what a liar the man did not look at anna
i’m pleased to meet you mr slaton the
man said please come with me
said dave mr reisman followed dave
they went into the special orders room
a minute later dave came out he came to
the front of the shop it’s lunch time
anna
he said you can go home now thanks dave
said anna i’m going in a few moments
dave went back to the special orders
room
anna did not leave the shop she waited
anna wrote down the letters a r i
c s she understood a r
arthur reisman but she did not
understand
ics at half past one
anna heard noises mr reisman was leaving
dave was talking thank you mr reisman
said dave and thank you said mr reisman
you have helped me a lot good said dave
goodbye mr reisman my assistant isn’t in
the shop
but you can open the door goodbye
dave went upstairs and mr reisman came
into the front of the shop
anna was sitting quietly in a corner oh
said mr reisman i thought you’d gone
home
no she said i decided to have lunch in
the shop today
anna and mr reisman looked at each other
they didn’t like each other there was
silence
anna spoke first would you like to buy
some bread mr roberts
she said reisman my name is reisman
said the man anna smiled i’m so sorry
she said would you like to buy some
homemade bread mr reisman
it looks delicious said mr reisman he
was very polite again
yes i’ll take some please my wife will
love it
here you are said anna she put the bread
in a bag
then she said you can put it in your
briefcase
my briefcase said mr reisman i haven’t
got a briefcase
i think you’ve forgotten it she said
i’ll go and get it for you
anna moved towards the back of the shop
mr reisman stepped in front of her
he held her wrists he was very strong
listen to me he said i don’t want that
briefcase
leave it there all right said anna
please let me go you’re hurting me
mr reisman let go of anna and turn
towards the door
he left the shop hurriedly he hadn’t
taken his bread with him
anna watched mr reisman leave her hands
were still hurting
five minutes later
chapter 12 anna waits for news
anna waited for some news about mr
reisman
she remembered greta gordon the film
star had visited the corner shop
later there was news about her in a
magazine
mike bailey had visited the corner shop
too
later there was a lot of news about him
on tv
and now mr reisman had visited the
corner shop
anna was waiting for some news about him
all three visitors had been special
customers
they had all seen dave they had all been
in the special orders room
and they had all left something with
dave
greta gordon had left her diamond rings
mike bailey had left his case
mr reisman had left his briefcase
anna wanted to find out more about the
three special customers
she thought about mr reisman his case
had the letters
a r i c s on it
she understood a r but what was i c
s perhaps mr reisman was a businessman
and ics was his company
anna looked in the newspapers but she
didn’t find anything about
ics she read the magazines
she listened to the radio she watched tv
but there was nothing about ics
anna heard nothing she saw nothing
then she had an idea she decided to go
to london
and find arthur reisman
it was a friday early in the morning she
left a note for dave
she took the note to the shop dear dave
it said sorry i can’t come in today i’m
going to lidny
i’m buying some things for my wedding
anna
the note did not tell the truth but anna
didn’t care
anna took a bus to lidney and then
caught a train to london
she got to paddington station at midday
she got off the train and looked for a
telephone box
the telephones were near to the entrance
to the station
but the boxes were all full she stood
and waited
then anna saw the letters i-c-s
there they were they were on a huge
advertisement
anna had found the answer to her problem
international computer services ics
perhaps that was mr reisman’s company
soon one of the phone boxes was empty
anna rang the number
222-8959
ics can i help you said a woman’s voice
yes please said anna i want to speak to
mr reisman
mr arthur reisman i think he works at
ics
the woman laughed works here yes he does
she said he’s the vice chairman of the
company
wait one moment please i’ll get his
secretary
then there was another woman’s voice on
the phone mr reisman secretary can i
help you
yes please said anna i’d like to speak
to mr reisman
who’s calling please said the secretary
mr reisman doesn’t know my name
anna replied is mr reisman expecting
your call
the secretary asked no he isn’t
said anna i’m afraid he can’t speak to
you now
said the secretary he’s at a meeting now
and he’s flying to switzerland in an
hour’s time
but i must speak to him for a few
minutes said anna
the secretary became annoyed that’s
impossible
she said but i can take a message no
thanks said anna i’ll call again next
week
will mr reisman be back then yes he will
replied the secretary goodbye and she
put the phone down
anna had found mr reisman’s company but
she hadn’t spoken to him
anna spent the afternoon in london she
went to see a film
then she had tea in a small cafe near
paddington station
her train left london at half past six
she bought an evening newspaper
and got on the train anna was tired
but she felt happy after a few minutes
she looked at her newspaper anna was
waiting for some news
there it was on the front page
private plane crash near london six
dead all from ics
six people were killed this afternoon in
a plane crash at enfield near london
the plane was flying to switzerland the
passengers were all from
international computer services ics
among them was mr alfred gluck the
chairman of ics
mr arthur reisman vice chairman of ics
told us i’m lucky to be alive i was at a
meeting today
the meeting went on for a long time and
i didn’t catch the plane
mr reisman will probably be the new
chairman of ics
chapter 13 the special orders room
anna got home about ten o’clock she
turned on the radio and listened to the
news
the chairman of ics was dead and mr
reisman
was the new chairman anna didn’t sleep
that night
she was thinking about dave slayton and
the special orders
what were they what was dave slaton
doing in that room
on saturday morning she went to the shop
dave said nothing to her
he was angry because anna had not worked
on friday
he didn’t ask about her day off and anna
didn’t tell him about it
at eleven o’clock dave left the shop
he got in his car and drove off
anna was alone this was her chance
she went to the back of the shop and
turned the handle of the locked door
but the special orders room was not
locked
dave had forgotten to lock it anna
opened the door
and went into the room it was a small
room
dark and hot anna turned on the light
but it was not a very strong light
she looked round the room there was a
small table
two old chairs and a lot of boxes
that was all special orders there were
no order books no papers no pencils
anna walked round the table it was
difficult because there were a lot of
boxes on the floor
anna opened one of the boxes and looked
inside
she found some old magazines and
newspapers
underneath there were some dirty old
clothes
but underneath the clothes she
discovered some money
lots of money british money french money
american german there was money from all
over the world
anna was amazed she had never seen so
much money before
she looked round again and found mike
bailey’s
case it was empty
then she found arthur reisman’s
briefcase
that was empty too then
anna looked into a bigger box inside it
were some dolls
with broken arms and legs one of the
dolls was very beautiful
but it had a broken arm anna put it on
the table
then anna found a book about football
inside there were some pictures of
footballers
but the pictures were all torn anna put
the book
on the table anna looked into the box
again
and found some little cars most of them
were broken
she found a small model aeroplane
it was broken too anna put
all these things on the table what a
strange collection
there was the money the broken doll the
toy cars the model aeroplane
and there was the football book with the
torn pictures
anna looked at the things on the table
what were they for
why did dave slayton keep them in this
locked room
suddenly anna jumped there was a noise
behind her
someone was standing at the door
chapter 14 the special customers
what about the diamond rings said a
voice
it was dave slaton he was laughing
i left the door open for you he said i
wanted you to go into this room this
morning
anna was frightened but she tried not to
show her fear
you haven’t found the diamonds dave said
again
anna remembered greta gordon’s diamond
rings
were they in this room too here
said dave he came into the room and
picked up an old box
he took out the rings and threw them on
the table
they aren’t yours said anna they belong
to greta gordon
they belong to me laughed dave she gave
them to me
but why asked dana why
why did greta gordon give you those
diamonds and all this money who gave you
the money
my special customers said dave
my special customers gave me the money
it’s
mine now mike bailey and mr reisman gave
you all this money
asked dana yes said dave
you’ve seen some of my special customers
not all of them
but why do they come anna asked again
these people come to me for help replied
dave slayton
i help them and they pay me
but how do you help them ask dana
dave slayton picked up the beautiful
doll with the broken arm
do you remember joanna lee he asked dana
anna thought for a moment joanna lee
she said yes of course i remember her
she’s the actress who broke her arm
greta gordon got her apart that’s right
said dave slayton this doll is
joanna lee anna felt more afraid
what kind of man was dave slaton
dave slayton pointed to a torn
photograph in the football book
who’s that anna he asked anna remembered
the face
she had seen it on tv brian thomas
she replied he’s a goalkeeper he was
a goalkeeper said dave slayton
anna was terribly frightened now dave
slayton was an
evil man dave slayton moved close to
anna
he picked up the broken aeroplane
and what do you think this is he asked
anna
anna knew the answer but she was too
afraid to speak
dave slayton took anna’s arm and held it
tightly
anna tried to move away dave slayton
laughed
and held anna more tightly
listen anna he said quietly i want you
i need you marry me anna
don’t marry peter marry me
no no she cried let me go
let me go but anna you still don’t
understand
said dave slayton i have strange powers
i can give you everything you want he
looked into anna’s eyes
and my children will have these powers
too he continued
i will give you money and diamonds
and you anna you will give me children
anna was terrified now she kicked dave
slayton
very hard and he let go of her hand
anna moved quickly she ran out of the
special orders room
through the front of the shop and out
onto the street she ran
all the way home
chapter 15 the 31st of october
when anna got home she felt terrible and
went to bed
in the evening peter came to see her but
anna was ill in bed
i’ll come and see anna tomorrow peter
told anna’s mother
again anna did not sleep all night
the next day sunday the 31st of october
was a terrible day for wood end
anna stayed in bed she had a fever and
her mother
phoned the doctor the doctor came
immediately
anna’s very ill said the doctor to
anna’s mother
i’m worried i don’t know what’s wrong
with her
i’ll come back again tonight that
afternoon
peter came to anna’s house he tried to
speak to anna but she was too ill
he sat quietly beside her bed
at about seven o’clock peter heard
shouting in the street
he went to the window and looked outside
people were running
and shouting fire fire fire there’s a
fire at the corner shop
peter ran out of anna’s house and into
the street
there was a big fire on the corner the
shop was in flames
nobody could see dave slayton his car is
here
said mr hart dave must be inside
then the villagers saw him he was
standing at an upstairs window
jump dave they shouted jump save
yourself
but dave did not move he was standing at
the window
and he was laughing some of the women in
the street
started screaming mr hart tried to run
into the shop
but the others pulled him back flames
were leaping up from the shop
the flames reached dave slayton the
villagers saw that he was still laughing
that was the last time they saw him
the flames hid him completely no one was
able to save him
and no one ever saw him again
peter went back to anna’s house the
doctor was in the kitchen
talking to anna’s mother suddenly
there was a scream they ran upstairs to
anna’s room
anna was dead