Mary Russell: My Story Part 4

Follow Mary Russell’s account of the story behind how and why I came to have the Russell/Holmes memoirs, as described in Laurie’s prefaces to the first four Russell books. Further chapters to come each week during the Fifteen Weeks of Bees every Monday on Myspace, or Tuesdays here on my blog, Mutterings.

Mary Russell: My Story

4.

Seeing the press of eager faces at my window, I knew in an instant that I was in mortal danger—or if not mortal, then certainly our sanity was to be challenged. At least ten of them, Americans all, each wearing one or several lapel-decorations depicting a bee or a calabash pipe or the address 221B. They were unmistakable, and unstoppable.

I raised my voice in alarm, and scurried as fast as a woman of 92 can to check the locks on the doors. The cook came to see, and being a woman of wit as well as culinary ability, joined instantly in battening down our defences. While she went around the perimeter, closing the curtains, I picked up the telephone and summoned assistance: the stout, and stout-hearted, grandson of my old farm manager, both of the generations named Patrick.

In minutes, young Patrick was roaring over the paddocks in his Land Rover, dog and shotgun to hand. The Sherlockians made a hasty retreat, first to the road and then, when Patrick took up a position mid-drive with his shotgun over his arm, up the road in the direction of the village. I was tempted to telephone the inn and request that they deny these invaders entrance, or at least make certain their beer was overly warmed, but on second thought, an open declaration of war might only stir these Americans’ dander.

Still, a declaration of war it had become.

3 Comments

  1. Brenda K McDaniel on February 24, 2009 at 8:09 am

    What a hoot! Can’t wait for the continuation of this little saga.

  2. Elizabeth on February 24, 2009 at 10:57 am

    I just can’t get enough of Russell and Holmes in any form. The fact that I’ve picked them all up from the library and don’t actually own copies at this point kind of frightens me.

  3. B.J. Kruman on February 25, 2009 at 10:18 am

    It is so greaat to hear Mary Russell’s Story. I am enjoying them immensely. Mary, please keep writing your Story.

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