Ladies From Hell Read Free

all the bits and pieces out and arranged a selection of them round the chain. It looked as if I’d nearly got enough to make a start; I wondered if I could get Am to do some model shots next time she came down.
    George came through a bit later with a bottle of high-priced plonk; Goldener Winklepiss, real hypermart stuff, but the thought was there. We played some more music—he was switching on to Finzi quite well, he even asked for one of the Hardy cycles—and I showed him what I was up to with the chain. He still looked a bit uncertain; but he was doing his best. He’d had an idea a week or so before that he might be getting a posting; I asked him if he’d heard anything since but he shook his head. He was still a bit subdued; he reckoned he’d got at least another eighteen months on Overseeing, maybe two years, so if he was moved on he’d only be reattached. He said he’d as soon stay with the devil he knew. You’ve got to believe it, that really was his way of paying a compliment. I said by that time he’d at least know all there was to know about the art game but it didn’t cheer him up. He hadn’t wanted to come into Overseeing in the first place of course,none of them do; but it’s still the quickest way to Senior Management. And with a ten thousand a year mortgage and two kids booked for Eton he needed a fast promotion, Class A or not.
    You get to know quite a lot about your Overseer; after all, it’s a pretty close relationship. I should know, I’ve had seven of ’em. I knew his kids were Emma and Abigail, though they always called the little one Sandy, and that his wife was Hannah. All good solid Class A names of course. I knew what they’d look like before he got the holosnaps out; the kids pretty as hell with his genes behind them, Hannah a Plain Jane. I wasn’t far wrong; but he’s a type of course. Adonis nearly always marries Plain Jane to keep the home fires burning while he larks about. She had good eyes though; looked as if she’d be a goer if she was given half the chance. Not that she’d ever get it. Trouble with the system is, the silly little bitches usually keep their heads down because they know they’ve made a good catch and they’re scared of losing it. I’ve seen it happen too often for it to be really funny any more.
    As it turned out he had another cause for gloom. We were getting an inspection from an Assistant Controller next month, which was always good for the jitters. They never worry me all that much; see one and you’ve seen ’em all, sez I. But of course I don’t have anything much to lose.
    Also he was getting an assistant sometime in the summer, a trainee from the Grade below him; which made it my turn to stick my lip out. I’d more or less got used to having one Overseer on my back, but two was coming it a bit strong. I wondered how much they’d expect me to put my income up to cover the extra surveillance; though with the negatax situation that would be funny as well in its way. But he said he wasn’t too concerned, it would just have to sort itself out. He was more pleased it would give him the chance of a weekend or two at home. “Home” was near Sunningdale, I’d seen holos of that as well. I’ve never really felt clematis looks its best round Corinthian columns, particularly fibreglass ones, but it was certainly a hell of a pad.
    Anyway I put the best face on it I could; we talked it overfor a bit then he went to warm up a pizza. He made a pot of coffee too, I really was getting him very well trained. After which we made our way to our Lonely Couches. Leastways, I expect his was; I was well enough suited. It was a clear, mild night, with that spring wind blowing and a sky like smoky milk. Coventina was still by the brook, the breeze was bringing her scent. I opened my windows and lay thinking about the new painting. It would need a lot of water plant detail, I could make a start on that as soon as the summer foliage grew up. Am would do the poses for