The Northern Clemency. Philip Hensher. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Philip Hensher
Издательство: HarperCollins
Серия:
Жанр произведения: Современная зарубежная литература
Год издания: 0
isbn: 9780007307128
Скачать книгу
with the way he’d moved up from the job his father had done, hacking away in the dark, to a job up top, managing and holding meetings, making decisions in a suit and a tie every morning, it was as well to live somewhere else. These days, particularly. It used to be that the managers lived a street or two from the men, but nowadays those bigger houses, imposing as they were, were lived in by miners just the same or lay empty.

      The traffic wasn’t too bad, apart from the roadworks on the Wicker, which had been going on for months now, and he was in the car park at quarter to nine, locking the yellow Capri and striding into the office with his hard black lockable briefcase. The car park was full; the men, too, had their cars now, and they’d had to reserve the management’s places, each job described with white paint on the asphalt. The charcoal buildings, the meccano towers and conveyor belts had a temporary air, like the great heaps of slag all about; even the sign at the entrance and the gates were cheap and temporary, like the signs on building sites.

      He said a quick good morning to Carol and Norma. ‘You’re meeting John Collins at eleven thirty,’ Norma called after him.

      ‘I’d not forgotten,’ he said, as he shut the door to his office. Collins was the NUM man, not as bad as some; they were the same age, they’d been at school together, and they got on as well as could be expected after last year’s shenanigans. After all, Roy was a miner, had been, and his father; that still counted for something. ‘I’m down below first, if anyone wants to know,’ he called, already pulling off the jacket of his suit, hanging it carefully on the coat hanger on the hook behind his chair.

      There was nothing particularly wrong; Hoppelton, the mine manager, liked the management to go down the pit at least once a week, whatever was up. Some of them did it at the same time each week; Roy liked to be a bit spontaneous, talk to the men, keep them on their toes. Monday morning was as good as any other time. The girls knew not to come into the office without knocking firmly on the plywood door and waiting for a response. He opened the door of the grey metal locker where the miner’s outfit was kept. He neatly untied his tie, undid his tiger’s-eye cufflinks – they matched the fat orange-and-brown tie, Tracy’s present to him last Christmas though chosen with her mum (they smiled at him from a frame on his desk). He undid his shirt, hung it up, his trousers on the hanger, bouncing them a little to keep them pressed, and then his vest, pants and socks, folding them neatly and placing them neatly, with the rest of his clothes, in a suit-carrier to take over to the pit baths.

      It was important to undress completely before starting to put on the miner’s kit; it wasn’t strictly procedure, but he liked to keep these things separate. Everything was kept separate; there were even underpants handed out from Stores; a bit like being in the Army again, he’d thought the first time he’d collected some. He’d never quite got used to putting on communal pants, owned by the mine, the NCB, the Government, he supposed in the end. But he wasn’t going to buy himself his own special pants. More trouble than it was worth. They were grey and frayed, but as clean as they could be got. The socks, and then the bright orange all-in-one plastic-coated boiler-suit, the hard inflexible plastic boots with the metal toecaps, and with the helmet and gloves, he was ready to go. ‘I’ll be two hours,’ he said to the girls as he left, walking through the office, his suit carrier in his hand, with a completely different walk from the way he’d walked in, stomping as he went. They nodded; they’d plenty to be getting on with.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4QAYRXhpZgAASUkqAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/sABFEdWNreQABAAQAAABkAAD/4QN0aHR0cDov L25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wLwA8P3hwYWNrZXQgYmVnaW49Iu+7vyIgaWQ9Ilc1TTBNcENl aGlIenJlU3pOVGN6a2M5ZCI/PiA8eDp4bXBtZXRhIHhtbG5zOng9ImFkb2JlOm5zOm1ldGEvIiB4 OnhtcHRrPSJBZG9iZSBYTVAgQ29yZSA1LjAtYzA2MCA2MS4xMzQ3NzcsIDIwMTAvMDIvMTItMTc6 MzI6MDAgICAgICAgICI+IDxyZGY6UkRGIHhtbG5zOnJkZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMTk5 OS8wMi8yMi1yZGYtc3ludGF4LW5zIyI+IDxyZGY6RGVzY3JpcHRpb24gcmRmOmFib3V0PSIiIHht bG5zOnhtcFJpZ2h0cz0iaHR0cDovL25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wL3JpZ2h0cy8iIHhtbG5z OnhtcE1NPSJodHRwOi8vbnMuYWRvYmUuY29tL3hhcC8xLjAvbW0vIiB4bWxuczpzdFJlZj0iaHR0 cDovL25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wL3NUeXBlL1Jlc291cmNlUmVmIyIgeG1sbnM6eG1wPSJo dHRwOi8vbnMuYWRvYmUuY29tL3hhcC8xLjAvIiB4bXBSaWdodHM6TWFya2VkPSJGYWxzZSIgeG1w TU06RG9jdW1lbnRJRD0ieG1wLmRpZDpGNUY2RUVGNzYxNDgxMUUxOTc3MkJFNjM4RjUxRjUwQiIg eG1wTU06SW5zdGFuY2VJRD0ieG1wLmlpZDpGNUY2RUVGNjYxNDgxMUUxOTc3MkJFNjM4RjUxRjUw QiIgeG1wOkNyZWF0b3JUb29sPSJBZG9iZSBQaG90b3Nob3AgQ1MyIE1hY2ludG9zaCI+IDx4bXBN TTpEZXJpdmVkRnJvbSBzdFJlZjppbnN0YW5jZUlEPSJ1dWlkOkIwNjFGNzhGNUY5ODExRTE4NzBG OEZDNjk1Q0Q5QTYwIiBzdFJlZjpkb2N1bWVudElEPSJ1dWlkOjc4MEYwQTY1REZBQTExRTBBNjNF QzZDNDc5NkJEMkJDIi8+IDwvcmRmOkRlc2NyaXB0aW9uPiA8L3JkZjpSREY+IDwveDp4bXBtZXRh PiA8P3hwYWNrZXQgZW5kPSJyIj8+/+4ADkFkb2JlAGTAAAAAAf/bAIQAAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEB AQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQICAgICAgICAgICAwMDAwMDAwMDAwEBAQEBAQEC AQECAgIBAgIDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMD /8AAEQgC/gH0AwERAAIRAQMRAf/EARYAAAAFBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBAUIAQYHCQoACwEAAAcB AQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoQAAEDAgUCAwUEBwIHBwsFIQECAwQRBQAhEgYHMUFREwhh cSIUCYGRMhWhscHRQiMWUhfw4fFiMyQKgkM0JSYnGHKyU3NENUU2tjcZkqLCY2RVtUZ2Vyg44oNU dKRllVZmhpZHZ3fSk8PTtNR1haWm1lgRAAEDAgQDBQUDBQkJCwcGDwERAgMABCExEgVBBgdRYXEi E4GRMhQIobHB8NFCIxXhUmJysjO0FgnxgpJTsyQ0NRei0kNjc9N01FV1GMJUlCVlNjeDk6NkpFZ2 OBniRZUmRicow0SEtWb/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AO14qrkCAP7WRFf7PhXGWqaB251U0KqEA5VqffSm BRYgKO2gCmrNISNPQ08euYGBSiqYFcaCNRGoEk109K5dcCj8vwnKhuEEChBz7H2HAomAg41RZqmp TQ1pn1pQ+wYFG3AoDglCUiuQNB4U75+7xwKSHJjxrwJIA1UV3yFae7AoFAcsKLIKDke3Wn6O/hg6 WCHDGvDUBlWtfw0zpTr40wVEdJOOVDJOnUk6R/ZoPGnXAokGpDiaEa9QsAdsgR9+BSQmSY0WNVSS dNR1I92WdBgUsoiDGvLUSM0kZ9T9vsGBQaADgaqFgnsnxOWY8OgwKItQdteCsgQAfBAA+H25Cv8A lwKCcD768FEJCia1ypkPHOv2YFBASgqgKQkZAnwyr39+BRkEu4pVM1KCgCKkZ0qBTKuDo8AEoZFc ise6grX78FSQUxAqlAAUkDIGiiOp8B7cCgpJUe6qoIATQAkmhp1Ar1PemBQcCSVyoXcggactIIFK kZ08cCk8FGdA8ymWins/xUwKVoXFa9Sp11oRnp75fvpgUFQaeHbVCrURRGYIJ7kgdumBRgJxoX8O YoDlSn4OtVdMCk8e/wC+qfhGTgyrQUHv8cCjzOIrwWaZprXKvj7OmeBRloXA1QU1Kr8NU0ocqdPd gUDkExxoeQAGSs8+mQzz79MCk4krlVSU0FACKitKUHXPAogCuOdVGn+GntpT9mBRFeNUpTWQcyBl 3BAy+/Ao+wHKizrOk5k55aemf7cCljTiOFeNfhqvOoyoBpr3I9mBQCYoMKNAND8Va9DQZe324FIK dlFlVDSgKv7VBWvbKnbApQChchVK1oFJzOWoihzyr07YFGnEHAULoQPx9B0Hw/rwKTmFy/Gqgmqg rLP4a5VzPTxwKBAQJRdQFK+HVU5fefYcHSkUDFMKFkkg0HxU6/w9K/rwVFiQnZ9tVWTQacwa1oK4 FE0Bcc68En4SVfhoaUpTpl+jAoahiAM6qEpqo1Cq59suvvwKBJwGIopQAORBrXIdsHS2knOqpCum YBGZplSh8cCgSPbQ0mlQVAgUoch2wVIcFxAxoZoQeiqdsj+/rgUWI7qBr6ApoDln0p92BStPEHGq ihrRITToqnXrmMsCiOGZWq/D0JTXKtaZ+8YFFjwVKAEjVVKxXOgAB/b4YFK1FEIqurJQA+IUFRSq jXM0pgUEyJyoSEkVJOaqE5Uof8DgUlxXAcKqad6fbT9uBRBeFBUaU0ipPQjOnTpl3GBSmhc8qp+M UUKHKhPU+NBl4YFD4SoxFeWn4RTPSKdOvQYFBrsfGgfjKU9KVH6PDLwwdK+FXUcKADp8OVcsqZfZ gqRifbQaq69tfh/D4+724FGg+z7aCNI+EkEfirWmfSnXAozq+IZ0NI711HpUeHhllgUk9mQoCiMl KGdKaa0IzOfjgUoLkPfXidCaJUCa9qdKfb4YFH8RxHCgLCQfh6U7GueeDo2qmNGqoVUV0pXwzrT9 WCpAVFGa14KWo0S2pR7hIJp76JNDgZlONAtAzP2UMtqBrQpUe5BzHuPuwWoUYDkQhRQNDih8Vfdp /wAmBqFKILTgKroWlXxBR+HrpI79MsBRQLHEIBx7aroVp06FJ9lCaZ4Cih6cmrJfdVPLPQg6ewKS KH3nrgahROa9gVwQ9tUUF1NUlSe3YVp498BR7aNrCmBAPiKEElSRqB/V4+FO2BqFJILSrcqLSj4i CCRTI0IFcvDBrQc8JmFoQTRWQp7a1qMss+mDxy40RPlUkGgKCq6QDpHTKvbx+3AAJxpQLcyRqoWk aQdGdaUqfb+7CVFECSU1D7KqlK6D4qeyg8cAkUaa3ENAJ8aDoJoomhr4DqOnf2YGoUHEMOgp768Q snTWoBGdAPt/TgahRtAIVqKnbVUgJNKZ0/FWlemVMBRSCVCqPDCqpqomopShA7j9RwYxyoiWtGBH vqpRmVezIeB7d/Zg0PYaUD5R+9JrwQsgHSaqNFf9T0OXbIYL30rQ45ZcMRVPLWFGiSAB769Ms/HA 99HocWhc/EUL4iFVQch061qD4DLApJic1D+agpRqBPlkAe059fd4YNDQR2YKj2V4pUMg2qgzBzyP jQjscBDRhhzJC+yqaTQEoKlHr1Hj4ezAQ99EhVAQB7KqEGho2U1SQDU5+wV74I4Z0ek4Yg491eQh YCqoVmOlDn1wKDgSQie8UJKFCp0qFaZUOVPb7cGhonBx7PeKqEL1K+E56aZHPLtgjgMaItKAcaod VaaFUr1of3dsAY4ij9JyLx9lBKM6lKjUgdFCg7n24NDRhr0TL3UIpXQBIUKDIaSa+AzGAhogxy4j 7aBoc6lpWr+1QjMdMqUywKVodkMqppdJBKVGhyy/cMCj0IEFGFtzNQBBIBKdPgOmeAh7KRpPwkUE BZKatqqCM8+uWdKYKj9NwBSqlpZJIQpJSSa0J1d+/TpgUNLgADiDVA24oHUk5D4ainj06VwKPQQR pyoSUuBIAbUevY+PuzwO/hRGNxdw+yvaVkEFtSTQgAg1OR6ZDAGOVFoLSKAlt1INWlmvsP7vbg6W 6NxQ/mryWlHVVCh4VBy6/fTAxpLlC