Houghton was affronted. Why the hell didnt you talk like that this morning instead of pussyfooting around with scientific quibbles? This morning you said the hazard was potential.
McGill was exasperated. I sometimes wonder if we talk the same language, he snapped. The hazard still is potential and it will be until something happens and then itll be actual hazard and too goddam late to do anything about it. What do you want me to do? Go up on the slope and trigger it just to prove to you that it can happen?
Ballard said, Go back to your council and tell them to stop playing politics. And tell the Petersons from me that no one votes for dead men. His voice was like iron. You can also tell them that if they dont do something constructive by midday tomorrow Ill go over their heads Ill call a public meeting and put it to the people direct.
And telephone Civil Defence as soon as you can, added McGill.
Houghton took a deep breath and stood up. His face was red and shiny with sweat. Ill do the best I can, he said, and walked away.
Ballard stared after him. I wonder if this is a good time to get drunk?
Twelve
Did Mr Ballard drink heavily that night? asked Lyall.
Camerons lips compressed and then he relaxed. Not more than most, he said easily. It was a party, you must remember. For instance, he didnt drink as much as me. As an apparent afterthought he added, Or as much as your clients there.
Lyall said sharply, I must protest. The witness cannot be allowed to make gratuitous innuendoes of that nature.
Harrison was trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile. It appears to me that Mr Cameron was merely trying to put Mr Ballards drinking in the scale of things. Is that not so, Mr Cameron?
It was a party in a small town, said Cameron. Sure, there was drinking. Some of the boys from the mine got pretty smashed. Some of the town folk, too. I was a bit rosy myself towards the end. But Mr Ballard was nowhere near drunk. I dont think hes really a drinking man. But he had a few.
I think that answers Mr Lyalls question. Go on, Mr Cameron.
Well, at about eleven-thirty that night Mr Ballard again tackled the mayor about whether hed telephoned anybody Civil Defence or whatever and Houghton said he hadnt. He said he didnt see that a few hours would make any difference and he wasnt going to make a fool of himself in the middle of the night by ringing up some caretaker and asking him damn silly questions.
Harrison looked across at Ballard. Mr Cameron, it would be improper to ask you why Mr Ballard, at this point, did not make the call himself. Mr Ballard is here to answer for himself, as I am sure he will. But, if there was this urgency, why did you not make the call?
Cameron looked embarrassed. Wed been told, quite bluntly, to keep our noses out of town business. And up to that time we thought the call had been made. When we found it hadnt we thought the likelihood of getting anyone at Civil Defence who could tell us what we wanted to know was slight. Another thing was that Mr Ballard still hoped to co-operate with the council, and if he made the call theyd think hed gone over their heads on what they would consider to be town business. Relations between mine and town might be permanently damaged.
Cameron looked embarrassed. Wed been told, quite bluntly, to keep our noses out of town business. And up to that time we thought the call had been made. When we found it hadnt we thought the likelihood of getting anyone at Civil Defence who could tell us what we wanted to know was slight. Another thing was that Mr Ballard still hoped to co-operate with the council, and if he made the call theyd think hed gone over their heads on what they would consider to be town business. Relations between mine and town might be permanently damaged.
What did Dr McGill think of this?
He wasnt around at the time; hed gone out to check the weather. But afterwards he said that Mr Ballard was a damned fool. Cameron scratched his cheek. He said I was a damned fool, too.
It seems that Dr McGill is the only person to come out of this with any credit, observed Harrison. There appears to have been a lot of buck-passing for reasons which pale into insignificance when one considers the magnitude of the disaster.
I agree, said Cameron frankly. But Dr McGill was the only person who had any conception of the magnitude of the trouble which faced us. When he told me to prepare for an impact pressure of ten tons a square foot I thought he was coming it a bit strong. I accepted his reasoning but at the back of my mind I didnt really believe it. I think that Mr Ballard was in the same case, and he and I are technical men.
And because the members of the council were not technical men do you think that excuses their dilatory conduct?
No, said Cameron heavily. We were all guilty to a greater or lesser degree. It does not excuse our conduct, but it goes a long way towards explaining it.
Harrison was silent for a long time, then he said gently, Ill accept that, Mr Cameron. What happened next?
Mr Ballard and I stayed at our table talking and doing a little drinking. If Mr Ballard did any drinking that night it was then that he did it. He hadnt had more than two drinks up to then.
Cameron talked with Ballard for some time, maybe twenty minutes, and then they were joined by Stacey Cameron. Ballard cocked an ear towards the dance floor; it was late enough for the jigging rock rhythms to have been replaced by the night-club shuffle. Dance? he suggested.
Stacey grimaced. Thanks all the same, but no thanks. Ive been danced off my feet tonight. She sat down and flexed her toes, then looked up at him. Liz Peterson wants to know if you think she has smallpox.
He blinked. What!
She seems to think that youre ignoring her. She could be right, at that.
Ballard smiled slightly. Id forgotten she existed until tonight.
Well, you know she exists now. Why dont you ask her for a dance? Shes sitting this one out.
Ballards jaw dropped, and then he smiled. Well, for Gods sake, why not? He drained his glass and felt the lump of whisky hit bottom with a thud. Ill give it a whirl. He left, heading for the dance floor.
Are you crazy? demanded Cameron. Dont you know that Ballard and the Petersons get on like the Hatfields and McCoys? What are you trying to do start a war?
Theyve got to start talking to each other reasonably sometime, said Stacey. Huka isnt big enough for them to ignore each other forever.
Cameron looked unconvinced. I hope you know what youre doing.
Dad, whats all this about an avalanche?
What avalanche?
Dont talk to me as though I were a half-wit, said Stacey. The avalanche you were discussing over dinner.
Oh, that one! said Cameron with an ill-assumed air of surprise. Nothing to it. Just some precautions McGill wants us to take.
Precautions, she said thoughtfully. Thats not what I understood by the way Ian was reaming out Houghton. She looked past her father. Heres Mike now. Hows the weather, Mike?
Heavy snow setting in. McGill checked his watch. Nearly midnight. How long do these shindigs go on?
The dancing will stop dead on midnight, said Cameron. Very religious guys, these New Zealanders. No dancing on Sunday.
McGill nodded. I wont be sorry to get to bed. He stretched. What did the Civil Defence crowd have to say?
Houghton didnt call.
He didnt! McGill grabbed Cameron by the arm. What have you done about it? Did Ian try? Cameron shook his head. Then hes a goddamned fool and so are you. Wheres the telephone?
Theres one in the lobby, said Cameron. Look, Mike, therell be no one there at this time of night qualified to tell you anything.
Tell me hell! said McGill. Im going to tell them. Im going to raise the alarm.
He walked away rapidly with Cameron on his heels. As they skirted the dance floor there was a shout and a sudden disturbance. McGill jerked his head sideways and saw Charlie Peterson with his hand on Ballards shoulder. Just what we need, he said disgustedly. Come on, Joe, and crossed the floor to where the two men bristled at each other.
Ballard had been dancing with Liz Peterson when he felt the heavy thud of Charlies meaty hand on his shoulder and felt himself spun round. Charlies face was sweaty and his eyes were red-rimmed. Alcohol fumes came from him as he whispered hoarsely, Stay away from my sister, Ballard.
Lizs face flamed. Charlie, I told you...
Shut up! His hand bore heavily on Ballards shoulder. If I catch you with her again Ill break your back.
Take your hand off me, said Ballard.
Some of the ferocity left Charlie and he grinned genially. Take it off yourself if you can. His thumb ground viciously into the muscle at the top of Ballards arm.
Stop this nonsense, said Liz. You get crazier every day.
Charlie ignored his sister and increased the pressure on Ballard. What about it? You wont get into trouble with your momma shes not here.
Ballard seemed to droop. His arms hung down in front of him, crossed at the wrists, and suddenly he brought them up sharply, hitting Charlies arm at the elbow with considerable force and thus breaking free.
Charlie lunged forward but Cameron grabbed one arm and twisted it behind Charlies back. It was done with expertise and it was evident that Cameron was no stranger to a rough house.
Break it up, said McGill. This is a dance floor, not a boxing ring.
Charlie pressed forward again but McGill put his hand flat on Charlies chest and pushed. All right, said Charlie. Ill see you outside when you dont have your friends to help you.
Christ, you sound like a schoolboy, said McGill.
Let the bastard speak for himself, said Charlie.
In the distance a voice was raised. Is Mr Ballard around? Hes wanted on the telephone.
McGill jerked his head at Ballard. Take your call.
Ballard shrugged his shoulders into his rumpled jacket and nodded briefly. He walked past Charlie without so much as looking at him. Charlie twisted in Camerons grip and yelled, Youve not changed, you bastard. You still run scared.
Whats going on here? someone demanded.
McGill turned to find Eric Peterson at his elbow. He took his hand off Charlies chest, and said, Your kid brother has gone off his rocker.