Название: Running Wild
Автор: Adam Phillips
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
isbn: 9780008120269
isbn:
4 The Hill. Graham Zest, 46, chairman, Zest Health Foods. Beverly Zest, 42, company secretary, Zest Health Foods. Shot with crossbow. 1 son: Andrew, 16. 1 daughter: Emma, 15.
The most careful research into the backgrounds of these murdered men and women has failed to reveal any common factor that might prompt a wholesale attack. The responsible character of the parents and the generous quality of family life have been reconstructed from the abundant testimony of those domestic servants who fortunately were absent on 25 June (a Saturday, and their day off for most of the staff). All testify that the murder victims were enlightened and loving parents, who shared liberal and humane values which they displayed almost to a fault. The children attended exclusive private day-schools near Reading, and their successful academic records reveal a complete absence of stress in their home lives. The parents (all of whom, untypically for their professional class, seem to have objected to boarding schools) devoted long hours to their offspring, even to the extent of sacrificing their own social lives. They joined the children in various activities at the recreation club, organized discotheques and bridge contests in which they took full part, and in the best sense were guiding their sons and daughters towards fulfilled and happy lives when they themselves were cut down so tragically.
The Murdered Staff
In addition to the residents of the ten houses, the following members of staff were also killed.
Mrs Margaret West, Mrs Jane Mercier, Miss Iris Neame, housekeepers. John Collis, David Taylor, James Poole, chauffeurs. Krystal Werther, Olga Norden, au pairs. Arnold Wentworth, David Lodge, tutors. George Burnett, David Turner, security guards.
All investigation into the Pangbourne Massacre confirms that not a single adult present in the estate on the morning of 25 June survived the murderous half-hour which began at approximately 8.23 a.m.
The Missing Children
I looked at the photographs of the thirteen children, a group of thoughtful and pleasant adolescents smiling out of their school speech-day portraits and holiday snapshots. All attempts to trace their whereabouts have failed, despite computerized searches of their dental records, blood groups and medical histories. Four of the thirteen were on courses of prescribed drugs (for hay-fever, asthma and tinnitus), five were receiving orthodontic treatment, and one was under nominal psychiatric care (Jeremy Maxted, seventeen, for bedwetting). Despite what was clearly over-zealous prescription by their physicians, the latter willingly confirmed that the thirteen children were well-nourished and enjoyed robust good health.
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