Hecouldsee,ofcourse,thatshehadn"t,buthisangerwasallforme.
She"smydaughter,"heinsisted.
IglancedovertowardsCinders,nowsomersaultinghighwithexuberance.
"Ofcourse,"Isaid.
"Isawherborn.She"smine,andIloveher."
IlookedregretfullyatHugo"sfuriousgreeneyes.HeandIwerealmosttotallyunalikeinnatureasinlooks.Amiddle-rankCityexecutive,hehadanincandescenttemperasfieryashishair,alliedtoastrongstreakofsentimentality.Ourlackofaffinitywitheachotherhadproved,untilnow,anaturalbarriertomygettingtoocloseandtoofondofmydaughter,andIsawclearly,evenifhedidn"t,thatallowingmyselftobedrawnintoafightwithhimwoulddestroywhatshouldneverbetouched.
Hewasclenchingandunclenchinghisfistsbutwithstilladegreeofcontrol.
Isaid,"YouwonthegirlIwanted.You"veadaughterandtwosons.You"relucky.You"dbeafooltolightabonfire.Whatgoodwoulditdo?"
"Butyou...you."Hesplutteredwithhurtincoherentrage,wantingmedead.
"Hatemeifyoulike,"Isaid,"butdon"ttakeitoutonyourfamily."
Iturnedawayfromhim,morethanhalfexpectinghimtohaulmebackandhitme,b.u.t.tohiscredithedidn"t.Ithoughtuneasily,allthesame,thatifhecameacrossalessdirectandphysicalwayofdoingmeharm,hemighttakeit.
IwalkedbackthroughthegardendoorandMaudie,bythewindow,said,"Whatwasthatabout?"
"Nothing."
"SusanPalmerstonelooksscared."
"Yes,well,IhadadisagreementwithHugo,butforget.i.t.IntroduceLornatoBruceFarwayanddon"tputmenexttoheratlunch."
"What?"Shelaughed,thenlookedthoughtful."IfIdo,inreturnyoucandetachTessafromBenjyUsher.Idon"tlikeherflirtingwithhim,andDotislivid."
"Whydidyouaskthem?"
"Theylivepracticallynextdoor,dammit.WealwayshaveBenjyandDot."
Ididmybestforher,butdetachingTessafromBenjyprovedimpossible.Tessawasagreatwhispererandthoughtnothingofturningherbacktopreventpeoplehearingwhatshewa.s.spillingintoBenjy"sear.Igottheturned-backtreatmentacoupleoftimesandleftBenjyalonetohisfoolishness.
BruceFarwaywastakinganinterestinLorna,thedelectablyprettysisterfullofgoodworks.SusanstoodwithherarmthroughHugo"s,talkingbrightlytoMichaelabouthorses.Intrigueandwoventhreads,typicalofracingvillages.Changepartnersanddance.
WeateMaudie"ssplendidribsofbeefwiththecrunchingroastpotatoesandhoney-walnuticecreamafter.IsatbetweenMaudieandDotandbehavedwithpropriety.
Theyoungerchildrenchatteredabouttherabbitruninthegardenwherethefamilypetshaddoubledthemselvesinnumberwithinthepastyear."They"llgotothebutcheroneofthesedays,"Maudiemutteredtomedarkly."Theygetoutandeatmydahlias."
"Oneofthebunniesismissing,"heryoungerdaughterwasinsisting.
"Howcanyoupossiblytell?"Michaelasked."Therearesomanyofthem."
"Therewerefifteenlastweekandtodaythereareonlyfourteen.Icountedthem."
"Probablythedogsateone."
"Daddy!"
LornatalkedtoBruceFarwayaboutpensioned-offsteeplechasers,oneofhercurrentcharities,andhelistenedwithinterest.Unbelievable.
ThetalkturnedtoJerichoRichandhisdesertionofMichael"sstable.
"Ungratefulbeast,"Maudiesaidvehemently."Afterallthosewinners!"
Ihatehim,"Tessasaidwithenoughintensitytoearnasharpglancefromherfather.
"Whyespecially?"heasked.
Sheshrugged,tightmouthed,denyinghimananswer.Seventeen,fullofunspecifiedresentments,shewasoneofthosechildrenwho"dneverlackedforanythingbutcouldn"tsettleforbeingoneoflife"sfavouredmortals.Shewasahead-t.o.s.s.e.rbesidesawhispererandshedidn"tlikemeanymorethanIlikedher.
Ed,herbrother,sixteenandprettystupid,said,"JerichoRichwanteds.e.xwithTessaandshewouldn"t,andthat"swhyhetookhishorsesaway."
AsaconversationstopperitwasofOscar-earningcalibre,andinthebreath-heldaghastsilencethefrontdoorbellrang.
ConstableSandySmithhadcalled.ApologeticallyhetoldMichaelthatheneededDrFarwayandalsoFreddieCroft.
"What"shappened?"Michaelasked.
SandytoldMichael,BruceFarwayandmyselfprivatelyoutinthefrontentrancehall.
"Thatmechanicofyours,Freddie.ThatJogger.He"sjustbeenfoundalongatyourfarmyard.He"sintheinspectionpit.Andhe"sdead."
CHAPTER4.
Jogger"sneckwasbroken.
Westoodlookingdownathim,thesidewaysangleofhisheadtohisbodyimpossibleinlife.
"Hemusthavefallenin,"Farwaysaidasifstatingtheobvious.
FromtheothersideofthepitHarvemetmyeyes,clearlythinking,asIwas,thatforJoggertohavefallenaccidentallyintoaninspectionpithewouldhavetohavebeenreelingdrunk,andeventhenIwouldhavebetonhisinstinctstosavehim.
Asifcatchingthethought,oratleastthefirsthalfofit,SandySmithsighed,"Hehadarightskinfullastnightinthepub.Ravingonaboutaliensunderthelorries.Lonerangers,stufflikethat.Itookhiscarkeysoffhimanddrovehimhomeintheend.I"d"vehadtoarresthimforbeingdrunkincharge,otherwise."
BruceFarwayaskedhimofficiously,"Haveyouinformedhiswifeofthis?"
"Notmarried,"Sandysaid.
"Nonext-of-kinatall,"Iamplified."Ihavenext-of-kinlistedforallmyemployees,andJoggersaidhehadn"tany."
Farwayshrugged,climbeddownthemetalladderboltedtotheinspectionpitwallandbentclinicallyoverthecrookedbody,lightlytouchingthebentneck.Then,standingupright,nodding,hereportedtomealmostaccusingly,"Yes,thisone"sdeadaswell."
Twocorpsesfoundonmypropertyinfourdays,heseemedtoimply,weresuspiciouslyexcessive.
MichaelWatermead,whohaddesertedthetail-endofhislunchpartytofollowmealongtothedisasterinthefarmyard,askedcuriously,"Aswellaswhat?"
"Thehitchhiker,"Isaid."Thursday."
"Ohyes.Ofcourse.Iwasforgetting.OnthewaybackfromtakingJericho"stwo-year-olds."ThethoughtofJerichobroughtascowltothenaturallypatricianfeatures,hissonEd"sappallinglycasualrevelationasyetundigested,unprocessed.
Michael,Iguessed,hadbeenpromptedtobepresentnowinmybarnbyamixtureofstraightforwardmorbidinterest,supportivefriendlinessandthetypicalfuzzyoverallsenseofresponsibilityinthecommunitywhichkeptmuchofruralEnglishlifewithinsaneparameters.HebroughtanywayaweightofauthoritytotheproceedingswhichHarve,Sandy,Farwayandmyselfmighthavelacked.
"Howlonghashebeendead?"Iasked."Imean...hours?Lastnight?"
BruceFarwaysaidhesitantly,"He"sprettycold,butI"dsayfairlylatethismorning."
Weunderstood,allofus,thatacloserguesswasimpossibleatthatpoint.Thepit.i.tselfandtheairtemperaturewerecoldalso.ThedoctorclimbeduptheladderandsuggestedthatheandSandyshouldagaincallfortheultimateinremovers.
"Howaboutphotographs?"Isaid."I"veacameraintheoffice."
Everyonesolemnlyagreedonphotographs.Iwalkedthroughtheyard,unlockedtheoffices,collectedmyNikonandreturnedtothebarn.TheotherswerestillwhereI"dleftthem,standingroundthepitlookingdownatJoggerwithunreadablethoughts.
Althoughtherewasacertainamountofdaylightinthebarnfromawindowlookingintothefarmyardwealwayshadtotopitupwithelectricityforwork.Theoverheadlightswereallon,butevensoIusedflashforthepictures,takingseveralshotsfromroundtherimofthepitandseveralothersfromitsfloor,downbesidemypoormechanic.
Ididn"ttouchhim,thoughIbentneartophotographhishead.Helayintheanglebetweenwallandfloor;roughgrease-streakedconcretewalls,oil-blackenedfloor.Heseemedtobelookingatthewallsixinchesfromhisnose,hiseyes,likethoseofsomanysuddenlydead,stillopen.Theyellowteethshowedintwounevenrowswithinhismouth.Heworetheoldarmyjersey,thedirt-cloggedtrousers,theoldcrackedboots.Hestillsmelled,extraordinarily,ofoilanddust;ofearth,notdeath.
Thepitwasfivefeetdeep.Standingupright,mydirectlineofsightwasroughlylevelwiththeanklesofSandy,HarveandMichael.BruceFarwaywasbehindme.Forapetrifyingsecond,aprimitiveinstinctwarnedmeagainststandingupwithmyneckstickingoutofaholeinthegroundandIturnedquicklybutsawFarwayharmlesslywritinginasmallnotebook,andfeltfoolish.
IhauledmyselfuptheladderoutofthepitandaskedHarvehowhe"dhappenedtofindJoggeratthatparticulartime.
Harveshrugged."Idon"tknow.Ijustwanderedroundtheyard,likeIoftendo.Theboxesworkingtodayhadallleft.Iwashereearliercheckingthemout,see,tomakesure.Thentowastetime,sortof,whileIwaswaitingforlunchtobeready,Iwalkedroundagain."
Inodded.Harvelikedtobeonhisfeetalways,andonthemove.
"SothenInoticedthelightswereoninthebarn,"hesaid,"andIthoughtImightsaveusabitofelectricitysoIwalkedoverherethinkingthatIhadn"tseenanyonecomeoverhereearlier.Nooneneededto.Iwasn"tworried,see,onlyIjustcameoverforalookaroundand,likeIsaid,toswitchthelightsoff."Hepaused."Don"taskmewhyIgotasfaroverasthepit.Idon"tknowwhy.Ijustdidit."
Thepitinfactwaswellovertothefarsideofthebarn,expresslytostoppeoplesteppingoveritsedgeunawares.Alargeroll-backdooratoneendofthebarnmadeitpossibletodriveahorseboxstraightinoverthepit.Thesmalldoornearestthefarmyard,whichpeopleonfootused,openedintoageneralworkshoparea,withtoolskeptinalargelockedstoreinonecorner.
Iasked,"DoyouthinkJoggerwaslyinghereallthetimewhiledriverscameintoworkandtooktheboxesout?"
Harvewastroubled."Idon"tknow.Hecouldhavebeen.Givesyoutheshudders,doesn"t.i.t?"
Thepost-mortemwilltellus,ehBruce?"Michaelsaid,andBruce,Preeningslightlyattheintimacyoftheuseofhisfirstname,agreedthatspeculationcouldbesafelyleftforthatevent.
MichaelcaughtthesatiricalglanceIgaveinhisdirectionandcameveryclosetoawink.Thewinningoverofthedoctorwasclearlysucceeding.
FarwayandSandybetweenthemproducedtheirmobilephonesandsummonedthenecessarycohorts.Michaelaskedifhecouldusethephoneinmyoffice.Helpyourself,Isaid,it"sopen.HesaunteredoffonhiserrandandwhenHarveandIfollowed,feelingupsetandinsecure,Michaelwa.s.saying,"d.a.m.nedshameforpooroldFreddie,"intoIsobel"sphone,thefirstonehe"dcometo,and"Oh,accidental,undoubtedly.Mustgonow.Seeyou."
Herangoff,saidthanksandgoodbyeandleftsmilingwithuniversalbenignity,happyintheknowledgethathewouldn"thavetofeelanypersonalrepercussionsfromJogger"sdeath.
"Whatdoyoureckon?"Harveaskedaswereachedourjointly-usedsanctumandpausedforconsideration.
"Doyoubelievehefellin?"Iasked.
"Don"twanttothinkofthealternative."
"No,"Iagreed.
"Butifhedidn"tfall..."
Heleftthewordshanging,andsodidI.
Isaid,"WhowasinthepublastnightwithJogger?"
Harvebeganansweringautomatically,"Sandy,ofcourse.Davewasboundtobe...Iwasn"t..."Hebrokeoff,aghast."Doyoumean...whowasinthepubtohearhimtalkingaboutaliensunderthelorries?Youcan"tmean...youcan"t..."
Ishookmyhead,thoughhowcouldonehelpwondering?
"We"llwaitforthecause-of-deathreport,"Isaid."Ifit"sprovedheskiddedonapatchofoilandfellandhithisneckontheedgeofthepit-whichispossible-we"lldecidethenwhattodo."
"b.u.t.thatcashboxhiding-placewasempty,"Harveinsisted."NoonewouldkillJoggerjustbecausehe"dfoundanemptythinglikethat.Theywouldn"t.Itcan"tbeanythinglikethat."
"No,"Isaid.
Harvestaredworriedlyoutattherowofhorseboxes.
"WhenIfoundhim,"hesaid,"Iwentbackhomeandphonedyourpersonallinefromthere,butIgotyouransweringmachinesayingyou"dphonebacksoon,likeitdoeswhenyou"reonlygoingtobeawayanhourortwo.But,well,Ididn"tthinkitcouldwait,soIphonedSandy.Wasthatallright?"
"Theonlythingyoucoulddo."
"Wedidn"tknowwhereyouwere.IntheendwetriedIsobelandshesaidshethoughtyou"dbeattheWatermeads",asNigelhadtoldheryouweregoingtolunchtherewhenhephonedtosaythedaughterhadmixedupthedeparturetime.ItseemsTessatoldNigel.SoSandysaidhe"dgoroundandfetchyou."
"Mm."NewstravelledinPixhillindizzyingspirals.
Harvebeganshowingtroubledsignsofindecision,whichfromourlongproximityIidentifiedimmediatelyas...o...b..overwhetherornotheshouldtellmesomethingImightnotwanttohear.
"Spit.i.tout,"Isaidresignedly.
"Oh!Well...NigelsaidTessawantedtogotoNewmarketwithhim,withthefillies.Sheclimbedintotheboxandsatreadyinthepa.s.sengerseat."
"Ihopehedidn"ttakeher."
"No,buthewasflummoxed.Imean,hehadyouononesidethreateningthesacktoanyonegivinglifts,andherontheotherside,thetrainer"sdaughter,wantingaride."Hepaused."She"saproperlittlemadam,thatgirl,andNigel"sas.e.xyhunk,somywifesays,and...don"ttakemewrong...Ithoughtyou"dbetterknow."
"I"mgrateful,"Isaidwithtruth."That"samesswecandowithout.Idon"twanttoloseMichaelWatermead"sworkjustbecausehisdaughterfanciesoneofourdrivers.We"dbetternotsendNigelthereagain,thoughit"sd.a.m.nedannoying,tosaytheleast."
Lewis,ofcourse,wasMichael"sdriverofchoice,butveryoftenWatermeadhorsesneededmorethanonebox.NotbeingabletosendNigelcutdownmyoptions.