COLONEL NOAH

OTHER CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 9

David rang Valerie and her reaction was exactly as they had expected. He was amazed to hear an accusatory note in her voice.

'I couldn't stop Dad doing it! I was away on an extended tour. What did you find to talk about on your weekly calls? How the Young Farmers were getting on? Or how many scones you'd made for the W.I.'s tea parties? You were at least in the country, didn't you notice anything in his conversation that was a little different?'

'Come on David, you must have given him the idea in the first place telling him all about your tours and world climate changes.'

'Of course I told him about climatic changes but I hardly expected him to go completely over the top on Global Warming.'

'It's disgraceful, someone should have let us know. All that money sitting in the back garden going to rust. What about the children's inheritance? Has he mortgaged the house do you think?'

'Is that all you can think of, money? It's Dad's to do as likes with. We should be more worried by his state of mind. He seems set on the idea of a floating home.'

'Sorry, David. I can see that you must be worried to death. And I know your children won't need any inheritance but the state that farming is in at the moment is what worries me and the thought that there was a little nest-egg somewhere in the future was a comfort. What are you going to do, will you need me to come down and try to talk some sense into him?'

'No, no, absolutely not,' David couldn't think of anything worse than Valerie on the war path. 'Leave it with me, I'll think of something before the weekend is over. Perhaps the meeting this evening will clarify things for Dad and he'll see it in a different perspective.'

'You will keep in touch, ring me again tomorrow and let me know how things are going. We often have rain up here for weeks and no one thinks there's going to be a disaster! Bye!'

David told Dot exactly what Valerie had said.

'She certainly knows what to call a spade,' laughed Dot. 'You'd better give your Dad an edited version. Tell him what she said about the rain in Scotland.'

The Colonel wasn't at all surprised. 'That girl has no imagination, never did have,' was his only comment.

The meeting began very quietly. The Colonel was pleased and relieved that everyone he'd asked had turned up. He'd made copious notes on what he was going to say. Dorothy and David had scoured the house for chairs and given the twins strict instructions to sit on the floor if they ran out.

The Colonel took up a stance in front of the fireplace, much in the same way as he delivered the lesson on Sundays. He was just opening his mouth to welcome everyone when the front door bell rang.

'I'll get it,' said David.

They all waited politely, trying to hear the conversation that was going on in the hall. It seemed to go for quite some time. When he returned he was accompanied by a tall smiling man.

'This is Sam Baldwin, he's a reporter on the Daily Echo, says he's heard about the meeting and would like to sit in. He seems to think that it's local news and of great interest to his readers. I said I would ask how you all felt about it before showing him the door.'

Darren felt his face go bright red as Bunny Baldwin's father came in. He hoped no one would notice and that the Colonel would send him packing.

'This meeting is by invitation only,' said the Colonel, 'simply friends and neighbours coming together for an informal private discussion. How did you hear about it?'

'I have my sources, and it cannot be so private if a local reporter hears about it. I think the subject may interest more people than are here this evening. Could be of National importance. Don't you think that the public should be informed that there may be another world flooding?'

'I certainly do not and I'd be obliged if you would leave immediately!'

'Well, if that's how you feel I may have to write up my own version of events and they may not be as accurate as yours. Secret meetings behind closed doors in middle-class England could make quite a tasty story in itself.'

The colonel hesitated. He knew very well how devious these fellows could be.

'I'll put it to the whole meeting and they will decide if they wish the press to be present.'

The Colonel had no need to ask as there was a surge of exclamations, opinions and loud voices. Miss Teesdale suddenly stood up and clapped her hands sharply, like a pistol shot. There was instant silence.

'I think as this person is already here it would be best to allow him to stay. After the Colonel has addressed the meeting we may be in position to decide what to do.'

'Thank you Miss Teesdale, does everyone agree?' There was a general murmur of consent. 'Then I shall proceed with the meeting.'

David had a great deal he wanted to say but this hardly seemed the appropriate time and felt he would only make things worse.

'Good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. You may have noticed that there is a large boat being built in my back garden.'

His audience nodded and smiled at each other.

The Colonel went on to give his reasons telling them in detail of the overwhelming evidence for his conclusions, giving them all the facts and figures. He outlined his plan for a floating home. He talked for half an hour to a fascinated roomful of people. He finished by admitting that the cost had become more than he anticipated.

'Basically, I would like to know if any of you would like to join me, to be a part of this great adventure which I am convinced is going to happen. I need to organise my affairs and finalise my plans. Obviously you will need time to think about it but when you have done so I'm sure you will agree with me. Thank you for listening. Are there any questions?'

'What about God's promise that he would never flood the earth again?' asked Daphne.

'I'm sure God's promise still holds true, this is a man-made disaster from start to finish.'

'You seem very certain of your facts and figures. Are your sources reliable? Why should people advance hard-earned cash on your say-so?' asked Sam Baldwin.

'My son David is here. He travels the globe monitoring the oceans. I'm sure he can answer any technical questions.'

Everyone turned to look at David.

'Sorry folks, I'm not in a position to confirm or deny. My work is inclined to be classified. But, of course we all know about global warming, that cannot be refuted.'

'So, all we have is this chap's word and what we get from the media. Is there no official source to verify what has been said here today?'

'I assure you that the Colonel will not have started on this adventure without confirming all the facts. I hope your reporting will reflect his integrity. You have mentioned the media, they are more to blame than any other source for starting unfounded rumours.' Miss Teesdale was using her best headteacher's voice.

'I can swim you know,' said Monica loudly making everyone smile and suddenly relieving the atmosphere.

Ellie raised her hand.

'Yes, Ellie?'

'I think all this talk of global warming will affect our generation most so we should have a say about things.'

'That's entirely up to your parents,' said the Colonel.

'I'm definitely going,' said Darren. 'I don't suppose mine will even notice that I've gone.'

'That's a dreadful thing to say, Darren, and quite untrue,' yelped his Mother.

'Absolutely ridiculous, we'll discuss this at home when we've had time to think about it,' said Nicholas.

'That's just it, there's never time to talk about anything at home. We should decide now before all the places are taken.' Darren was quite enjoying being the centre of attention for once.

'How can we possibly leave everything and sail away into the blue, Darren, be sensible. I'm going to need more verification of the facts. I promise we will talk about it at home.'

'I suggest we leave it there and all go home to think and talk about it,' said David noticing the reporter busily scribbling away with a little smile on his fat face.

'What I want to know is,' he said, suddenly looking up from his notes and trying to hold the meeting a little longer, 'what will happen to the boat and all the investments if it doesn't rain?'

'Well,' answered the Colonel, 'in that unlikely event we will find another use for this beautiful boat.'

'Do you have any objection to me writing a piece on the meeting? I can write with or without your say-so. I know our readers will be fascinated.'

'I have some reservations, but just report the facts as they have been set out here. No sensationalism please.'

'I think your ideas will be of great interest to meteorologists and theologians as well as the general public,' said Sam.

'Right,' David raised his voice again, 'shall we adjourn, and then interested parties can get in touch in their own time?'

The meeting broke up rather reluctantly as everyone wanted to stay and talk to each other, see what the general consensus was but David ushered them all out gently. He felt that his Father had had enough for one evening.

David and Dorothy had long whispered conversations in bed, wishing it would all go away and things were back to normal. They worried about leaving the Colonel alone to deal with the aftermath of the meeting.

'Your Father will cope,' said Dorothy, 'and we're only a telephone call away, I can come alone if you are on duty but I think this may all come to a head sooner than you think.'

The twins were up at the crack of dawn, a most unusual time for them at the weekend, but they just wanted to be on board and wait longingly for the rain.

The Colonel saw them off in the late afternoon rather disappointed at David's evasive reaction but willing to concede that it needed thinking over. He promised to let them know of any developments immediately they occurred.

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