Wilt in Nowhere

Tom Sharpe

Wilt in Nowhere (2004)

Os primeiros três livros da série Wilt foram publicados em oito anos, mas tardou vinte anos a aparecer o volume seguinte, Wilt in Nowhere ou Wilt em Parte Incerta na tradução portuguesa.

Aparentemente, pouco tempo passou desde a última aventura de Wilt, pois reencontramos os nossos velhos conhecidos, o agora superintendente Hodge, o inspector Flint e o sargento Yates e a referência a factos passados em Wilt on High — até o tema é o mesmo, na metade que toca a Eva: a suspeição de tráfico de drogas.

O livro começa com o convite recebido dos tios americanos de Eva para que a família Wilt os visite, pagando eles todas as despesas — pois são um casal milionário, sem descendência. Enquanto Eva vê aqui uma oportunidade para lhes causar boa impressão, como potencial herdeira, Wilt só pensa em escapar ao compromisso, antevendo um aborrecimento sem fim. Assim, Eva e as quatro gémeas seguem para o Tennessee de avião, e Henry Wilt, com a desculpa do trabalho, e com recurso a algum dinheiro que tinha posto de lado em segredo, vai aproveitar a oportunidade para fazer uma viagem pedestre ao longo do rio Wye, na região rural de Hereford, nas Midlands inglesas.

Eva, por ter ficado sentada ao lado de um traficante de droga no avião, mete-se numa embrulhada gigantesca, arrastando consigo todos os que a rodeiam. Já Henry Wilt vai cair, sem saber como, no centro de uma maquinação familiar que envolve fogo-posto, pornografia e a morte de um político, passando uma boa parte do livro inconsciente. Tudo isto condimentado pelas situações mais caricatas e inesperadas, como é habitual nesta série.

Hodge nodded triumphantly. 'Add this to the catalogue,' he said. 'The day Mrs Wilt flies into Atlanta her husband goes to the building society and draws out a large sum in cash. In cash. And where does he leave his credit cards and passport? At home. On the kitchen table. That's right, on the kitchen table,' he said as Flint's face registered astonishment. 'Bed not made. Washing-up not done. Dirty plates still on the table. Drawers in the chest of drawers in the bedroom open. Car still in the garage. Nothing missing except Mr Henry Wilt. Not a bloody thing. Even his shoes are there. We got the cleaning lady to check them out. So what does that tell you?'

'It makes a change,' said Flint sourly. He disliked being wrong-footed, especially by clowns like Hodge.

'Makes a change? What's that supposed to mean?' Hodge demanded.

'It means just this. The first time I ran into Wilty, it was his wife was missing. Supposed to be down a damned great pile hole at the Tech. Only it just so happens Wilt has stuffed an inflatable plastic doll dressed in Mrs Eva bloody Wilt's clothes down there and they put twenty tons of pre-mix on top of her. In fact she is living it up with a couple of daffy Americans on a stolen boat on the Broads. So where is Mrs Wilt now? Sitting pretty...well, as near pretty as she'll ever get at any rate, in the United States and it's our Henry who is missing. Yes, that makes a change. It does indeed.'

'You don't think he's done a runner?' Hodge asked.

'With Wilt I've given up thinking. I have not the faintest idea what goes on in that mad blighter's mind. All I do know is it won't be what you think it is. It's going to be something you wouldn't even dream of thinking about. So don't ask me what he's done. I wouldn't have a clue.'

'Well, my guess is he's getting himself an alibi,' said Hodge.

'With his credit cards and all on the kitchen table?' said Flint. 'And none of his clothes missing? Doesn't sound much like a voluntary disappearance to me. Sounds more like something has happened to the little bastard. Have you checked the hospital?'

'Of course I have. The first thing I did. Checked every goddam hospital in the area. No one answering his description has been booked in. I've checked the morgues, the lot, and he is not around. Makes you think, doesn't it?'

'No,' said Flint firmly. 'It does not. I've told you. Where Henry Wilt is concerned I don't even try to think. It hurts too much.'

Li anteriormente:

Wilt on High (1984)

The Alternative Wilt (1979)

Wilt (1976)