"Iwouldn"thavedoneitonmyown."
"That"sb.l.o.o.d.yunfair,"Daveprotestedfuriously.
"Bothofyoushutup,"Isaid."Cleanthebox."
Seething,theybothwentoutandthroughthewindowIwatchedtherigidityoftheirangerastheymarchedtowardsthetask.UndoubtedlythepickingupofthehitchhikerhadbeenDave"sdoing,butIfoundIcouldforgivehisirresponsibilitymoreeasilythanBrett"sself-righteousness.TheyhadbothforsurepocketedKevinKeithOgden"smoney,althoughnothingwouldgetthemtosayhowmuch.
Joggersaid,pointingatthecashbox,"Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththat?"
"Oh...justleaveithere.Andthanks."
"Where"sBrettofftointhatboxtoday?"heasked,followingmygazethroughthewindow.
"Nowhere.He"sleavingthefirm.I"llbedrivingitmyself."
"Straightup?ThenI"lldoyouafavour."
Iswitchedmyattentiontohisgrubby,lined,fifty-three-year-oldface,thewilyexteriorofanoldsoldierwhokneweveryskivingtrickofthetradebutlivedbyhisowncodeofstricthonestyinsomerespects,notablyforanythingthatmovedonwheels.
"You"vegotastrongactiveuncoveredmagnetunderthatbox,"heinformedme."Ifyou"renotcareful,it"llpickupironbarsandsuchandyoucouldcatchthemonsomethingorbackontothemandmaybepierceafueltankorworse."
Imovedmyheadinappreciation."What"sbesttodo?"
"I"llsticksomethingoverit,ifyoulike."
"Thanks,Jogger."
Heheardtherealgrat.i.tudeinmyvoiceandnoddedbriefly."What"vewebeencarrying,eh?"heasked."Carpets?"
Iwasmystified."Carpets?"
"Andrugs.Drugs."
"Oh."Iunderstoodbelatedly."Ihopenot."Iponderedbriefly."Keepittoyourselffornow,Jogger,w.i.l.l.you?UntilIget.i.tsortedout."
Hesaidhewould,apromiseeasilygiventhatmightlastintothethirdpintthateveninginthepub,butnofurther.
Atclosequartershesmelledofoilanddust,thoseconstantcompanions,andalsoofstalesmokeandageneralearthiness.Ifounditlessobjectionablethantheoverpoweringlysweetaftershaveandclashingmedicinalmouthwashofoneoftheotherdrivers,whoseodourpervadedhiswholehorseboxevenoverridingthescentofhorses.
Asfaraspossible,eachdriverdroveoneparticularhorseboxallthetime,makingithisown.I"dfoundtheyallpreferreditlikethat,andtheyalsolookedafterthevehiclesbetterthatway,keptthemcleaner,understoodtheiridiosyncrasiesandgenerallytreatedthemwithprideastheirpersonalproperty.Eachdriverkeptthekeysofhisownboxinhispossessionandcouldpersonalisehisowncabifhecaredto.Severalofthemwholikedtosleeponboardhadriggedcurtainsforthewindows.Pat,nowsickwithflu,carriedfreshflowersandaningeniousfoldingchangingroominhers.IcouldalmostinfalliblyhavetoldwhichboxIwasinsimplybythecab.
Brett"scabwasconsistentwithhowlittleofhimselfhe"dcommittedtothejob;devoidofanythingpersonal.Iwouldbegladtoseethebackofhimeventhoughitcompoundedthedrivershortage.
Sayinghe"dfetchsomethingforthemagnetandthathe"dbettergetonwiththingsifhewasgoingtoSurreywiththebroodmares,Joggerjoggledhiswaybacktohisvan,loadedtheslideranddroveoff.Davehoseddowntheoutsideofthehorseboxandcleanedthewindowswithasqueegee.Brettsweptinternaldebriscarelesslyoutthroughthegrooms"doorsontothetarmac.
Theinsideplanofthe35-footlonghorseboxmadeprovisionforthreesetsofthreestalls,withs.p.a.cesbetweenthesets.Thehorses"headsprotrudedforwardsintotheses.p.a.ces,whereoftensatanattendanttravellingnearthem.
Thewidthoftheboxallowedforthreestallsonlyifthehorsestravellingwereofaveragebuild.Heavilymuscledhorses,likeoldersteeplechasers,neededmoreroomandcouldtravelonlytwosidebyside.Thesameforbroodmares.Whenwetookmareswithfoals,thethreestallsacrossconvertedtoonesinglelargeone.Soninetwo-year-oldsorthreemareswithfoalscouldbeaccommodated.
Theseversatilearrangementswereeasilyachievedbymanycleverly-designedswingingpart.i.tions,allofthemofwood,coveredwithsoftpadding,toavoidinjuriesandbruising.Weloadedthehorsesandboltedthestallsasneededaroundthem.
Thefloorsofthestallswereofthickblackrubbertostopthehorsesslidingabout,andsometimeswesprinkledthesurfacewithshavingstocatchthedroppings,especiallyonlongjourneys.Ateachdestination,theattendantsorthedriverwouldsweepthestallscleanofthemuck:thenine-horseboxhadthereforearrivedhomereasonablyclea.n.a.lready,havingcomebackemptyfromNewmarket.
Anarrowcupboardattherearofeachboxcontainedbrooms,ashovel,hose,squeegeesandmop.Wetookalsoabucketortwo,teedsometimesforthehorses,andseveralplasticcontainersofdrinkingwater.Thelockerundertheattendants"benchseat-whereOgdenhaddied-housedsparetackintheformofheadcollars,ropes,straps,ahorseblanketortwoandafirstaidkit.Behindthedriver"sseatlayanefficientfire-extinguisher;andthatwasaboutallwecarriedexceptfortheattendants"ownbelongingsuponth.e.s.h.elfwiththemattress.Theladsmostlytookwiththemcleantidyclothestochangeintoforleadingtheirchargesroundtheparadering,changingbackintoworkingthingsforthereturnhome.
Dayafterday,alloverthecountry,fleetsofhorseboxeslikemineferriedalltherunnerstotheraces,mostdaysaboutahundredrunnerstoeachmeeting,onbaddays,downto,perhaps,thirty.MostoftherunnersthatweretrainedinPixhilltravelled,luckily,inmyboxesandasatleasttwenty-fivetrainerswereinbusinessinthedistrict,Iwasmakingmoney,ifnotafortune.
Forallsteeplechasejockeysintheirearlythirtiestheurgentquestionarose,whatnext?Onelifelaybehind,unfilledtimelayahead.I"dbeendrivinghorseboxesbytheageofeighteenformyfather,whohadownedhisowntransport;drivingsomeofhishorsestotheraces,lookingafterthem,ridingtheminamateurraces,drivinghome.Bytwenty,turningprofessional,I"dbeenretainedbyatopstable,andfortwelveyearsafterthatI"dfinishedeachseasonaroundsecondtosixthinthejockeys"list,ridingupwardsof400jumpracesayear.Fewjumpjockeyslastedlongerthanthatnearthetopowingtothephysicalbatteringoffalls,andatthirty-twotimeandinjurieshadcaughtupwithme,asthey"dbeenboundtodointheend.
Fromjockeytofull-timehorsetransporterhadbeenajoltingchangeofoutlookinsomeways,butfamiliarterritoryinothers.Threeyearsintothenewlife,itseemedasifithadbeeninevitableallalong.
ImadeupBrett"spaypacketwithcashfrommysafeaspromisedandtypedtheinformationintothecomputer,sothatalongintheofficeRosecouldincorporateitintotheP45.Onewayandanothershehadn"thadmuchpracticeatP45S,astheturnoverindrivershadprovedsmall.
Brett"senvelopeinhand,IwentouttothehorseboxwhereheandDavewerenowstandingonthetarmacglaringateachother.Havingremovedthehosefromtheoutsidetapbeyondthewoodpile,Davestoodwithitsgreenflabbyplasticloopsoverhisarm,apparentlychildishlyarguingthat.i.twasBrett"sjobtoput.i.tawayinitscupboard.
Givemestrength,Ithought,andaskedDavenicelytoput.i.tawayhimself.WithbadgraceheclimbedwithitintotheboxandBrett.w.a.tchedhimspitefully.
"That"snottheonlytimeDave"spickedupahitchhiker,"hesaid.
Ilistenedbutdidn"treply.
Brettsaid,"It"shimyououghttosack,notme."
"Ididn"tsackyou."
"Asgoodas."
HissharpyoungfacelackedanysortofhumourandIfeltsorryforhimthatheshouldgothroughlifemakinghimselfdisliked.Thereseemedtobenowayofchanginghim;hewouldgowhiningtothegrave.
"You"llhavetoleaveaforwardingaddresswithIsobel,"Isaidconversationally."Youmightbecalledonfortheinquestonyesterday"spa.s.senger."
"It"sDavethey"llwant."
"Allthesame,leaveanaddress."
Hegrunted,acceptedhispaypacketwithoutthanksanddroveoff,Davecomingtoearthagainbymysideandlookingafterhimbalefully.
"Whatdidhesay?"heasked.
"Thatyou"dpickedupotherhitchhikers."
Davelookedfurious."Hewould."
"Don"tdoit,Dave."
HelistenedtotheweightIputintothewordsand,unsuccessfullytryingtojoke,said,"Isthatsomesortofthreat?"
"Awarning."
"Itdon"tseemfairtoleavepeoplestandingbytheroadside."
"Itmaynotseemfairtoyou,"Isaid,"butjustgrityourteethanddoit."
"Well...OK."Hegavemeahalf-heartedgrinandpromisednottogiveanyliftsonhiswaybackfromleavingthebroodmaresinGloucestershirethatafternoon.
"I"mserious,Dave."
Hesighed."Yeah.Iknowit."
Heretrievedhisrustybikefromthewoodpileandsqueakedawaydownthedrive,wobblingasideforJoggerwhowasreturninginhisvan.
Joggerhadbroughtwithhimabook-sizedpieceofwoodwithacl.u.s.terofnailsdrivenintoit.Thenail-headswouldsticktothemagnet,hesaid,butnotsofirmlythathewouldn"tbeabletogetthewholethingoffatthenextoverhaul.Thewoodwouldpreventthemagnetfrompickingupanythingelse.
Itookhiswordforit,andwatchedhimrollexpertlyunderthecha.s.siswithoutusingtheslider,takingonlysecondstoputtheinsulatingwoodinplace.Hewasuponhisfeetgivingmeasidewaysyellowsmileinaninstant.
"Thatdidn"ttakelong,"Isaidthoughtfully.
"Ifyouknowwheretolook,it"sapieceofcake."
Harvearrivedatthatmoment,crossingwithJogger"sdeparture.WewalkedtogethertothehouseandIshowedhimthegrime-ladencashbox,explainingwhereJoggerhadfoundit.HelookedaspuzzledasIfelt.
"Butwhat"sitfor?"hesaid.
"Joggerthinkswe"vebeenentertainingdrugsunawares."
"What?"
"Smugglingcocaine,perhaps?"
"No."Harvewasadamant."Noonecoulddothatwithoutusknowing."
RuefullyIsaid,"Maybeoneofusdoesknow."
Harvedidn"tagree.Ourdriversweresaints,heimplied.
Itoldhimaboutthenightvisitor,who"dcomeinblackdisguiseandenteredthehorsebox.
"Hehadakeytothegrooms"door,"Isaid."Hemusthavedone.There"snodamagetothelocks."
"Yes,"Harvesaid,thinking,"butyouknowthosegroom-doorkeysdon"topenjustonebox.Imean,IknowforacertaintythatmyownboxhasthesamekeyasBrett"s,here.Quitealotofthemareduplicated."
Inodded.Theignitionkeyswereindividuallyspecialandcouldn"tbecopied,b.u.t.thegrooms"doorlockscamefromadifferentsmallerrange,andseveraloftheboxeshadkeysthatfittedothers.
"Whatwashedoinginsidethecab?"Harveasked,"ifthisthing...thishidingplace...wasunderneath?"
"Idon"tknow.Hehaddirtonhisclothes.Maybehe"dalreadylookedunderneathandfoundthehidingplaceempty."
"Whatareyougoingtodoabout.i.t?"Harvesaid."TellSandySmith?"
"Maybe.Sometime.Idon"twanttorunusintotroubleifIdon"thaveto."
Harvewashappywiththat."Wedon"twanttheCustomstohearofit,"hesaid,nodding."They"dholdusupforhours,everycrossing.They"dtreat.i.ta.s.specificinformationreceived,Iwouldn"twonder."
Hispleasantfacewasonlylightlyanxious;andtheunwelcomediscovery,Isupposed,didn"tmerittheinstantpushingofpanicb.u.t.tons.
"OK,"Isaid,"let"sgeton.I"llcomealongtothefarmforfuelandstarttheshuttle."
IlockedthehousewhileHarveyleft,thenfollowedalongtothefarmyard,lessthanamileaway,nearertotheheartofPixhill.
Harve,hiswifeandfourtow-headedchildrenlivednextdoortothefarmyardinwhathadbeentheoldfarmhouse.TheoldfarmbarnwasnowJogger"sdomain,aworkshopwithinspectionpitandeveryaidtomechanicalperfectionthathecouldcajolemeintobuying.
Whathadoncebeenacowshedwasnowasmallcanteenandasuiteofthreeofficeswithwindowslookingintothefarmyard,fromwhereonecouldwatchthehorseboxescomeandgo,eachtoandfromitsownallocatedparkings.p.a.ce.Asmallstableblockwithroomforthreehorseswa.s.sitedinthes.p.a.cebetweentheendofthestretchofofficesandthehighwallofthebarn.Wesometimeshousedourpa.s.sengerstheretemporarilyiftheywereduetoleaveorarriveinthemiddleofthenight.
Severaloftheday"ssortieshadalreadybegun.Theothernine-boxhadalreadylefttocollectthebroodmaresboundforIreland.ThetwoSouthwellboxes"s.p.a.ceswereemptyalso.JoggerwasdrivingPhil"sboxovertothebarnforitsoverhaul.
Idrewtoahaltbythedieselpumpandtoppedupthetanks.
Normallywerefuelledonreturnintheeveningstoavoidwaterproblemsfromaircondensingovernightinquarter-fulltanks,atipI"dlearnedfromapilotfriend.Wealsohoseddowntheboxesatthatpointandcleanedtheinsideswithdisinfectantsotheywerefreshandreadytogointhemornings.
Brett,Inoticed,hadremovedtheremainsofhispicnic,buthissolutiontothestainonthebench-seathadbeennottocleanitoffb.u.t.tofoldthehorserugandlayitalongtheseattocoverit.Typical,Ithought.
Intheoffices,IsobelandRosewereconsultingtheirmachines,turninguptheheatersanddrinkingcoffeefromthecanteennextdoor.RosesaidshehadalreadygivenBretthisP45andtakenhismother"saddressandwasgladtoberidofhim.
Rose,plumplymiddle-aged,keptthefinancialrecords,seeingtothepaypackets,sendingoutbills,preparingchequesformysignature,keepingtrackofthepennies.Isobel,gentle,young,clearheaded,answeredthetelephone,tookthebookingsandchattedusefullywithmanytrainers"secretaries,harvestingadvancenoticeoftheirstables"requirements.
RoseandIsobelhadanofficeeach,inwhichtheyworkedfromeight-thirtytofour.Thethirdoffice,lessbusy-looking,lesspersonal,wastechnicallymyownbutwasusedjustasmuchbyHarve.Thedoc.u.mentationoftheboxeswaskeptinthere,andalsoduplicatesoftheignitionkeys,inalockeddrawer.
Inspiteoftheflu,inspiteofBrett,inspiteofKevinKeithOgden,thatFriday"sworkseemedtobegoingsmoothly.
ThedriverduetotransferJerichoRich"ssixfilliestoNewmarkethadalreadyarrivedinthefarmyard,asforsomeunspecifiedreasonMichaelWatermeadhadwantedthemtoleavehisstableearlierinthemorningthantheloadoftwo-year-oldsthedaybefore.
IexplainedtoNigel,thedriver,thatMichaelwouldn"tbesendinganyofhisownladstocareforthefillies("Jerichocanwhistleforfavours,b.l.o.o.d.yman")b.u.t.thatacarwithacoupleofladswouldbecomingoverfromthedestinationtrainerinNewmarket.
"TheydidthesameyesterdaywithBrettandthedaybeforewithHarve,soyoushouldn"thaveanytrouble,"Isaid.
Nigelnodded.
"Anddon"tpickupanycorpsesonthewayhome."
Helaughed.Hewastwenty-four,insatiablyheteros.e.xual,foundlifeajokeandcouldcalloninexhaustiblestamina,hischiefvirtueinmyeyes.Anytimeweneededlongnight-drivingIsenthim,ifIcould.
Trainersoftenhadafavouriteamongthedrivers,aparticularmantheyknewandtrusted.InMichaelWatermead"scase,therewasadrivercalledLewis,atthatmomentwarminghishandsroundamugofteaandlisteningtoDave"sself-justifyingaccountofthelastrideofK.K.Ogden.
"Didn"thesayanything?"Lewisaskedinterestedly."Justsnuffedit?"
"Makesyouthink,doesn"t.i.t?"
Lewisagreedaboutthat,noddinghisclose-croppedhead.Inhistwenties,likethemajorityofthedrivers,hewaswilling,resourcefulandstrong,withatattooofadragonononeforearmandareputedpastasabiker.Therave-uphistoryhadraisedmydoubtstobeginwith,buthe"dprovedthoroughlyreliableatthewheelofhisglossysuper-sixbox,andMichael,whohadexactingstandards,hadtakentohimfirmly.