“Stroke, stroke,” came the command. While there were three boats out there, only one voice was heard, loud and clear.
“Left, stroke, left, stroke.” An English voice.
Gamache strained but couldn’t make out which boat it was, nor did he recognize the voice. It wasn’t Tom Hancock. Nor did he think it was likely to be Ken Haslam. A telescope was available, and though it was all but frozen, as was he, Gamache put some money in and trained it on the river.
Not the first boat.
Not the second, though he could see the leader’s mouth moving he couldn’t hear the words.
He trained the telescope on the furthest boat. Surely not. Not from so far away. Was it possible the piercing voice had traveled this far?
The boat was way out there in the middle of the river, six men sitting down, rowing. The boats could be paddled or rowed, could be in water or dragged over ice. This team was just clearing open water and heading upstream toward an ice floe.
“Stroke, stroke,” came the command again. And now, because the racers were heading forward but facing backward, Gamache could see who it was.
He stared through the lens, not daring to touch his forehead to the metal telescope in case it froze there.
The booming, clear voice belonged to Ken Haslam.
Walking back to the Château, Gamache thought about that. Why would a man whisper all through his life, in every circumstance but be able, in fact, to shout?
Louder than anyone else out there. His voice had been piercing.
Was Haslam as surprised as Gamache? Had Haslam, in his sixty-eighth year, found his voice on the ice of Québec, doing something few others would attempt?
It was always a relief to get indoors, and even more wonderful when that indoors was the Château Frontenac. In the magnificent front lobby Gamache took off his mitts, coat, hat and scarf and checked them. Then, still protecting his satchel with his arm, he walked down the long, wide corridor to the double glass doors at the far end, with the light streaming through.
Inside the St-Laurent Bar he paused. Ahead of him was the circular wooden bar and around it tables and the huge windows. Open fires roared in the two hearths.
But this wasn’t where he was expected.
Glancing to his right Gamache was surprised to see a door, one he’d never noticed before. Opening it he walked into a bright and airy side room, almost a solarium, with its own lit fireplace.
Whoever had been talking stopped as he entered. A dozen faces looked at him. All elderly, all white, all male. They were seated on the comfortable floral sofas and in wing chairs and armchairs. He’d been expecting something more formal, a boardroom, a long table, a lectern.
He’d also been expecting that the meeting wouldn’t have started. It was 1:25. Émile had said they started at 1:30 but it seemed clear the meeting was well under way.
Gamache glanced at Émile, who smiled then broke eye contact.
“Bonjour,” said the Chief Inspector. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all.” René Dallaire, as large and affable as the last time they met, greeted him. Others got to their feet as well. Gamache made the rounds, shaking hands, smiling greetings.
Everyone was cordial, pleasant, and yet he had the impression there was tension in the room, as though he’d interrupted an argument.
“Now, you wanted to speak with us?” Monsieur Dallaire said, indicating a large chair.
“Yes. It will come as no surprise that it’s about the death of Augustin Renaud.” Gamache sat down. There were sympathetic nods from some, others just stared, wary. While this wasn’t exactly a secret society, it did seem secretive.
“Actually, I’d like to start off by talking about Charles Chiniquy.”
That brought the reaction he was expecting. A few sat up in their seats, more than a few looked at each other then back to Gamache with some annoyance.
Once again René Dallaire took the lead. “Forgive me, Monsieur Gamache, but you do realize we’re not a general historical society?”
“Oui, merci, I know that you’re the Société Champlain.” As he said it something twigged. The Société Champlain. “But my story begins neither with Samuel de Champlain nor with Augustin Renaud, but somewhere in between. In 1869, to be exact, with Father Chiniquy.”
“He was a nut,” one elderly man said from the back.
“So you do know him,” said Gamache. “Yes, he was a nut to some, a hero to others. He was something else entirely in our story.”
Gamache glanced at Émile, who was looking out the window. Distancing himself from what was about to happen? Gamache wondered.