1. What impression do you form of Billy from the opening of the story (page 129)? 2. In your opinion, when does the complication in this short story present itself?
3. The writer uses moments of foreshadowing in the story to create suspense and mystery. How do the moments of foreshadowing reveal clues about the story?
4. According to Billy, the landlady’s smell reminded him of ‘pickled walnuts? New leather? Or was it the corridors of a hospital?’ What does this suggest about the landlady?
5. What do you think happened to the previous guests who stayed in this bed and breakfast?
6. In your opinion, what could Billy have done to keep himself safe from harm on this journey?
7. Think of an unexpected moment that shocked you in a novel or short story that you have studied.
(a) Name the novel or short story and the author. (b) What were the events that led up to this moment? (c) What happened that shocked you? (d) Why did this moment shock you?
Investigate
1. Billy says that his tea ‘tasted faintly of bitter almonds’. Use your research skills to find out why something might have a bitter almond taste.
(a) Does the information you discovered give you any clues about what may have happened to the guests who stayed at the bed and breakfast? (b) What does this information tell us about what might happen to Billy?
Create
1. At the beginning of the short story, Billy Weaver has taken a train from London to Bath. Write a paragraph describing the setting and the atmosphere on his train journey.
2. This story ends quite suddenly. Write a paragraph predicting what you think happens next.
