Bring Forth the Body
Bring Forth The Body is Volume IX of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1974.
Major and minor character in Fielding Gray, Sound The Retreat, The Sabre Squadron, The Rich Pay Late, Friends in Low Places, The Judas Boy and Come Like Shadows.
He is suggested by captain Detterling to replace Somerset Lloyd-James as under-secretary of Lord Canteloupe.
Major character in Fielding Gray, Sound The Retreat, The Rich Pay Late and Friends in Low Places.
Maisie Malcolm – A very decent and friendly prostitute who has served Fielding Gray, Somerset Lloyd-James, Lord Canteloupe and other persons in high places for many years.
Appeared in The Rich Pay Late, Friends in Low Places, The Judas Boy and Come Like Shadows.
When the story opens on 10 May 1972, Captain Detterling arrives at Somerset Lloyd-James's to discuss the health of Lord Canteloupe, since the Minister of Commerce seems broken down by his heavy work routine.
Dolly, the housekeeper, who is in a state of shock, shows the captain the body of Lloyd-James in a bathtub filled with blood.
The police explain to the captain that the affair officially will be regarded as a suicide caused by exhaustion.
However, the police agree to let Detterling be part of a silent investigation to find the truth about why Lloyd-James killed himself.
In the evening the captain has a rather boozy dinner with his distant cousin Canteloupe who seems to be in rather good health, despite the rumours, but drinks more than ever.
Detterling and Leonard Percival, who suffers from stomach ulcers, attend the funeral of Lloyd-James and start their investigation right after the service.
During this investigation a number of people are visited by the couple and the first is Maisie Malcolm (whose surname is revealed here for the first time), the prostitute frequented by Lloyd-James for many years.
Another officer had apparently sold much of this gasoline on the black market and, through his negligence, Detterling became a suspect when this affair was revealed.
Tom Llewyllyn, who lives with his odd daughter "Baby" at the college, also discusses this essay.
When Detterling and Percival visits Fielding Gray he talks about the party that took place in 1945 which ended with Lloyd-James being sick and passing out.
During a pause there is held a memorial (and, indeed, memorable) dinner for Lloyd-James with nine guests: Carton Weir, Tom Llewyllyn, Peter Morrison, Jonathan Gamp, Gregory Stern, Kapten Detterling, Lord Canteloupe, Fielding Gray and Maisie Malcolm.
Her son is living with her and this young man, James Weekes, has become physically disfigured and mentally retarded after a car crash.
Meriel Weekes tells Detterling and Percival about how shocked Lloyd-James had been during the meeting though he had provided them with some money.
In the last discussion between Detterling and Percival they understand how the somewhat religious Lloyd-James had been broken down by what he considered to be a cruel joke on God’s part.
