Inconsequence,Lewisdroveprestigioushorsestobigmeetings.TheWatermeadstableatthatmomenthoused"Cla.s.sic"contenders,withrepresentativerunnersinboththeGuineasandOaks;andallofthedrivershadalreadyputtheirmoneyontheWatermeadstarthree-year-oldcolt,IrkabAlhawawhich,ifallwentwell,LewiswouldbedrivingtoEpsom,inJune,fortheDerby.
Hewas,thatmorning,settingofftoFrancetocollecttwotwo-year-oldsthatanownerhadboughttobetrainedinMichael"syard.Ashewasgoingalone,withoutareliefdriver-agreedwithMichael-hewouldhavetotakereststopsonthewayandwouldn"tbebackuntilMondayevening.Hewouldsleepasusualinhiscab,whichhepreferred.
Icheckedwithhimthathehadtherightdoc.u.mentsandfoodandwaterforthetwo-year-olds,andwatchedhimsetoffcheerfullyontheerrand.
Harvehavinggonethroughtherestoftheday"sprogrammeagainwithme,Isetoffmyselftowardschillygale-sweptSalisburyPlaintogettogripswiththeyo-yoshuttlewhichcouldtakeuntileveningandgivemeaheadache.Theheadachewouldresultfromthevoiceandpersonalityofthetraineronthemove,aforcefulladyinherfiftieswiththeintonationandoccasionallythevocabularyofabarrack-roomparrot.Iwantedneverthelesstopleaseher,aimingforallherfuturebusiness.
ShestrodeacrosstotheboxwhenIpulledupinheryardandproducedthefirstsquawkoftheday.
"Thebosshimself!"sheproclaimedironically,seeingmyface."Whythehonour?"
"Flu,"Isaidsuccinctly."Morning,Marigold."
Shepeeredbeyondmetotheemptypa.s.sengerseats."Didn"tyoubringahandler?Yoursecretarysaidtherewouldbetwoofyou."
"He"shadtodrivetoday.Sorry."
Sheclickedhertongueinirritation."Halfmyladshavegotthebug.It"sapest."
Ijumpeddownfromthecabandloweredthetworampswhileshewatchedandgrumbled,awiryfigureinapaddedjacketandwoollyhat,hernosebluewithcold.ShewasmovingtoPixhill,she"dtoldtheracingpress,becauseitwaswarmerforthehorses.
She"dmadelistslayingouttheorderinwhichherstringwastotravel.HerdepletedforceofladsledthehorsesuptherampsintotheboxandIboltedthepart.i.tionsroundthemuntilthefirstninewereinstalled.
Marigold-MrsEnglish,astheladscalledher-encouragedtheloadingwithvariousraucousepithetsandanoverallairofimpatience.IcertainlycouldhavedonewithDave"sknackofimpartingconfidencetohorseswhileleadingthemupramps:Marigold"smethodtendedtofrightenthemupwardssothatIboltedseveralofthemquiveringandwild-eyedintotheirstalls.
ShehaddecidedtodriveherselfinhercartoPixhilltobereadyinthenewyardwhenIandthehorsesarrived.Fourofherladstravelledwithmeinthecab,allofthemapparentlyenthusiasticoverthemove,thenight-lifeofPixhillbeingseenashotlywickedwhencomparedwiththewindsofStonehenge.
HernewyardwasanoldyardinPixhill,nowmodernisedandenlarged.ItsfirstnineinhabitantsclattereddowntherampsandweredirectedloudlytotheirnewhomesbyMarigoldwithalist.Ishovelledthedroppingsontomucksackssuppliedbyherladsandputthewagonship-shapeforthesecondforay.
Pleased,MarigoldtoldmethatasIwasdoingtheworkmyselfshewouldn"tneedtotravelbackwardsandforwardsalldaytosuperviseandwouldentrustthenextloadingtomeentirely.Shegavemethelist.Ithankedher.Shelookedonmekindly.IthoughtwithsatisfactionthatIwouldgluehertomeasapermanentcustomerbynightfall.
WithsuchprofitablethoughtsIsetoffbacktoSalisburyPlainandhadmycomplacenceshatteredbyJoggeronthephone.
"HihoSilver,"hesaidcheerfully,"we"vegotanothercoupleofLoneRangers."
"Jogger...you"velostme."
"Limpets,"hesaidhelpfully."Barnacles.Stucktotheships"bottoms."
"Whereareyou,exactly?"Iasked.
"Inyouroffice."
"Istheresomeoneelsewithyou?"
"Nothingwrongwithyouruptake,isthere?DoyouwanttotalktoConstableSmith?He"sherenow."
"Wait,"Isaid,"doyoumeanwhat.i.thinkyoumean?ForLoneRangers,doIunderstand...strangers?"
"Yougot.i.t."
"Likethecashbox?"
"Like,butnottwins."Joggerpaused,lettingmeheararumblefromSandySmith"sfamiliarvoice."ConstableSmith,"Joggersaid,"wantstoknowwhenyou"llbeback.Hesaystherewasawarrantoutforthatstiff."
CHAPTER3.
IspoketoSandy.
"Whatwarrant?Whatfor?"
"Fraud.Dudcheques.Skippinghotelswithoutpaying.Pettystuff,mostly,itseems.TheNottinghampolicewantedhim."
"Toobad,"Isaid.
"Hadyoueverseenhimbefore,Freddie?"
"NotthatIknowof."
"He"dwelshedonabookieortwo."
Peoplewhofailedtopaybookmakersweren"tnecessarilymybestbuddies,asIpointedout.
"No,"Sandyagreed,"buthemusthavehadsomethingtodowithracingifheaskedforaliftinahorsebox."
"Davesaidhewaspropositioningatankerdriverfirst.Maybehehadsomethingtodowithoil."
"Oh,veryfunny."
"Letmeknowtheresultofthepost-mortem,w.i.l.l.you?"
"Well,allright,butIdon"texpectI"llget.i.ttoday."
"Anytime,"Isaid."Comeinforadrink."
Helikedtodothat,becausesometimesIwouldkeephimuptodatewithanylocalvillainyIdidn"tlikethelookof.Ontheotherhand,thevillainygoingonontheundersidesofmyboxesneededmoreunderstandingbefore,orifever,ItoldSandyabout.i.t.
IspoketoJoggeragainbriefly,askinghimtophonemewithoutfailwhenhereturnedfromSurrey.
"Won"thammerorbucket."
WithasighIheardhimdisconnectandreachedMarigold"soldyardagainbeforeitclicked.Hammerandnailorbucketandpail.
Fail.
MostofthewayIthoughtinsteadofthelimpetsandwonderedwhattodoaboutthem.IthoughtImightusefullysetupanopportunityforadvicewithoutcommittingmyself,soIpulledthehorseboxintoaroadsideparkings.p.a.ce,fishedoutmydiaryforthenumberandgotthroughtotheSecuritysectionoftheJockeyClubinPortmanSquareinLondon,askingfortheheadman.
EveryoneprofessionallyengagedinracingknewPatrickVenablesbynameandmostofthembysight.Transgressorswishedtheydidn"t.SuchsinsasI"dbeenguiltyofhavingluckilyescapedhisnotice,IcouldgotohimforhelpwhenIneededitandprobablybebelieved.
FortunatelyIfoundhiminhisoffice.IaskedhimifhewouldbyanychancebegoingtoSandownracesthenextday.
"Yes,butI"malsogoingthisafternoon,"hesaid."Ifit"surgent,cometoday."
Iexplainedaboutthefluandthedrivershortage."ButIcandriveoneofmyboxestoSandowntomorrow,"Isaid.
"Right.Outsidetheweighing-room."
"Thanksverymuch."
Iresumedthejourney,loadedtheappointedhorses,drovethemandthetwoladstojoinMarigold.ShetoldmeloudlyIshouldhavebroughtmorethantwoladswithninehorsesandIexplainedthatherheadladhadsaidtwoonly,he"dhadanotheronegohomesickandhewasn"tfeelingtoowellhimself.
"Blasttheman,"shescreeched.
"Youcan"targuewithavirus,"Isaidpacifyingly.
"I"vegottogetallthehorsesoverheretoday,"sheyelled.
"Yes,well,wewill."
Icleanedoutthebox,smiledrea.s.suringly,shutuptherampsandmadethethirdlegoftheshuttle.Twenty-sevendeliveries,Ithought,seeingthethirdloadrattledowntherampsintotheirnewhome,andsupposedlytwomoretripstomake,thoughtheheadladhadominouslytoldmeMrsEnglishhadn"tcountedright,she"doverlookedherownhackandtwounbrokentwo-year-olds.
Theyardswereapproximatelythirtymilesapartandeachshuttle,withloadingandunloading,wastakingmmetwohours.Byduskatsevenintheeveningallb.u.t.theoddmentsweresafelysettledinandMarigoldforoncelookedtired.Herheadladhadgivenbesttothefluandgonehometobedandmyownmuscleswereaching.WhenIsuggestedfinishingthejobearlythenextmorning,theladyresignedlyagreed.Itentativelykissedhercheek,anintimacyIwouldnormallynothaveattempted,andtomyutterastonishmenthereyesfilledwithtears,instantlyrepudiatedwithashakeofherwoolly-hattedhead.
Ioffered,"It"sbeenalongday."
"AdayI"velookedforwardto...andplanned...foryears."
"ThenI"mgladitwentOK."
Shewaslonely,Iperceived,surprised,thehardouterladyagallantwayofplayingthecardslifehaddealther.IknewmoreoverthatIhadindeedsecuredherfuturebusiness,andwashappyI"dhadtodotheshuttlemyself.
Leavinghertrudgingwithrevivingvoiceroundthenewstables,Idrovethenine-boxalongtothefarmyard,pulledupbythepumpsandwroteupthelogbooks,boththebox"sandmyown.I"dspokentoIsobelonthephoneseveraltimesduringtheday,hearingatonepointthatJerichoRichhadactuallyturnedupinherofficecheckingherrecords.Cheek,Ithought.I"dalsolearnedfromHarvethatalltheplannedworkhadbeencompletedwithouttroubleexceptthatoneofJogger"spairofbroodmareshadstartedtofoalonthewaytoSurreyandthatJogger,mechanic,hadunwillinglybecomemidwife.
Joggerinhisturnhadreportedtheincidenttomewithshockedindignationbecausethestudgroomatthedestinationhadrefusedtomovethemarefromthehorseboxuntilthefoalingwascomplete,delayingJogger"sreturntoPixhillbyacoupleofhours.Jogger,itappeared,hadneverseenafoalbornbefore:hehadfounditbotheye-openinganddisgusting.
"Didyouknowthemareeatsallthatstuff?Fairturnedmeup."
"Don"tthinkabout.i.t,"Iadvisedhim."Tellmewhichboxeshavesproutedlittlestrangers."
"Eh?Oh...Phil"sandtheoneDave"sdriving,whichisPat"sboxusually.But,see,mostoftheothershadgoneoutbythetimeIfoundthose.Theremaybemore."
Hesoundedcheerful,b.u.t.thenitwasn"thisbusinessatstake.BythetimeI"dcompletedthelogbooks,filledthetanksandmovedthenine-boxtothecornerwherewecustomarilycleanedthefleet,hehadstillnotreturned.
Underthestrongoutdoorlights,Ihoseddownthenine-boxandsqueegeedthewindows,notabigjobforonceastheweatherhadbeendryallday.Inthefarmyard,thecleaningwatercameoutlikeamistunderpressure,driventhroughapumpwithcompressedair:moreeffectiveandmoreeconomicalwithwaterthanaplainhose.
Theinteriortookmemoretime,asforty-fivehorsesandarelayofladshadlefttheirmarkdespitetheintermittentsweepingsout,andIwasdog-tiredmyselfbythetimeI"dmoppedthefloorswithdisinfectantandfastenedallthepart.i.tionsreadyforthemorrow.
Thefrontcabitselfwasamess,litteredwithscrewed-upsandwichwrappersandawashwiththeropes,reinsandotherparaphernaliausedandborrowedfromtheunderseatlocker.
Iopenedthelockerandreplacedallthegearinit.Eveninsidethelocker,theladshadlefttheirmeal-remains.Ipickedoutasmallpapercarrierandreplaceditwithacoupleofre-foldedhorserugs.Shuttingthelid,Inoticedagainthestainontheseatfromthepreviousnightandwonderedhowtogetridofit,shortofre-coveringthewholething.Certainlynoneoftheladsthathadsatonitthatdayhadcomplained,b.u.t.thentheyhadn"tknownaboutKevinKeithOgden"slastride.
SmilingashaderuefullyIswepttherubbishintothesackI"dprovidedb.u.t.theladshadresolutelyignored,andstooditbesidethesmallcarrierwhichwouldhavegoneintothesackalso,exceptthat.i.tprovedheavierthanemptyandcontained,Ifound,athermosflaskandapacketofuneatensandwiches.Yawning,IthoughtIwouldget.i.tbacktoMarigold"sladsinthemorning,whetherornotIdidthelastshuttlemyself.
FinallyIdrovetheboxalongtoitsusualparkings.p.a.ce,lockedeverything,threwtherubbishsackintoourownskip,carriedthethermosflaskandbagintotheofficesandtypedmyday"srecordsintoIsobel"scomputer.Thatdone,Isatforawhilecallingtothescreentherequirementsforthenextday,tryingtoworkoutifwewouldhaveenoughdriversandhopingnooneelsewouldbeillbythemorning.
IphonedJoggertofindoutwherehewas.Tenminutesfromtheboozer,hesaid.Theboozer,Jogger"snaturalhome,wasthepubwherehedrankwithhiscronieseverynight.Tenminutestotheboozermeantmaybetwelvetothefarm.
"Don"tstopontheway,"Isaid.
WhileIwaitedforhimIranthroughthecomputernotesfortheday;everything,that"stosay,thathadbeenenteredbeforeIsobelandRosehadleftatfouro"clock.
Theonlyhiccup,averyminorone,seemedtohavebeenthatMichaelWatermead"sfillieshadsetoffanhourandahalflatetoNewmarket.
"Nigelreported,"thescreeninformedme,"ladsfromNewmarketdidn"tshowuntilten-thirty.Tessa"smessageyesterdayorderedboxforninea.m.Nigelsetoffwithfilliesateleven.ReportedarrivalNewmarketone-thirty.ReportedleavingNewmarkettwo-thirty."
Nigelhadreturneduneventfully,Harvehadsaid,andhisboxstoodcleanandshipshapeinitsaccustomedplace.
TheTessainquestionwasMichael"sdaughter,sonoone"sheadwouldrolloverthemistake;mixupsovertimewerealltoocommon.Ifthatwastheworstthathadhappenedithadbeenanear-perfectwork-day.
Isobelslastsnippetofinformationread,"MrRichinpersoncalledattheoffice,checkingourrecordsonhistransfer.Isatisfiedhimonallpoints."
Jogger"slightsswoopedinthroughthegatesandherolledalongtothepumps.Iwentouttomeethimandfoundhimstillshakenbytheconfrontationwiththeb.l.o.o.d.yrealitiesofbirth.Imyselfhadseenseveralfoalsandotheranimalsdeliveredbutnever,Iidlyreflected,anactualhumanbaby.WouldI,Iwondered,havefounditmoretraumatic?Myonlychild,adaughter,hadbeenborninmyabsencetoagirlwho"dpersuadedanothermanhewasthefather,andmarriedhimquickly.Isawthemallsometimes,alongwiththeirtwosubsequentchildren,butIfeltfewpaternallongingsandknewIwouldneverseektoprovethetruth.
Joggerfilledhistanks,movedtothecleaningareaandgrumbledhiswaythroughthemoppingout.InthebeliefthatifIinterruptedIwouldbeleftwithanincompletejob,Iwaiteduntilhe"dfinishedbeforeIaskedhimthevitalquestion.
"Whereexactlyaretheselimpetstrangers?"
"You"llneverseetheminthedark,"hesaid,sniffing.
"Jogger..."
"Yeah,well,youcan"thardlyseetheminbroaddaylight-"hewipedhisnoseonthebackofhishand,"unlessyouwanttogetunderonthesliderwithatorch?"
"No."
"Didn"tthinkso."
"Justtellmeaboutthem."
Hewalkedalongtherowwithme,pointing.
"Phil"sbox.Ihaditoverthepit.There"satubecontainerstuckontopoftherearfueltank,inthats.p.a.ceabovethetankbutunderthebox"sfloor.It"shiddenbythesideofthehorsebox,andyoucan"tseeiteitherfromthefrontorthebackoftheboxifyou"relookingcasuallyunderthecha.s.sis.b.l.o.o.d.yneatjob."