"IthinkitwastwomenwhodroppedmeintotheSouthamptonDocks.Onewasmale,certainly.Andtheycarriedmeeasily.b.u.t.thepersonwh.o.a.rrangedthetransportofthevirusmediumwasfemale."
"Orfalsetto?"
"Whatwouldbethepoint?Andnoteasytodo."Ipaused."Whatwedon"tknow,"Isaid,"iswhetherKevinKeithwa.s.supposedtotakethevirusmediumwithhimwhenhegotoffatChieveley,orwhetherhewa.s.supposedtoleaveitinthecabsothat.i.twouldarriveinPixhill.Arrivehereatthefarmyard,thatis.Alsowedon"tknowwhethertherewasinfactanyvirusinthetubesonthewayhere,orwhethersomeoneinthisgeneralareahadorderedthemediumforfutureuse."
"OhJeez."
IfishedinapocketandgaveherafoldedpieceofpaperbearingthetranscriptofJogger"sphonecall.
"GetPatrickVenables"c.o.c.kneyfriendstounscrambleit,"Isuggested.
"Whatc.o.c.kneyfriends?"
"He"sboundtoknowtheLondonbrotherhood."
"Suchfaith.Allright."Shereadthewordsaloud."Takeabutcher"satthemnuns...yeG.o.ds."
"Doesitmeananythingtoyou?"
"Polandhadthesamefiveonahorselastsummer...It"sallrubbish."Sheputthepaperinherhandbag."NoonecamenearusontheFrenchtrip,"shesaid."Nooneanywhereshowedtheslightestinterestintheundersideofthehorsebox.Nigelsaidhedidn"tlikedrivingPhil"ssuper-sixbecauseithasheaviersteeringthanhisown.Heapprovesoftheone-manone-boxarrangementandhelikesdrivingforsometrainersmorethanothers.HewouldliketodrivefortheWatermeadsmoreoften,butLewisisjealousifhedoes.Lewisdrives...o...b..njyUshertoo,butNigeldoesn"tlikeBenjyUsher"sways.HesaysHarvetoldhimhe"llbedrivingforanewtrainer,aMrsEnglish,andhe"sheardshe"sadragon."
"Mm."Ismiled."She"llgetonwellwithNigel,allthesame.He"llchatherup.She"sdemanding,buthe"stireless.Bytheendofthesummershewon"twantanyoneelse."
"Yougoinforquitealotofappliedpsychology,"sheobserved,"pairingthedriverstothejobs."
"Happierdriversworkbetter.It"sobvious.Happiertrainersdon"temploymyrivals."
"Soit"sallforprofit?"
"And...um...noharminall-roundcontentment,isthere?"
"Idosee,"shesaid,halfmocking,"whyeveryonelikesyou."
Isighed."Noteveryone,byalongshot."Istoodupoffthedesk,pleasedtotalktoherbutwiththingstogetonwith."You"renotonthedrivingcharttoday,areyou?YoucouldtakeadayoffaftertheFrenchtrip."
"Idon"twantto.I"llspendthemorninghere,lookingaroundingeneralandavailableifyougetalast-minutedrivingjob."
"Fine.Good.Well,Isobel"sarrived."We"dbothseenhercardrivein."ComeandlistenwhileItrytofindoutwhoknewthatDavewouldbegoingtoNewmarketthedayhepickedupKevinKeith."
Hereyeswidenedincomprehension."LikeIsaidbefore,"shesaid,"youdon"tneedmehere."
"Ilikeyouhere."
"Asawitness,Patricksaid.I"mtheinsuranceyouapparentlywanted.Yourvindicator.Hesaidyouwerethatsubtle,andIdidn"treallybelievehim."
"Devious,heprobablymeant."
"Heapprovedoftheidea,anyway.That"swhyI"mhere."
Ithoughtheralmosttoofrankandwonderedwhatherbosswouldhavesaid.WewentalongtoIsobel"soffice,whereIsaidthankyouforthevisitors"list,andIsobelbrought.i.tontothescreen.Shegavemeaflashingsmileofthanksformymessageattheend,butshookherheadwhenIaskedherifshecouldrememberwhichactualdayeachofthepeopleonthelisthadbeentoheroffice.
"Canyouremember,"Iaskedneutrally,"whichofthemwereherethedaybeforeBrettandDavepickedupthehitchhiker?Thatwouldbeninedaysago,ontheWednesday."
Sheshookherhead."Icouldcallupthedrivers"listforthatday."Sheturnedautomaticallytothecomputerandthenlookedstricken."Oh...thatday"swipedout."
"It"sallright."I"dpiecedtogethervarioussc.r.a.psofthepencil-and-paperchartthathadbeenonthedeskinmysitting-room,andhadwrittenthemdowninalist.
"HarvetookthefirstloadofJerichoRich"shorsesfromMichaelWatermeadtoNewmarket,"Isaid."WasanyonefromtheWatermeadyardhereintheofficethatday?WasJerichoRichhere?WasanyoneherefromNewmarket?AnyonewhocouldhavehadasightoftheThursdayschedule?Youusuallyhavethescheduleonthescreenalotofthetime.Whocouldhaveseenit?"
Shelookedbewildered.I"daskedthequestionstoofast.Iwentbackandaskedthemagainslowly.
"Oh,Isee.Well,obviouslyallthedriverscouldseewhowasgoingwhere.Imean,theyalwayscomeinforalook."
"Andbesidethedrivers?"
Sheshookherhead."It"ssolongago.Peopleareinandoutofhereallthetime."Sheconsidered."Theydidn"tneedtocomeherethemselvestoknowwhowasdoingthattrip.ItoldBetsywhenshecalledherethat.i.twasdownforBrettandshesaidbothMrRichandMrWatermeadwouldn"tbethrilledabout.i.tbecauseBrettwa.s.suchawhiner,andIsaid...well,Isaiddon"ttellthem,butIexpectshedid."
Ireadthelistonherscreen."WhataboutDrFarway?"
"Ohno,hecamethedayafter,whenthathitchhikerhaddied.HecameontheFriday."
"And...er...JohnTigwood?"
"He"ssuchaborewiththosecollectingboxes.Sorry,Ishouldn"tsaythat."
"Whynot?Heis.Whichdaydidhecome?"
"ThatmusthavebeenFridayaswell.Yes,SandySmithwasheretoo.Irememberthemalltalkingaboutthedeadman."
"OK.WhataboutTessaWatermead?"
"ShemusthavecomebeforeFridaybecausethatwasthedayshewantedtogowithNigeltoNewmarketandhewouldn"ttakeher."Isobelfrowned."Tessa"softeninandout.Ithinkshegetsbored.Shewantsmetoteachherhowtodothisjob...doyoumindifIshowher?"
"Notaslonga.s.she"snotanuisancetoyou,orwastesyourtime."
"Shedoesabit,"Isobelsaidfrankly."Iaskedherwhyshedidn"tgotoasecretarialcollegeandlearnproperlyandshesaidshe"dthinkabout.i.t."
"Well,"Isaid,"howaboutMrRich?"
"Friday.Whileyouweredoingtheshuttle."
"Anyotherday?"
"Um...yes,ofcourse,hecameinontheTuesday,fussingabouthistransfer.Itoldyou,doyouremember?"
"Yes,vaguely."
"Itoldhimyou"darrangeditforthreeconsecutivedays.Iwentthroughitallwithhim."
"Mm.HowaboutLornaLipton,MrsWatermead"ssister?"
"Shewalksherdogpasthere.Well,youknowthat.She...er...dropsintoseeyou,nowandthen.ShecameinonthatFridaywhenyouweredoingtheshuttle."
"Whataboutearlierintheweek?"
Isobelsaiddoubtfully,"Ican"trememberwhichdays."
"Um,"Isaid,"doyourememberifanyoneaskedforDavethedaybeforehewenttoNewmarket?"
"What?"
Irepeatedthequestion."Didanyonewanttospeaktohim?"
Herforeheadwrinkled."Idon"trememberanyoneasking,butIcouldn"tswear.Imean...ohyes!MrRichwantedtoknowifDavewasgoingtoNewmarketwithhisfirstlotofhorsesbutIsaidno,wewereshortofdriversbecauseofthefluandhe"dhavetotakesomerunnerstoFolkestone.ItwasFolkestonewasn"t.i.t?"Shelookeddespairinglyatthecomputer,feelinglostwithout.i.tsmemorybutdoingnottoobadlywithherown."IexpectIdidtellhimDavewouldbegoingwiththeninetwo-year-oldsontheThursday,though."
Ithankedherwithastrokedownherarmandwentonoutintotheyard,Ninafollowing.
"It"samaze,"shesaid."Howdoyoukeepitallinyourhead?"
"Ican"t.Ikeeplosingbits."AndIstillkeptwantingtogotosleep,whichdidn"thelp.
Thefleetwa.s.steadilyleaving,thefarmyardlookingemptywithmostofitsherdofmonstersoutonthetrail.Onlythreeboxesremainedinseparatedslots,quiet,clean,gleaminginthesunshineand,intheirway,majestic.
"You"reproudofthem,"Ninaexclaimed,watchingmyface.
"I"dbetternotbe,orsomethingwillhappentothem.IlovedmyJag...oh,well,nevermind."
Isobelcametotheofficedoorandlookedrelievedtoseemestillthere.ShehadBenjyUsher"ssecretaryonthephone,shesaid:couldwepleasesendanotherboximmediatelyasMrUsherhadforgottenhewasrunningapairintheseconddivisionofthenovicehurdleatLingfield,thelastraceoftheday?
"Shesayshecleanforgottheyweredeclared,"Isobelreported."Thenjustnowheletoutayellandsaidtheymustbesentoffatonce.Shesaystheblacksmith"stherenow,puttingracingplatesonthemandswearingbluemurder.WhatshallItellher?She"swaitingtoknow.MrUsher"syellingatherelbow.Icanhearhim.LewishaslefttherewiththefirsttwoandMrUshersaysthere"snotimeforhimtogoback.Whatdoyouthink?"
"Saywe"llsendanotherboxatonce."
"But...w.i.l.l.youdriveityourself?Everyoneelsehasgone."
"I"lldoit,"Ninasaid.
"Oh,yes.Sorry...yes,ofcourse."Isobelhurriedinsideandpresentlycameoutagaintoconfirmthejourney,pleasurablysaying"MrUsher"sfranticallytryingtoreachhissecondjockey."
"FindagoodmapforNina,w.i.l.l.you?"Iaskedher."Marktheracecourse."ToNinaIsaid,I"llleadyoutoBenjy"sstable.Canyoumanagefromthere?"
"Sure.Whichhorsebox?"
Welookedattheremnants."Pat"s,"Isaid,pointingatafour-box,"theoneyoudrovethefirstday.There"salonerangerunderit,don"tforget,thoughIcan"tseethatmattering."
I"llkeepalookoutanyway,"shesmiled."Whatanincredibletrainer,forgettinghisrunners!"
"Notsoincredible,really.Trainersmakeshatteringmistakes,declaringthewronghorsesometimes,eveninbigraces,andforgettingothersaltogether.Benjy"seccentric,buthe"snottheonlylast-minutemerchantwedealwith.Manytrainerschangetheirmindsviolently,somewhentheclock"sbegunstriking.Makeslifemoreinteresting."
"Aslongasyou"rehappy."
Icheckedthemapwithher,markingtheroadclearly,madesureshehadtherightpaperworkandthendroveaheadofhertoBenjy"syard,nottheeasiestofplacestofind.
Hewasleaningoutofhisupstairswindowwhenwearrived,issuingastreamofinvectiveandinstructionstohislucklessladsandgreetingmepersonallywith,"Don"tletyourdrivergowithoutthejockeys"colours."
Ninahelpedtheladsloadthetwoyoungupsethurdlerswhowerereactingwithtremblesandrollingeyestothegeneralscramble.Nina,Isaw,hadacalmingeffectaspowerfulandnaturalasDave"s,sothatintheendthenervouscreatureswalkeddocilelyuptherampwithoutneedingblindfoldsorbruteforce.Benjystoppedcomplaining,Ninaandtheheadladclosedtheramp,thejockeys"colourswereputonboard,acoupleofscurryingladsclimbedintothepa.s.sengerseatstoaccompanytheirchargesandthecircuswasreadytoroll.
Ninagavemealaughthroughthewindow."Theysaythere"sanewheadtravellingladinLewis"sboxaheadofus,andhedoesn"tknowtheseothertwohorsesarecoming.Hehastodeclarethem,andsaddlethem.Whatato-do."
"PhoneIsobelandaskhertotellLewis,"Isaid.
"Yes,boss."
ShewentonherwayingoodhumourandIfoundmyselfregrettingherstaywouldbetemporary.Highlycompetentandgoodcompany,NinaYoung.
Benjywithdrewandclosedhiswindowlikeoneofthecharacters.e.xitinginJeffreyBernardisUnwell.Ihalfexpectedhimtoreappearonhisdoorstepbutwhenhedidn"tIdriftedoffintheFourtraktogohome.
AshortwayalongtheroadIslowedbeforepa.s.singamanleadingahorse,hardlyanunusualsightinPixhill.Thehorsewa.s.swingingfromsidetosidewithhisattendantyankingdownagainandagainontheleadingreininasharpmannerguaranteedtoproducemoreskittering,notless.Ipa.s.sedthepairwithcaution,stoppedahead,andwalkedbacktomeetthem.
"CanIhelpyou?"Iasked.
"No,youcan"t."Hewasbrusque,ifnotdownrightrude.Young,belligerent,surly.
IrealisedwithminorshockthatthebadlybehavedhorsewasmyoldfriendPeterman,hisnameplainonhisheadcollar.
"Wouldyoulikemetoleadhim?"Iasked."Iknowhim."
"No,Iwouldn"t.It"snoneofyoureffingbusiness."
Ishrugged,wentbacktotheFourtrakandsat.w.a.tchingtheerraticandpotentiallydangerousprogressalongtheroad.Whenhepa.s.sedme,thegroomraisedtwofingersinmydirectionwithajerk.
Afool,Ithoughthim.Iwatchedhimturnrightagoodwayahead,takingtheroadtowardsMarigoldEnglish"syard.Ifollowedslowlytotheturning,stoppingonthemainroadbut.w.a.tchinguntilhorseandmanturnedoffthesideroadandinthroughMarigold"sgates.Atleast,Ithought,oldPetermanhadreachedhisnewhomesafely,andIwouldcheckwithMarigoldtomakesurehewasallright.
Outsidemyownhouse,whenIreachedit,thereseemedtohavesproutedawell-filledcarpark.Cl.u.s.teredaroundtheJaguarandtheRobinson22.werecarsinalldirectionswiththeirdriversinchattinggroups.These,onmyarrival,attemptedtointroducethemselvesallatonce.
"Hey,"Iprotested,"whogotherefirst?"
Thesimpleorderofprecedenceidentifiedthecrowdintovariousinsurancea.s.sessors,air-accidentinspectors,atransportfirmsurveyingthepossibilityofshippingthehelicoptertoScotland,asalesmanhopingIwouldorderanewJaguarandthemantoopenthesafe.
Itookthelastonep.r.o.ntointothehouse,eventhoughhewasapparentlythelatestonthescene.Helookedatthehatchetjob,scratchedhishead,askediftherewasanythingfragileinside(yes,Isaid,computerdisks)andsaidhethought.i.tacaseforadrill.
"Drillaway,"Isaid.
Therestofthemenoutsidehadsproutednotebooksandwerediscussingthemechanicsofbricks-on-sticksonaccelerators.Bynomeansimpossible,theyagreed.Verydicey,butpossible.Thehelicopter-shipperaskedquestionsaboutfuelinthetanks.Notmuchthere,Itoldhim.MysisterhadsaidshewouldhavetorefuelatOxford.Full,thetankandauxiliarytankheldabout130litres,she"dsaid,butshe"dflownfromCarlisleonthat.Theshipperbegandiscussingtechnicalwaystodisa.s.semblethetri-hingerotor,andlostme.
Theair-accidentinspectorproducedaletterfromLizziewhichheaskedmetoreadandconfirm.Neitherofushadseenthecollision,shewrote.Iconfirmedit.
Insurancea.s.sessors,hersandmine,saidthey"dneverseenanythinglikeit,notrightoutsidesomeone"sbackdoor,thatwas.They"dstudiedSandy"sreport.Theyaskedmetosignvariousforms.Isigned.