Tricksters by Norman Maclean Read Free Book Online

deal.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜The two-step deal.’
    â€˜What the hell’s the two-step deal?’
    â€˜First of all, Sam will give them five per cent of the offering price to them. That’s three thousand five hundred pounds.’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜They’ll have the espousals before the banns here, in the Tartan Pagoda, hundreds of toffs from all over, and we’ll have them for at least a fortnight, and if everything goes off all right and if the batty old bride is happy with the celebrations . . .’
    â€˜What happens then?’
    â€˜Maybe he’ll buy the place – as a base for his company, you understand? – and give our old man the rest of the money.’
    â€˜That’s the two-step deal, is it?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜You could do with four eyes in your head if you’re going to be dealing with the bold Sam,’ Murdo said.
    â€˜Oh, he’s certainly a smart cookie.’
    â€˜Do you know if Barrington-Smythe’s agreed to this yet?’
    â€˜It’s none of my business. And it’s none of your business either.’
    Murdo patted an object in his pocket. ‘Has he bought a ring yet?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜DOES HE HAVE A RING TO GIVE TO THE HALF-WIT?’
    â€˜Do you know this? I don’t know who’s the craziest in this place. You’re blasting my ears like a rutting stag. Manners, man, manners.’
    â€˜I’m sorry.’
    Morag went behind the bar counter and poured a generous drink for herself. ‘I know that you’re excited,’ she said, ‘what with all that talk about getting married and about love.’ She turned to face him with an understanding smile. ‘Will you take a drink?’
    â€˜No, no, I don’t drink any more. I’m high on life. From now on, I don’t want to escape from it any more. My mind needs to be clear. A glorious future awaits me.’
    â€˜A glorious future?’
    â€˜Wonderful! Money. Love . . . Rachel.’
    â€˜Who’s Rachel?’
    â€˜She whose curling hair flows down in ringlets, like the strings on the fiddle, over her two shoulders.’
    â€˜Well, maybe Mr Etive Television’s girlfriend isn’t quite like that, but he wants to marry her anyway.’
    â€˜I want a woman to handle and to hold . . . to love and not love her . . . I want to feel her teeth in my kisses.’
    â€˜I suppose that’s the way Mr Kerr is feeling too.’
    â€˜Does the man have that amount of money? I mean, over three thousand pounds?’
    â€˜I haven’t seen it . . . yet. I’m not a snoop. I’m a communicant.’
    â€˜Do you think they’ll sell the hotel under these terms?’
    â€˜He’d sell it for a lump of clay. I’m not so sure about her. She used to be one of those hippies.’
    â€˜What was she?’
    â€˜She smokes . . . er, that gear.’
    â€˜And that means she’d sell the place to the first person who’d offer her cash?’
    â€˜No. She’s from Harris, although she was brought up abroad. And you know how light-headed they can be.’
    â€˜I can’t make head nor tail of this.’
    â€˜She has no religion. Well, she has a sort of religion. She talks to the spirit that resides within her body.’
    â€˜It’s acid rain from Chernobyl that’s caused this.’
    â€˜As far as I am concerned, I don’t care who owns the place. But, to tell the truth, I’d be delighted to welcome the man who put
Our Land
on our screens.’
    â€˜Did you enjoy it?’
    â€˜It was splendid, wasn’t it?’
    â€˜Pass the bucket. I’m going to be sick.’
    Morag passed him the bucket. ‘Gracious me! Here! Go into the toilet!’
    Murdo shook his head in amusement. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I cannot thank you enough for all your help today. I’m deeply indebted to you.’
    â€˜You are?’
    â€˜Now,