Ifrowned."Whatwouldithold?"
"Searchme.Halfadozenfootb.a.l.l.s,maybe.It"semptynow,though.Itmusthavehadascrew-oncap.Thescrew-thread"sthere,b.u.t.thecapismissing."
Phil"sboxwasasuper-six,aswerehalfofthefleet.Asuper-sixcarriedsixhorsesincomfort,hadanextra-s.p.a.ciouscab,agenerousgenerallayout,andcouldaccommodateaseventhhorsestandingcrosswaysatapinch.Ilikeddrivingthembetterthanthelongernine-boxes.Halfadozenfootb.a.l.l.sinatubeontheundersidesoundedmacabreaswellasdownrightimprobable.
"Pat"sbox,"Joggersaid,pointing,"that"stheoneDavedrovewithbroodmares,remember?"Hebrokeoff,recallinghisownfrightfulday."Don"tneveraskmetodriven.o.broodmaresnomore."
"Er,no,Jogger.WhataboutPat"sbox?"
Pat"sbox,smaller,tookfourhorses.Fiveofthefleetwerethatsize,handy,lessthirsty,therunabouts.IntheFlatracingseason,Pat"sboxwasretainedfulltimebyanotherPixhilltrainerwithaphobiaaboutsharingjourneyswithothertrainers"horses.Pat"sboxwentoftentoFrance,thoughnotwithherdriving.
"Underthere,"Joggersaid,"isanothertube,thesamesize.It"sempty.Ithasascrew-oncap,too,andthecapisthere,onthatone."
"Beenthereawhile?"Iasked."Dirty?""Natch."I"llmaybetakealookinthemorning.AndJogger,keepittoyourself,w.i.l.l.you?Ifyouspreaditaroundtheboozeryou"llfrightenoffwhoeverstuckthethingsthere,andwe"llneverhaveachanceoffindingoutwhat"sgoingon."
Hecouldseethepointofthat.Hesaidhe"dbea.s.silentasthewash(washandshave;grave)andagainIwonderedifhisreticencewouldoutlasttheevening"spints.
OnSat.u.r.daymorningearly,Idroveoneofthefour-boxestoSalisburyPlain,collectedMarigold"soddmenthorsesanddeliveredthemtoherbynine,realisingalongthewaythatI"dforgottentotakewithmeherlads"lunchcarrierbag.WhenImentionedittoher,sheenquiredloudlyofheremployeesaboutownershipbutreceivednoclaims.
"Throwitaway,"shecounselled."I"msendinghorsestoDoncaster.Youcantakethem,Ihope?"
Doncasterraces,twelvedaysahead,representedtheprestigiousopeningoftheFlatseason.Ia.s.suredherI"dbedelightedtotakeanythingshewanted.
"Inaboxontheirown,"sheadded."Idon"twantthempickingupotherstables"germs.Myhorsesneversharetransport."
"Fine,"Isaid.
"Good."Shebroughtforthasmile,moreamatterofeyesthanoflips:asgoodapledgea.s.shakinghandsonacontract.
HomeagainIdrankcoffee,atecornflakes,talkedtoHarve,talkedtoJogger("Didn"tsayad.i.c.kybirddowntheboozer.")andcheckedtheday"slist,againjugglingthedearthofdriversandpressingDaveandJoggeragainintobehind-the-wheelservice.
Ratheragainsthiswill,IredraftedPhilintothenine-boxandtookhissuper-sixmyself,pickingupjumpersfromthreedifferentstablesanddeliveringthemandtheirladstoSandownracecoursefortheafternoon"ssport.
OverSandown"sfencesI"driddenmorewinnersthanIcouldremember,itstestingcoursesoimprintedinmysubconsciousthatIcouldprobablyhaveriddenitblindfoldandhadcertainlynavigateditsintricaciesfamiliarlyincountlessdreams.Ofallcourses,itevokedinmethestrongestnostalgiaforthecloseworldI"dlost,theintimatebody-to-bodyblendingwithanon-humanpowerhouse,themind-into-mindflowingofcourageandintent.Onecouldspeaktostrangersofrace-ridingasbeinga"joblikeanyother"b.u.t.theslightestintrospectiongavethatthelie.Racingonhorsesoverjumpsatthirtyormoremilesanhourwas,tomeatleast,aspiritualexaltationneverachievedorevenenvisionedinanyotherway.Toeachhisreligion,Isupposed.Bighorsesoverbigfenceshadbeenmine.
NowadaysatSandownIfeltexcommunicated;nodoubtablasphemy,butadeeptruthnevertheless.
ImetPatrickVenablesoutsidetheweighing-room,ashe"dpromised.
Theheadofracing"sSecurityService,atallthinmanwithsuitablyhawk-likeeyes,hadinhistime,oneunderstood,been"somethingincounter-espionage",nodetailseversupplied.Racecoursewitssaidhe"dbeensiredbyalie-detectoroutofaleech,inthatonecouldn"tfoolhimorshakehimoff.
Likeothersinhis...o...b..forehim,heranthecomparativelysmallSecuritysectionwithbriskefficiencyandwaslargelyresponsibleforthereasonablyhoneststateofracing,sniffingoutnewscamsalmostbeforetheywereinvented.
Hegreetedmewiththeusualskin-deepfriendliness,nevertobemistakenfortrust.Lookingathiswatchhesaid,"Fiveminutes,Freddie.Isthatenough?"
Condenseit,hemeant,and,facedwithhisdeadlineandobviouslackoftime,Ibegantoretreatfromaskinghisadvice.
"Well,itdoesn"tmatterreally,"Isaidlamely.
Myhesitancy,insteadofreleasinghim,seemedtoswitchonhisattention.Hetoldmetofollowhimintotheweighing-roomandledmethroughtoasmallinnerofficecontainingatable,twochairsandverylittleelse.
Heclosedthedoor."Sitdown,"hesaid,"andfireaway."
ItoldhimaboutthethreecontainersJoggerhadsofarfoundundertheboxes."Idon"tknowhowlongthey"vebeenthereorwhattheycontained.Mymechanicsayshecan"tswearhewon"tfindmore,asthey"reprettywellcamouflaged."Ipausedbriefly.
Hasanyoneelsecomeacrossanythinglikethis?"
Heshookhishead."NotthatIknowof.Haveyoutoldthepolice?"
"No."
"Whynot?"
"Curiosity,Isuppose.Iwanttofindoutwho"sbeenusingme,andwhatfor."
Hepondered,studyingmyface."You"reusingmeasinsurance,"hesaideventually,"incaseoneofyourboxesiscaughtsmuggling."
Ididn"tdenyit."I"dliketocatchthemmyself,though."
"Mm."Hepursedhismouth."I"dhavetoadviseyounotto."
Iprotested,"Ican"tjustdonothing."
"Letmethinkabout.i.t."
"Thankyou,"Isaid.
"Isuppose,"hefrowned,"thishasn"tanythingtodowiththemanwhodiedinoneofyourboxes?Iheardaboutthat."
"Idon"treallyknow,"Itoldhimaboutthemaskedsearcher."Idon"tknowwhathewaslookingfor.Ifitwasthedeadman"sbelongings,hewouldn"thavehadanysuccessbecausethepolicehadthemall.b.u.t.thenIwonderedifhe"dbeenleavinganything.Andhehaddirtanddustonhisclothes,whichwaswhyIwonderedifhe"dbeenontheground,andwhyIaskedmymechanictoseeifhe"dstuckanythingontheboxunderneath."
"Andyouthinkhehad?"
"No.Thecontainerundertherehadbeeninplaceforsometime.Itwasfilthy,withlayersofgrime."
ItoldhimthattheboxIhaddriventoSandownthatdayhadacapacioustubestuckabovethefueltank."Youcan"tseeitatalleasilyevenifyou"relookingforit,upfromunderneath,"Iexplained."Horseboxesareallcoachbuiltsothatthesidesarenearerthegroundthanthecha.s.sis.Foraerodynamicsandgoodlooks.Iexpectyouknowthat.MinearebuiltinLambourn.They"reverygood.Anyway,thesideshideandshieldtheundersidemechanisms,sameascars.Bombscanbehiddenthere."
"Idounderstand,"hea.s.suredme."Arebombswhatyoufear?"
"Isupposedrugsaremorelikely."
PatrickVenableslookedathiswatchandstoodup."Havetogo,"hesaid."Comebacktotheweighing-roomafterthelastrace."
Mynodof.a.greementwasmadetohisdepartingback.Iwonderedwhathewouldmakeofit;shrugitoffortakealook.Sometimeduringtheafternoonhewoulddecide,butintellinghimI"dcometomyownconclusion,thatIreallydidneedandmeantofindoutwhatwasgoingon,withorwithouthishelp.
Iwentoutsideandspentagooddealoftheafternooninconversation,usefulsometimes...o...b..sinessbutafarcryfromtheurgencyofrace-riding,changingcolours,weighingoutandin,hurrying,racing,changingcolours...Oh,well.Onthegoodside,Inolongerstarvedtoremainartificiallythin,nolongerbrokemybonesandhidlargebruises,nolongerfearedlosingbigraces,goodowners,mynerveormyjob.IwasnowfreeinawayI"dneverbeenandreflectedthatifIstillhadtopleaseownersandtrainers,thentoprosperalmosteveryonehadtopleasesomeone;performers,thepayingpublic,presidentsandprimeministers,theirpopulation.
OnafternoonslikethatatSandownI"dfoundIbehavedlikeallmydrivers,thatistosayItookespecialnoteofthoseparticularrunnersthatI"dbroughttothecourse.Awinnerliftedthespiritsofeverydriver:ahorsekilled,asoccasionallyhappened,sentthemhomeindepression.Theundoubtedifillogicalfeelingsofproprietorshiphadanoticeableeffectonhowcheerfully,fastandthoroughlytheboxesgotservicedontheirreturn.
AstwoofthehorsesIhadferriedthatdaybelongedtoatrainerI"driddenforintermittentlyinthepast,itwasnaturalthatI"denduptalkingtohimandhiswife.
BenjyUsherandDotappearedtobequarrellingasusualwhenheshotoutanarmandgrabbedmysleeveasIpa.s.sed.
"Freddie,"hedemanded,"tellthiswomanwhichyearFredArchershothimself.Shesays1890.Isaythat"srubbish."
IglancedatDot"snormalmixedexpressionofresignationandanxiety.Yearsoflivingwithanirasciblemanhadcarvedpermanentfaciallinesthatevenherinfrequentsmilescouldbarelyoverride,yetalthoughthey"dbeenfigurativelyspittingateachotherforaslongasI"dknownthem,thepairwerestillgrimlytogether.
Theywerebothunusuallygoodlooking,whichonlymadeitodder.Bothwerewelldressed,intheirforties,sociallypractisedandintelligent.Fifteenyea.r.s.earlierIwouldn"thavegiventheirunionfiveminutes,whichjustshowshowlittleanoutsidercanseeofamarriage.
"Well?"Benjychallenged."
Idontknow,"Isaiddiplomatically,thoughIdidknowactuallythat.i.thadbeenin1886,whenthebrilliantchampionjockeywastwenyy-nine,andhadwon2,749races,travellingeverywherebytrain.
"You"reuseless,"Benjysaid,andDotlookedrelieved.
Benjychangedthesubject,mercurialalways."Didmyhorsesgethereallright?"
"Yes,theydidindeed."
"Myladtellsmeyoudrovethemyourself."
Inodded."Threeofmydrivershaveflu."
Manytrainerscameoutintotheirstableyardstoseetheirrunnersloadsafelyintothetransport,butBenjyseldomdid.Hisideaofsupervisionwastoyelloutofthewindowifhesawanythingtodispleasehim,whichIunderstoodwasoften.Benjy"sturnoverofstable-ladswashigherthanmost.Benjy"sheadtravellinglad,whoshouldhaveaccompaniedtherunnerstoSandown,hadwalkedoutonthepreviousday.
BenjyaskedifIknewofthatawkwardfact.Yes,I"dbeentold,Isaid.
"Thendomeafavour.Saddlemyrunnersandcomeintotheringwithus."
Mosttrainersinthecirc.u.mstanceswouldhavesaddledtheirownrunners,butnotBenjy.Hescarcelylikedtouchingthem,I"dobserved.IguessedthequestionaboutFredArcherhadbeenonlyapretext;grabbingmeonthewinghadbeenthepurpose.
ItoldhimI"dbegladtosaddlethehorses.Nottoofarfromthetruth.
"Good,"hesaid,satisfied.
AccordinglyIdidtheworkwhileheandDotchattedtothefirstrunner"sowner,andthesameforthesecondrunnerlaterintheafternoon.Thefirstranrespectablywithoutearningmedalsandthesecondwonhisrace.Asalwaysinthewinner"sunsaddlingenclosureonsuchoccasions,Benjy"shandsomefacereddenedandsweatedasifwitho.r.g.a.s.micpleasure.Theownerspettedtheirhorse.DottoldmeseriouslyIwouldhavemadeagoodheadlad.
Ismiled.
"Ohdear."
"Well,Iwould,"Isaid.
TherewasalwayssomethingIdidn"tunderstandaboutDot;somedeepreserveinhernature.Iknewhern.o.betterafterfifteenyearsthanIhadatthebeginning.
Benjy"soddtrainingmethodsweredue,oneunderstood,tohisnothavingtomaketrainingpay.Benjy"sinheritedmulti-millions,moreover,hadbeendeployedinacquiringgoodhorsesoverseaswhichweretrainedtherebyothertrainersandwhichwonbettereventsinFranceandItalythanBenjy"shorsesinEngland.Benjy,likemanyowners,preferredthehigherprize-moneyofmainlandEurope,buthechosestilltoliveinPixhillandtotrainforotherpeopleasahobbyandtousemyhorseboxesforhistransport,afactguaranteedtoearnmyapprobation.
HeandDottookmeforadrink:doubleginsforthem,tonicforme.TheonethingIcouldn"taffordtolosewasmydrivinglicence.
Benjysaid,"I"veacoltinItalythat"spulledatendon.Iwanthimbackheretohealandrest.Caretofetchhim?"
"Verymuchso."
"Good.I"lltellyouwhen."Hepattedmyshoulder."Youdoagoodjobwiththoseboxes.Wecantrustyou,can"twe,Dot?"
Dotnodded.
"Well...thanks,"Isaid.
Onewayandanothertheafternoonpa.s.sedquicklyandafterthelastraceIwaitedforPatrickVenablesoutsidetheweighing-room.Hecameeventuallyatahalf-trot,stillpressedfortime.
"Freddie,"hesaid,"youtoldmeyesterdayyouwereshortofdrivers.Isthatstillthecase?"
"Threehaveflu,andone"sleftforgood."
"Er,um.ThenIsuggestIsendyouareplacement;onewhocanlookintoyourproblem."
Iwasn"timmediatelyenthusiastic."He"dhavetoknowthejob,"Isaiddubiously.
"It"sashe.Andyou"llfindshedoes.I"vearrangedforhertogotoPixhilltomorrowmorning.Showheryouroperationandlethertakeitfromthere."
Ithankedhimunconvincingly.Hesmiledfaintlyandtoldmetogiveheratry."Nothinglostifnothingcomesofit."
Iwasn"tsosure,butI"daskedhishelpandcouldseenowayofbackingout.Hehurriedoffwithalastpieceofinformation."Igaveheryouraddress."
He"dgonebeforeIthoughttoaskhername,but.i.thardlymattered,Isupposed.IhopedshewouldhavethedecencytoarrivebeforeIwenttoMaudieWatermead"slunch.
HernamewasNinaYoung.Shesweptupthedriveontomytarmacatninea.m.,catchingmeunshavenandreadingnewspapersinatowellingrobe,coffeeandcornflakestohand.
Iwenttothedoortoanswerherring,notrealisingatoncewhoshewas.
She"dbeendrivingascarletMercedesand,althoughnotyoung,sheworeslenderskin-tightjeans,awhiteshirtwithromanticallylargesleeves,anembroideredAfghanwaistcoat,heavygoldchainsandanexpensivescent.Hershiningdarkhairhadanexpertcut.Herhighcheekbones,longneckandcalmeyesremindedmeofn.o.bleancestorportraits,bonestructurethreehundredyearsold.Myideaofaworkingbox-driver,shewasnot.
"PatrickVenablessaidtocomeearly,"shesaid,offeringanail-varnishedhand.ThevoicewasRoedean-Benenden-StMary"s,Calne,thesocialpoiselearnedinthecradle.Frommymalechauvinistpointofview,theonlydrawbackwasherage,nearmid-fortiesataguess.
"Comein,"Iinvited,standingbackandthinkingshewasgoodforthesceneryifnotforthematterinhand.
"FreddieCroft,"shesaid,asifseeingacardboardcut-outcometolife."Themanhimself."
"Well,yes,"Iagreed."Likesomecoffee?"
"No,thankyou.DoIdetectafaintairofexasperation?"
"Notintheleast."Iledthewayintothesittingroom,andindicatedanychairshechosetositon.
Shechoseadeeparmchair,crossingthelonglegstoshowfineanklesabovebuckledleathershoes.Fromashoulderbagofequalpedigree,sheproducedasmallfolderwhichshewavedinmygeneraldirection.
"DrivinglicencewithLargeGoodsVehiclequalification,"shea.s.suredme."TherealMcCoy."