Estronomicon Sketchbook 2009

MARK HOWARD JONES He handed it to Peter. "You must promise to take very good care of it and return it to me," he stressed.

Peter nodded, disappointed to see that it was a production shot showing a younger Harbilt speaking to a pale young woman on set in front of an indistinct backdrop. It gave nothing away about the film at all.

They all stood. "Well, Mr Harbilt, I'll start work on acquiring the films for your screenings at the festival. Perhaps I can ring you to make some further arrangements," gushed Peter, hoping to head off any more unpleasantness.

Harbilt shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I don't have a phone. Nobody ever rings."

"Perhaps that's because you don't have a phone," said Sean.

Harbilt slowly broke into a smile, clearly trying to mask his dislike of Sean.

"Yes. Well, goodbye." He ushered the pair to the door, slamming it before Peter could add anything by way of an apology.

Peter strode ahead, turning his head only to hiss: "Oh, well fucking done.

Really well done."

Sean caught up with him. "Hey! Hey, what do you mean? What's the problem?"

Peter stopped, stepping back to let an elderly couple pass. "You, you idiot!

Baiting him like that. We need him on our side."

"Look, I'm not just going to trail around behind you, playing the Bishop's bumboy, OK? I thought I might provoke him into saying something really interesting."

Peter frowned, frustrated. "He DID say something really interesting. And I didn't need you to stir things up, thanks."

Back at the office Sean quizzed Peter. "So what was so 'interesting'? What did Harbilt say?"

"Well, all sorts of things; you heard. But that bit about the French couple. I think he' s hiding something - the fact that the film still exists, if you ask me. We need to go back and see him again. I'll have to think up some excuse."

Harbilt was coming out of his front door when Peter and Sean turned up three days later. He seemed startled.

"Oooh, what do you two want?" He tilted his long face mainly towards Peter.

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