"Didtheygetalltheothersback?"
"Yeah.ButChrysalishasasgoodasdisappearedoffthefaceoftheearth."
"Howdoyouknowthehi-jackersmeanttotaketheliquortruck?"
"Theonlythingtheyleftinthecabofthehorsevanwasascrewed-upsc.r.a.pofpaper.Itwasanoteofthetimetheliquorcompany"struckmadeitsdailyrunalongthatroute."
"Fingerprints?"
"Gloves.Evenforwritingthenote."
Walthadtalkedhimselfdry.Irefuelledhisgla.s.sandfeltlikesleep.
"Whatdoyouthink?"hesaid.
Ishrugged."ItwasChrysalistheyreallywanted.Thetimetablenotewastheblind."
"Butwhy?Whyshouldanyonewanttostealastallion?That"swhat"sgotusallfloored.Idon"tknowmuchabouthorses,I"mafalseclaimsmanreally.Ijustgotpitchedintothisbetweencripplecases,ifyougetme.ButevenIknowthat.i.t"sthestallion"snamethatbringsinthestudfee.Saysomeone"sstolenChrysalis,what"sthepoint?Theycan"tadvertisehimforstud,soheisn"tworthadime.Wefiguredsomeonemightbenuttyenoughtowanthimalltothemselves,likesomeworldfamouspainting,butyoucanhideapaintingquietlyinacellar,whichyoucan"tdowithahorse.Thewholethingdon"tmakesense."
Ihadmyownviewsonthat,butIsaidonly,"WhathappenedtoAllyx?"
"Ionlyknowaboutthatfromthefiles.Igotthecaseoutandlookeditupthismorning.AllyxwasaFrenchhorse,apparentlyoneofthebestyoungsiresinEurope.Hewasninewhenhecameoverhere,andalreadyhisgethadwonalistofracesaslongasyourarm.DaveTellerwasheadofthesyndicatewhichboughthim;that"swhyhewasinsuredwithus,aswedoalltheTellerestatework.AllyxwasdeliveredsafelytotheTellerstudfarm.Notroubleintransitthattime.Buthewasthereonlyfourdays.Thentherewasafireinthestablesonenightandtheytookallthehorsesoutofthebarnandturnedthemlooseintoasmallcorral."
"Andwhentheycametofetchthem-nohorses?"
Henodded."Therewasabrokenrailoverthefarside,whichnooneknewabout.Allthehorseshadgotthroughit,includingAllyx.Theycaughtalltheothers,thoughsomewerefreefordays.NosigneverofAllyx.ThecompanyhadtofacethatheprobablygotintothefoothillsoftheAppalachianMountainsandmaybebrokehisneck,andintheendtheyhadtopayup."
"Whataboutthatfire?"
"Therewasapparentlynothingsuspiciousabout.i.tatthetime.Oneofourverybestmenfoundnoevidenceofafirebeingset.Still,stablesfirescanbestartedsoeasily...acigaretteb.u.t.tinapileofstrawleavesnotrace.Thisonedidn"tdomuchdamagebeforetheyput.i.tout.Noquestionofkerosene,forinstance.Thewholechainofeventswasagreedtobeaccidental."
Ismiledthinly.
"WhataboutShowman?"
Waltshookhishead."Idon"tknowhowhegotloose.b.u.t.theyfoundhim.Dead,ofcourse.He"dbeendeadsometime,Ithink."
"Where?"
"Oh,intheAppalachians.Hecamefromthatarea,sameastheothers.b.u.t.thenLexingtonhasmorestudfarmsthananywhereelseintheStates,sothere"snosignificanceinthatreally."
"YouwentdowntoLexingtonlastweek?"
Henodded."FlewthereWednesday,whenMrsTellercalledus"
"MrsDaveTeller?"
"Uhhuh."SomethingmovedobscurelyinWalt"sface.Dave"swifehadmadeanimpression."She"sEnglish,likeyou."
"I"llG.o.downtheretomorrow,"Isaid.Iwatchedhimwaveranddecidenottotellmeabouther.Instead,helookedathiswatch,putdownhisgla.s.sfirmly,andstoodup.
"Mustbeoff,"hesaid."It"souranniversary,andmywife"sfixedsomethingspecial."
"Givehermyapologiesforkeepingyou."
"That"sallright.Itfittedinfine.IgohomefromGrand Central,rightdownstairs.Aquarterofanhourtotraintime."
Iwalkedwithhimtothedoor.
"Walt...wouldyoubefreetocomedowntoLexingtoninthemorning?"Ashehesitated,Iadded,There"snopointinmycoveringallthegroundtwice.I"dappreciatehavingyoualong."
"Begladto,Gene,"hesaidtoopolitely,andIthoughttoh.e.l.lwithyouWalt,toh.e.l.lwitheverythingonearth,includingme,butI"mstuckwiththishorsenonsenseforthenextthreeweeks,andifIsaygotoLexington,yougo.Ihidtheviolentmomentofirritationinturningfromhimtoopenthedoor,andIunderstoodhisreluctanceanyway,aswholikestobedraggeddowntodothesamepieceofworktwice,especiallyunderthecriticaleyeofanimportedlimeybusybody?Heshookmyhand."I"llcallyouinthemorning,"hesaid,hisfeelingsunderbettercontrolthanmine."Seventhirty?"
"Allright."Heloosenedhisjawmusclesintowhatlookedlikegoingtobeasmilebutdidn"tquitemakeit,sketchedasalutewiththethick-toppedfingers,andambledunhurriedlyawaydownthepa.s.sage.
Ihaddinnerinthehotelrestaurant.Asteak.NevereatsteakwestofNebraska,theyusedtosay.Thebeefwasbredontheprairieandwalkedeastwardstothemarkets:whenitgottoNebraskaithitthecornbeltandonlyafterthatwasitfatenoughtokill.NewYorksteaksweremostlysuperb,butIdidn"tsupposethey"dwalkedinthroughtheNewJerseyTunnel.Longdistancehaulagetookcareofthat...andwhoeverhadremovedAllyxandChrysalishadhadahaulageproblemtoo.Youcouldn"trideastallionalongstatehighways.Foronething,theynolongertookkindlytoasaddleafteryearsatstud,eveniftheyhadbeenreasonabletohandleinthefirstplace.
NightclubsattractmelikewetMondaysinManchester,andapathykeptmefromevenreadingthelistofshows.Iwentstraightupstairsafterdinnertocatchuponalotoflostsleepandwokeagaininfuriatinglyattwo,deadtiredandwitharestlessbrain.
Fromhabit,theLugerlayundermypillow.Itwasanotherlongnight.
CHAPTERFIVE.
Weflewdowninthemorning,Walt"spuffedeyesshowingthattheanniversaryhadbeendulycelebrated,andminefeelingasifthey"dbeenrolledingrit.
Thetwodrivers,reachedbytelephone,metusbyappointmentintheentrancehallofamotelnearthecentreofLexington,whereWalthadstayedonhisprevioustrip.Hebookedroomsforusboth,andwetookthedriversuptohis,whichprovedamileshortofBiltmorestandardsbuthotoncleanlinessandKleenex.
Waltswitchedontheair-conditioning,shuffledchairsaround,andpromisedbeerlater.Thedrivers,verymuchonthedefensive,wentsullenlythroughthedisastroustaleagain,awarebeyondanydoubtthattheyshouldneverhaveleftthehorsesunwatchedandweremorethanlikelytolosetheirjobs.NothingtheysaidaddedmuchtowhatWalthadalreadytoldme.
"Doyouknoweachotherwell?"Iasked.
Thethinbirdlikeonesaidtheydid.
"Andthegrooms.Doyouknowthem?Anddotheyknoweachother?"
"Seenthemaround,"saidtheheavyone."Thelazysoandso"s."
Thethinonesaid,"OneofthemcamefromtheMidwayFarm."
ThatwasDaveTeller"s."HecamespeciallyforChrysalis.It"shimoughttobeblamedforthewholething."
"Didtheboysknoweachother,beforethetrip?"
"Sure,"saidtheheavyone."Waytheytalkedtheybothbeeninthehorsegamealltheirlives."
Waltsniffedandnodded.He"dcheckedallthis,hisresignedfacesaid.Routine.
TothedriversIsaid,"Iwantyoutothinkback,andmakealistofallthecarsandtrucksyoucanrememberseeingontheroad,allthewayfromKennedytotheplaceyoulostthehorses."
TheylookedaghastandasifIwerecrazy.
"Look,"Isaid,"onthoseturnpikesyousometimesseethesamecarsoverandover.Theonesgoingyourway,thatis.Youseethematthereststops,andmaybeyoustartofffirst,andthentheypa.s.syou,andthenyouseethemagainmaybestoppedatanotherdinerwhileyougoontothenextone,andthentheycomepastyouagain.Right?"
Theynodded.
"Somaybeyoustillremembersomeofthecarsandtrucksyousawonthattrip?Especiallyanyyousawonbothdays."
Theystaredatme.Theheavyonesaid,"It"simpossible.Itwasaweekago."
"Iknow.Try,anyway.Thinkitover.Seeifyoucanrememberanyatall,betweenyou.Thenwritethemdownandleavethelisthereforus,sometimethisevening."
Itookoutmywalletandtriedtwentydolla.r.s.eachforsize.Itwentdownwellenough.Theysaidtheywouldtry.
"Don"tinventanything,"Isaid.I"dratherpayfornothingtha.n.a.lotofhogwash."
Theynoddedandwent,withthebeerpostponedtotheirreturn.
"Whatareyoulookingfor?"Waltsaidcuriously.
"Anotherhorsevan,Isuppose."
Hethought.i.tover."Theycouldjusthaveplannedtorendezvouswheretheemptyvanwasfound.Theydidn"tneedtobeseenontheroad."
"Idon"tthinktheycanhavebeensurewhentheywouldbeabletodothehi-jacking.Theywouldn"tknowwherethedriverswouldstopformeals.NogoodfixingarendezvousinKentuckyiftheopportunitycameearlier,upnearWheeling."
"Theywouldn"twanttodrivetoofarwithahottruck,"Waltagreed."Infact,itwastwenty-fivemiles,mostlybackroads.Theymadestraightforthehills,whereitwouldtakelongesttorounduploosehorses."
"Anytracks?"
"Notyretracksofanyuse.Thenearestroadwasgravel,dryanddustythistimeofyear.Therewerethetracksofthevangoingofftheroadroundbehindahillock,butontheroaditselftheywerejustajumble.Everycarwhichpa.s.sedraisedacloudofdustandwipedoutalltrackswhichweretherebefore."
Igrunted."Hoofprints?"
"Dozensofthose.Inalldirections."
"Backontothegravelroad?"
Heshookhisheadresignedly."Impossibletotell.Noneontopofthevan"styretracks,anyway.Butwetookalotofsoilsamples,ontheoutsidechancesomethingwouldturnuplater."
"Youdiditprettythoroughly."
Thesmilealmostcame."Amillionandahalf,"hesaidbriefly,"isalotofinsurance."
MidwayFarmhadprosperityprintedonitsgateposts,andIwentthroughthemalone,asWalthadsaidhefelttheonsetofamigraineheadache.
Amiddle-agedHungarianwomanopenedthedoortomeandinhaltingEnglishaskedmemybusiness.DiagnosingheraccentfromlongpracticeIrepliedinherownlanguage,asitwa.s.simpler,andpresently,havingconsultedinthedrawing-room,sheshowedmeinthere.
Dave"swifestoodinthecentreofaquarteracreofdeepgreencarpet,surroundedbydeepgreenwalls,whitepaint,andtomatoredupholstery.Sheflickedmycardwithonethumbandsaid,"You"rethemanwhofishedDaveoutoftheriver."
"Yes,"Isaid,surprised.
"Hetelephonedtomeyesterday,"sheexplained."HesaysIamtotrustyouentirely."
Shewasaslimsmall-bonedcreaturewiththeroundedtightlittlebottomwhichcomesfromridinghorsesagreatdealinearlygirlhood.Herjawlinewasdelicatelysquare,nosenarrow,eyeswideandbright.Greyspeckledthemouse-brownspringyhair,andifshewaswearingcosmeticsonewouldhaveneededtobenearerthanIwastobecertainofit.Decisivea.s.suranceshowedfromeverycrispgesture,andfromhertoneIgatheredthattakingherhusband"swordforthingswasnotherhabit.
"Sitdown,"shesaid,pointingtoatomatochair."Drink?"Itwastwoo"clockonahotafternoon."Scotch,"shesaidwithoutwaitingforananswer,makingitastatement,notachoice.
Iwatchedhersplashthepalegoldenliquidontoicecubesintwotallgla.s.ses,andaddatokendropofwater.Shecameacrossandheldoutoneofthemwithagracefulsun-tannedarm.Aheavygoldchainbraceletloadedwithfobsandcharmsclinkedfromherwrist,andintomynostrilsfloatedatraceof"Joy".
Itastedthewhisky.HedgesandButler"sRoyal,Ithought.Toofineandlightforanythingelse.Theflavourfromonesiplastedalongtimeonmytongue.
"EvasaysyouspeakHungarian,"shesaid,movingaway,pickingupherowngla.s.s,andtakinganadultswallow.
"Mm,yes."
"Shewasmostimpressed."
"IcameaboutChrysalis,"Ibegan.
"Doyouspeakanyotherlanguages?"HervoiceveeredmoretoAmericanthanEnglishandhadtheabrupt,inconsequentiallurchoftwodrinkstoomany;but.i.tdidn"tshowinherface.
"German,"Isaid,raisingadutifulsocialsmile.
ThewayI"dbeentaughtlanguages,ittookaweekforasmattering,threemonthsforfluency,andtwoyearstobringonetothepointofrecognisingtypicalspeechandthoughtpatternswhenoneheardthemtranslatedbackintoperfectEnglish.Inoneperiodofsevenyears,inmytwenties,I"dbeencrammedwithGerman,Hungarian,andfiveSlavoniclanguages,fromRussianandCzechtoSerbo-Croat.Noneofthemwaslikelytocomeinhandyforfindingstallions,andinanycasetheywerealmostoutofdate.ThenewboyswerelearningSwahili,Arabic,andChinese.
"AndFrench,Isuppose?"shesaid.
"Alittle,"Iagreed.
"Enoughforthenecessitiesoflife,Iexpect."Herexpressionandemphasisgavethewordnecessitiesaprecisemeaning,whichwasn"tfoodanddrink.
"Absolutely,"Iagreed,acknowledgingherdefinition.
Shelaughed.Nothingfrailorfine-bonedaboutthat.
"Chrysalis,"shesaid,"isarightb.l.o.o.d.ynuisance.Hewouldn"thavebeenmychoiceinthefirstplace;thatPurpleEmperorstrainisa.s.softasanoldman"spencilandhe"spa.s.singiton,theyalwaysdo.MothwontheDerbyinashockinglybadyearandifanythinghadgivenhimhalfaracehe"dhavefoldedlikeawetsheet."Shetookadeepswallow."Doyouknowthefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorses?"
"Whatisthefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorses?"
Shegavemeastartledstarewhichturnedintoanincredulouslaugh."Thefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorsesisthattheymakeb.l.o.o.d.yfoolsofmen."
Ismiledbackspontaneously,amusedbythecontrastbetweenherrobustnessofthoughtandlanguageandherdelicacyofframe.