Final Word

This week's Final Word is by a writer famous for his interest in caves:

"'Why can't we be friends now?' said the other, holding him affectionately. 'It's what I want. It's what you want.' But the horses didn't want it - they swerved apart; the earth didn't want it, sending up rocks through which riders must pass single file; the temples, the tank, the jail, the palace, the birds, the carrion, the Guest House, that came into view as they issued from the gap and saw Mau beneath: they didn't want it, they said in their hundred voices, 'No, not yet,' and the sky said, 'No, not there.'"

The winner of last week's competition, who identified Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie, is Victor Peach of Widecombe-in-the-moor, Devon. Contrary to last week's announcement, the winner the previous week (July 26) was Susan Mendes of the University of York.