alys, always: a novel by harriet lane

7/31/2019 Alys, Always: A Novel by Harriet Lane

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2/23

Acclaim orAlys, Always

I gobbled it up in one urtive sitting....A page-turner.... Unorgettable.

USA TODAY

Mesmerizing. . . a slow-burning psychologicalnovel that unsettles and satisfes in equal,

tantalizing measurea literaryAll About Evethat stands testament to the old saying that its

the quiet ones you have to watch out or. The DAilY beAST

[A] highly entertaining and squirm-inducingshort novel. . . Howards EndmeetsAll About

Eve. . . A breezy, lacerating frst novel.- new YOrk TimeS bOOk review

A det and lively brain-twist o a thriller orwhich the only word that seems apropos is

spellbinding.chicAgO TribUne


3/23

Alys, AlwaysA Novel by Harriet Lane

A SUSPENSEFUL, ASSURED LIERARY DEBU HA

EXPLORES HE DARK SIDE OF DESIRE AND AMBIION

HROUGH ONE WOMANS UNLIKELY ENRY INO ANELIE WORLD AND A DESINY OF HER OWN DESIGN

ON A BIER WINER S NIGH, Frances Torpe comes

upon the atermath o a car crash and, while comorting the dying

driver, Alys Kyte, hears her fnal words. Te wie o a celebrated

novelist, Alys moved in rarefed circles, and when Frances agreesto meet the bereaved amily, she glimpses a world entirely oreign

to her: cultured, wealthy, and privileged. While slowly orging

a riendship with Alyss carelessly charismatic daughter, Frances

fnds her own lie takes a dramatic turn, propelling her rom an

anonymous existence as an assistant editor or the books section

o a newspaper to the dizzying heights o literary society.

With her unorgettable protagonist, author Harriet Lane draws

readers into a tightly paced tale that careens towards an auda-

cious ending. ransfxing, insightul, and unsettling, Alys, Always

drops us into the mind o an enigmatic young woman whose per-

spective on a glamorous world also shines a light on those on the

outside who would risk all to become part o it.


4/23

Its shortly ater six oclock on a Sunday evening. Im sure o the timebau Iv jut itn t th hain n th rai.

St pattr th winrn. Im riving thrugh w untry-

i, wing th aina ngrpt twar th A ra an

Lnn. My haight rak th rizz, paing thir ivr gw

vr gat an barn an hgrw, th closed ign hung in vi-

ag hp winw, th bank, mu k hu itr

againt th wintr vning. Fw ar ar ut. Evryn i at hm,wathing V, making uppr, ing th at bit hmwrk

br h tmrrw.

Iv takn th right rk ut Imbry, pat th whit rtry

with th ti. T ra pn up briy btwn wi, xp

br it ntr th rt. In ummr, I away ik thi part

th riv: th un, amt aquati hi th grn tunn,

th n ha an tin. It mak m think Mitn

watr nymph, mbing hr hair bnath th gay, , tran-

unt wav. But at thi tim yar, at thi tim ay, it jut

anthr rt arkn. r trunk ah by mntnuy.

T ra i a itt unr my tyr I ut my p right

bak, ganing wn t hk n th intrumnt pan, th bright

r an grn an g ia that t m vrything n; anthn I k bak up an I it, jut r a n, aught in th

mving n ight.

It nthing, but it mthing. A hap thrugh th tr, a


5/23

2 Harriet Lane

rt trang iuminatin up aha n th t, a itt way

th ra.

I unrtan immiaty that it nt right. It pur intint:

ik th rtainty that mn, mwhr ut immiat y-

ht, i wathing yu.

T impu i trng that br Iv vn ray t a

prik anxity, Iv brak. I run th ar int th muy, rutt

margin th ra, up againt a vrg, trying t ang th ha-

ight in th apprpriat irtin. Opning th ar r, I pauan an bak in t with th rai. T mui tp. A I an

har i th win ughing in th tr, th irrguar rip watr

nt th bnnt, th tay mtrnm th hazar ahr. I

hut th r bhin m an tart t wak, quit quiky, ang th

trak my haight, thrugh th amp nag unrgrwth,

int th w. My haw an up aha thrugh th tr,

grwing biggr, wir, with vry tp. My brath bm in rnt m, a ht, whit u. Im nt ray thinking anything at

thi mmnt. Im nt vn ray ar.

It a ar, a big, ark ar, an it n it i, at an ang, a i

it i nuging it way int th arth, burrwing int it. T

unny hap I aw rm th ra wa th ight rm it n wrk-

ing haamp prjting vr a raring wa brwn brakn an

brkn aping. In th nxt w n, a I m t th ar,

I nti variu thing: th g th paintwrk bubb with

rainrp, th pa athr intrir, th winrn that hant an

ut but i ratur that it ha mit vr, bm paqu. Am

I thinking abut th prn, r pp, ini? At thi mmnt,

Im nt ur I am. T pta i ain an mping that

thr nt ray any pa t think abut anything .An thn I har a vi, ming rm within th ar. It m-

n taking, quit a w, nvratina tn. A rt muttring. I

ant har what i bing ai, but I knw it a wman.


6/23

Alys, Always 3

Hyar yu a right? I a, mving arun th ar, pa-

ing rm th gar th haight int bakn, trying t n

hr. Ar yu kay? I bn t k wn int winw, but th

ark i t thik r m t in. A w a hr viwhih

murmur an pau an thn tart again, withut aknwg-

ing my qutinI an har th ngin tiking wn, a i it

raxing. Fr a mmnt I wnr whthr th ar i abut t burt

int am, a happn in m, but I ant m any ptr. G,

ur: I hav t a r an ambuan, th pi.I pat my pkt in a pani, n my mbi, an mak th

a, tabbing at th buttn umiy that I hav t ria. T

pratr anwr m a an vrwhming, amt phyia

ri. I giv hr my nam an tphn numbr an thn, a h

a m thrugh th prt qutin, I t hr vrything

I knw, trying har t un am an tay, a uu prn in

a rii. Tr bn an aint. On ar. It k ik it am th ra an turn vr. Tr a wman in thr, h n-

iu; thr might b thr pp, I nt knw, I ant ini.

Witbrugh W, jut uti Imbry, abut ha a mi pat

th Frtry Cmmiin ignup n th t, yu my ar

n th ra, it a r Fiat.

Sh t m hp i n it way an I hang up. Tr quit

again: th tr raking, th win, th ngin ing. I ruh

wn. Nw my y hav ajut, I an jut mak ut an arm,

thrwn up againt th i winw, but th ight i im that I

ant any txtur n th v. Tn h tart t pak t m,

a i h ha wkn up, pr my prn.

Ar yu thr? h aking. Sh un quit irnt nw.

Tr ar in hr vi. I nt want t b n my wn. Whthr? Dnt g.

I kn wn hurriy an ay, Y. Im hr.

I thught , h ay. Yu wnt av m, wi yu?


7/23

4 Harriet Lane

N, I ay. I wnt av yu. Tr an ambuan n it way.

Jut tay am. ry nt t mv.

Yur vry kin, h ay. T xpniv, utur vi

g with th Aui, an I knwharing that vi making that

rmarkthat h mak that mmnt zn tim a ay,

withut vn thinking abut it, whn pp hav hwn hr ur-

ty r rn at th arm hp r th buthr.

Iv gt my int a bit a m, h ay, trying t augh.

T arm mv, ratinay, a i h i tting it ut, thn i tiagain. My huban i ging t b r. H ha th ar an

n Friay.

Im ur h unrtan, I ay. H jut want t knw

yur kay. Ar yu hurt?

I nt ray knw. I nt think . I think I knk my

ha, an I nt think my g ar t g, h ay. It a nui-

an. I upp I wa ging t at, an I mut hav hit mi. . . . I thught I aw a x n th ra. Oh, w.

W wait in in r a mmnt. My thigh ar tarting t

ah an th kn my jan, pr int amp brakn, ar

ti with an watr. I ajut my pitin an wnr hw

ng it wi tak th ambuan t gt hr rm Fubury Nrtn.

n minut? wnty? Sh nt un trriby hurt. I knw it

nt a g ia t intrr in a ar aint, but mayb I hu

try t hp hr ut mhw. But thn again, i h ha a brkn

g . . . an anyway, I hav n way pning th ar r, whih i

rump an pat btwn u, ik a pi arbar.

I up my han an bw n thm. I wnr hw h i.

What yur nam? h ak.

Fran, I ay. What yur?Ai, h ay. I might b imagining it, but I think hr vi

i uning a itt aintr. Tn h ak, D yu iv arun

hr?


8/23

Alys, Always 5

Nt anymr. I iv in Lnn. Iv bn viiting my parnt.

Ty iv abut twnty minut awaynar Frynbrugh.

Lvy part th wr. Wv gt a pa in Binbrk.

Oh, ar, h wi b wnring whr n arth Iv gt t. I ai

I a whn I gt in.

Im nt ur what h man an Im uny rightn

h ging t ak m t ring hr huban. Wheres the ambulance?

Where are the police? How long does ittak, or Gods sake?Ar yu

? I ak, hving my han int my jakt pkt. I wih Iu mr t hp mak yu mrtab. But I nt think I

hu try t mv yu.

N, t wait, h agr ighty, a i wr at a bu tp, ny

miy innvnin, a i it jut n th thing. Im ur

thyr n thir way. Tn h mak a un that rightn m, a

harp inhaatin, a tiny gap r ry, an thn h tp taking, an

whn I ay, Ai? Ai? h nt anwr, but mak th niagain, an it uh a ma rt ni, hp mhw; an

I knw whn I har it that thi i riu atr a.

I trriby an thn, an runant: an in th ark

w with th rain an th rying. An I k bak vr my

hur, twar my ar, th azz it haamp, an bhin

it I an ny arkn, an I kp king an king, an

takingthugh h n ngr rpningan vntuay I

ight, bu an whit ahing ight, an I ay, Ai, thyr hr,

thyr ming, I an thm, it ging t b n, jut h n.

Tyr ming.

Isit in the ront seat o a police car and give a statement to someonea PC Wrn. T winrn i uring with rain, an thni it rumming rnty n th r man h tn


9/23

6 Harriet Lane

ha t ak m t rpat what Iv jut ai. A th tim Im

wnring what ging n ut thr, with th ar ight an th

havy utting gar an th hit. I ant muh thrugh th

mit-up winw. Rubbing a path ar with my u, I a

parami ram in th pn r th ambuan, king

at hi wath an puring mthing ut a thrm. Sm

hi agu mut b ut thr in th w, I upp. Mayb

thy t a in r it, an h gt uky.No point us all catching

pneumonia.Wrn hr ntbk. Tat a r nw, h ay.

Tank yu r yur hp. Smn wi b in tuh with yu in

th nxt ay r , jut t ti up th n.

I h ging t b kay? I ak. I knw it a tupi qutin,

but it th ny thing I an think t ay.

Wr ing ur bt. My agu wi b ab t upat

yu in th nxt w ay. Yur r t g nw. Wi yu b aright t riv yur t Lnn? It might b nib t g bak

t yur parnt, pn th night thr inta.

Iv gt wrk tmrrw. I b n, I ay. I rah r th r

han, but PC Wrn put a han n my v an quz it.

It har, h ay, a ra nrn in hr vi, an th unxpt

kinn mak my y wim. Yu i a that yu u. Dnt

rgt that.

I int anything. I unt anything. I hp h kay,

I ay. Tn I pn th r an tp ut. T rain an th win

m at m ik a train. T w, whih ha bn quit, ar

nw raring: mahinry pith againt th rity a un

wintr trm. Caught in a hug artiia gw, a grup pp

ar hu tgthr, thir urnt jakt hining withwatr, rming a rn arun th ar.

I run ang th ra, bak t th Fiat, an gt in, an in th

abrupt in th intrir I itn t my brathing. Tn I


10/23

Alys, Always 7

tart th ngin an riv . T w a away bhin th ar,

ik mthing tting g, an thn thr nt muh t : th

ah at-y an hvrn an triang, th graua buiup

th uburb trung btwn arkn rtai park an run-

abut.

At hm in th at, n Iv takn my wt th an

ha a warm hwr, I nt quit knw what t with my.

It at, nary vn, an I nt tir, an I nt hun-

gry, but I mak m tat anyway, an a up ta, an grab thbankt rm my b an wrap my in it. Tn I it in rnt

th tviin r a whi, thinking abut Ai, th vi in

th ark; an, mr itanty, abut hr huban. H knw by

nw. Prhap h b with hr, in th hpita. Tir iv thrwn

arun ik a hanu jak, ming t tt in a nw, angr-

u nguratin, a bau an iy path n th ra an a

ha gimp a x. T thught thi, th ranm uk anukn an rinary i, rightn m a muh a anything

ha tnight.

For once, Im glad to be in the oce. I get in early and sit at my desk,

ipping th appuin I pik up at th anwih bar n th

rnr. T up ar mar than th n yu gt at Starbuk,

but th i trngr, an tay, atr a ba night p, that

what I n. I k at my mai an hk th quu: a w pp

hav py vr th wkn, but nt a many a ha prmi

thy wu.

Yu hav thught wrking n th bk pag th Ques-tionerwu b a , that th tin wu mr r run

it; but vry wk it a t m t ru m brity pr-

r r itrary wunrkin rm hanging partiip r aptrph


11/23

8 Harriet Lane

atatrph. Im a ubitr, an inviib prutin rn: away

ut in th ip, waiting t av pp rm thir wn mitak. I

I umb th ath, I har abut it rm Mary Pym, th itrary

itr. Mary i at hr bt n th phn, buttring up hr amu

ntat, r at J Shky, whr h tak hr pt ntributr a

mpnatin r th iappinting natur th Questioner

wr rat.

On ay, it i aum, Mary xpn (th ab, th rt-

a train tikt, th butiqu ht h hk int uring thitrary-tiva an) wi hav t b urtai, a th th

thr tin ha hav bn. But r nw, h ai n rgar.

Star ti want t writ r Mary, pit ur wining irua-

tin an th munting n that it a happning whr, n

th Nt.

N ign Mary yt, but m rm rav i in, an w

xhang h. Mnay i a quit ay at th f: th nw-rm n th wt i th buiing rmain pau an mpty

unti w int uay. At th pint whn my wkn bgin,

whn Iv nt th bk pag t pr n Turay atrnn,

th nwrm i jut tarting t m t i, imbring up r

th na waty print t ain in th ary hur Sunay

mrning. On r twi Iv n a Saturay hit n th nw-

k, an it nt t my tat: th waring an antr-king,

th tri that a thrugh at th at minut, th vnth-hur

a rm minitr attmpting t rhap a pag a. I away

aiat ain with th ur m vingar-u hip

atn ut pytyrn h, a m that i iruat n-

y by th air-nitining that it ti jut prptib thi

mrning.Mary arriv, hr at vr n arm, hr nrmu hanbag

pn t hw th giganti, turqui Smythn iary in whih

h kp a hr rt. Sh n hr mbi, untuuy attning


12/23

Alys, Always 9

t mn g. I gt it bik run immiaty, h ay.

Un yu rathr I ha it urir ut? Sh k hr ha t

n i, manhan th iary nt my k, an mak a nt

in hr xquiit pprpat. Abuty! h ay, ning an

writing. S thri yu an thi. Tr i th worrythat h

ging th bi rathr. Im ur yu an mak n it r u.

Sh n th a an mv n t hr k withut aknw-

ging m. Ambr Prithtt i ing th nw Pau Crw, h

murmur a w mmnt atr, nt king arun, a hr trminabng int i. Fiing a wk n Turay. Can yu gt th bk

t him br h av r th airprt at tn rty-v? H want

t tart it n th ight.

I k at th k. It nary tn aray. I nt knw whr

th prviw py i, an I knw I ant ak Mary. Tat rt

thing riv hr up th wa. (D I k ik a uking ibrarian,

aring?) S I ring th urir k an bk an urgnt bik, anthn I tart t arh thrugh th hv whr w tr avan

pi. I try t bk by gnr an aphabtiay, but a ni-

thr Mary nr hr twnty-thr-yar- puty Oivr Cuppr

(vry bit a bumptiu a h i w nnt) an b bthr

with that apprah, it nt xaty a pr ytm. Evntuay

I n it, nug bhin Hn Simpn an th nin a

kha tan-up with whm Mary har a patrm at Hay

at ummr. By th tim Iv writtn a vring nt an hv

th Crw in a pa nvp an takn it wn t th urir

f, it quartr pat. Im taning in th vatr bby, king

at my rtin in th tain t r, whn my mbi ring.

I nt rgni th numbr.

Fran Trp?Spaking, I ay. Smhw I knw it th pi. It a m

bak, th ing at night: th ark, th rain, th un.

I waw har. My thrat i ry. In th r, I a pinh,


13/23

10 Harriet Lane

nrvu-king gir, with bu haw unr hr y: a pa,

inigniant rt prn.

Im Srgant ODri rm Brwtr Strt pi tatin.

My agu in Fubury Nrtn hav pa n yur tai. It

with rgar t th ra traf aint at night.

Oh, I ay, a th it r pn. Road trac accident. Why

thy ay that? What thr rt aint u thr b n

a ra? Iv bn thinking abut hr. Ai, I man. I thr any

nw? Hw i h ing?W wr hping yu u m wn t th tatin, w

u g thrugh yur tatmnt with yu, h ay. Jut t mak

ur yur happy with it. Jut in a anything ha urr t

yu in th mantim.

W, y, I u that. I nt hav anything mr t ay.

Iv t yu vrything. But i it hp . . . Hw i h?

Tr a itt pau. Im rry t hav t t yu thi, MiTrp, but h wa vry bay injur in th inint. Sh i

at th n.

Oh, I ay. Tn: Hw awu.

T it r part n th th r an I g bak t my k

an writ wn th tai n a Pt-it.

At unhtim, I av th f, wrapping my r-an-purp

ar tighty arun my thrat an puing it up vr my muth

againt th iing , an tart t wak, kirting th mainin

tatin with it mutip rtai pprtuniti, paing th ga-

wrk an th nw ibrary, utting wn vra Grgian trra

an ring th ana with it mtin kin ittr. Evry

tn, I wak by a a r a hap rtaurant with tam-up win-

w, an th un mahin an utry m ut amn arriv r av, an thn th r wing hut an th

un i away.

On I gt th main ra, nt many pp ar abut. It


14/23

Alys, Always 11

a bak, whit wintr ay: th tr ar bar, th path munii-

pa gra ar u an baing, patr by th mr prat

rt pign. Nw an thn th u thin nugh r a ug-

gtin th un t appar, a w, ghty rb bhin th uni

bk.

At Brwtr Strt rptin, an mpty rm withut any

natura ight, n n i bhin th urity winw. I wait r a

w mmnt, thn I knk n a r, an a r-king wman

m t th rn an ay Srgant ODri n hi brakan hu b bak n. Anny, I tak a at n a mu-

pati hair an, by th zzing, ppping iuminatin a trip

bub, wrk my way thrugh th tiky pag an Closer.

Atr a whi I har r pning an hutting, an th buzz

a urity k bing ra, an thn ODri m ut

t th m, ti iking hi ngr an hwing th at hi

unh. H yung, a Wrn wa at night, mayb in hi mi rat twnti. Yungr than m, with t prut n hi hair, a

raw rt mpxin, an pt n hi nk. H tak m int a

i rm an puh m pag vr th tabtp: Wrn nt

rm at night, typ up, thrugh a phkr an mai

ar th untry in a ratin a n. I ra thrugh thm

aruy whi ODri tap hi tth with a Bir, an thugh

ur h hant aught my tn vi r my turn phra,

th at ar a rrt an unarguab. Iv gt nthing t a, I

ay, putting my han at n th rprt.

It a m prtty traightrwar, ODri ay, pa-

ing m th pn, ang with th whi aa. I yu u jut

ignthr. T rprt ar ny priminary at thi pint,

ur, but a th n vin nrm yur aunt whath t yu. T rivr tri t avi mthing in th ra, an

th bak i, unrtunaty, i th rt. An i h wa traving

at p, ur . . .


15/23

12 Harriet Lane

H t th wr hang in th air whi I ribb my nam

n th in.

Tr b an inqut, but it jut a rmaity. I ubt yu

b n, h ay, puing th papr bak t hi i th tab

an rapping thm fiuy againt th Frmia thy tak up,

thn riing t hi t. W, thank yu r yur aitan. Gt

in tuh i anything m t min. H tan bak, h-

ing pn th r r m. Oh, thr i n mr thing I hu

mntin, h a, a I win th ar arun my nk an hrugmy int my bakpak. Tr a han th amiy wi want t

mak ntat with yu. It an b uu ryu knwur.

I an t that h ik t b making irni ph mark with hi

ngr, but knw thi wu b inapprpriat. Part th griv-

ing pr. Atr a, a I unrtan it, yu wr th at prn

t hav a, um, nvratin with hr. Wu yu hav a prbm

with that?N, I . . . I nt think , I ay, nt at a ur hw I ray

abut thi.

Grat tu. W, i th amiy want t b in tuh, thy

thrugh th FLO.

Wh?

Oh, rryth amiy iain fr. Anyway, thy may nt

th n. W pay it by ar, h ay, tting th Bir bak

int hi pkt. Ti may w b th n th mattr.

I tp in th rway. Wh wa h? I ak, rmin hw

itt I knw abut hr, thi prn wh pk hr at wr with

ny m t har thm. What an yu t m abut hr?

H igh briy, prbaby thinking th up -

ing n hi k, an ip bak thrugh th rprt. S, AiKit, h ay, running a ngr wn th txt. Miti. Hu

in Lnn an a wkn pa, k ik, nar Binbrk.

Marri with tw aut hirn. Tn h haking han, an


16/23

Alys, Always 13

aying g-by, an Im bak ut in th , rtraing my tp

t th f.

A I wak, I har hr aying again, Yur vry kin: an ay

rmark it ha un at th tim, but nw I knw hw muh it

mut hav t hr. It m trang that I knw itt mr abut

hr than th autmati aiatin that m with a rtain rt

vi, an turn phra, an mak ar.

Mayb thi wi b th n th mattr, a ODri ai.

Oh, no, you poor thing! says Hester. Shes the rst person Ivet. I hav n partiuar nant at wrk, an I intwant t a up anyn impy I u rp it int th

nvratin; but I a ri, a ning tnin, nw Iv

nay put it int wr.S yu wr ming bak rm Mum an Da, an yu jut

aw th wrk n th ra?

W, rt .

Ju, h ay. Wa it, yu knw, traumati? Cu yu

vrything? Wa h in itr?

I knw Htr ray aking: Wa h vr in b? Wa

h screaming? Sh un amt iappint whn I rib

th n, th y rma natur my nvratin with Ai,

whih in any thr irumtan might b mia. Hw ar yu

ing, ray? Htr ak, rpping hr vi, inviting a gratr

intimay.

Oh, nt t ba, I ay. I ajut my pitin n th a an

with th phn t my thr ar. Im wnring whthr t thr abut th tim vr th at w ay whn Iv un my

bak kning in th wt brakn, arhing r th mrgny

ight in th itan, praty wiing thm t appar. T


17/23

14 Harriet Lane

mmri vry bit a harp an hkinga u pani

an una th raity wa. I hav th n th rmm-

br xprin i bming mr ary inat a th ay

g n, an I want xpting that.

T un th rying, t, ha bgun t aai m at unw-

m mmnt, mmnt whn my min hu b mpty, whn

Im at my mt vunrab. Lat at night a I i in b, buri

unr a mrting wight bankt, iing twar p. Or

ary in th mrning, ng br th gry awn. Iv tart twak up ary, an mtim I ant b ur whthr Im haring

Ai r th un x ut in th garn.

Wi yu jut put that bak, aring. N: I ai, put it bak,

Htr i aying, an th mmnt pa. Sh m bak n th

in. I mut g an tart thir bath. Hw wr Mum an Da,

anyway?

Oh, yu knw, I ay. Sam .W augh tgthr, bak n mr tab trritry, an h

invit m vr r unh n Saturay. I knw I b xpt t

r t babyit that vning, a ng a I havnt ma thr pan;

but t b hnt a w hur Paymbi an an M&S urry

in rnt Chari xtravagan V hann un prtty

g right nw. Tr ar wr way t pn a Saturay night.

I hu knw.

On th a i vr, I put a pan watr n th hb. Im hp-

ping tmat r th au whi th nin an gari tn,

an th rai i n, an I hav a ga win, an th at k-

ing ni, vrything in it pa, an th pnant abv th kithn

tab i ating a y p ight vr th ai in th bu

jug. Bau th warmth th kithn, thyr jut tarting thur thir way ut thir rwty papry a.

Its not bad, I think. Youre not so badly o, are you?

A tiny mvmnt uti th kithn winw ath my


18/23

Alys, Always 15

y, an I tp an an vr th ink an k ut, wn n t

th trt, an I an in th iuminat triang bnath th

trtampthat nw ha tart t a, wy an taiy.

It alls and alls, or days and days. It seems, or a while, that the snowi th ny thing happning in th wr. It ath Lnn guar. Bu ar t abann n ra. Sh ar .Cuni run ut at. An whn I wak up in th mrning, my

rt thught ar nt Ai, but hp that th nw i ti ut

thr, ti wrking it iruptiv, gamru magi.

On my ay , I wak ar th Hath, thrugh a rt

bizzar. A th uua anmarkth path, th pn, th pay

ara, th running trakar inking p bnath avih rit.

Unr a pwtr ky, Pariamnt Hi i gaz with i. Binby urri, pp ar tbgganing wn it n utbin i, arrir

bag, ta tray tn rm th atria nar th bantan. T

hrik an hut a quiky int inuat in a I wak n

twar th tr, thir branh initinty right with whit.

Sn th ny un ar th pwry runh th nw bnath

my bt, th ath my brath.

Whn I rah Hampta, th ak ar aing uri-

uy; nw thyr twinking wn, ru an rativ.

I trug up Chrithurh Hi an Fak Wak, king in th

winw, whih ar away anrmr rtiv, mr tran-

parntthan th winw in my part twn. I arthnwar

bw mntin, bk t awn n grn vvt a,

a app rking hr in a bay winw. A trtih at itbi a va puy wiw, it yw y traking m

withut ra intrt. I pa n a itt arthr an am pring

wn int a bamnt kithn whn th prn wh i mving


19/23

16 Harriet Lane

arun in rnt th kr nti m an m t th win-

w an twak th ang th pantatin huttr, nying m

my viw.

In th high trt I g int an xpniv ta hp, grab an

mpty tab in th winw, an rr a up ht hat an a

pitahi maarn. An ry man in a ahing ar it at th

nxt tab, wrking hi way thrugh a nwpapr u wathr

tri: an ight, i-kating in th Fn, th pight

Wh hi armr. Outi, trangr ar iing arun, uth-ing at ah thr r tabiity, aughing. Tr i a trang tiv

atmphr: th uua ru nt appy.

I rink my ht hat an gt my bk ut my pkt

an tart t ra, hutting vrything ut, njying th n

bing part mthing an yt at arm ngth rm it. I my

bt raing in a. I n it har t ra at hm, in abut

in.I thi at takn? mn ak. I k up rutanty. It

a yung wman with a tr in a nwuit, hi run hk

a with th .

Im jut ging, I ay, knking bak th ark, yrupy rg

my rink. Tn I av hr t it.

Im nary hm whn my phn ring. Smn intru

hr a Srgant Kat Wiggin. Sh ay h ha bn aign

t th amiy Ai Kit, t hp thm thrugh thi vry pain-

u tim. A I itn, th unwm natin bgin again: th

prik pani, hpn. Fing whih, vr th at w

ay, hav tart t r a itt.

I knw what h ging t ay br h ay it.

I nt think I an, I ay quiky, withut having t rt.An aying th wr, I th ar ing purha, jut ighty.

Kat Wiggin pau. I knw it mut b ifut r yu,

h ay, in an unrtaning vi. Yuv ha a vry traumati


20/23

Alys, Always 17

xprin. Smtim, witn n that mting th amiy an

atuay b atharti, n a prna v.

I nt want t. Iv t th pi vrything that happn.

I nt what a mting wu ahiv. It wu jut tir thing

up again.

O ur, it nt hpu t gnrai but quit tn, in ir-

umtan ik thi, th amiy int king r anwr. Ty jut

want t mt th prn wh wa thr. ay thank-yu, ray.

I knw, r xamp, that Mr. Kit amiy, hr huban, hr nan aughtr, ar riv h want an at th n. I think thy

ar gratu t yu an it wu man a t i thy u mt yu

an t yu that thmv.

WI hav tu my wn ging n, I ay, prat t gt

hr th phn. It nt ray mthing I up t right nw.

Abuty. ak yur tim, Kat Wiggin ay gnruy,

izing n th tiny pprtunity Iv umiy ar hr. Trn hurry. Lt m knw whn yu ray.

Fin, I ay, prtning t tak wn hr numbr. Y,

ur. Tn I g hm an my bt t rgt a abut it.

Oliver is doing the post, tearing apart corrugated cardboard parcelst rva nvty g gui an pink paprbak with inrawing high h an upak n th vr, huking mt

thm int a arg artn bun r Oxam r (i h an b

bthr, whih h uuay ant) Bay. Tr an iiti tyranny

t th pt ivr t th bk k: wav atr wav ght

mmir an -tab phtgraphy rtrptiv an -ity manua, nn whih vn vaguy t th Questioner

rmit. Mayb n bk in tn i put ai, waiting t b aign

t a rviwr.


21/23

18 Harriet Lane

I my bt t hav nthing t with Oivr, th n n

ur mr amu thatria knight, but hi via ruity an

ar-rahing a hi athrmak thi ifut.

Oh, hr mthing intrting, h aying t Mary, wav-

ing a harbak in hr irtin. W hu mthing big,

hunt w?

Mary pu hr pta w n hr n an inpt th

vr. Oh, abutyak r an intrviw, i h ing any. Im

urpri thy int puh bak pubiatin. Mayb it wa tat.

Oivr n th pr ra tuk ini th ya an pik

up th phn. I har him irting in a bra-an-buttr ahin with

th PR. Tr a itt hp gip abut a bk aunh thy bth

attn arir in th wk, an thn h ay, T nw Laurn

Kyt . . . w v t hav an intrviw. H itn, putting hi

ha n n i an puing a my a aurrw brw,at wr ipr Mary bnt, thugh a h i ring thrugh

a ayut n-rn hi rt ar wat. Oh, that a ham, h

ay nay. But ur, in th irumtan . . . Suh a trrib

thing t happn. W, i h hang hi min . . . Or mayb w an

mthing whn th paprbak m ut? . . . Yahyu, t.

ak ar, bab.

H nt ing any pubiity. Sh un ik a a pik, h

a, winging hi t th bin. Shu w gt Brni t

rviw it? Or Simn?

Simn, ay Mary withut king up.

Oivr put th bk n th hv, awaiting ipath.

Latr, whn thyv bth gn t mrning nrn, I g

vr an pik it up. It a nv aAfiction. A airy pain vr,a rawing a man haw aing vr a path ity pavmnt:

pu, a igartt butt, rap ittr. I turn it vr. A ma ph-

tgraph th authr i n th bak th ut jakt, nthing t


22/23

Alys, Always 19

ah, thugh it niy mp. H taning in rnt a ta,

ark hg, rting hi han n a unia pk with ihn. Hi

a i, naturay, amiiar. Laurn Kyt. O ur. I wnr why

I hant ma th nntin. I int knw h ha a pa nar

Binbrk. Bnath th pitur i print in ma itai nt,

Author photograph by Alys Kyte.

T bigraphia nt i ny tw hrt ntn, a i uuay

th way with th big hittr: Laurence Kyte was born in Stepney in

1951. He lives in London. N mntin th Bkr, thn, thughh wn it v yar ag, r wa it ix? N mntin th ghaty

mvi Hyw quz ut Ampersand; n mntin, ithr,

th rathr mr uu aaptatinh i th rnpay,

I m t rmmbrTe Ha-Ha, whih arn Dani Day-

Lwi an Oar.

I ik thrugh th pag. Iv nt ra any Kyt but I knw

th ptrum hi intrt: piti, x, ath, th trminamaai Wtrn iviiatin. In Kyt bk, mi-ag,

mi-a mnarhitt an anthrpgit, nginr an

hamatgittrugg with th in in thir phyia pw-

r, a in whih mirrr th tat th utur arun thm.

Kyt pr ty i amuy hanging, invntiv, an mu-

uar; uuay it unmprmiing, t. Nt wr that it r

m, partiuary. I ra th rt w pag. It a vry vr. Tn

I ra th iatin. For Alys. Always.

I int av Kat Wiggin numbr, but it tr n my

phn anyway, unr Ca Riv.

H, it Fran Trp, I ay whn h anwr. Yu

a m th thr ay, abut th aint invving Ay Kyt?

Iv ha th han t gt my tgthr a bit. I yu ray thinkit wu hp thm, I gu I up t mting th amiy nw.


23/23

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alys, always: a novel by harriet lane

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