Seven Days to Noon Page #3

He was last seen catching

the 9.25 for Paddington.

That's a slow train, got

in that night at 10.50.

Do you know this vicar, Lane?

We've met. His name's Burgess.

He's the last person we know spoke

to Willingdon. I'd better see him.

Lane, come on...

I have a job for you.

Where are we going?

Back to Wallingford.

I'm after some clue to Willingdon's

motive. Has anybody put him up to it?

Go through his papers and if you find

any strange reference, let me know.

And, Lane, don't tell them anything.

Right.

Drive on.

Is anyone at home?

Excuse me. Where is the vicar?

I'm the vicar.

Oh. Sorry, sir.

You took me for the builder's mate?

I'm fighting a losing battle.

As I patch it up here,

it falls down somewhere else.

What can I do for you?

I'm Supt Folland.

You saw one of my men, Sgt Rogers.

Yes. So, youre from the police?

Yes. I have a few questions.

Oh. We're in a bit of a muddle here,

but find a seat somewhere.

Thank you.

Well, what's it all about?

You're a friend of Prof Willingdon's?

You're a friend of Prof Willingdon's?

Yes.

And he came here last night?

Yes.

Did he stay long?

About an hour.

Did he seem to be quite himself?

Yes, I suppose so.

You sound doubtful.

Do I? Oh, no. As far as

I could tell, he was himself.

Any special reason for his visit?

No. We often play chess.

We played last night.

What did you talk about?

We, um...

talked about private matters.

It's vitally important

that you tell me everything you know.

John Willingdon is one of my oldest

friends, and one of my parishioners.

I can't betray his confidence.

This is a matter of great urgency.

Willingdon has disappeared and his

disappearance endangers

the national safety.

National safety?

What is it you want to know?

I'm trying to find out his state

of mind, what his intentions were.

State of his mind?

There I may have misled you, Mr...?

Folland.

When I said goodbye to him

last night I felt decidedly uneasy -

as I often felt in the past months.

For a long time

I've known John was very troubled.

Yes? In what way?

How can I put it?

He'd lost all faith

in the value of his work...

...and he was wondering

where it was leading.

Yes?

He looked to me for help. I wish I'd

helped him more. He was so alone.

He was isolated

by the very nature of his work.

He thought his work

was being put to the wrong use?

Yes. He asked me a question

which I found difficult to answer.

And what was that?

He said, "What would you do...

...if the results of your life's work

were being put to an evil purpose?"

What did you say?

What could I say?

If we were convinced of that, we'd

do all we could to oppose that evil.

We'd have to be very sure,

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