7.6: Meanwhile at the Potting Shed

Some distance away from the Swan Hotel, down in the valley below, there is a meeting going on of the Potting Shed’s Contingencies: Consideration and Cogitation Committee (the ‘4Cs’, as it is called). 

Since the disturbing events of The Herbert Whodunnit, which turned on mysterious threatening letters printed in the Westmorland Gazette, Alcock likes to keep an eye out for points of interest in the local newspaper, which he routinely brings for mulling over to the 4Cs. 

“Has anyone else seen this? There’s rather a strange story on the cover of the Gazette this week. It says that even though he died in 1974 – a fact which is not then called into question at all in the rest of the story – Nick Drake is washing glasses in the Swan Hotel. More than that. Nick Drake is the Minkey, our minkey. Or the other way round. What do you think is going on?” 

“Is it by one of their new AI-enabled reporters?” asks pTravis. 

“As a matter of fact it is. Why?” 

“I just wondered.” 

“I think we need a young person’s view on this. Let’s call Lottie in.” Although these meetings are strictly secret, she does seem to know when they happen and hang around close by. 

Once invited in, Lottie is, however, quite dismissive. “Isn’t Nick Drake a dead boring old man? Strums a guitar and sings boring songs. No rhythm. Dead, too, in the other sense.” 

“Ah, so a typical young person thinks that this story is just wrong. Because he’s obviously been 50 years dead, he’s not singing in the scullery of the Swan Hotel. That’s just the Minkey, really, as we all already know.” 

“Hmm,” she adds “Well not necessarily. I mean, ABBA is all dead but they still sing concerts. Death’s no great barrier these days. Maybe I’ve been wrong to worry about it recently.” 

Masongill interjects softly: “And death shall have no dominion.” 

“Also…” Lottie continues ignoring him “It’s in Foundation” – “The book?” (Alcock) – “What book? No, it’s a TV show, stupid!. Hari Seldon speaks from beyond the grave from the Time Vault. It’s pretty standard, really.” 

“Oh. Well, I suppose we should keep an open mind. I’ll write up the minutes with customary BBC-style impartiality and balance.”