BloodSport.
d.i.c.kFrancis.
CHAPTERONE.
Iawokewithforeboding.MyhandclosedinareflexontheLugerunderthepillow.Ilistened,acutelyattentive.Nosound.Noquicksurrept.i.tiousslither,norubofclothoncloth,nohalf-controlledpulse-drivenbreath.Noenemyhovering.Slowly,relaxing,Iturnedhalfoverandsquintedattheroom.Aquiet,empty,uglyroom.OnethirdofwhatforwantofalesscosywordIcalledhome.
Brightsunshineby-pa.s.sedthethinpinkcurtains,spillingagoldslashonthefadedbrownWilton.Ididn"tlikepink.AlsoIdidn"thavetheenergyitwouldtaketoarguethelandlordintochangingtoblue.AftereightmonthsIknewheneverrenewedanythinguntilithadfallentobits.
Inspiteoftheprevailingcalmthefeelingofforebodingdeepenedandthenidentifieditselfanddissolvedintoalessthreatening,moregeneralstateofgloom.Sundaymorning,June20th.Thebeginningofthreeweeks"leave.
Irolledbackontomystomachandshutmyeyesagainstthesun,andtookmyhandsixinchesfromtheLuger,whichwasfarenough,andwonderedhowlongamancouldsleepifhereallyputhismindtoit.Evenamanwhoneversleptsoundlytostartwith.Threeweeks,thethreeobligatoryoverdueweekscouldbegotthroughmoreeasilyasleep.
Threemillenniumsofsleeplayunderthepillow.Theninemillimetreequaliser,myinseparablefriend.Itwentwithmeeverywhere,tobeaches,tobathrooms,tobedsotherthanmyown.Itwastheretosavemylife.Nottotakeit.Ihadlivedthroughalotoftemptations,andIlivedwiththattoo.
Thetelephonebellputpaidtothethreeweeksbeforetheyhadgonehalfanhour.
"Lo,"Isaidblearily,balancingthereceiveronthepillow.
"Gene?"
"Uhhuh."
"Youhaven"tgoneawaythen."Therewasreliefinthevoice,thevoiceofmyboss.Ilookedatmywatch.Teno"clock.
"No,"Isaidunnecessarily.HeknewIwasn"tgoingaway.Ididn"tunderstandhisrelief.Itwasmissingwhenhespokeagain.
"Howaboutadayontheriver?"
HehadamotorcruisersomewhereontheupperThames.I"dneverseenit.Hadn"tbeenaskedbefore.
"Invitationororder?"Isaid,yawning.
Hehesitated."Whicheveryou"llaccept."
Whataman.Youdidmoreforhimthanyoubelievedyouwould,everytime.
"WheredoIgo,andwhen?"
"Mydaughterwillfetchyou,"hesaid."She"llbethereinabouthalfanhour.Familyparty.Boatingclothes.Comeasyouare."
"Sure,"Isaid.Completewithstubble,Lugerandshorts.Ariot.Ineverworepyjamas.Theyslowedyouuptoomuch.
Boatingclothes,Idecided,weregreyishbrowncottontrousersandanolivegreennylonjerseyshirt.IcarriedtheLugerwithmeinthelefthandpocketwhenthedoorbellrang.Oneneverreallyknew.Butalookthroughthewide-angledspyholeshoweditwasonlyKeeble"sdaughter,asarranged.Iopenedup.
"MrHawkins?"shesaidhesitantly,lookingfrommetothedingybra.s.ssixscrewedontothesoliddarkstainedwood.
"That"sright."Ismiled."Comein."
ShewalkedpastmeandIshutthedoor,interestedtonoticethatfourflightsofstairshadn"tleftherbreathless,astheydidmostvisitors.Ilivedhighupforthatpurpose.
"Iwasjustfinishingmycoffee,"Isaid."Wouldyoulikesome?"
"It"sverykindofyou,butDaddysaidnottowastetime,hewantstobeoffuprivera.s.soonaspossible."
Keeble"sdaughterwasjustlikeherphotographonDaddy"sdesk.Halfwoman,stillatschool.Shortbouncydarkhair,andwatchfuldarkeyes,aroundedbodyslimmingdown,aself-possessedtouch-me-notexpression,andanendearinggauche-nessinherpresentsituation.
Shelookedcautiouslyroundthesitting-room,whichneithershenorInoranyoneelsewouldhavecla.s.sedaselegantliving.
Thelandlord"sfurniturewasjunk-shopstuffandIhadmadenoefforttoimproveit.Mytotalcontributionstothesceneweretworowsofbooksonth.e.s.h.elvesandinonecorneratintrunkofoddmentswhichIhadneverbotheredtounpack.Adrawnbackcurtainrevealedthekitchenalcoveanditsentirecontents:cupboard,refrigerator,sink,andcooker,allofthemshowingtheirage.
Onewentthroughthesitting-roomtothebedroom,throughthebedroomtothebathroom,andthroughthebathroomtothefireescape.Theflathadeverythingbutadrawbridgeandamoat,andithadtakenmeweekstofindit.Onlythetinyspygla.s.shadbeenlacking,andthelandlordhadbeenfuriouswhenhefinallynoticedIhadinstalledit.Ithadcostmethreemonthsrentinadvancetoconvincehimitwasn"tthereforthesolepurpos...o...b..ingoutwhenhecame.
IwatchedKeeble"sdaughtersearchforsomethingnicetosayaboutmylivingquartersandgiveupthestrugglewithadefeatedshakeofheryounghead.IcouldhavetoldherthatIhadoncehadabetterflat,as.p.a.ciouscomfortablefirst-floorfrontwithabalconyoverlookingatree-dottedsquare.Ithadprovedtooaccessibletounwantedguests.Ihadvacateditonastretcher.
"I"llfetchmyjacket,"Isaid,finishingthecoffee."Andthenwe"llgo."
Shenodded,lookingrelieved,oppressedalreadybytheemptinessofmyhomelife.Fiveminutesofithadbeenenough,forher.
Iwentintothebedroom,pickedthejacketoffthebedandtransferredtheLugerfrommytrousersintoitsbuilt-inunderarmholster,fasteningittherewithapressstudonastrap.Then,coatoverarm,Idumpedthedirtycoffeecupinthesink,pulledthecurtainacrossthekitchen,openedthefrontdoor,andletmyselfandMissKeebleout.
FouruneventfulstoreysdownweemergedintothequietsunlitPutneystreet,andshelookedbackandupatthesolidoldconvertedhouse.Itneededpaintandoozedrespectability,exactlylikeitsrowofneighbours.
"Iwasn"tsureI"dcometotherightplace.Daddyjustsaidthefourthhousealong."
"Hegivesmealifthome,sometimes."
"Yes,hesaidso."SheturnedtothewhiteAustinstandingatthekerbandpausedwiththekeyinherhand."DoyoumindifIdrive?"
"Ofcoursenot."
Shesmiledforthefirsttimesinceshe"darrived,aquickflashingaffairwhichvergedonfriendliness.Sheunlockedherdoor,climbedin,andreachedovertounlatchtheoppositeoneforme.ThefirstthingInoticedas1benttogetinweretheLplateslyingonthebackseat.
"Whendidyoupa.s.sthetest?"Isaidmildly.
"Well..."thesmilelingered,"asamatteroffact,yesterday."
Forallthat,shedroveverywell,carefulbutconfident,quietwiththegearsthoughabitheavywiththehandsignals.ShecreptsomewhattentativelyaroundtheChiswickroundaboutanduptheslopetotheM4.ThebigbluemotorwaysignsaidnoLdriversandhernosetwitchedmischievouslyaswepa.s.sedit.
"Didyoucomethiswaytofetchme?"Iaskedidly.
Sheedgedintotheslowlaneandhitforty.
"Er,no.IliveinahostelwithaboutsixtyothergirlsinSouthKen.DaddyjustrangmeandsaidasI"dgotthecarupinLondonthisweek-endIcouldcollectyouandmeethiminHenley.Sortofspurofthemomentthing."
"Isee."
Wecametotheendofthefiftymileanhourlimitandherfootwentdownwithdetermination "DoIscareyou?"Theneedlequiveredonsixty-five.
Ismiledwryly."No."
"Actually..."Herhandsgrippedthewheelwiththetensionofinexperience."Actually,youdon"tlookasifyou"dscareeasily."
Iglancedatherinsurprise.Ilookordinary.Quietandordinary.Andveryusefulitis,too.
"Anyway,"shewentonfrankly,IaskedDaddyaboutcomingthisway,andhesaidheguessedyournerveswouldstandit.Heseemedtofinditveryfunny,forsomereasonorother."
"Hehashisownbrandofhumour."
"Mm."Shedroveonforseveralmilesinsilence,concentratingontheroad.Thespeeddroppedslowlydowntofiftyagain,andIguessedshewasfindingthemotorwaynotsuchpurefuna.s.she"dimagined.TheusualnumberofSundayJimClarkswereshowingoffinthefastlaneandfamilyoutingswithGrandmadrivingfromthebackseatwereb.u.mblingaboutintheslow.Wewentdownthecentreandpulledoutbravelynowandthentopa.s.sanairportbus.
Eventually,inthinnertrafficafterWindsor,shesaid,doubtfully,"Youdo...er...workforDaddy?"
"Yes.Whynot?"
"Well,noreasonwhynot.Imean,"shelookedembarra.s.sed,"Imean,Ican"trememberhimeveraskinganyonefromwork...well,hejustdoesn"tusually,that"sall."Shelookedasifshewishedshehadn"tstarted.
"Akindthought,"Isuggested;andwonderedwhathewanted.Notjusttogivemeasunnydayout.Ashisdaughtersaid,hedidn"tdothatsortofthing.
WemadeittoHenleywiththepaintintact,andsheparkedneatlyinalargegravelledenclosurebytherailwaystation.Herhandstrembledslightlya.s.shelockedthedoors,andIrealisedthat.i.tmusthavebeenherlongestdrive,aswellasthefastest.
"Youdrovebeautifully,"Isaidsincerely."Likeaveteran."
"Oh."shegavealaughwhichwashalfacough,andlookedrelievedandpleased."Well,thankyou."Shewouldbemorerelaxed,Iknew,onthewayback,andlessstrungupwhenshegotthere.Togiveandtoremoveconfidenceweretoolsofmytrade,andtherewasnouniontosayIcouldn"tusethemonSundays.
"FlyingLinnet...that"sourboat...willbesomewherealongthebank,"shesaid."Itisn"tfar."Shesmiledagainandgestured."Thatway."
Wewalkeddowntotheriverandalongtheneatlybuiltbroadtarmactowpath,wherehalfthetownseemedtobeoutfeedingtheducks.Thesunsparkledonthedarkgreenwaterandtherewasaqueueattheboatyardforrowingboatsandpunts.Thereweregardensandlawnsandseats,andabowlinggreen,andaplaygroundwithaslideandswings,allofthemsprinkledwithsunnySundayfacesandmurmuringsummervoices.Familiesandcouplesandgroups:fewalone.Threeweeksalone,Ithoughtbleakly.Icouldspendthembesidethedeepgreenriverfeedingducks,andjustjumpinwhenIcouldn"tstandanymoreofit.
"There"sDaddy,"saidKeeble"sdaughter,pointing.Thesunlayalongherlightbrownarmandshiftedinburnttoffeeshadowsonthecurvesofherorangetandress.Tooyoungforme,Ithoughtinconsequentially.Orrather,Iwastooold.Aeonstooold.FortystilllayacoupleofyearsaheadbutIcouldhavetoldMethuselahathingortwo.
Keeblehadsteppedash.o.r.efromoneoftheboatsmooredtoptotailalongthetowpathandwaswalkingtowardsus,handoutstretched,welcomingsmileinface.Myboss,exceptforanopen-neckedshirt,lookedhisusualweekdayself,ashortslightlychubbymanwithamildmannerandafaintlyanxious.e.xpression.Thelightblue-greyeyesblinkedfreelyasusualbehindtheunimpressivespectaclesandasusualhehadmissedapatchwhileshaving.Prematurebaldnesshadmadehimlookfiftyatthirty-five,butfarfromregrettingthis,hebelieveditwasthecauseofhisrapidpromotionoverwellthatchedcontemporaries.Hemayhavebeenright.Helookedharmless,cautious,unambitious,oneofnature"ssafestplodders.Itwaseightyearssincehehadinheritedmealongwiththerestofthesetup,andtodiscernthecuttingbrainbehindthewafflehadtakenmetwominutesflat.
"Gene,"hesaid."Gladyoucouldcome."Hepumpedmyhandupanddownperfunctorily,thesocialgestureasmeaninglesstohimastome,andweexchangedsmilestomatch.Forhisdaughterthewarmthcamefromtheheart.ShekissedhimaffectionatelyonthecheekandhiseyesheldaglimmeringprideIhadneverseeninhimbefore.
"Well,Lynniemylove,yougotheresafely.OrdidyouletGenedothedriving?"
"Domeafavour,"shesaid."Hedidn"tevenflinch."
Keebleflickedmeanamusedglance,andIrepeatedthecomplimenttoherskill,withherfathernoddinghisthankstomeoverherhead,knowingexactlywhyIsaidit.
Theyturnedandbegantowalkbackalongthepath,gesturingtometocome.Keeble"sboat,theonetheystoppedat,wasagracefulneat-lookingfibregla.s.scruiserwithacabinforwardandalargeopenc.o.c.kpitattheback,thedecksspotlessandthechromiumshining.Sittingcasuallysidebysideonthepaleblueplasticupholsterywereamanandawoman,bothofwhomraisedsmilingfacesatourapproachandneitherofwhomgotup.
Lynniejumpeddownintotheboatandkissedthewoman,andKeeblesteppedcarefullyafter.
"Comeaboard,"hesaidtome,andagaininhistonetherewasachoice.Aninvitationoranorder,whicheverIwouldaccept.Ioptedfortheinvitation,andembarkedonmorethantheFlyingLinnet.
"MywifeJoan,"saidKeeble,stretchingahandtotheseatedwoman."GeneHawkins,honey."
JoanKeeblewasafrailbirdlikewomanwithacoynessofmannerleftoverfromthetimewhenshewaspretty.Shetwinkledhereyesatme,invitingadmiration.Isc.r.a.pedsomeup,andexchangedthenecessaryplat.i.tudesaboutweather,boating,anddrivingdaughters.Keeblewadedintothiswithawavetowardsthemansittingbesideher.
"Youtwohaven"tmet..."hehesitatedafraction."Dave...Gene,thisisDaveTeller."
Tellerstoodup,shookhandseconomically,andsaidhewasgladtoknowme.Heworeasloppywrinkledpaleblueshirthangingoutoverpatchedcottontrousers,batteredplimsollsonhisfeet,andadirtyoldbaseballcaponhishead.American,welleducated,prosperous,a.s.sured:thecategoriesclickedoverfromhabitinmya.s.sessingmind.Alsohewasaleanmannear-ingfifty,withastrongbeakynose,straightforwardeyesandamarvellousdentist.
Keebleofferednoinformationbeyondthatbaldintroduction,butbustledaboutgettinghisshipreadytoputtosea.HisyellintothecabinforacertainPetertocomeandhelpproducednoresults.Istuckmyheadthroughthedoorandsawaboyofabouttwelveengrossedinfittinganewrolloffilmintoasmallsimplecamera.
"Peter,"hisfatheryelled.
Peterheavedamartyredsigh,scrambledthebackofthecamerashut,andwentoutpastmewithhiseyesdownandhisfingerswindingthek.n.o.b.Sure-footed,hesteppedwithoutlookingontothenarrowsideoftheboatandfromtheretothetowpath.
"He"llfallinoneday,"Lynniesaidtotheworldingeneral.Herbrotherdidn"tevenhear.Stillconcentratingonhiscamerawithonehandhewa.s.slowlyuntyingtheropefromthemooringringwiththeother,crouchingdownonthetarmacinhiscleanblackjeansandgettingupwithtwolargedustypatchesontheknees.Pointinghisviewfinderatapa.s.singformationofducksheclickedtheshutterandwithaserious,absorbedexpressionwoundonthefilm.
FurtherupthepathKeebleandTellerwereundoingthebowrope,talkingamicablyinthesun.Lynnieandhermotherstraightenedthecushionsandcoiledtheropesandfussedaroundoveralotofnothing,chattingtrivialities.Iwonderedwhattheh.e.l.lIwasdoingthereandfeltoutofcontactwitheverythingaroundme.Notanewfeeling,butrecurringmoreoften.Thetwolevelsoflivingweregrowingfartherapart.Thedaytodaysociallevelhadlostallmeaning,andunderneath,wherethereshouldhavebeenrock,hadopenedavoidofshrivellingloneliness.Itwasgettingworse.Thepresentwasbadenough:thefutureanabyss.Onlyworkbroughtmysplinteringselfintoanysortofwhole,andIknewwellenoughthat.i.twastheworkitselfwhichhadstartedtheprocess.ThatandCaroline.Or,tobemoreaccurate,Caroline"shusband.
"Isay,holdthisrope,w.i.l.l.you?"Petersaid.Itookthewetsnakeheoffered."Hi,"headded,seeingmeproperlyforthefirsttime,"Wh.o.a.reyou?"
"Anybody"sguess,"Isaidwithmoretruththansense,andhismotherstaredatmewithastonishmentandtoldhimmyname.
Keeblecamebackonboardandstartedtheengine.TellerstooduponthesmallforwarddeckandcastoffthebowropewhenKeebletoldhim,andPeterleft.i.tuntilalmosttoolatetoleaponboardwiththestern.Thecamerabouncedonthecordroundhisneck."BirthdaypresentfromGran,"hesaidtoLynniewithpride."Super,isn"t.i.t."
"You"lldropitintheriver,ifyouaren"tcareful."
"Thisisonlymysecondfilm.Iusedthefirstoneupontheboysatschool.Doyouthinkthoseduckswillcomeoutallright?"
"Iexpectyouhadyourfingerovertheshutter."
"I"vegotabookinthere."Henoddedtothecabin,expertlysiftingouttheaffectionbehindhersarcasmandshowingnoresentment."Ittellsyouaboutexposuresandfocuses.IthinkI"lljustcheckwhat.i.tsaysaboutsunnydays.Itwascloudydullallweekatschool."
Idon"tbelonghere,Ithought.IwishedIwereasleep.
TheFlyingLinnetnosedupstreamthroughascatterofrow-boats,Keebleatthewheel,Tellersittingforwardstillonthecabinroof,andPetertryingtogetpastLynnieteasinghiminthecabindoorway.JoanKeeblesatdownonthewideseatacrossthebackandpattedtheplacenexttoherformetojoinher.WithaneffortIdidso,butafteraminuteortwo,inthemiddleofapparentlyidlehostessychat,shepulledmebacktoattentionbytryingdelicatelytofindoutwhoIwasandwhyIhadbeeninvited,whilenotwantingtohavemerealisethatshedidn"tknow.
Icouldplaythatsortofgameforever.Inferenceoninference.Ididn"tknowtheanswertowhywasIthere,b.u.t.thatsheneededtoaskit,thatindeedshehadaskedit,toldmeagreatdealaboutnon-contactbetweenKeebleandhiswife,andopenednewdoorsontoKeeblehimself.Iknewthenwhyhe"dneverbeforeaskedmehome.Itwasonethingtoemployamicroscope,butanothertoputoneselfunderthelens.Ithought.i.talltheodderthathe"ddoneitnow.
AsifhecouldfeelmymindonthebackofhisneckheturnedroundandsaidThelock"sjustahead."Istoodupandjoinedhim,andPetergaveuphisstruggleandwentbacktohisdutywiththesternrope.
"MarshLock,"Lynniesaid,standingbesidemeandlookingforwardthroughthewindscreen."Notaneasyone,fromthisside,goingupstream."
WhenwegotnearerIsawwhatshemeant.Thebroadstretchofrivernarrowedabruptlytothelockgatesontheleftandtheweirontheright,alongside.Babywhirlpoolsandtrailsofbubblesmetusfiftyyardsaway,withlargereddiesandconvolutionsbubblingupaswewenton.Theboattendedtoswingsidewaysundertheirpower,andKeeblespunthewheelrapidlytokeepherstraight.Aheadofuswaterintonstumbledovertheweir,greenandbrownandsplashingwhite,thunderingdowningreatcurvingleaps,smellingofmustinessandmud.