1. The Round Pond Killing Bert Hale, the world-famous inventor, walked into Kensington Gardens with his latest invention under his arm. It was the afternoon of Sunday, August 1st. High overhead, in a fitful easterly wind, kites were dancing, like spots before liverish eyes. From the bandstand, as if a door were being intermittently opened and closed on the music, the strains of a Gilbert and Sullivan medley blared out, then receded to a pianissimo, rose and were shut off: the scarlet and brass of the bandsmen twinkled between the low trees, as the leaves stirred nervously. A news- paper sheet wrapped itself round Bert s leg. He rubbed his eyes, into which the wind had puffed some dust, and stamping the newspaper flat, read the headlines: SOVIET DELEGATION HERE TOMORROW IS IT PEACE? Bert s mind registered the headline as part of some- thing that was in the air, something talked about all round him, tuning with the gay, vague, yet exasperated atmosphere of the summer afternoon, the high-flying
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