Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem - Charlie Cochrane Page 0,39
idea, though.” Jonty leaned against Orlando’s shoulder. “What if the Roman coin and brooch that Edward found had been planted there by Richard, just so the lad would definitely have some treasure to turn up?”
Orlando could imagine Jonty’s siblings doing the same for him. “If that’s true, it seems a huge coincidence that the hoard turned up just where Richard had planted the other things. Wouldn’t he have noticed the treasure while doing the planting?”
“Not if there are two separate sites. Back to Mary and her saying they were looking in the wrong place. Richard might have wanted Edward to think that he found the hoard. Or Edward said he had uncovered it and Richard hadn’t the heart to contradict him. Back to the lad who lived next door to us. He did tend to be treated as though he were made of glass. Have you spoken to Dr Panesar, by the way?”
Where was the conversation headed now? “Not today.”
“He wanted to catch us both together, so if he tells you all this as news, please pretend you know nothing about it.” Jonty landed a poke in Orlando’s ribs. “You’re a good actor when you want to be. Anyway, Dr P was his usual mine of information, and the seam concerning the detection of metal is a rich one, perhaps richer than I’d anticipated or wished for. No use to us, though, because apparently science has yet to invent a device such as we discussed, one that could be taken to a field and used to locate coins or jewellery.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Yes. Oh, and be prepared to hear a long account of attempts to produce a similar machine. It takes in electromagnetism—which I’d heard of but don’t understand, although it sounds like your sort of thing—the inventor of the telephone—an apparatus which we can both appreciate—and something to do with a dying man and a bullet. All very interesting, but no help.”
“Well, that puts an end to that idea. It’s a shame he couldn’t use this aeroplane of his to pinpoint the site, although that would be expecting a miracle.” Not even Dr Panesar could produce those, even if it was miraculous in itself that the man hadn’t blown the city sky high with one of his inventions. “If any of the treasure remains, it means using old-fashioned trowels and spades to find it. Apropos of the dig at Greysands, do you have any Italian blood in you?”
Jonty leaned back to give Orlando a quizzical look. “Not that I’m aware of. I’d have mentioned it if so, given your connections to the country. Why?”
“Remember the fragments of mosaic they lifted? The gladiator of whom you’re the very image.”
“I do remember. Maybe he was a native Briton—they must have had combat here in the local amphitheatres—and he saw his chance. Perhaps it was the historical equivalent to playing rugby, which is what all the Stewarts have done since there was rugby to play. Before that we’d have had to find some equivalent legitimate form of thuggery.” Jonty rubbed his hands gleefully. “Maybe that’s how we first made our fortune, being favourites of the ladies—and gentlemen—who came to watch the combats. The old, what-do-you-call-thems, pangenes, being strong in our family, we all look the same through the generations. I bet you’re the image of the old Artigiano del Rames.”
“I certainly felt the weight of ancestry at that site. As though I’d been there before. If was rather disconcerting. Is that heredity?”
“Possibly. Maybe it’s something different, rather like that feeling you get in a church, where you’re aware of something numinous. Like the sense of worship over many years. Whatever the cause, I fail to understand it, I simply know that it is.” Jonty took Orlando’s hand. “Did it unsettle you?”
“I’m not sure. You know I don’t like what I can’t explain, so the strong feeling of familiarity wasn’t enjoyable.”
“Have you considered that it’s simply a case of reliving childhood memories? What if your grandmother took you to see a similar site when you were too young to consciously recall the event? Bignor itself, perhaps. These villas are all much of a muchness, style of mosaic and all.”
Why hadn’t Orlando thought of that? Probably because he hadn’t let himself dwell on it too much. “Yes, that’s the sort of thing I can imagine her doing. My earliest memories are of her taking me to the seaside and letting me play on the beach, but there would surely have been other visits to other