"You"veeaten?"Hewavedvaguelyatacollectionofchocolatesandgrapes.
"IhadbreakfastoverIreland,at2o"clock."
Helaughed,easedhimselfonthepillows,andstretchedoutahandforacigarette.
"How"smywife?"
"Verywell."
Helithiscigaretteandflickedshutthelighter.
"Whatwa.s.shedoing,whenyoucalled?"Hisapprehensionwasprettywellconcealed.
"Sunbathing.Swimming.There"saheatwavecoasttocoast."
Acoupleofmusclesrelaxedinhisforearmandheinhaleddeeply."Shegaveyouadrink...Ihope?"
"Sure.Andaswim.AndIstayedtodinner."
Helookedatmedirectlyforsometimewithoutspeaking.Thenhesaidmerely"Agoodone?"
"Very,thankyou.AndIsawyourhorses.ChubLodovskishowedmeround."
Hetalkedmuchmorenaturallyaboutthehorses:noproblemsthere.
"Ihearyou"removingtoCalifornia,"Isaid,afterawhile.
Thetensenessinstantlycameback;thesmallgive-awaytighteningofeye,neckandrespiratorymusclesthatIlookedforeverydayinmyjob,andcouldn"tbeblindtoinmyfriends.
"Yes,"hesaid,tappingoffash."Eunicelovestheocean,and.i.n.kentuckywe"reasfarfromitascanbe...andofcourse,thehorsebreedingbusinessinCaliforniaiseverybitasprofitable.Wewilldoverywelloutthere,I"venodoubt."
Eunicewouldtakeherproblemsrightalongwithher,Ithought:thoughwithabitoflucktheywouldrecedeforayearortwo.PerhapsTellerconsideredtheupheavalworthit.
"What"sthenewplacelike?"Iasked.
"It"sgoodland,prettywellirrigated.AndthestableandgenerallayoutareasgoodasMidway.Bettereven,insomerespects.It"sDavisL.Davis"soldplace."
Ilookedblank,andheexplained."Madehismoneyoutofroadsidehamburgerstands.Well,hediedearlythisyear,andlastmonththeyheldadispersalsaleofhisbroodmaresandstallions,todivideuphisestateforinheritance.Iputinabidforthefarmtohis.e.xecutorsbeforeIcameoverherethistime,andtheywrotemeaweekorsobacktosaythey"reacceptingit.Thecontractsareinhandrightnow,butIdon"tforeseeanydifficulties.I"msuregladtohavegot.i.tsettledatlast."
"Atlast?"
"BeenlookingforafarminsouthernCaliforniaforoverayearnow,b.u.t.thereweretoomanysnagstomostofthem.EuniceandItookatripoverinMarchofthisyear,andwesawtheDavisfarmthen,andlikedit.So..."Hewaggledhisfingerstofinishthesentence.
ThedooropenedandKeeblecamein,mildspectaclesreflectingthepallidlightfromthewindow,eyesblinkingrapidly,andtheusualpatchofbristlegrowinggreywherehehadshortsightedlymissedwiththerazor.Hesaidh.e.l.losallroundandsettledhimselfcomfortablyintothesparearmchair.
"Well,how"sitwiththeStates?"hesaid:andItoldthemeverythingWalthadtoldme.Theythought.i.toverforawhileinsilence.
"Sowhatdoyouthinknow?"Keeblesaid.
IglanceddoubtfullyatTeller,buthetappedashoffhiscigaretteandremarkedsimply,"SimsaysyouwereconvincedIwaspushedintotheriveronpurpose.Iguesswhathe"saskingyouis,haveyouchangedyourmind?"
"No,Ihaven"t."
KeebleandTellerlookedateachother.ThenTellersaid,sighing,"We"vecomeupwithoneortwothingswhichmakesitalmostcertainyouareright."
Keeblenodded."IwenttoDave"shotelinLondontocollecthisluggageandpayhisbill,andexplainedwherehewasifanyonewantedhim.TheyoungmanatthereceptiondeskaskedmeiftheladyjournalistfromStudandStablehadfoundDaveallrightonSat.u.r.day.Shehad,hesaid,beenmostinsistent,owingtoadeadlineonthemagazine,andhehadgivenhermyaddressandtelephonenumber,whichDavehadleftwithhimincasehewaswantedhurriedlyinconnectionwithChrysalis."
"Andthat,"Iremarked,"is...o...b..yandgirlknewwheretofindyou."
"Quite,"Keebleagreed."Fromthehousetotheriverwasnodoubtasimplepieceoffollowing.Incidentally,IcheckedwithStudandStable.Theydidn"twantDave,andtheirdeadlineisthefirstofeachmonth."
"Nice,"Isaid.
Keebletookanenvelopefromhispocketandfishedoutsomethreebythreeinchblackandwhitephotographs."ThesearePeter"ssnaps,"hesaid."Takealook."
Itookthemfromhimandlooked.Theduckshadcomeoutsplendidly;betterthanoneofLynnie,whohadbeenmoving.Thepicniclunchwasthere,andtheFlyingLinnetinMarshLock,andoneofDaveTellerstandingonthebows,andarathergrimoneofmyselfstaringdownintothewater.Therewasoneofthefourmenfalleninaheapinthepuntatthehotelwherewe"dhadourmorningdrinks,andanother,takenwiththephotographer"sbacktotheriver,ofKeeble,Joan,Dave,Lynnieandmyselfsittingroundthelittletableunderthesunumbrella,withgla.s.sesinourhands.
Keeblewaitedwithoutblinking.WiththisinmindIstartedthroughthepileagain,andfoundwhathehadseen.Ilookedupathim.Henodded,andfromaninsidepocketproducedamagnifyinglens,whichhethrewovertome.Withthehelpofthat,thetwofigureswereclear.Agirlwithlonghairandwhitetrousers,ayoungmanwithpaletrousersandacheckshirt,standingsidebysideinthebackgroundofthephotographofusalldrinkingatthepub.
"It"sthem,"Inodded.
"Yes,"Keebleagreed."Theywerethereinthemorning.SoI"llgrantyoutheycouldhavefollowedusbycarfromHenley...youcanseetheriverfromseveralplacesalongthatroad...andalsothattheysawDavestandingonthebowswhenweleftHenleyandwhenweleftthepub.Andpossiblyalsowhenwearrivedatthepub,andatMarshLock.TheywouldknowtherewasagoodchanceofhimbeingthereagainwhenwecamebackthroughHarbour."
Ismiled."Andthefivefeetwhichwasmissingfromthepunt"smooringropehadbeenusedtotieitsecurelytotheDangerpostwhiletheywaitedforus."
"Iagree,"Keeblesaid."Wetookthatpuntrightoutofthewaterafteryou"dgoneonMonday,andwefoundthatthecleatforthesternropehadbeenunscrewedfromthestern,andscrewedonagainunderthewaterlineatthebowend."
"Sobothmooringpointswereatoneend,"Tellersaid."Thesaferopewasunderwaterallthetime,hiddenbythepunt.i.tselfandthegirl"sbodyandarms.And,ofcourse,weweren"tlookingforanythinglikethatatthetime,sowe"dneverhaveseenit."
Keeblefinishedit."Oncethey"dgotthevisibleropesafelyinJoan"shands,andwewerealllookinganxiouslyforyouandDavetosurface,thegirlhadonlytopullsomesortofquickreleaseknot,andthepuntwasfree.SoI"llagree,Gene,thatthatwasanaccidentwhichcouldbestaged,andwa.s.staged,andyouwererightandIwaswrong.Which,Iseemtoremembervaguely,hashappenedonceortwicebefore."
Hesmiledatmewithirony,andIreflectedthattherewerefewsuperiorofficerswhowouldsaythatsortofthingsoutterlyungrudgingly.
AnurseclatteredinwithTeller"slunch,whichprovedtobechickensaladandtinnedmandarinoranges.Thepatientpouredtheorangesontothesaladandatethecombinedcoursewithresignation.
"Thefoodislousy,"hesaidmildly."I"veforgottenwhatagoodsteaklookslike."
Wewatchedhimeatwithoutenvy,andIaskedKeebleifhe"dhadanyresultswiththehandkerchief.
"Onlynegativeones.NoneoftheYogiBearconcessionistsinthiscountryimportedit.Theysay,fromthematerialandthesortofpaintusedforthebear,that.i.twasprobablymadeinj.a.pan.AndsomeofthemhaddoubtsitwasdonebytheHanna-Barberaartists.Notwellenoughdrawn,theysaid."
"I"lltakeitbacktotheStatesandtrythere,"Isaid."Afterall,boyandgirlwerealmostcertainlyAmerican."
Tellerraisedhiseyebrowswithhismouthfull.
"Theboyshouted"Canyouhelpus,sir,"andthat"sir"comesagreatdealmorecommonlyfromAmericans,thanfromtheEnglish.Also,theboatmansaidtheiraccentwas"sameasonthetelly"andthere"sasmuchAmericanasEnglishonourtelevision."
"Thesameargumentmightapplytopublicschoolboys,"Keeblesaidcasually."b.u.t.theywereAmericans,Iagree."
"Soallweneedtoknownow,apartfromwhowerethey,"IsaidtoTeller,"iswhytheywantedyoudead."
Noonehadanyconstructiveideasonthatpoint.Tellerdrankhiscoffeeandamaidinagreenoverallcametotakethetray.
"You"reguardingagainstthemhavinganothergo?"IsaidtoKeeble,watchingthemaid"sbackdisappearthroughthedoor.
Keeblefollowedmyeyes."Allprecautions,"henodded."Theworks.IgottheRadnor-HalleyAgency.OnlythebestforDave!"
"Theywon"tletmeopenanypackages,"Tellercomplained."Ithinktheytakethemoutside,dunktheminabucket,andwaitforthetickingtostart.AndtheonlychocolatesIhavewereboughtbySimpersonally.You"dneverbelievethehalfofwhatgoesoninhere."
Ilaughed."It"swhenyougetoutofhereyou"llnoticeit."
"He"llstayhere"I"lllyou"vewrappeditup,"remarkedKeeble;andhewasn"tjoking.
Istared."I"minanti-infiltration,remember?NottheC.I.D."
"Ohsure.b.u.t.thesamemotivation,1imagine.Justletyourhunterinstinctsloose...andtelluswhatyouplantodonext."
Istooduprestlesslyandwenttothewindow.Stillraining.Twonursesranfromonebuildingtoanother,clutchingcapesaroundthemandskittingmudupthebacksoftheirstockings.Usefulpeople,nurses.Neededpeople.Constructive,compa.s.sionate,toughpeople...
"Well?"saidKeeble,behindme.
Iturnedroundandleanedagainstthewall."How"stheexchequer?"
Telleranswered,"Look,Gene,I"veenoughtolaunchaminors.p.a.ceprogramme.AndasIsaidbefore,ifitweren"tforyouIwouldn"tbehereatall.Sospendwhatyouneedto,andI"llpickupthechits."
"Right...thenIthinkitwouldbebesttolettheRadnor-Halleyagencydealwithanythingwhichcropsuphere...Isupposetheydidthehandkerchiefenquiry?"
Keeblenodded.
"AndI"llgobacktotheStatestomorrow.Ican"tbelievetheattemptedmurderisn"ttiedinwiththehorsetheft,sothespringboardforeverythingmustbeinAmerica.UnlesssomeIrishfanaticdisapprovesofyouskimmingoffthecreamofBritishbloodstock!"
"IsChrysalisIrish,then?"Keebleaskedseriously.
"Irishbreddam,"Isaid."That"sall.HissirewasPurpleEmperor,intheReadStudatNewmarket."
"Howdoyouknow?"Tellerasked,surprised.
"Ilookeditup,"Isaidbriefly."Alsohismarkings.Andthatisimportant."Ipaused."WhoevertookAllyxandChrysalisknewalotabouthorses.Allyxwasoneofsixstallionslooseinapaddockatnight.Chrysaliswasoneoffivehorsesinahorsebox.Yeteachtimetherighthorsewa.s.singledoutforremoval.Wehavetobelieveitwastherighthorse,notjustchance,becauseeachtimeitwasbyfarthemostvaluableoneofthecollectionwhichdisappeared.Well...Chrysalisisadarkbaywithnodistinguishingmarks.Nosocks,n.o.blaze,nostar.Onecolourallover.AndAllyxwas.e.xactlythesame.Thereareliterallythousandsofhorseslikethat."
Thetwomendidn"tstir.
Iwenton,"ThismeansthatifweeverdofindChrysalis,therewillbeanenormousproblemofidentification.Englishhorseshavenotattooednumbers,likeAmerican."
"Christ,"Tellersaid.
"Iwouldn"tknowhimifhecameupandatesugaroutofmyhand.Wouldyou?"Heshookhishead.Iwenton,"TheonlypeopleatalllikelytobeabletopickhimoutforuswithanycertaintyarethosewhohandledhiminEngland.Andthat"swherewehitaverybigsnag.ThestudgroomatRead"sdiedofaheartattacktwomonthsagoandthenewmancouldn"tbesureofknowingChrysalisagain.Readhimselfistooshortsighted,apparently,tobeofanyhelp.Thismeanswehavetogobacknearlyfiveyears,totheseasonwhenChrysalislastraced.Tohisowneratthattime,andhistrainer.ThoughtheonlyoneI"dpinanyfaithonwouldbetheladwholookedafterhim.Andit"sthelad,Ithink,whowe"llneedtotaketotheStates,ifwefindahorsewhichmightbeChrysalis."
"Wecouldeasilyfindoutwhotheladis,"Keeblenodded,"andshunthimover."
"HisnameisSamKitchens,andhe"llbeatAscotatthismoment,asoneofhishorsesisrunninginthefour-thirty.It"sGoldCupdaytoday."Ismiledfaintly."IthoughtImightjustdriftalongtotheraceswhenIleavehere."
"Justtellme,"Tellersaidinasmallvoice,"howandwhenyoufoundoutallthis?"Hespreadhisfingers."Ionlyask."
"IspentanhourthismorningattheBritishBloodstockAgency...Iwaspracticallycampedontheirdoorstepatnineo"clock.AndthenIdidsometelephoning.That"sall."
"Whendoyousleep,fella?"
"Betweenmeals.Verybadfortheappet.i.te."
"He"smad,"TellersaidtoKeeble.
"Yougetusedtoit,"Keeblea.s.suredhim."Thefirsteightyearsaretheworst."
"Andthisistheguyyou"dtrustyourdaughterto?"
"Hm",saidKeeble."Wehaven"tmentionedthat."
"What?"Isaidsuspiciously.
"We"d...er...likeyoutotakeLynniebackwithyou,totheStates,"Tellersaid."She"sgoingtovisitwithEuniceforawhile."
IglancedatKeebleandsawthatheknewwhatIwasinevitablythinking:thatEunice"sspecialneedforcompanywasmorecompellingthantherestofLynnie"sfinishing-schoolterm.
"I"dbegladto,"Isaidtothembothwithformality."Onas...o...b..atviaNewZealand,ifyoulike."
"She"stooyoungforyou,"saidKeeble,withoutanxiety.
"Sheisindeed."Ipushedmyselfawayfromthewallandstoodupright."WherewillIcollecther?"
Keeblehandedmeanenvelope."Airticketsforyouboth.She"llbeattheVictoriaAirTerminalat8.30tomorrowmorning.Isthatallright?"
Itooktheticketsandnodded."CanIhavethehandkerchief?"
Heobliginglyproducedit,inanotherenvelope.Iputthatandtheairticketsaway,andpickedupPeter"ssnaps.HoldingthenegativesuptothelightIsingledoutthedrinkinggroupandput.i.tinmywallet.
"I"llget.i.tblownuptomorrowinNewYork,"Isaid."Thenit"llonlybeamatterofsiftingthroughtwohundredmillioninhabitants."
DrizzlewaswiltingthefluffyhatswhenIgottoAscot,b.u.t.theturflookedgreenerforit,andthehorsesglossier.IspottedthetrainerIwantedandwalkedacrosstowherehewastalkingtoalargewomaninacreasedpinkdressunderadrippingpink.u.mbrella.Hecaughtsightofmeoverhershoulder,andIwatchedtheinitialmemory-jogpa.s.sthroughmind-searchtorecognition.Hesmiledwarmlyathissuccess.
"GeneHawkins."
Thelargewomanturnedround,sawshedidn"tknowme,decidedshe"didn"twantto,anddeparted.
"MrArkwright."Weshookhands,andIthoughthowlittleagehadchangedhim.Stilltheupright,brisk,grey-headedneighbourfrommyfather"sdaysinYorkshire.
"Comeandhaveadrink,"hesaid,"Andlet"sgetoutofthisrain."Thereweremistybeadsofwaterfuzzinghistallgreyhat."Thoughit"smuchbetterthanitwasanhourago,isn"t.i.t?"
"I"veonlyjustcome."